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Garmin nuvi 855 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition specifications:

Garmin nvi 855 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition Description:
Garmin International’s n&uuml,vi 855 is a GPS navigator and personal travel helper featuring voice activated navigation and lane help with connection view. Navigate with confidence while n&uuml,vi directs you to the favored lane while driving. As well, see realistic pictures of forthcoming connections where available. Lane help guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. Click to enlarge
Junction View gives you a photo realistic screen that shows you both the road detail also as the signs as you’ll see them on the road. Click to enlarge This advanced model feature voice activated navigation and lane help with connection view. Click to enlarge The n&uuml,vi 855 offers full coverage mapping for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The preloaded map data features almost six million points of interest, as well as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. The map data is offered by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium quality mapping. Simply speaking, n&uuml,vi 855 is one advanced navigator. It features voice activated navigation, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and more. Like the rest of the large n&uuml,vi 800 series, just speak a menu choice and n&uuml,vi obeys your command. Speak Commands
N&uuml,vi 855 not only tells you where to turn but listens to your spoken commands. With n&uuml,vi’s groundbreaking speech recognition, you carefully control n&uuml,vi’s interface with your voice allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Simply press the button on the remote which attaches to the steering wheel to activate speech recognition and begin speaking menu alternatives. N&uuml,vi recognizes shortcut phrases for liked functions. Tell n&uuml,vi “Find Address” and speak an address to start navigating. See More
With n&uuml,vi 855′s widescreen display, you will generally get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, smart color. Its sunlight readable, 4.3 inch display is easy to read from any direction. Know the Lane Before it is Too Late
N&uuml,vi 855 takes navigation to the next level with lane help. No more guessing which lane you have to be in to make an forthcoming turn. Lane help guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and connections on your path with arrows that point to the correct lane for navigation. And with the 3D Lane help connection View, you will be able to see a photo realistic screen that shows you both the road detail also as the signs as you’ll see them on the road. The signs that are not needed for navigation are faded in comparison to the proper lane signage. Navigate With Ease
N&uuml,vi 855 comes prepared to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and millions of points of interest POIs like hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs and more. Speak a menu choice or touch the color screen to enter a destination, and n&uuml,vi takes you there with 2 D or 3 D maps and turn by turn voice directions. It states the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Also, n&uuml,vi 855 accepts custom points of interest, like school zones and safety cameras and allows you to set closeness alerts to warn you of forthcoming POIs. Where am I?
Keep track of yourself and your car with n&uuml,vi 855. Just speak or tap “Where Am I?” to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. N&uuml,vi 855 remembers where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you may be able to navigate with n&uuml,vi on foot and find your way back to your car. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots like amusement parks, stadiums and malls. With the POI loader program users can set up closeness alerts for school zones, safety cameras, create custom POIs and more. Click to enlarge

Garmin nvi 855 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition Reviews:

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452 of 465 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of five stars
Nuvi 855: remaining Value, in spite of many shortcomings,
June 11, 2009

By&nbsp,nuvifan Redmond, WA See all my reviews

This is an unusually long product review, but I just could not help but brag about the Nuvi 855, also as express some number of complaints about Garmin shortcomings.

Pros and Cons of the Garmin Nuvi 855

PROs: Custom routing, easy setting unit options, responsiveness to my spoken commands, fast map scrolling via finger movement, Lane help arrows are helpful, map detail is better than on the 755/765, place names appear on screen as you drive, broad and easy use to use Points of Interest database, and POIs may be displayed on map if you decide.

CONs: Volume needs to be louder, warnings of forthcoming turns should come sooner, inadequate online manual gives inadequate detail about unit operations,, can not really turn unit completely OFF, Lane help displays are limited, important learning curve obliged to confidently program ANY Garmin to react as the user wants.

Primary GPS function and Recent Nuvi Ownership

I greatly recommend the Nuvi 855, but my perspective is mainly depending on three road trips, using its Custom Routing feature, plus recent experience with two other Nuvis. My major function was to create particular routes before trips, like eight driving days averaging 500 miles each, on unfamiliar highways and city streets and also finding McDonalds when we wanted. I benefited tremendously from the strange experience of using a Garmin 760 for a month last year, then newly driving 4,000 miles with a more advanced 755.But returned it to get this remaining value in an 855. I have since used the 855 on a one week trip and completely expect the bulk of its features to work as they have on the earlier 760 and 755.

