Garmin Streetpilot C550 2.1-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
|
List Price: Our Price: $299.00 You Save: $100.99 (25%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $59.99 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Streetpilot C550 2.1-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: new to GPS, works great
Summary: 5 Stars
I am new to the GPS world and have always thought owning one would be a good idea. I shopped around and found the best price on this model and ordered mine. Rec'd quickly and once I had it, took no time to set up. Attached mount to windshield, plugged in TMS receiver, and away I went. I also use the Bluetooth functionality and it works great. I use this every day on my daily commute and the traffic feature has helped me to avoid a massive tie up within a week of purchase. The traffic feature is handy when you are either approaching a tie up, or are already in it. I was already in it because as soon as I entered the highway it was jammed up. The unit told me that there was accident 8 miles ahead and that there were 3 different traffic warning due to this accident. I used the detour feature to have the unit send me off the highway. The alternate route was slower and the unit warned me of this, but at least I was moving when I took the alternate route.
I used this in NJ on a recent trip and was surprised that it did not suggest the route that I was taking. The unit wanted me to go on local roads at times instead of the main interstate. I didn't listen and "she" quickly figured out I was going a different way and caught up with me by recalculating the route. There was a confusing interchange just before the Lincoln tunnel and I surely would have been lost without "her".
Highly recommended.
Customer Review: C550 intial review
Summary: 4 Stars
My biggest concern before buying the C550 was whether it would work with my new Motorola Verizon E815 cel phone. I searched all over and other than Garmin's site having it not listed as a comaptible device, I took a chance as the unit is so new there were no posts. The only posts I found were people who had issues with Verizon phones not working very well with the Garmin (or any Bluetooth device for that matter other than headsets) as verizon cripples their Bluetooth phones.
Bottom line, the Verizon Motorola E815 seems to work fine... Bluetooth pairing, address book import, voice dialing, calling, receiving calls all seem to work. Amazing considering it's Verizon.
The only gripes I have with the C550 (after owning an original TomTom Go) is not having a compass on the map, having to dive into the menus to scroll the map, no in unit data transfer to/from an SD card, setting a "home location" not obvious, no extra voices (yet), no full Mac implementation (yet - just can see C550 as a drive), not being able to see the whole route easily, no included AC charger, limited customized options, and cartoony car icons (I'm using the arrows).
However, it outshines the TomTom Go in every other way. Great audio volume, bright screen, terrific Bluetooth implementation, traffic (we'll see how that works in real use later), more accurate maps (Navteq vs. TeleAtlas), seemingly better POIs and many more.
Customer Review: great when it works
Summary: 2 Stars
Before I get into this, let me just say that we use the C550 daily and love the features/functionality......when they work.
Here's a short list of features with "features":
Bluetooth connectivity is inconsistent, but mostly problematic. When it works, it works all day, when it doesn't, might as well turn bluetooth off and save your battery. Most days (like 9 out of 10), bluetooth will disconnect continuously when using motorola razor or blackberry phones. These rarely found phones are NOT on Garmin's compatibility list...so guess that's my problem.
Text to speech is ridiculous....you would think that the abbreviation "Dr." would be assumed as "drive" in the context of a street name....instead, the text to speech says "doctor"...same goes for several other abbreviations, like "hwy". Noteable lack of quality control on garmin's behalf.
Although I'd rate the navigation engine very good overall, there are times when the system gets "stubborn" and insists on a specific track, even if it lengthens the trip by dozens of kilometers and would increase travel time by at least an hour. Although there seems to be a good accounting of one-way streets, there is no noticeable accounting for restricted turns (i.e. no left turn).
Other than that....I'm happy with the C550
Customer Review: Impressed!
Summary: 5 Stars
I rented this GPS through AVIS while away visiting family. Garmin puts Avis only "where 2" brand on it.. but the software and the back of the GPS call it a c550. I put 750 miles on in 3 days and used this GPS the entire time.
My first GPS was an old garmin streetpilot III. They have fixed everything wrong with the old one. There was no "lag" as I navigated between screens. Touchscreen worked better than the one on my iphone. Maps were accurate and up to date... even in areas that I know had recent construction.
GPS took less than 10 seconds to find sattellite... My older GPS units sometimes took 20+ minutes.
The traffic feature was obviously turned on. It warned me of "heavy/slow traffic" a few times... and all but one it was correct. It also told me my new estimated time of arrival taking the slow traffic in mind... and sure enough.. it was accurate.
My last two cars have had GPS built into them. However, I'm thinking of actually purchasing this one as I find myself renting cars alot more these days.
I even turned on the bluetooth feature and had a handsfree conversation or two.
Best of all about this unit... I NEVER even looked at the instructions. Granted, I have used a GPS before.. but it's very simple.
Good Job Garmin!
Customer Review: Features justify the price.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my second Garmin GPS unit. I previously owned a Garmin Streepilot III which I absoulutely loved but unfortunately it got stolen.
As usual, the routing is outstanding and very accurate. The routing even routes past accidents and traffic jams if the FM Traffic service is activated !
The good:
1. Text to speech
2. Bluetooth - very good quality (Check garmin's site for compatible phones)
3. Suction mount works flawlessly
4. FM Traffic receiver
5. MP3 player - works well (For sound effects, suggest buying a $15 Belkin FM Transmitter rather than paying extra $$$ for the units with a transmitter) - check coverage in your are
6. Fast searches
7. Long battery life
The not so good:
1. No ability to add via points ( the sp3 had this as a feature added by garmin via a update so am hoping this will be added later as a software update)
2. Unable to preprogram routes and save them.
3. Just enough bulky to not fit into your pocket.
4. FM service is extra $60 for 15 months after the first 3 months
I would recommend this unit over all the other Garmin units as the price and features are well balanced. This is all you will ever need to be able to go from point A to B and anywhere in between.