Garmin StreetPilot c330 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin StreetPilot c330 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: It does as advertised and well
Summary: 5 Stars
After reviewing the manuals and testing the Lowrance Iway 500, the Magelian, the Tom Tom and the Garmin C330, I purchased a C330. And now after 3 months of use I still believe I got the biggest bang for my bucks.
Although the unit will not give you all the same information as promised by other units, it is a breeze to operate. You learn and feel comfortable with the system is almost immediately The information it provides is more then what you would normally need for finding your way from point A to point B. I have always found the information easy to access and very accurate. Yes, on ocassion, I have found faster ways to get to a destination simply because I knew the local traffic patterns, road conditions, or just a new way that was available within the last few months. But, my C330 never let me down and always got me to my stated destination -- in some cases faster then I thought was possible with a better route. I have used my C330 locally (South Carolina) and on trips to New England, the Mid West and South West and it has not failed me once.
As previously stated I have not had any trouble with the unit to date but the winsheld mounting bracket had a loose pin that gave me problems. One email to Garmin and that was expediently taken care of. And, if you put you email address on Garmin's site for automatic notification of software updates you find out the minute an improvement in made. I could not ask for better service.
Even my computer challenged wife has taken to it quickly and wants to claim squatters rights. So, now I am in the market for another GPS. There is not much more I could possibly ask in total overall value for the money I paid.
I just wish Garmin would update the the 1620 PDS CF card unit so I could use my PDA with the same ease. The Garmins PDA's are second rate not having WiFi and only the expensive M5 comes with Blue Tooth and ... both have old technology processors. The WiFi GPS receiver offered by Garmin for PDA(s) is another powersource you have to contend with as well as a place to put it ..... easy to forget in a rented or 2nd car. The M5 software is more extensive, harder to use and has a longer learning curve. The M3 just does not have the features built into the PDA to make it a must have item. An updated 1620 with c330 software features would be a dream machine.
Customer Review: VERY SATISFIED
Summary: 5 Stars
********First things first, i must say that this is the only GPS unit i have used so i have no point of reference********
*********I bought this in September of 2007*********
I first to decided buy a GPS unit because of my new job. I am a college admissions counselor and during my first travel season, i was required to visit over 80 high schools and about 15 college fairs. After doing some research (mostly on cnet, amazon, and circuit city), I decided to go with the C330 because of expert reviews, user reviews, cost, and the features.I must say, this unit made my job SO EASY.
I was able to easily find all but two locations without any problems. The high schools and colleges were already programmed into the GPS so i didnt even have to worry about typing in addresses. The ones I was not able find are diffucult to find anyway, according to people i spoke with. My job does include some downtime but i was able to find movie theaters, golf courses, restaurants, malls, and much more, with no problems. I was also easily able to figure out how long it would take for me to get to my next destination. This unit also allows for me to type in a specific location and then easily look for different points of interest in that area.
Initially, my girlfriend thought i was wasting my money. She didnt see the need for the unit. That soon changed when i showed her all it could do. SHe has relied on it on many occasions to get to places. She is not the most tech savvy person but was able to use the C330 with no problems. She now loves having the GPS around and has no complaints.
With all that being said, there are a few cons about this unit, including;
*The maps are not the most up to date but are still fairly new.
*Sometimes the routes chosen by the unit are not the most efficient but not a major issue, i never had any problems getting to my destinations and was never late to scheduled appointments and events
*The unit does take a few minutes to warm up (find current location of GPS)
THe pros of this GPS definitely outweigh the cons. I was looking at many entry level GPS systems and am glad i bought this one. If and when i do finally decided to upgrade, it will be another Garmin for me.
Customer Review: A GREAT GPS BY ANY STANDARDS
Summary: 5 Stars
At $310, The Garmin 330 is a HUGE bargain. I know several people with several different brands of GPS, some of which cost significantly more money, and upon inspection, I kept coming back to the 330. It has all the features you could possibly want and it's so easy to use!
Some people hear the term GPS and are immediately inimidated. Well I'll tell you, there is nothing intimidating about this unit. It is extremely user friendly! Amply sized screen (which was a big issue for me), two color scheme's, for day & night driving, touch screen, large, easy to read fonts and icons, loud voice commands, a total pleasure. The mounting bracket, which was also a big concern of mine, is top notch as well. It's extremely sturdy; once affixed to the windshield, the suction cup will not give until you remove it.
I'm a police officer and use the 330 to navigate the New York City suburbs; I've yet to stump this unit's software. It's taken me to every location I've asked it to, even when the house numbers are horribly out of order. I can't wait to take it into Manhattan!
