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Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

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 Location:  Home » TVs and HDTVs » Vehicle GPS » Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS NavigatorJuly 20, 2008  
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Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

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Brand: Garmin
Category: CE

List Price: $799.99
Buy New: $494.99
You Save: $305.00 (38%)



New (59) Used (3)

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars 22 reviews
Sales Rank: 1003

Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 480x272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 4.8 x 2.8 x 0.8

MPN: Nuvi 780
Model: Nuvi 780
UPC: 753759077075
EAN: 0053759077076
ASIN: B0011UEUNG

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:
  • GPS Navigator Preloaded w/City Navigator North America NT
  • 4.3 in Diagonal Touchscreen Display with 2D/3D Mapping Perspective
  • Turn by Turn Directions with Voice Guidance/ Text to Speech Feature
  • Includes MSN Direct Receiver with Version 2
  • 1.8 Lbs (WxLxH) 0.8" x 4.8" x 2.8"

Accessories:

  • Magellan 64MB Secure Digital Memory Card
  • Garmin 010-10052-05 GA 27C Remote Antenna with MCX Connector
  • SanDisk SDSDB-128-A10 Secure Digital 128MB (Retail Package)
  • SanDisk SDSDB-64-A10 Secure Digital 64 MB
  • Lexar Media 128 MB Secure Digital Card

Similar Items:

  • Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for Nüvi Series and StreetPilot I Series, C530, C550 and C580 GPS Navigators
  • Garmin Carrying Case for nüvi 660 Portable GPS Navigator (010-10823-01)
  • Garmin A/C Power Cable for nüvi Portable GPS Navigators (010-10723-00)
  • Garmin Vehicle Power Cable for nüvi Portable GPS Navigators (010-10723-06)
  • Garmin 010-10723-02 Carrying Case For Nuvi

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Go wide and get MSN Direct with n?vi 780. This navigator has it all - advanced navigation features, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and hands-free calling - plus real-time local weather, traffic, movie times, stock information, gas prices and news and local events. Like the rest of the wide n?vi 700-series, its premium navigation capabilities, like route planning and a handy locator, give you peace of mind on the go.

Amazon.com Product Description -- January 8, 2008
The nüvi 780 adds enhanced MSN direct content to the multi-destination routing and "Where Am I?" features and gorgeous widescreen display of other nüvi 700s to create a superior navigation device for business as well as casual drivers. As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of an integrated high-sensitivity receiver, a slim, pocket-sized design with a gorgeous display, an easy, intuitive interface, and detailed NAVTEQ maps for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico with more than 6 million name-searchable points of interest. All of the 700-series navigators also feature a rich array of features including spoken directions in real street names, integrated traffic receivers, MP3 player and photo viewer, and an FM transmitter that will play voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system.

Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

slim form factor
Garmin's nüvis pack top of the line features into a slim form factor.
New Features -- Enhanced MSN Direct Content (3-month free subscription)
An integrated receiver allows you to access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi.

Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services.

A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the device. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.

Multi-Destination Routing

Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen
3-inch screen

and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen
4.3-inch screen

This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care - supermarket-cleaners - office - day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you've found the best router, the "Route Planning" feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, "the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls." The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we're talking about).

A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.

Where Am I? Where's My Car?
The nüvi 700 series is the first to answer two common questions: "Where am I?" and "Where's my car?"

At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And to help drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or vast parking lot, the nüvis in the 700 series automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount.

See Better, See More
The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

First Rate Map Data
The nüvi 780 is preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

Hands-Free Calling
In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. The nüvi 780's Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker lets match it to any bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nüvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. Making and taking calls on the road has never been easier, or safer. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone's call history log.

Garmin Lock
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

Easy To Use Interface
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

Garmin's own navigation is easy to use

Beyond Navigation

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.
MP3 PlayerA handy MP3 player lets you play songs stored on SD memory cards. nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.

Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 780 features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, MP3 player, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.

This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.

Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI's) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

Trick Your GPS Ride

custom vehicle icons
Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
See more icon option
Like all nüvis, the 780 supports configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map.

With this GPS system on board you'll be prepared to steer clear of traffic with the integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. The nüvi is designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.


What's in the Box
nüvi 780, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America*, MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable, 3 months free MSN Direct service*, Vehicle suction cup mount*, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual

Notes

  • Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
  • The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
  • This nüvi comes with a free, three-month trial for MSN Direct services.
  • Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

Which nüvi is Best for You?

Which nüvi is Best for You?
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.