We don’t need Bluetooth due to our pre installed car option, nor the free Traffic alert service found it usually useless in 755, nor the 3 D buildings or Eco path features in other Garmins. Possibly commuters could enjoy the Traffic service in other Nuvis, but our restricted highway trip experience found it alerted unnecessarily, and offered unhelpful detour advice: We thought it an interesting gimmick, but which Garmin may well improve over time.

Low Volume

Many reviewers complain the 855 volume is so low as to justify returning their units. Really, low volume can be the common complaint seen online among all Nuvis. My wife and I agree that volume on the 760/755/855 is too low, but we have never missed a turn because of it: We typically anticipate when an vital voice instruction is coming, and turn down the stereo and close windows to “listen harder.” it is a slight bother, but that major flaw is worth overlooking. Everyone should be sure to check both possible “Volume” settings: the major one should be at 100 volume, but also set “Mixer” to have all three volume modifications at 100. One other learned trick is that users can press the “Next Turn” arrows upper left corner, and hear again the forthcoming turn instruction, also as have it display the forthcoming intersection simultaneously. I nearly generally check the “next turn” instruction well before forthcoming turns, I also find it useful to press the green text line at the top of the map screen to display a summary of some number of forthcoming turns on my path. This practice should prove useful with many other Nuvi models.

Low volume is a distinct Garmin flaw, but we enjoyed the 755 for 4,000 miles in spite of it. We typically had many wind sound with the sunroof and rear windows open, but could close them IF necessary when we anticipated receiving an instruction, like at the .8 mile mark before a turn, we usually pressed the screen to re hear an instruction, also as to view the turn well beforehand. I urge others to work to overcome the volume issue.And move on to take pleasure in the other benefits of an 855. We think the 855 volume is just as usable as our last units. But, I do intend to download a liked voice editor, which other Nuvi holders bragged about, because it lets them increase the volume of spoken information.

Lane help and connection View

855 purchasers should also be aware that Lane help and connection View are much complained about Garmin features, caused by the fact that they’re mainly available only in big metropolitan regions and on interstate highways. In spite of that, we enjoyed the 755 Lane help many turn lane arrows coming out many times throughout our trip through Salt Lake, Phoenix, Tucson, and San Diego, and found it useful. We wished connection View pictures of the green interstate highway signs appeared more frequently, but thought them usually needless except passing through Portland area @ I 205 and I 5 interchanges, where they were helpful. I expect 855 service to be same,

Remote Control Voice Command

My wife and I are tremendously happy with the 855 Remote Command function and expect that it’ll be useful in future driving, also as a nice diversion to play with. The remote responded FAR better in our road testing than I may have imagined, it’s much safer than the manual modifications I was earlier making while driving stupid man tricks at 70 MPH are a thing of the past!.

I compiled my own list of the remote Voice Commands, and has been surprised to find some number of that aren’t in the manual. Nearly any menu instruction may be given by voice, making the 855 more working than projected. You may be surprised to learn that the following commands also work: Yes, No, Back, Page Up/Down, Scroll Up/Down, Clear, and Delete. I have also discovered that “Next Turn” will repeat the spoken instruction for the forthcoming turn, this is useful to check many miles before your turn. Once the “Next Turn” graphic is displayed, the user can command successive forthcoming turns to be displayed and spoken. Among my favorite commands are “Zoom In” and “Zoom Out,” instead of reaching and pressing on the screen while driving. Any sound problems in making ourselves understood are easily overcome, as my co pilot wife can generally intervene with manual operation when we’re moving.

I find it simple to use the Voice Commands, but only because I played with the menu settings manually in three Nuvis. , I can typically interact freely with the 855 Voice Commands, and flow from one screen to another while driving, without letting the remote shut off before I am finished with it. On the other hand, I do wish that the green “On” icon could stay active longer than it does: Keeping an eye on the icons and flicking one’s vision back and forth from the road to menu alternatives is a important distraction, and possibly dangerous. I think it vital to attempt and bound Voice Command use to situations where traffic is light, and oncoming vehicles aren’t present. I attempt to do broad menu functionings by voice for situations where I feel safe diverting my attention from driving, on the other hand, my wife is becoming more comfy at searching through the menus by herself, and enjoys the 855 as much as I.