I took my family to the Bronx Zoo over the Christmas holiday and although I didn't know the address, getting there couldn't have been any easier. I simply punched in "Bronx Zoo" and the 330 found the address for me. Note: I've been there several times so I'm familiar with the route from my house to the zoo but figured, let's see how the 330 would take me. Not only was I introduced to a new way to navigate the Bronx, but I made it there faster than I ever have.
One thing I did notice though, at first, I found myself driving a bit slower than I normally would. That was to ensure I don't overshoot a turn or exit I have to make. As far as I'm concerned, driving slower is a good thing, especially when there's kids in the car. At first, you may have to tune out outside influences and concentrate on the readout and what the unit is telling you but with use, you'll get a feel of how, and at what rate the unit gives commands and will be able to navigate more comfortably.
I got this unit for Christmas and after around a month's use, I can't find a single negative thing to say about it. If you're considering a GPS, the 330 is a great choice.
Customer Review: It Could Have Been A Five- Excellent Customer Service
Summary: 4 Stars
Update: 9/13/06 - Excellent customer service if you are willing to wait online for 30+ minutes -- My unit is perfect -- suction cupdidn't hold on the windshield nor on the disk provided for the dashboard. They are sending me another mounting device at no charge.
Original review August 2006:
Received the unit just in time for a trip to the mountains. Enclosed instructions incomplete and hard to decipher for a first-time GPS user. Contents in package not labeled or described -- you are on your own to figure out what the disk with the red bulls eye might be used for. Plugged it into the cigarette lighter and attached the suction cup to the windshield as instructed, turned the unit on and it worked perfectly, right out of the box. The suction cup mounting failed every time soon after attachment, no matter which part of the windshield to which it was attached. Finally decided that there had to be a better way to mount this.
On the way, two hours into our trip, holding the GPS because it wasn't sticking to the windshield, a low battery indicator came on, despite the unit being plugged into the cigarette lighter (not the source of the problem). Finally, the screen went blank and wouldn't come back on, obviously, this unit was either defective or not charging.
At our destination, I figured out that the black disk with the red bulls eye was actually a platform upon which to attach the suction cup of the unit to the dashboard. Unit inoperable, but attached.
Got back home after trip, called Garmin. After 50 minutes on hold (thankfully I have a speaker phone) a technician had me connect the unit with my computer & the USB cable. He informed me that my unit could be charged through the USB cable (not in the instruction book or the online download manual). We figured out that the charging cable for the Garmin & cigarette lighter connection was defective. Garmin sending replacement cable --which I am now awaiting.
Garmin's website with FAQ's didn't address queries including "low battery", "blank screen", and so forth.
I can report that during the two hours it did work, it was marvelous.
Customer Review: Nicely Done, Garmin!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Garmin C330 is a well designed, easy to use GPS. It does not offer all the bells and whistles of the Garmin 2620 or Magellan RM700, for example - but the C330 offers simplicity and quality in a nice neat package. The advantages of the C330:
- The display is awesome - high resolution with good contrast.
- No buttons! Everything, except volume and power, is controlled by the touch screen.
- The software is fast; route calculations take just a few seconds.
- After the initial lock, this little unit locks on very quickly after powering up.
- The internal battery is terrific; you can do your route planning indoors without looking for an AC receptacle, and you can leave the unit on during a rest stop on your trip to preserve trip data. Battery life is 3 to 4 hours.
- The OS is super intuitive.
- The 3D view is simple to follow, but the map view is excellent, also.
- Navigation performance is excellent.
- Speakers are built in, with excellent sound quality.
- Windshield mount is small, sturdy and simple.
- The unit is small enough that it won't obstruct your view.
- The power cord is hardwired to the windshield mount - no plug to contend with.
A few disadvantages I've noticed:
- The battery is not user replaceable
- The C330 cannot save a route. But this is not a big deal. When you start up after a stop, you just have it calculate the route to your destination, which takes just seconds - or just leave it on if your stop doesn't exceed 3 to 4 hours.
- The display can get washed out in direct light on a bright day - but I expect that is common to all GPS units.
- As I mentioned, it doesn't have the bells and whitles of the 2630 or RM 700. For example, you can't monitor satellite signal strength from indiviual satellites. you can't determinen your lat/long position, and as I mentioned, you can't save routes in the C330. And you can't program it for several different users like you can with the RM700.
But all in all, the C330 is a winner. It's simple to operate, well designed, very effective, and reasonably priced. It's a strong buy!