This article is part five of a ten part series on the Top Ten GPS units for 2010. Working our way down from number ten to number one. Nearly halfway through our top ten, this unit is in high demand in the gps marketplace today, and for good reasons. Number six: The Garmin Nuvi 650.
Features:
Big screen and slim design. At 4.3 inches, this screen makes it easy to see where you need to go. And with the sleek & slim design of the nuvi series of gps units, it makes taking it with you wherever you go easy.
Super bright screen. Garmin made this screen extra bright so you can see it in any situation, including in bright sunlight.
Spoken directions and street names. You'll never hear me criticize this feature. Anything that helps you keep your eyes on the road helps you get where you need to be safely.
Bluetooth enabled. The Garmin Nuvi 650 gives you the ability to make hands free calls with your cell phone through its bluetooth connection. Which eliminates one more distraction.
Integrated traffic receiver and FM transmitter. This gps unit provides the convenience of receiving traffic updates so you can be prepared for traffic delays, or avoid them all together. At this time, traffic updates generally only work in major metro areas. If you're not sure if your regular driving area qualifies, make sure to test this feature out in your area to see if it works. If not, you could always return the unit if traffic updates was a prerequisite for buying in the first place.
Up to seven hours of battery life. Battery life is never a factor if you only use your gps in the car where you can keep it charged. The Garmin Nuvi 650 was designed for the person who wants to get out from behind the wheel. Long battery life gives you the ability to take it with you on hikes if that's your thing.
Entertainment options. With the Garmin Nuvi 650 you can store and play mp3's and audiobooks. You can store and view your jpeg images, downloaded from your computer. You can also get currency conversions if your traveling.
Customizable car icons. The Garmin website gives you the freedom to personalize your gps with multiple car icons to display on your screen. Is that something you really need in a gps unit? No. But it sure makes it more fun!
Basic hardware setup. This particular gps unit comes with a suction cup mount for your windshield, a dashboard disc, usb cable, and a quick reference manual. Garmin prides itself in providing a product that you can take out of the box and use it immediately. Even if you have little or no experience with a gps unit.
Ability to add optional software. If you're buying a new gps for travel purposes, you might want to consider paying extra for Garmin's optional software. Language translation, travel guides, and savings programs could be worth the price if they give you greater peace of mind and savings while out on the road.
Pros:
Crystal clear and bright screen. Whether your driving or hiking through the woods, you'll be able to see where you need to go.
Easily save locations to your list of favorites. One touch of a button will insure that you can always get back to important places.
User friendly interface. Garmin has the easiest to use menus and screens on any of the gps units available today.
Cons:
No carrying case, ac charger, or instruction manual. Although Garmin makes their units easy to use, it is nice to have an instruction manual to figure out those advanced features.
At times this unit will not tell you to turn until the last moment. Part of a gps units reliability rests in it's ability to tell you in advance where to go.
Does not have a qwerty keyboard. If you text a lot, this may drive you crazy. Otherwise, it will probably only take you a few extra seconds to type in the address to your destination.
For more information on the Top Ten GPS units for 2010, visit http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-gps
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Top Ten GPS Mystery Unravelled- Number Seven!
This article is part four of a ten part series on the Top Ten GPS units of 2010. Working our way down from number ten to number one. This top ten gps list represents a combination of cutting edge features and value for your money in each gps unit. Number seven: the Garmin Nuvi 260w.
Features:
Slim sleek and highly portable. Even with the 4.3 inch screen, the design of this unit is compact enough to take it with you wherever you go. And big enough to see your directions while driving in the car.
Text to speech, including street names. Spoken directions and street names make your driving experience in unfamiliar places a lot less stressful. You don't need to take your eyes off the road to find your turn. Simply listen to your gps tell you where to go.
Garmins extremely simple interface. Not a technical wizard? Don't worry about it. Garmin makes the menus on their gps units simple and intuitive. Most of us could take it out of the box, turn it on and start using it without ever looking at the instructions.
Up to five hours of battery life. Keep your Garmin Nuvi 260w fully charged while you drive with the provided vehicle charging cable. Unplug it and take it with you wherever you go, with the confidence that you'll have the power to do what you need to.