Routing Accuracy and Points of Interest

Accuracy of our Nuvi information have usually been excellent, as is the broad Point Of Interest POI database and operation. We have had many Garmin map goofs and sporadic mis routing, but have extreme confidence that we’ll be rerouted quickly and properly to fix mistakes we make in taking wrong turns. Depending on our last broad Garmin experience, I expect the same great service with the 855 model.

In contrast to sporadic Nuvi annoyances, one of its best features is the confidence it gives us that whenever we goof up such as missing a turn, when it’ll speak up nearly now with a “recalculation.” likewise, whenever we’re uncertain if we have made a correct turn, the fact that NO “recalculation” occurs gives us confidence that we’re still “on track.” when not on a path, we love being able to drive anywhere unfamiliar, and know that we can just search for a big landmark street or POI.And get ourselves “back to civilization.”

The POIs come in useful in some number of situations that one may not ordinarily think about. For example, when in a weird city, one can find gas stations by brand or chain restaurants, find the way back to your motel, find a close park to relax after a tiring daylong drive, also. It’s also useful to search for places of interest before a trip, and learn how far they’re from your overnight lodging as well as establish a path to them. I find the GPS far easier to find POIs than following information from well meaning strangers.

We were irritated using POI’s to find one McDonalds: Voice command and manual controls via some number of search techniques failed to recognize a McD along our path, and we gave up.Despite being certain there was one close. Twenty miles afterward, upon arrival in the parking lot of a McD, the 855 still couldn’t find it via “Where I’m Now.” We have also experienced slight mistakes in POI places for two other burger places, but both were close enough that we found them anyways. , we learned that Nuvi is not perfect, and learned to reimburse.And “grin and bear” its boo boos.

Learning to Use Any Nuvi

It looks that all big gps brands lack a in depth, printed manual, instead, they supply an online manual. But, online information especially Garmin! are inadequate to completely show all unit capacities and economical use. I have read the online manual for each of my Nuvis, but hate the fact that they’re so incomplete. Garmins have a just total material in the onboard “Help” feature, which is useful when you’re away from your computer. These Help references are brief, but, and.

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195 of 203 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of five stars
May be worse than the 7×5 models,
May 10, 2009

By&nbsp,fredf888 CA United States See all my reviews

If you assume the 8×5 models are automatically better than the 7×5 models, you can be surprised based on what features are vital to you.

The most remarkable feature of the 855 is the voice command. Many voice commands, like “volume up”, may be done from any screen. Doing “volume up” on the touch screen could involved five presses: “menu”, “volume”, “+”, “back”, & “view map”. You do have to keep an eye on the screen and speak only after you see the green symbol on the upper right corner. You may be able to speak the name of the place stored in Favorites, like “San Francisco City Hall”. Other systems could have obliged you to speak the line number.

The most disappointing feature of this 855 is the in general sluggishness of the system caused by the voice command system. The screen refreshes gradually in comparison to Nuvi 765′s super smooth refresh. The 855′s CPU is just not fast enough to do voice command and high refresh rate simultaneously. Garmin eliminated the cool 3D building feature from 765, seemingly in an effort to minimize CPU handling. Garmin may have kept the refresh rate high while voice command isn’t being used. But doing so could illuminate the refresh problem more vividly once the user presses the remote button to speak.

To use voice command effectively, you have to turn your car’s audio system volume down before you speak, then back up afterwards. The better solution is to use the 855′s fitted FM transmitter and put your music on a micro SD card. A two GB card is about $7. Nuvi will automatically reduce the music volume throughout voice commands or announcements. But that means you can not listen to regular radio transmits. The FM transmitter worked well in my Toyota Highlander which has a front antenna. But the FM transmitter was totally not usable in my Toyota Prius which has a roof mounted antenna. Many new cars have small roof mounted antennas and most likely won’t work well with 855′s FM transmitter. But, if the new car has an MP3 jack, then you may be able to run a cable from 855′s audio out jack to the car’s MP3 jack.

