Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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Our Price: $444.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days 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 nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Outdated maps,, which is the essence of a GPS, isnt it?
Summary: 2 Stars
After so much research, I bought this item and was terribly dissapointed when I tried to use it in New Jersey.. First, its a world renowned fact that there is no LEFT turn in New Jersy,, but this little dangerous unit asked me to take a left turn on Route 1!! Also, it called New Jersey Turnpike another name, showed roads which existed 10 years ago, took me to places I had no clue where I was and turned me few times around a shopping complex when I could clearly see where I couldve entered without wasting my time. In Washington, Issaquah area,, the map shows me I am off the highway on a service road ( that doesnt exist) when I was on Hwy90 going West. To me defence, I did try to update the maps and it told me there was no updates available. I even bought the MSN subscription,, which was okay but not giving me traffic information when I am driving,, rather I had to go to MSN menu ( while driving) to look for traffic information what a joke!! I tried to save a location and it took me a while to figure it out,,, its not like a regular navigation where you can mark the point. The POI never comes up while you are driving,, you need to know where you want to go first and it will take you just there but wont show other POIs around the location. All in all, one thing that works good is the bluetooth pairing and the dumbed down menu, which frankly, I didnt really care about. I am really dissapointed in this GPS and would ask the company employees to use it themselves and feel how it is to take a left turn on a highway!!Customer Review: Great travel assistant
Summary: 4 Stars
This portable GPS is very intuitive, quick and easy to use. After some experience with several Pocket PC based GPS programs, a few portable units, and OEM installed car navigations the Garmin 680 is the easiest to use.
The screen is bright enough to see in bright sunlight and changes automatically to night mode (if option is selected) but you will most likely have to manually darken the screen some more if traveling in dark areas without street lights. The traffic delay information is hard to read and I don't think very useful. Perhaps if you pull over, stop and study the map with the red slow down areas you might be able to select an alternate route. It is not obvious at a glance if it even covers the road and direction you are traveling. The shopping and restaurant guides work great if you are very close to the area you want to find them. Looking for a restaurant fifty miles ahead in a different city was not easy (unless there is some function on the unit that is buried in the options). If you have more than two places to go this Garmin can't create the most efficient route for you.
The first two weeks I had the unit I used it in Hawaii, the West Coast, and Maryland and never had to refer to a paper map. There was only one spot near the Baltimore airport where I missed a turn because the instuctions from the Garmin were a little confusing. A word of caution, it is very easy to get so dependent on the Garmin that you can't make it to your local grocery store without it.
Customer Review: Mediocre Routing, Map Updates A Nightmare
Summary: 2 Stars
Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
I can't really mention any positives of this GPS over others. With my experience, routing on this unit (at least in Portland, OR,) is inferior to TomTom products. It frequently chooses routes that will get you to your destination, but they are usually the slowest way to get there. I wouldn't recommend getting the MSN Direct service for traffic. It only works on the Interstates, and if you choose to avoid the traffic, the result is usually slower than if you would've stayed in traffic. I will say, however, that the "lowest gas prices" feature works well.
This unit will need a map update. A new map update takes approximately one hour to download on a fast broadband connection. The file then takes about another hour to open. Personally, I came across a "file corrupt" error upon trying 3 different browsers and re-downloading the file. The hold for tech support was approximately 2 hours (including being transferred once.) They were not able to resolve the issue, but were able to refund the purchase price ($80) of the map update after being pressed. To me, this makes the GPS unusable.
I would highly recommend going with a TomTom unit instead, or at the very least, going with a newer Garmin unit, with the expectation that the maps will be outdated in 1-3 years.
Customer Review: Love the books from Audible.com for long trips
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned 5 other GPS receivers and this is by far the best one yet. It's operation is very intuitive. Although I don't live in an area covered by the MSN service I activated the free trial period for a long trip to Florida. It saved us a hour delay through Atlanta taking us through city streets and dumping us back on the interstate on the other side of the traffic jam. While in Orlando it warned us of an impending strong thunderstorm and told us what was playing at all the area movie theaters starting with the closest. Just wish it was available where I live.
I love to eat, so the POIs, specifically resturants are a very important feature on the GPS. Very often the POIs are way out of date, but so far only one POI no longer existed when we searched it out.
My favorite feature is the ability to store audio books. Nothing seems to shorten a long trip more then listening to a good book. I use to listen to them on CD which required changing CDs all the time and often missing instruction from the GPS or part of the book because they were playing at the same time. With the book on the GPS the story pauses and even steps back a second or 2 when the GPS gives instruction, so nothing is missed.
On the negative side, people on the receiving end of a phone call through the Blue-tooth connection couldn't understand my mumblings because of the road noises.
I think this GPS will last me awhile.
Customer Review: Another great Garmin product
Summary: 5 Stars
This is another upgrade for me as far a GPS's. This is replacing my 60GSx and I have owned all of the (plus) products, and have never been dissapointed with Garmin. I was on the fence between the 660 and the 680, but this price at amazon is too good to pass up and I am glad I went with the 680, the MSN service seems to be working out well so far after a week, where all of my GPS units would have been staying home I use this one every day for the traffic, it changes the road color to traffic flow, red for very slow, yellow and green for normal speeds as well as construction and accidents, so it's a very cool toy, cough cough I mean device that I need haha. Anyway if you are thinking about a TomTom? I don't know if they have changed something in the past year, but I am thinking that the only people who like them are people who have never owned a garmin because TomTom's are simply not accurate in the US, I had one for a week, the reason I bring this up is because the 680 is kind of like a tomtom with all the bells and whistles, but it will actually get you to your destination. If you are on the fence between the 660 and 680 and have the extra $90.00 I would say go for it, but the 660 I think is the same unit without the MSN, oh and I used the gas price option yesterday and it worked, saved 10cents a gallon, so this thing will pay for itself in 180 fill ups, thats about 5 years lol.