Garmin Lock anti-theft protection. This feature will not prevent your gps unit from being stolen. In the event that your Garmin Nuvi 260w is stolen, Garmin Lock will disable the unit until the proper pin is entered or it is taken to a pre-programed location. Avoid any hassles and replacement costs by taking your gps unit with you whenever it is not being used in the car.
Easily add custom points of interest. Found a really cool place and you want to make sure you can get back? All it takes is one touch of a button and you'll be able to get there from anywhere.
Personalize your Garmin Nuvi 260w with customizable vehicle icons and voices. Through the Garmin website you can change the vehicle icon to something that's more you. You can also change the voice giving you directions to something you enjoy or understand better.
Comes with the basics. This particular gps unit comes with a vehicle mount, a vehicle power cable, and a quick start manual. All you need to get going.
The typical add-on options are available with this unit. Through the Garmin website you can pay for and download the Garmin Language, Travel, and Savings guides. If you travel alot, these could be useful. But they do cost extra.
Pros:
Extremely clear and accurate. A bright LCD screen and accurate directions are all you need to get you where your going.
Easy to use. Garmin makes it simple with their menus. No experience required.
Easily save any location as a favorite. One touch of a button saves any location to your list of favorites, so you can get there from anywhere.
With one touch of a button, you can see the entire list of directions your gps unit has planned for you. Not a true believer yet? Still using Google or Yahoo driving directions along with your gps? Touch and hold the green menu bar at the top of the screen, and the gps will display the full list of directions for your route.
Cons:
Minor complaints about initial satellite acquisition. It may take a little bit to lock on, but once it does, you'll be okay.
Does not display routes downloaded from Mapquest. This will only be an issue if Mapquest is your usual choice for directions. Otherwise your Nuvi will get you there on its own.
Only a few of the custom voices work with the text to speech feature. I can't imagine why Garmin would do this, but make sure that any custom voice you choose is compatible. Otherwise, what's the point?
The optional security feature which requires a pin to use your gps will lock you out if mis-entered, even on the first try. If this happens, manually power down the unit, turn it on, and it'll give you another try.
For more information on the Top Ten GPS units for 2010, visit http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-gps
Features:
Slim sleek and highly portable. Even with the 4.3 inch screen, the design of this unit is compact enough to take it with you wherever you go. And big enough to see your directions while driving in the car.
Text to speech, including street names. Spoken directions and street names make your driving experience in unfamiliar places a lot less stressful. You don't need to take your eyes off the road to find your turn. Simply listen to your gps tell you where to go.
Garmins extremely simple interface. Not a technical wizard? Don't worry about it. Garmin makes the menus on their gps units simple and intuitive. Most of us could take it out of the box, turn it on and start using it without ever looking at the instructions.
Up to five hours of battery life. Keep your Garmin Nuvi 260w fully charged while you drive with the provided vehicle charging cable. Unplug it and take it with you wherever you go, with the confidence that you'll have the power to do what you need to.
Garmin Lock anti-theft protection. This feature will not prevent your gps unit from being stolen. In the event that your Garmin Nuvi 260w is stolen, Garmin Lock will disable the unit until the proper pin is entered or it is taken to a pre-programed location. Avoid any hassles and replacement costs by taking your gps unit with you whenever it is not being used in the car.
Easily add custom points of interest. Found a really cool place and you want to make sure you can get back? All it takes is one touch of a button and you'll be able to get there from anywhere.
Personalize your Garmin Nuvi 260w with customizable vehicle icons and voices. Through the Garmin website you can change the vehicle icon to something that's more you. You can also change the voice giving you directions to something you enjoy or understand better.
Comes with the basics. This particular gps unit comes with a vehicle mount, a vehicle power cable, and a quick start manual. All you need to get going.
The typical add-on options are available with this unit. Through the Garmin website you can pay for and download the Garmin Language, Travel, and Savings guides. If you travel alot, these could be useful. But they do cost extra.
Pros:
Extremely clear and accurate. A bright LCD screen and accurate directions are all you need to get you where your going.
Easy to use. Garmin makes it simple with their menus. No experience required.