Update: After using the FM transmitter for some weeks in my Highlander, it did worse than I first thought. Bear in mind that my Nuvi 855 has direct line of sight of my Highlander’s hood mounted antenna. Power lines not close by disrupted the transmission easily and frequently. I dug up my old Iriver FM transmitter and hooked it up to the Nuvi’s audio out jack. The Iriver was way better and louder too. Some number of magazine reviews pointed out that the Nuvi’s FM transmitter has been underpowered now I have to agree. Garmin’s Webupdater log showed an update to the FM transmitter’s firmware to “comply with European standard”. I imagine that meant a reduction of FM transmission power. Tomtom forum also has many posts that recent firmware updates reduced the FM transmission power. Possibly the FCC or the authority in Europe are now more vigilant in checking FM transmitter’s power so cars beside you will not get interference. The bottom line is that you’ll probably be disappointed if you have to use Nuvi’s FM transmitter.

I updated the system software via Webupdater. For many reasons, it unselected the City Navigator map. The next day I used it, it lost voice command and the map had only big highways. A call to technical support solved the problem. Only about seven minutes of wait time and the rep knew now what was wrong. But phone support is only available Monday through Friday.

Bluetooth connectivity isn’t provided in 855, a little surprising considering the price of this model. Routing is excellent and no stupid routes like my last Mio C520. But that’s projected of Garmin. I heard Tomtom is nearly as good now.

I wish Garmin could implement split screen like so many other manufacturers. To me, the map view of the road ahead is more vital than the sides. The left and right edges of the map screen are just wasted real estate. A split screen showing the next two or three turns could have been nice.

The lane help works great but not too many interchanges have that feature incorporated. The photo realistic screen is nice but not that useful. The many arrows representing the different lanes already gave me full info.

The Nuvi 855 isn’t a bad unit. But it does not live up to my expectations. If you value lane help and voice command and your car can work with its FM transmitter or audio out, and you do not mind the sluggish screen refresh rate, then this is a good unit. But, many people can be happier with the “lesser” models with no voice command.

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106 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
Voice recognition is a must have for GPS!,
May 19, 2009

By&nbsp,Robert Schroeder Scottsdale, AZ See all my reviews

I bought the 855 as an upgrade to my StreetPilot C550. I was unwilling to purchase it, depending on the less than stellar reviews on here, but after using it for a week, I dont have complaints at all. Maybe that is caused by the fact that I am upgrading from the ancient 550, and not the 7X5 series. The other reviewers are right, the on/off switch may be uncomfortable, and you need a fingernail to push it over to the left. But that’s such a minor complaint, I believe. As well, many people say they like the smoother refresh that the 7X5 series has, and this is more jerky, as you move along your path. Well, you are not supposed to be watching it when you are driving anyway. Oh, and it only has 500 waypoints, in comparison to 1000 on other models. I will be lucky if I use 100.

What makes this GPS so extraordinary is the voice recognition! I feel like I am using Star Trek technology. It rarely has any problem understanding what I tell it. Hands free GPS navigation! I never have to pull over to type a new destination or attempt to do it while driving. I can not imagine any of the minor complaints offsetting the awesomeness of the voice recognition. Now that it is available, I would not have a GPS unit without it. If your budget lets for a voice recognition GPS with 1000 waypoints, an improved on/off switch, and smoother screen refresh, then by all means get that one. But if you are wanting to use up about $300, and want voice recognition, don’t hesitate to purchase the 855. I would not exchange it for a non voice recognition unit that has those features that this one lacks.

