Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
Customer Review: Hands down best routing, but room for improvement
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been using a Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator for a few years and was interested in adding traffic features, so moving to this model made sense to me. Since these two models are very similar, I have adapted that review for this model, highlighting new features.
NEW FEATURES:
1. Traffic. Before I bought this, I just couldn't find a good explanation of how Garmin's traffic works. I'm going to attempt to fully explain it. Please correct, add, or clarify in the comments if needed.
1a. How it works. On the power cord, there are additional wires that provide antenna functionality and a traffic receiver to get traffic data over the FM band from Navteq. Before you ever think about buying because of the traffic functions, check Navteq for coverage in your area. (Google: navteq traffic coverage)
1b. How traffic is shown. On the main map view, when the traffic receiver is receiving a signal, it shows a two-car icon in the top left. If no traffic problems are known on your route, your car will be green. If moderate slowdowns, the car icon turns yellow; and if traffic jamming, red. It will also show you how long of a delay you can expect. I didn't figure out whether that delay is now included in your time, or you should add it.
1c. Traffic functions. You touch the traffic icon and you get a menu with two or three choices. i) Show traffic/normal map, which will change your normal driving view to show or hide traffic delays (shown as yellow or red lines paralleling the road); ii) Traffic search, which shows you a listing of traffic trouble nearest you along with a green, yellow, or red color; iii) Show traffic on route, which shows you trouble spots that you will run into. Choosing any trouble spot will show you why it is on the list, such as construction, lane closure, slow traffic, etc. If you choose a traffic trouble spot that is on your route, you can choose to avoid it and it will reroute you. I'm not quite sure how to easily compare the original route with traffic and the reroute. I don't think it's easy to do that.
1d. Data accuracy. In my limited testing, I ran into three traffic situations on my routes on three different days in three different areas. The first one I avoided, the second and third, I kept the route and there was no evidence of any traffic problems at all -- totally clear, even though it showed delay times. I think I would need a few months with it to make a good accuracy judgment. I know that each trip I was very quick to use the unit, even when I knew where to go, just to make sure traffic was ok.
1e. Advertisements. Since this have free lifetime traffic, it is paid for by ads. I have seen an ad when I'm search for a POI, when arriving at a destination on the main map screen, in the traffic menus and other areas. It is a small banner-ad-style ad. For me, it's not a deal-breaker, but just FYI!
2. Full street name speaking. I didn't think I needed this before, so I opted for the 205w instead of 255w, but it really seems to help me keep my eyes on the road more instead of looking at the GPS to see how many feet away my turn is.
3. Eco-route. I like this feature a lot. I didn't know it was going to be on here, so it was a nice bonus! This is designed to help you save fuel by giving you information. First you put in your car's MPG city/highway, then the current fuel price. From that point, when you choose a destination, in the preview box that pops open (before you hit Go) it will tell you how much it will cost to get there. That is very cool. You can also calibrate the GPS with the actual amount of gallons you bought for more accurate data (although, you would need to have had the GPS on every mile you drove and it can't adapt for idling, etc. There is also a Driving Challenge icon you can add to your driving screen that will show you, like a video game, how well you are doing in driving economically, particularly focused on your start and stop performance.
4. Voice choices. Unlike the 205w, this does have voice choices. In English, you have Jack and Samantha (US), Karen and Lee (Australia), Daniel and Serena (England). You also have a slew of other languages.
5. Other features. It has bluetooth for hands-free calling. Sorry, I didn't try this, so I cannot speak to it. It has a unit converter for area, currency, distance, speed. It doesn't hurt anything, but I would be surprised if 0.5% of users ever actually use this. I suppose KM to miles on a Canada trip could be useful.
Here is my long list of other pros and cons:
PROS:
1. Best routes. (See my cons) This may be one of the main reasons Garmin dominates in the US -- good routing. Of course, I wish it had more a brain and could think about traffic lights and general traffic in certain areas at certain times (not actual traffic reporting), but I guess needing brains is good. When it comes to non-highway driving, Garmin crushes the competition. Google and TomTom apparently have limited speed limit data for non-main roads, so Garmin has a huge routing advantage. After all, isn't routing way more important than features?