Screen
Size
inches
(w x h)
Included Maps
Text-to-Speech
(Directions in
Real Street
Names)

Traffic
Bluetooth
Media

FM Transmitter
(audio through
car stereo
system)
Multi-
Point
Routing

Battery
life
(hours)
Cont. U.S.,
Hawaii, and
Puerto Rico

AK and
Canada

Europe
nüvi 200 2.8 x 2.1
check




Photos


up to 5
nüvi 200w 3.81 x 2.25
check




Photos


up to 5
nüvi 250 2.8 x 2.1
check check



Photos

up to 5
nüvi 250w 3.81 x 2.25
check check



Photos

up to 5
nüvi 260 2.8 x 2.1
check check
check

Photos

up to 5
nüvi 260w 3.81 x 2.25 check check
check

Photos

up to 5
nüvi 270 2.8 x 2.1
check check check


Photos

up to 5
nüvi 350 2.8 x 2.1
check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)

Photos, MP3s


up to 8
nüvi 360 2.8 x 2.1
check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s

up to 8
nüvi 370 2.8 x 2.1 check check check check FM (receiver
included)
check Photos, MP3s

up to 8
nüvi 650 3.81 x 2.25
check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)

Photos, MP3s

up to 7
nüvi 660
3.81 x 2.25
check check
check FM (receiver
included)
check Photos, MP3s check
up to 7
nüvi 670
3.81 x 2.25
check check check check FM (receiver
included)
check Photos, MP3s check
up to 7
nüvi 680 3.81 x 2.25
check check
check MSN (receiver
included;
1-year free);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s check
up to 7
nüvi 750
3.81 x 2.25
check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)

Photos, MP3s check check up to 5
nüvi 760 3.81 x 2.25
check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s check check up to 5
nüvi 770 3.81 x 2.25
check check check check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s check check up to 5
nüvi 780 3.81 x 2.25 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free)
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s check check up to 5
nüvi 850 3.81 x 2.25 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)

Photos, MP3s check check up to 4
nüvi 880
3.81 x 2.25 check check check check MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
check Photos, MP3s check check up to 4
nüvi 5000
4.5 x 2.7 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)


check check external
battery
only

Basic MSN Direct Content Features
traffic reports Traffic Reports
  • Find the best route through traffic. Your GPS device uses MSN Direct traffic data to select the best route for you to avoid traffic congestion.
  • Check traffic flow. Know at a glance where to expect slowdowns in traffic.
  • Get accident warnings. Receive warnings about accidents, road closures, and construction in the area that may affect you.
Gas Prices Gas Prices
  • Compare local gas prices. See a list of recent gas prices in your area and an indication of how recently the prices were reported.
  • Find your way to the savings. Once you find the best price in your area, use your navigation system to guide you to the gas station.
Weather Reports Weather Reports
  • Stay on top of current conditions. View the current weather conditions in your area, including today's high and low temperatures, chances of precipitation, and more.
  • View the three-day forecast, Plan ahead by checking the three-day weather forecast for your area.
  • Check weather in other cities. See current weather conditions in major cities across the country.
movie times Movie Times
  • Search for a movie. Find the theaters in your coverage area that are showing the movie you want to see.
  • See which movies are playing. View which movies are playing in your coverage area or at your favorite theater.
  • See show times and get directions. Once you find a show you want to see, check the show times and use your GPS device to guide you to the theater.
Enhanced MSN Direct Content
Web Favorites Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
  • Powerful trip planning: Use Live Search Maps on your computer to look up an address, search for a business, or plan a trip
  • Choose your favorite location, and then MSN Direct delivers the address, phone number, and more straight to your navigation system.
  • Visit Live Search Maps at http://maps.live.com.
Local Events Local Events
  • See what's happening near you. Find nearby events to see what's happening in your area.
  • Find the events that interest you. Browse events sorted by category.
  • Search for an event. Get details about a particular event.
Stock Quotes Stock Quotes
  • Watch the stocks that interest you. Select stocks that you want to keep an eye on, and then see regularly updated stock prices and daily changes.
  • Get a little more detail. Touch a stock in your list to see daily highs, lows, and trading volume.
News Headlines News Headlines
  • Browse the headlines at a glance. See breaking news and other major news stories of the day.
  • Read more details. Select a headline to read all the details about the news story on your navigation system.