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Related Garmin nuvi 855 Products:

19 Responses to “garmin nuvi 855”

1. Marcus I Says:
   May 1, 2009 at 5:48 pm

   garmin nuvi 855, great buy for the money

2. Jean S. Says:
   May 2, 2009 at 0:32 pm

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3. Phillip Says:
   May 3, 2009 at 4:36 pm

   Pros: Great product for the low price. Cons: Difficult to find in stock

4. Janet A. Says:
   May 4, 2009 at 3:22 pm

   I have one on sale, best price, email me if interested

5. Judy Z. Says:
   May 5, 2009 at 1:26 pm

   Review pretty much sums it up, great deal

6. Carl75 Says:
   May 6, 2009 at 10:59 pm

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7. Carol R. Says:
   May 7, 2009 at 8:57 pm

   Walmart had the lowest price last month, without a rebate

8. Mike S Says:
   May 8, 2009 at 5:30 pm

   Clearance prices aren’t much more discounted than this so may as well buy it now.

9. Neva Says:
   May 9, 2009 at 7:15 pm

   Where online can you find it used?

10. Louis C Says:
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11. Jeff P Says:
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16. Douglas75 Says:
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    Does Bestbuy offer free shipping?

17. Joel O Says:
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18. Walter79 Says:
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19. Fausto Says:
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    How long is the warranty?

Garmin nuvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Factory Refurbished specifications:

Garmin nvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Description:
This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished usually means that the unit was returned to the maker, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions. Many GPS may contain cosmetic blemishes.

Garmin’s n&uuml,vi 255W improvesupon its 200 series predecessors by adding top of the line features like FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content to an entry level line. But Garmin is introducing many important enhancements with this new series, like a predictive technology that gives faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more info, terrain maps, and an thrilling new photo navigation feature. The 255W adds complete maps for North America and Text to Speech, so you get turn by turn spoken directions with the real names of streets e.G. “turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way”, rather than just “turn left in 50 feet”. The 255W also offers a large 4.3 inch diagonal screen that displays 70 more of the road around you.The n&uuml,vi 2×5 models all sport the thin design that Garmin presented with the 200 series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.
Vital Product Information: This device features a “screen lock” feature. This is a regular feature on all n&uuml,vi 2×5 and 7×5 Garmin units. If you slide the “Power” key to the right, it’ll lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the “Power” key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for “Pedestrian” mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more info, see page five of the product manual.
Key Features/Benefits for all 2×5 Series Navigators
New HotFix Long Term Ephemeris Prediction finds satellites faster Learn more New Digital Elevation Model DEM Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features Learn more
New Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and car icon motion through turns
New Redesigned user interface offers more info Learn more New Photo Navigation allows you to upload geo coded photos from a phone, geo coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. Learn more New Add improved MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger Learn more New Send addresses straight to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest Learn more New auto Time Zone Transition Text to Speech gives directions with real street names 4.3 inch Widescreen shows you more of what is around you as you drive Learn more Memory Card Slots so you may be able to add maps and travel guides, or store photos MicroSD card slot on 3.5 inch units, SD card slot on 4.3 inch units Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of North America + Hawaii + Puerto Rico, as well as 6.5 million searchable points of interest Learn more
Rechargeable lithium ion battery for easy portability up to four hours per charge Custom car Icons let you personalize your navigator Learn more Integrated Antenna for a thin form factor Where Am I? Instantly shows you all of the emergency services close Learn More What’s in the Box
N&uuml,vi 255W, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America or Europe full coverage, car suction cup mount, car power cable, Dashboard disc, fast start manual
Which n&uuml,vi is Best for You?:
Click here to see a fast, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators
Learn More
New Improved Interface
One of Garmin’s key product philosophies is to make very complex technology easy to use for anybody right out of the box, and possibly nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin’s movable navigation devices.

Garmin’s interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub screens make it simple to enter or search for places and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and n&uuml,vi takes you there with turn by turn voice directions, 2 D or 3 D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate.

This year, Garmin redesigned its interface to include more useful info.
Old Interface New Interface
New HotFix&trade, &ndash, aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction
Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites to find out its position. Till the device gets a “lock” on three satellites, it can not effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get “satellite lock” is generally a objective of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin’s new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it’s tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and considerably decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to three days after the device was last turned off.