2. Where Am I? (See my cons) This will list your nearest street address. In this screen it also shows altitude and your coordinates.
3. Easy broad map access. You can just touch the map while driving and it will take you to the broad map. You can then touch an area that you want to make a Via Point and change your route that way.
4. Speed Limit sign. You can set it up to show the current speed limit on the screen. It has been super accurate to the instant of a speed limit change in real driving. If the sign is missing on the screen, you also then know that it doesn't really know how to calculate arrival time from the road. You may want to use that information to take or avoid that road on your next trip.
5. Very compact. It is not too much larger than a cell phone.
CONS:
1. Touchscreen. The touchscreen is not as sensitive as I would like. It requires some hard touching.
2. Ball mount. This gives a better range of motion than the mount on my c320, but it feels like I need to push really hard on my GPS unit to get it to snap in. This may change in age, too.
3. Keyboard speed. When I'm typing in a city, street, etc., the keyboard is a full QWERY keyboard, but there are two things I don't like: 1) there is a delay from when you type to when it shows, so if you type fast, you can't see what you're typing, if you make a mistake, you don't see if very fast; 2)the spacebar is tiny and way off to the right, while dumb menus are in the bottom middle -- very annoying!!
4. Charging cord. On one of my old Garmin models, the c320, the charging cord would plug into the mount and there wasn't a charge jack in the GPS unit itself. This was nice because you could leave the power cord in the mount all the time and take the GPS with you - you never had to plug in, just clip the GPS in and out. Now, the power cord won't stay put and it falls out the door, etc. because it must be plugged into the back of the GPS. I suppose with the mount the way it is, it's not possible to have a jack in the mount and GPS, but I think they should work on that.
5. Current road. This only shows you what road to turn onto next, but not the road you are on. I know that at least some TomTom models show what road you are currently on and what the next road to turn onto was.
6. Routing pet peeve. Sometimes I won't want to take its routing because I know of a better way. Let's say I turn off of the normal route -- it will recalculate and have a shorter time than before I turned. What's up with that? Why didn't it take me that way to begin with?
6. Routing choices. I don't like the fact that I can choose either Fastest Time or Shortest Route. I would imagine that some of the time, the best route would be in between those to extremes. I also wish you could have some intuitive route experimentation. Google Maps on a full computer has some amazing grab-a-point-on-your-route-and-drag-it-somewhere-else.
7. Missing POIs. There are just so many cases where I'll be looking for something and it's not in the Garmin -- even for stores and restaurants open for years. I know you'll have this will all GPS units, but for the #1 seller in the US, can't they figure out a way to get the users involved? How about incentives for users to fix problems online and give them discounts on map updates? If you have the best maps and POIs by far, why would anyone buy any other company?
8. Tinny speaker. In my 205w, I'm not impressed with the speaker, it is much worse sounding than the deep c320, but you can hear it.
9. Nearest intersection. This is within the "Where Am I" place in the menu. It could be very useful in an emergency to have the nearest intersection in addition to the nearest address. However, I've found that they should have labeled it, "random intersection within a few miles." It will generally show me a major intersection, and sometimes ignore dozens of closer small intersections that would be much more beneficial to the police, fire, ambulance, etc.
10. Volume. I hate how they have the volume setup. On the c320 there was a wheel on the side of the unit -- that's best. On the TomTom, there was a place on the main driving screen that you touched and then moved the volume slider. On this 265W, you must hit Menu, Volume, move it, then back, then View Map. This is just awful. I want a Mute button on the driving screen and a separate volume button there, too. This is widescreen after all. I hope this doesn't cause accidents, because I think it will. When I answer my phone, I want fast access to mute!
11. Need customization! Let me choose 3 shortcut buttons for the driving map view. That way I can put Where Am I, Volume, and POI on the main screen. Please!! I also want to change my route color to red instead of light purple.
13. POI choices. This is something I've never found a GPS that does this how I want it. If I'm looking for gas or food, it is usually on a long trip. If I want to go to fast food, let's say (that wouldn't happen!), I would choose Restaurant, Fast Food. It will show me all the restaurants by how far they are from me now. That's not what I want, so I choose Near...My Current Route. That's closer to what I want, but it still shows how far it is from where I am now. I want it to show me that, but also how far I'd have to deviate from my route.