Easily save any location as a favorite. One touch of a button saves any location to your list of favorites, so you can get there from anywhere.
With one touch of a button, you can see the entire list of directions your gps unit has planned for you. Not a true believer yet? Still using Google or Yahoo driving directions along with your gps? Touch and hold the green menu bar at the top of the screen, and the gps will display the full list of directions for your route.
Cons:
Minor complaints about initial satellite acquisition. It may take a little bit to lock on, but once it does, you'll be okay.
Does not display routes downloaded from Mapquest. This will only be an issue if Mapquest is your usual choice for directions. Otherwise your Nuvi will get you there on its own.
Only a few of the custom voices work with the text to speech feature. I can't imagine why Garmin would do this, but make sure that any custom voice you choose is compatible. Otherwise, what's the point?
The optional security feature which requires a pin to use your gps will lock you out if mis-entered, even on the first try. If this happens, manually power down the unit, turn it on, and it'll give you another try.
For more information on the Top Ten GPS units for 2010, visit http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-gps
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Top Ten GPS Mystery Unravelled- Number Eight!
This article is part three of a ten part series on the Top Ten GPS units for 2010. Working our way down from number ten to number one. Although our choice for number eight is not one of the latest gps units on the market today, it is still a solid gps option, and is in high demand. Without further ado, number eight: the Garmin Streetpilot c550.
Features:
Preloaded with highly detailed maps of North America or Europe, depending on where you live or what you need. Once again, this is pretty much the standard in gps units today.
Highly sensative receiver for excellent reliability. It can't be said enough that reliability for a gps unit is job number one! The Garmin Streetpilot c550 has been praised for being able to pick up satellite reception under heavy foliage and walking through major cities, surrounded by tall buildings. This is reassuring for the rest of us who generally don't go to such places.
Integrated traffic receiver with a free three month subscription to traffic updates. This is a useful feature to help you avoid major traffic tie-ups and delays. But don't get too excited just yet. This feature is really only supported in major metropolitan areas. If you're not sure if your area qualifies under this term, at least you'll have three months for free to find out.
Bluetooth technology for hands free calling. The Garmin Streetpilot c550 features a microphone and duel integrated speakers. We're taling stereo sound baby! This comes in handy if you live in a state with hands free calling laws like I do. With a gps unit like this, you can avoid buying that separate hands free kit for your cell phone. Did I mention this Garmin also has an integrated mp3 player?
Spoken directions and street names. An absolute must in a gps unit! Never compromise on this feature.
One touch dialing for points of interest or pre-loaded phone numbers with bluetooth connection. Want to call ahead to a restaraunt or hotel without pulling over to do it? Now you can. With your cell phone and a bluetooth connection it only takes one touch of a button.
Up to eight hours of battery life. This will not be a factor if you only use your gps unit in the car, as you can keep it fully charged with the included cable. How you use your gps will determine whether or not battery life is important.
Easy to take with you. Although the Garmin Streetpilot c550 is not as sleek as the Nuvi series, it is still compact enough to take it with you wherever you go. Remember that at the very least, you should take your gps unit out of the car whenever you're not using it.
Anti-glare technology. This particular unit features an anti-glare surface on the screen, so you can see your directions at any time of the day or night.
Garmin Lock anti-theft protection. Nothing to get excited about. It doesn't mean somebody can't destroy your car window and take your gps unit. It just means that if they do, they won't be able to use it. Cold comfort I guess. In order for your gps to be reactivated, a pin would have to be entered or your gps unit would have to be taken to a predetermined location. Just take it out of the car with you!
Optional language and travel guides. These will cost extra, but may come in handy when travelling. And with an integrated SD card slot, you know you'll have enough memory to keep all your favorites on hand.
Pros:
Excellent reception. You won't have to worry about whether or not you can get where you need to go.
Stereo sound. Along with a clear picture, the Garmin Streetpilot c550 has excellent sound, so you can here your directions instead of having to look at them.
Anti-glare. It's important to be able to see your screen when you need to.
Cons:
Does not offer multi-point routing. If you just need to get from point A to point B, this is probably not a feature you need anyways. But if you're an outside sales professional who makes multiple calls per day to new prospects, multi-point routing might be good for you.