Using Garmin&rsquo,s distinctive website &mdash, Garmin Connect Photos &mdash, users can decide from millions of geo located photos offered by Google&rsquo,s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the n&uuml,vi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
New Navigate by Photo

Using Garmin&rsquo,s distinctive website &mdash, Garmin Connect Photos &mdash, users can decide from millions of geo located photos offered by Google&rsquo,s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the n&uuml,vi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
Decide from Panoramio’s group of photos from around the globe. Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps. Search for photos by place name or map area boundary. Move photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator. View photos in Google Earth. Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

New 3D Terrain Maps
Shaded break terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D “birds eye” view.

New Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest
Tching to attempt out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to find the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it is easy to search for places on Google Maps or Mapquest, then move the addresses straight to your Garmin GPS navigator.
Hook up your Garmin to the computer via it is USB port Search for the place you want Click the Send link in the information window for the address. That will bring up a popup “Send to” form.
Pick GPS, then pick Garmin and hit the “Send” button. The address will instantly move to your Garmin device, The point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you may be able to navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite. The procedure does require a small plugin, which you may be able to get at Garmin’s web site at www8.Garmin.Com/support/download_details.Jsp?Id=3739. You may be able to send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Search for the place you want.

Pick “Send to GPS”.

Go!

Traffic Capable for Either FM Traffic or improved MSN Direct Content MSN Direct improved Traffic and Content

With an optional receiver, you may be able to access improved dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get improved movie listings, stock info, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your n&uuml,vi.

Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services.

A 3 month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.
FM Traffic

With an optional receiver, you may be able to get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie ups and road construction that may lie ahead on your path. All you must do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you will be prepared to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you are forced into a detour that isn’t relayed through the traffic receiver, the n&uuml,vi’s sophisticated auto routing will get you back on track in no time.
In most regions, TMC Clear Channel traffic transmits are uninterrupted &mdash, there is no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic transmits are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you may be able to still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.
A 3 month subscription to TMC Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more info on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin web site.
Widescreen See More of what is Around The super bright, 4.3 inch diagonal touchscreen display gives is anti glare for easy looking at throughout the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy looking at at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

The widescreen format gives you 70 more real screen area than a 3.5 inch screen. Mainly this translates into a better view of the area through which you’re driving. This is particularly useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. Are close, or in letting you know if a detour is a smart idea. As well, the device itself is bigger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push. Wider screen allows you to see more of what is around. Compare these real size views of a 3 inch diagonal screen

Garmin nvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Reviews:

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99 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
Great widescreen, street naming unit at a budget price,
May 16, 2009

By&nbsp,Derek See all my reviews

Was exactly what I looked for. Widescreen unit that spoke the real street name at a budget price. Was first shopping on auction websites but Garmin’s one year warranty does not support refurbished units sold on auction websites. Was afraid about it being a refurbished unit, but so far no issues. I have updated the software and downloaded the new maps, all without issue. Does not come in a cool retail box, but does include the mount and suction cup. Depending on my experience, I could recommend the unit to a friend.

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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
This gave me more that I expected.,
July 16, 2009

By&nbsp,sassytexasgirl See all my reviews

I projected this unit to be able to help me find the best routes, points of interest, etc. It is comparatively intuitive to use, and, unlike a competing brand which I sent back was able to find it is initial place now, with great ease. I am having many of fun with it as I am learning how to use it. Many of the reviews I had read thought the voice on the text speech feature irritating. I LIKE it. The tone and pitch are right on for my ears. As well, it is able to pronounce what I think about to be hard street names with ease and precision. The nicest surprise about it’s that this little navigator can tell you the speed bound for each street or highway you are on, also as show you how fast you’re going relative to the speed bound. That is more valuable to me than a radar detector could be. It also tells you your anticipated arrival time, which it changes for traffic slow downs. The 255W has a 4.3 inch screen, which is quite easy to see from my dashboard as I am driving. Do not attempt to change menus or find points of interest while you’re driving!! This is more diverting than texting while driving. You’ll have to pull over to find these things, unless you have a passenger who may help you with this. This limitation could disappear if it may accept voice commands. All things considered, this unit is perfect for my needs now. It is also movable and can slip into my purse with ease when I’m walking in an unfamiliar area. My only wish could be that it had bluetooth connectivity, but that is an easy work around with a bluetooth earpiece.

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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
Works great,
March 30, 2009

By&nbsp,John Elliott Panama City Beach FL See all my reviews
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