Overall, this is an excellent unit and I would recommend it to a friend. I believe the Pros outweigh the Cons and no competitor has yet beat it. However, if you don't need the features mentioned at the top of the review, so with the 205w to save some cash.
Customer Review: Did not like the fact it frequently misdirect you, the rest is avg.
Summary: 3 Stars
Chapter One: This is not my first Garmin or GPS for that matter, the somehow absurde policy that prices maps higher than the hardware + maps combo, induced me (or rather I should say forced me) to buy several GPS (almost one in every country I frequently visit). Got one for Italy and one for France (because Europe is awkwardly split in two half with no logical cultural grouping of similar and seldom jointly visited countries) and this one, the 265WT that I recently bought for USA. All this hardware just in order to get the corresponding map at a lower price. Talking about unnecessary affluence. It would be like a Software company making easier (cheaper) for you to buy a new computer with their software than the software alone. Imagine having a different PC (or Mac) for every software that you use, is it crazy or what? First question: why do I have to buy a new hardware instead of just being able to get new maps at the same or lower price? Garmin should review it's policy and decrease it's carbon footprint and costs at the same time. Also maps should be available for download from the Internet, in some countries (i.e. Italy) they are only available on Memory Cards or DVD. If you are in unknown territory and you need a map, who can wait for the DVD or SD Card to arrive in the mail? and where? maybe at the nice hotel where you are staying today but that you are leaving tomorrow? Supposedly if you need a GPS you are on the move and therefore not stationary at all.
Chapter Two: The GPS review. I sure liked the price, the big screen, the user friendly software that makes this GPS (as well as all the others that I've known from Garmin) quite easy to use. It has been almost one year since I bought my previous Garmin and sure I was expecting some evolution in the software, some new feature and function, or at least a redesign of the interface, that looks and feel quite boring and somehow old. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm quite happy with the interface because it's simple, direct, user friendly, intuitive, well laid out and very efficient in terms of getting you to the menu or screen you need in the shortest possible number of clicks (or should I say touches), but at the same time, w/o loosing these valuable characteristics one should expect something more from the people who were able to design such a nice interface. We are now in 2010 and there are phones that have much modern and sophisticated displays than the Garmin (not talking fancy stuff here, but just something a bit more up to date with the times and the possibilities that technology offers today).
Chapter Three: On the negative side (and I was driving in downtown Miami, not in the middle of the desert) actual street navigation and the set of directions you receive from the set is occasionally awkward and let's you make completely unnecessary detour from the street you are on, just to get back on it a few blocks down. Why I don't know? If it is because it looses satellite reference and get lost, even for few seconds (climate was good, no clouds, overcasts or electric storms in view, don't know about UFO) or it's just a software (navigation) glitch (like in the Matrix), but I've experienced a few clearly nonsensical misdirecting instructions that I become aware of because the following instructions got me back where I was, just a few blocks down (please note that these unnecessary detours were not suggested by the GPS because of traffic nor roadworks). Another area of complaint is mapping and accuracy in delivering you to the desired address. I had many areas like malls parking lots or malls entrances not mapped, so when you are trying to reach lets say the Bloom...dale entrance of the whatever Mall in Miami you receive no clue from the unit. Pre installed POIs are also somehow scarce and not updated; yes I know you can get those online but one should expect that when you buy a new unit it should come with more and up to date POIs already installed. Back to mapping I did not expect to find each and every backyard of the Country mapped, but major Shopping Center and other similar places should be on the map with at least some degree of detail instead of appearing like a big featureless gray area. I also experienced some kind of imprecision in getting to the aforementioned undisclosed Mall as the unit was telling me I was already there while I was still several blocks away.
Chapter Four: Misc. Other issues concerns:
1. Intersection Panic. The unit does not do a really good job at exits (especially multiple exits) and intersections. It made me get off at the wrong exit or miss my exit several times. It is just impossible to clearly see on the screen which is the right exit especially when there is more than one. What I recommend is to get you eyes off the screen and on the road signs (they're much better at telling you where to go), but then why do I have a GPS if it's not helping me in this area. Also it does not warn you when you are on a lane that is going to become an exit, at least not until you already took it and are no more on the right path. Quite annoying.