Comes with a quick start manual, but no real instruction guide. Garmin makes their menus simple to use, so to get to the more advanced features on this gps unit, you might have to play with your new toy a bit.
Complaints about slow map updates. The bad news is it may take hours. The good news is that now you know, so plan your time wisely. Also, you'll probably only need to update the maps one time per year at the most.
Estimated travel times offered by the gps unit are often incorrect. This will most often be the case with any gps unit. Remember that a gps unit cannot factor in red lights and traffic. Think of its estimate as a best case scenario.
For more information on the top ten gps units for 2010, visit: http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-gps.
Features:
Preloaded with highly detailed maps of North America or Europe, depending on where you live or what you need. Once again, this is pretty much the standard in gps units today.
Highly sensative receiver for excellent reliability. It can't be said enough that reliability for a gps unit is job number one! The Garmin Streetpilot c550 has been praised for being able to pick up satellite reception under heavy foliage and walking through major cities, surrounded by tall buildings. This is reassuring for the rest of us who generally don't go to such places.
Integrated traffic receiver with a free three month subscription to traffic updates. This is a useful feature to help you avoid major traffic tie-ups and delays. But don't get too excited just yet. This feature is really only supported in major metropolitan areas. If you're not sure if your area qualifies under this term, at least you'll have three months for free to find out.
Bluetooth technology for hands free calling. The Garmin Streetpilot c550 features a microphone and duel integrated speakers. We're taling stereo sound baby! This comes in handy if you live in a state with hands free calling laws like I do. With a gps unit like this, you can avoid buying that separate hands free kit for your cell phone. Did I mention this Garmin also has an integrated mp3 player?
Spoken directions and street names. An absolute must in a gps unit! Never compromise on this feature.
One touch dialing for points of interest or pre-loaded phone numbers with bluetooth connection. Want to call ahead to a restaraunt or hotel without pulling over to do it? Now you can. With your cell phone and a bluetooth connection it only takes one touch of a button.
Up to eight hours of battery life. This will not be a factor if you only use your gps unit in the car, as you can keep it fully charged with the included cable. How you use your gps will determine whether or not battery life is important.
Easy to take with you. Although the Garmin Streetpilot c550 is not as sleek as the Nuvi series, it is still compact enough to take it with you wherever you go. Remember that at the very least, you should take your gps unit out of the car whenever you're not using it.
Anti-glare technology. This particular unit features an anti-glare surface on the screen, so you can see your directions at any time of the day or night.
Garmin Lock anti-theft protection. Nothing to get excited about. It doesn't mean somebody can't destroy your car window and take your gps unit. It just means that if they do, they won't be able to use it. Cold comfort I guess. In order for your gps to be reactivated, a pin would have to be entered or your gps unit would have to be taken to a predetermined location. Just take it out of the car with you!
Optional language and travel guides. These will cost extra, but may come in handy when travelling. And with an integrated SD card slot, you know you'll have enough memory to keep all your favorites on hand.
Pros:
Excellent reception. You won't have to worry about whether or not you can get where you need to go.
Stereo sound. Along with a clear picture, the Garmin Streetpilot c550 has excellent sound, so you can here your directions instead of having to look at them.
Anti-glare. It's important to be able to see your screen when you need to.
Cons:
Does not offer multi-point routing. If you just need to get from point A to point B, this is probably not a feature you need anyways. But if you're an outside sales professional who makes multiple calls per day to new prospects, multi-point routing might be good for you.
Comes with a quick start manual, but no real instruction guide. Garmin makes their menus simple to use, so to get to the more advanced features on this gps unit, you might have to play with your new toy a bit.
Complaints about slow map updates. The bad news is it may take hours. The good news is that now you know, so plan your time wisely. Also, you'll probably only need to update the maps one time per year at the most.
Estimated travel times offered by the gps unit are often incorrect. This will most often be the case with any gps unit. Remember that a gps unit cannot factor in red lights and traffic. Think of its estimate as a best case scenario.
For more information on the top ten gps units for 2010, visit: http://www.squidoo.com/top-ten-gps.
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