GARMIN Zumo 450 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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List Price: Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of GARMIN Zumo 450 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Good Hardware, Buggy Software
Summary: 3 Stars
I won't add to what other reviewers have written--from a hardware perspective, the Zumo is great if you don't need bluetooth and XM. I've marked the rating down because of a bug in the latest version of the mapping software, and awkward software-device interface.
First, the bug. Every route I create on my computer and transfer to the device has a bizarre web of loops and turns not in the map as created. Re-calculating once it's transferred fixes it, but at this price, there should not be egregious bugs in the software. I contacted Garmin tech support and they were clueless.
Second, the awkward interface. The whole route transfer system is amazingly bad: you can only transfer one route at a time, and have to disconnect and reboot the device to import every one (or use a work around with multiple windows of the mapping software open), and then you have to rename it through an awkward process for it to make any sense.
Now after using this for about six months, I would rate it zero stars--truly pathetic. I have gotten badly lost (and often had to use the GPS in my cell phone to get back on route) at least ten times because the Garmin adds twists, turns, and diversions on its own volition when downloading a route to the unit. I absolutely cannot trust the thing to follow a route that I designed on the computer. I'm going to toss it and buy a Tom Tom as soon as possible.
Customer Review: Great product.........but
Summary: 4 Stars
The 450 is a great product with wonderful features too many to mention here. I have used it on a 800 mile motorcycle trip and it performed admirably. It's user friendly as long as a new user is not technically challenged. The visibility in bright sun light is surprisingly good. I could go on and on about the Zumo and I recommend it highly. Is it perfect? Probably not. Nothing is. It does come close, IMHO. You noticed that I rated it 4 stars. That's where the 'but' comes in.......If I had to do it over again, I would skip the 450 and go directly to the 550 and pay the additional money. Here's why.....for the kind of money spent, I decided to also use it in the car. To be able to do that, I had to purchase a car mount and power cord. By the time I added the costs for those items, I could nearly have paid the price difference between the 450 and 550. The 550 comes with the car mount and has some additional features such as Text To Voice (it will announce a turn by saying 'turn left on Main Street' instead of just saying 'turn left') and Blue Tooth capable.
Bottom line is this, if you don't care about the additional features (which I didn't think I did) and you don't think you'll be using it in your car, get the 450. If you intend to use it in a car as well as your motorcycle, pay the difference and get the 550. In any event, I don't think you'll be disappointed with either unit.
I absolutely love my Zumo.
Customer Review: It'll get you where your going 98% of the time.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Zumo 450 the day before going on a 1700 mile trip from Dover DE to the Great Smokey Mountains in North Carolina. During the trip I got rained on and exposed to near freezing temperatures. I choose this over the 550 based on cost over function (I didn't need bluetooth or XM).
Pros:
Reliable information to destination including routes, times, and travel data.
Ease of use even with gloves.
Good mounting system and pretty easy to power from my motorcycle.
Good battery life.
Cons:
You have to use the base to plug anything except a USB chord into the unit and I didn't try driving with this unit hooked to a computer yet so I can't speak for that capability.
Garmin does not make a car power cord with a cigarette adaptor that will fit the base. The only options are to drop another $100 on a car base or modify a motorcycle power chord.
It doesn't seem like it would have been very difficult to make this unit a great multi-vehicle unit but greed got into Garmins way.
The onboard maps don't include recently reconfigured traffic patterns (watch out around Washington D.C.)
In the end I would recommend this unit for motorcyclists as it delivers me where I wanted to go and provided some interesting information along the way.
Customer Review: AMAZON AND GARMIN STANDS UP TO WHAT THEY SAY AND DELIVERS
Summary: 5 Stars
First off let me say the GARMIN ZUMO 450 GPS is GREAT and everything i wanted for my TRIUMPH SPRINT ST MOTORCYCLE, and with the addition of a 4GB SD card i carry over 800 road tunes with me and always know where im going or where im at, but this review is not about GARMIN, everyone knows there reputation of quality and technical support of GPS systems, this is about AMAZON who delivered speedy service and stood good for a mistake they made in there listing and description of the item of what it came with, although it was just one of the reasons i chose amazon to purchase this product along with there great price, this extra accessory made up my mind and made it a better deal than anyone else had, so when i recieved my garmin the extra accessory wasnt in the box, when i called amazon's customer support about the issue and they seen there listing was wrong they stood good for there mistake and sent me the missing accessory at no-charge with next day delivery, now that is customer service from a great company, thank you AMAZON, and for all thats reading this review and looking at the GARMIN ZUMO 450 and mainly if your a bike rider, get you one......you will love it! thanx a million AMAZON and GARMIN and see ya on the road!Customer Review: Very nice unit for bike or car, in the US or abroad
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Garmin Zumo 450 as my first GPS. I had contemplated getting a GPS for years. I've always been a `map guy' and was reluctant to make the leap to GPS. I had plans for a few motorcycle trips this year and saw the Zumo line. I also had a car trip through France planned and when I realized I could buy a France map card for the Zumo, that sealed the deal. I've used the 450 on three motorcycle trips already and just got back from France. The Zumo was a real nice addition. Apart from the navigation, it is handy for looking up places. When in Indy for the F1 race, I wanted to find a bookstore...looked it up in the Zumo. Wanted to see a movie...looked it up in the Zumo and it gave the telephone number so I could call for movie times. The France map card worked great...helping me navigate the maze of Paris and the countryside. I still recommend using a map to cross check. On the downside, I wish the Zumo had elevation. Also, since the added features of the 550 (Bluetooth, etc.) didn't appeal to me, I got the 450. Well, the 550 comes with a car mount which I would have appreciated. Probably would get the 550 the second time around. Bottom line, it is a nice tool. Easy to use, in the car or on the bike.