2. Is the suggested road really the best one? On known roads I often wondered why is making me follow a certain path to go there, when I know that it is not the best or fastest one. Also if you repeatedly travel the same road to go from A to B, lets say every day from your house to your office or any other favorite for that matter, and you chose not to follow the direction because you happen to know this is a better route or shortcut, why can't the Garmin learn that that's the road you wanna travel and continues to annoy you with "recalculating"? There is so much more that these machines could do based on the technology we have, and they're limited to operate in a quite dumb way. The traffic avoidance feature, that by the way I could not try because I never encountered any traffic on my way, it's a starting point to make these machines a little more intelligent, but there is much to be done to get there.
Chapter Five: Conclusions. Not a bad GPS all together and quite cheap for what it offers. With some winding and looping will get you there 80% of the time, and if you don't know where you are, you wont even probably notice the occasional mistakes it makes. Although not perfect, better with it than w/o it. Hope Garmin will understand the key to success is improving maps and software, make them your core business not the hardware (hardware is unimportant, it can be manufactured under specifications in any third world country, software is king, learn from Apple).
I would like to see improvement in accuracy, exits management and a more modern redesign of the interface w/o loosing its preset efficiency; also the addition of some new features (by the way did not try the bluetooth yet), would be greatly appreciated. Please populate more the existing POIs by tapping into local resources widely available worldwide.
My final verdict is... for the price you pay you can buy it, as long as you accept to live with some degree of imperfection that comes with it. As I said there is room for improvement, but it's better than fighting with your wife over a paper map.
Customer Review: Oh! How I Miss My Nuvi 350!
Summary: 2 Stars
Well, just under three months of using the nuvi 265WT, and I returned it to Costco. For the first time Garmin has let me down. I am truly disappointed - the first out of 6 Garmins I have owned (fitness watches 301, and now 305; Street Pilot 330; Nuvi 350; eTrex Vista, and this 265WT). I gave it every opportunity to come through, to deliver on the promise of an improved nuvi, but nearly every aspect of this unit is a step behind my dear, departed (gave it away!) nuvi 350:
1. Confounding Interface - As an example, they moved the custom POI from the Favorites, down another level to EXTRAS. Why? In the 350, selecting Favorites gave a list of Recently Selected, Saved Favorites, and Custom POIs, if there were any installed. You now have to go to another level, on the second screen (page down) for EXTRAS, and the only extra is Custom POIs. Why?
2. Exasperating Interface - It always annoyed me (even on my 350) that there was no quick way to get back to the main menu, or the map, after having to do a menu dive for POIs or, even worse, entering an address. "BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK." Until you hit the main menu and are able to select "Display Map." Now, if you are programming a multiple stop trip, you have to enter the first destination, wait for the trip to calculate, and then begin to go back through the menus to add the next destination. Once again, "BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK" through the menus. But now, there is a trip in progress, and down in the lower left corner of the main menu screen, the same place that the BACK button was, is the STOP button. Hit that corner one too many times, and your trip is cancelled - start again. Exasperating.
3. Traffic - this was THE primary reason for me to upgrade. The free traffic reports directly to your GPS. I travel 90 minutes one way on my commute. A lot of roads and good traffic reports are my best friend. And reports on radio are not good - you have to wait 10-15 minutes for them to come up, and then they are 20-30 minutes behind. I was hoping the real time updates to my GPS would be the ticket. And they would be IF THEY WERE EVER RIGHT. I know many people out here have said they are great. My trip entails the Garden State Parkway, and sometimes the New Jersey Turnpike. Two major roads in a major metropolitan area. The traffic reports are so bad, I simply ignore them. I stopped getting mad because the reports were wrong; I now get mad when they are right. Which is RARE. To those readers living in NJ, try the NJ 511 service. 511 from your cell phone, and you get the most current traffic reports. Fantastic; it has taken the place of radio and the nuvi.
4. Sudden Muting - I turn on the GPS, and no sound. I have to go to volume, adjust the volume (up or down, it doesn't matter) and then the muting ends. This happens regularly. Others have reported the same problem.