MSN Direct Coverage Map -- get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website
MSN Direct Coverage Map



Customer Reviews:   Read 17 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars A great device but not perfect   July 18, 2008
I bought the 780 for the MSN service only to discover that I barely need it. The fuel price updates are nice, but there is no way to sort the prices so I am stuck looking at them sorted via distance. Sometimes that gas station is behind me, and when I am traveling, I do not go backwards unless I must.
As far as finding movies, and the other features, they are fairly useless to me. I can find Starbucks and WalMart and all my favorite restaurants without that MSN service.
As far as gps technology goes, it is pretty good. Sometimes it tries to take me through gated communities or closed roads, and a couple of times, it has taken me in directions that make no sense whatsoever, but most of the time it gets me right where I am going. Sometimes it has directions that are better than the way I normally travel.
I don't trust it to plan critical trips without reviewing what it is going to do before I leave. I wish I didn't have to do that, but I think this is a reality with any gps.
There are several things I love about this gps above others:
1. Google maps lets you send points of interest to your gps. This is only available for Garmin or Magellan gps owners. This feature alone has made me love owning a Garmin. Nothing beats finding your location on satellite and sending it to your gps. Especially if you don't have an address. I found a friends property in the mountains via satellite imagery and sent it to the gps. Once you give the 780 your Google point, it takes you right to the door.

2. The audio out connects right to the aux plug on my stereo. While the audio is tolerable for navigation direct from the gps speaker, when I connect it to my stereo, the bluetooth phone conversations are crystal clear and the directions are pristine.

3. The database of poi's is amazing. I have yet to look for a store or restaurant that it could not find. While camping recently, I looked for a Wal-Mart in Flagstaff, AZ. It not only found one that I would not have been able to spot from the highway, but it took me through all sorts of streets to get to it so that I looked like a local in a town I have never driven in.

4. When navigating complex intersections, the 780 always tells me what side of the highway to be on. This has saved me many a frustrating experience of not being able to make a turn because of being in the wrong lane position.

5. The traffic monitor, which may or may not be related to the MSN feature, is pretty cool. When it is issues a traffic warning, clicking on the warning button gives you the option of rerouting. If rerouting does not save time, it warns you of that. So far, I have never rerouted. I have realized, unfortunately, that sometimes the traffic info is outdated. It has told me that I was going to have delays, only to arrive and find the roads crystal clear on more than one occasion.

After having had the 780 for almost 3 months and having put it through most of its paces, I am a very satisfied customer. I would have probably been just as happy with the 680, but I guess I will never really know.



3 out of 5 stars Navigation feature is great, MSN feature fails   July 14, 2008
I travel in a major metropolitan area and should have no problem getting a signal for the live MSN content with this device, however its performance is extremely erratic and therefore unreliable. Who needs stock quotes that haven't updated in three days? I've made numerous phone calls to both Garmin and MSN and of course each blames the other. My last interaction with Garmin they told me it must be the tinted windows in the car that is blocking reception and I should be getting a good signal based on my location. Of course that doesn't help me. Then they said I could get better reception using the device outside the car, which is just stupid to suggest. You may not experience the same issues, but based on my experience I would recommend a less expensive model without the MSN feature to save money and frustration.


5 out of 5 stars Sit back and leave the driving to Garmin   July 8, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

LOVE IT. Even my wife loves it. This is porbably the first electronic gadget I've ever bought where my wife wants to use it more. Very easy to use. It only locked up a few times because I was zooming in/out too fast as it was navigating. perhaps if I let it go it might have caught up . It was no big deal to turn it off and on to get me going again. The MSN is great. It actually gave me a thunderstorm warning and asked if I wanted to go around it. Traffic updates were good, gas prices were dead on, most of the time. Weather forcasts were great, The "text to speech" was cool. We chose the Ennglish mans voice and he would read any text messages I received on my (bluetooth) phone. Pretty funny. The FM transmitter isn't great at all. What else can I say, I've owned the Garmin eMap (VW bug)and thought that was nice, but this is like a Porsche. Garmin's website is also great for updates and software. That's all, now I want the voice recognition nuvi880 but really who needs that!!! Enjoy and buy this unit NOW!


2 out of 5 stars Great, when it works!   July 1, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I loved my new Garmin. Mapping and ease of use better than the GPS in my Mercedes. However, I was on a trip in Florida (nearly 2000 miles from home) when the screen froze with a 'firmware update in progress' message. Unfortunately, ....it never updated. I got in contact with support (took 2 days) and was told how to do a 'system reset'. Great, I lost all of the poi's and locations I had programmed in. I wouldn't buy one again, based upon this experience. For those of us who travel a lot, and who like to pre-program destinations, stops etc... The thing just has to work!


4 out of 5 stars Good, but needs more integration   June 29, 2008
Overall, I love the GPS. It tracks quickly and accurately and the trial service for MSN Direct is a great idea to try it out before committing.

My only problem is that the MSN direct screens are in their own menu item and it's 2 or 3 levels deep to get what you want. It would be nice if the MSN screens could integrate with the Garmin screens so you didn't have to go to different areas for different things. A "one stop shop" if you will.

Overall, very nice unit and pleased with Garmin.


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