5. Helium Voice - Every once and awhile, the GPS stop responding. Touch the screen and it slowly comes out of a "slumber" - only to awaken with lungs full of helium. They voice has turned high-pitched. Only a hard reset will fix it.
6. Bluetooth problems - if you setup a connection to your Bluetooth cell phone, but the phone is not in range when you turn on the GPS, you get a connection failure message (for example, I get in the car, start up the GPS, go back into the house to get something and come back out after the GPS has started). No problem. Menu dive DEEP into system settings to set up the connection. The GPS will lock up EVERYTIME. I have learned that I just do not turn on the GPS until I know my phone will stay in range.
7. Strange Direction Changes - I go home the same way everyday, along the GSP. The only way is by NJ 208. Typically, the 265WT will correctly send me down 208 to NJ 4 and then the GSP. But strangely, every once and awhile, it will send me down back roads, through Patterson NJ. Or at least try to. I know enough now to simply pass that instructed turn off and it will re-calculate. Originally I thought it was because Navigation setting had "Avoid Traffic" as the default. (Which in and of itself is a problem - why would that be the default, especially when "Avoid Traffic" is an option when reviewing traffic reports). But it is not the problem - I long ago set that option off. That route, even on the best of days, is at least 10 minutes longer, although a few miles shorter (and no, I do not have the GPS set to SHORTEST ROUTE).
8. Advertisements - I do not mind the ads, and I understand they pay for the "free" traffic reports. But I have, over the 3 months I owned the 265WT, seen the same ad - Best Western! That's it! 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, and the same lousy ad over and over. And it pops up all over the place, not just when you are on the map looking at the directions. Do a search - there's an ad; select a POI - there's an ad; check the settings - there's an ad. The ONLY ad. Best Western. And, to my mind, selecting the ad should make it disappear. I saw the ad, selected it, read it, now GO AWAY. Nope - keeps popping up. Over and over and over again.
What can I say, up to this unit, I loved my Garmins. Before I sprung for this GPS, I considered just keeping my trusty 350 and updating the maps. But the lure of wide screens, bluetooth and traffic reports vs. spending $60 for a map upgrade, well, I sprung for the new. And gave away my 350. And regret that decision.
Hey, there area lot of 4-5 star reviews for this GPS, some by first time Garmin or GPS owners, some by long timers. Maybe there was a problem with mine unit, but based upon the feedback read here about similar problems, I think not.
Some might say, why not contact Garmin support? Well, the reason is, if there was a problem, they would want the unit for repair/replace. The problems:
1. I pay for shipping
2. I am out a GPS until they repair or replace
3. The replacement is almost ALWAYS a refurb - trade my brand new unit for a repaired? I don't think so
4. Costco has a great return policy - no questions, 90 days. If I exchange it, I get a new unit, or I can return it for a full refund. Which is what I did - get a refund.
I have my money back, no nuvi 350, and I am searching again for a new GPS. The 755 looks tempting, but I see similar problems with THAT unit too! I may have to go to the dark side - and consider TomTom or Magellan. I hope there is a Garmin out there that fits the bill.
Customer Review: Great GPS but Traffic Unreliable
Summary: 4 Stars
I will start by saying this is my first GPS, so I don't have anything to compare it, too. I did a fair amount of initial research, but eventually focused on this model versus the Navigon 7200T, since both offered free traffic reports. I eventually chose the Garmin based on somewhat more favorable reviews/ratings, especially for the points of interest, which are apparently much more numerous on the Garmin.
I got the GPS right before the holidays and used it for a trip from Philadelphia to South Carolina, with some stops in Virginia. It definitely proved its worth during the trip.
PROS:
Navigation - For the most part it picked pretty good routes both along the highways and within the towns I stopped in. The maps were pretty accurate and seemed recent. On the trip home, which was a straight shot from S.C. to Philly, it took me through Washington, D.C., rather than around it. This was the most direct route, and since it was late on a Saturday night it was fine, but had it been during the day, especially the week, I think the traffic would have been horrendous and caused a significant delay. So it seems that it gives you the most direct route without taking into account possible traffic problems. A couple other times during the trip I had tried using the detour feature to get a different route, but it seemed to give me only one option, which I couldn't figure out how to customize. However, I admittedly didn't play with that feature very much.
POIs - My favorite feature was the points of interest. These came in handy many times, especially during stops in Virginia when I needed to find a place to stay or eat. There were definitely a good amount of choices programmed into the unit.
Bluetooth - I had no problem hooking up the GPS with my phone (a Verizon LG VX8300). The only negative was that it did not load my address book . But it was great to have hands-free calling while I was driving by just hitting a button on the touch screen whenever I got a call. It was also convenient when I was looking for a restaurant at which to eat dinner. The restaurant's phone number was listed with the location information, and with my phone connected to it I just had to hit a button to automatically dial the number to make reservations. I had no problem with voice quality...I could hear people just fine and, as far as I could tell, they didn't have much difficulty hearing me.
Voice/Display - Both the voice prompts and the display text and maps were easy to understand and follow. I was even impressed with how it correctly pronounced some tough words. The interface was very user friendly and easy to navigate through.
Hardware - The suction cup mount worked great with no problems. It also comes with a power cable for the cigarette lighter, which doubles as the FM traffic antenna (so you can't get traffic reports unless you have it hooked up).
CONS:
Traffic - I would have given this unit 5 stars if it weren't for the disappointing traffic feature. Despite reading several reviews saying it was a competent feature, during my trip there were huge areas (notably on I-95 between Wash., D.C. and Richmond) where I got absolutely no traffic signal. It was gone in most of North Carolina (on I-85), too. And on the way home I didn't get one in most of Delaware, either, though I did have it on the way down. I assume there are just areas where the signal is bad. I would have thought maybe it was just interference if it wasn't lacking in the same large area on both the trip there and back. Perhaps even more disappointing is that when I did get traffic, it was ridiculously inaccurate. I would constantly get little yellow areas on my map saying there were 1 or 2 minute delays, and then breeze through those areas with no delay whatsoever. The two times I did hit big delays, the Garmin gave me no warning (though one time may have been due to a recent accident, so the system probably hadn't been updated yet). I would probably recommend going for the cheaper version without the free traffic unless you really need it. As for the little text ads that pop up (the price you pay for free traffic...you don't get them on the Navigon), they were very unobtrusive. So much so that I don't think I'd give the Navigon any extra points for not having them.
Waypoints - A few times I picked a 2nd point of interest to stop at on my way to my main destination. The Garmin got me there just fine. But it doesn't seem to be programmed to tell you that you've arrived and then wait. Maybe this is tough to program into it, but basically I'd get near my waypoint, and then it would tell me to turn around, trying to guide me back to my main route (often before I even actually reached the waypoint). It could get confusing as I wasn't always sure if I had passed the waypoint and it was trying to get me back to it, or if it was just assuming I was done and wanted to head back to my original destination. Since I've never had a GPS before, I don't know if this is common or not.
Lack of Lane Assist - This would have been the biggest selling point (for me) for the Navigon, and at times I wish I had this feature. It would have helped on some unfamiliar highways where it wasn't always exactly clear which lane to get into. However, the Garmin usually gave prompt warnings early enough, and I don't really penalize it for not having Lane Assist. Just something to consider if you're comparing it with other units.
Lack of Pinpoint Accuracy - This may not be that big a deal, and perhaps most GPS units have this issue, but it seems to think my house is about half a block from where it really is. It was more of an issue when I was trying to find a motel, as it was giving me confusing directions because it thought the motel was in a slightly different place. Motels have pretty noticeable signs, but if you're trying to find an unfamiliar place that's not well-marked, this could be a problem.
Overall I think this is a very good GPS and both helpful and easy to use. It has lots of nice features and the only real negative is the disappointingly inaccurate and unreliable traffic feature. Other than that, it's great to have along in the car.
Customer Review: A GODSEND IN SOME WAYS, WACK CITY IN OTHERS
Summary: 3 Stars
I notice that discussion forums on this product are jammed with users concerned about whether their Garmin is really the 265WT or just a 265W. I got mine and started thinking the same thing--that it did not have the traffic feature because it was directing me INTO traffic jams. It was a week before its voice start alerting me, belatedly, with "traffic ahead" (the first time it alerted, I could already see the problem ahead.) That same day, a message appeared on the screen saying that it needed a traffic software update, so at that point I realized that it really was a WT. The traffic feature has not been particularly useful. It was also a week before any of the popup ads showed up; they are not obtrusive, however.
It is not as smart as Columbus, who knew that sometimes you have to go west first in order to go east. Sometimes the most efficient route is not the shortest, but the Garmin insists on taking the shortest route no matter how many red lights get in the way, even though I have it set on "Faster Time" instead of "Shorter Distance" (it also has a "Less Fuel" setting). The other day, I went over to the freeway before turning the Garmin on, then told it I wanted to go downtown, and, even though its map showed my correct location as being at the freeway, it wanted me to turn around and drive all the way back past where I had started, and have me take the annoying route that it always wants me to take from my house. Traffic jams will make it tell you to take an odd route; the problem is, you don't know if there's a traffic jam or if it is just being a Garmin. Garmin needs to hire someone with a genuine intellect to modify its routing algorithm. Way up there on the list of what it needs is to have would be a "NO" button, so you can decline its route suggestions and have it calculate an alternate route.
Its pronunciation takes getting used to. I had to change my post office entry "USPS" to "Post Office" because I could not understand--or stand--the way it was trying to pronounce USPS.
Its nomenclature is bizarre. It likes to tell you to exit on the highway you are already on instead of using the name of the exit. Instead of telling you to take the West Road exit, for example, it will tell you to take the Beltway 8 exit, which there are dozens of, so if you didn't know where you were, you would also have to look at the screen to make sure you were at the right place. There are times when, even when there are no ramps or exits, it will tell you to take the road that you are already on. When you get to your destination, it will tell you to "navigate off road," which is a strange way of putting it. For my residence in Houston, it has suddenly decided that I can get home directly off of a nearby major street instead of having to use the side street, which would technically be possible, but would involve driving through a parking lot, a fence, and a yard, so there are some glitches in its "maps."
You can trust its maps, but not its voice. When I'm going to the southwest side of town, it will tell me to take the US 59 North exit, when the actual exit ramp eventually splits into US 59 North and US 59 South exits. It never tells you to take the South exit; what it does is, after you have gotten on the split, at the last minute it will tell you to "keep right," which is correct, but if you had been listening only to its voice and not knowing where you were going, you could very easily have thought that you ought to have been on the left in order to get on 59 North.
It does lie sometimes. You have to know where you're going and have a sense of where you are to be able to know when to ignore it completely. I'm waiting to see in the news about court cases where the defendants will plead not guilty to traffic violations because their Garmins were telling them to drive over esplanades or go the wrong way on a street.
The user interface is non-intuitive, and takes a little getting used to. One annoyance is that there's no overwrite feature if you want to reset a favorite. I usually remove mine and take it into stores with me--(it attracts car burglars, since the burglars think it's a sign of wealth)--and if I forget to turn it on until the next destination, it will take a while to acquire the satellite data, which has resulted in me adding a new favorite with the wrong gps info, which means that to correct it, I had to re-enter everything later and save it a second time. That lag in acquiring satellite signal is also noticeable during driving, during inclement weather. It would be nice to be able to set a default city instead of having to re-enter the city, which is a little bit of a hassle, each time you want to select a new destination by entering an address. It would be nice to know whether it wants you to take a wacky route because of traffic or lights, or because the people who programmed it didn't do their jobs right.
It is a Godsend if you forget what the speed limit is, which can happen on long trips. Note that it does not update with school zone speed limits, so don't blame your Garmin if you speed through a school zone. It doesn't know all the speed limits, though, such as those on state highways in Arkansas that have been unchanged for decades. It is also a Godsend when you can't see the street signs or if there are no street signs: you always know what the road coming up is. It is also a Godsend if you are looking for a particular street so you won't have to annoy the people behind you by slowing down at each crossroad to wonder "is that it?" You will probably see traffic jams faster than your Garmin, and you can exit anywhere with confidence that no matter which way you turn, the Garmin will (usually) tell you how to get through. It's certainly more convenient than pulling over and looking at a map.
It is useful in the fog, which, of course, you don't want to drive in, but if fog appears, the Garmin is extremely useful to tell you which way the road is getting ready to curve.