|
| Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator | 
 enlarge
| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $797.94
Buy New: $329.99
You Save: $467.95 (59%)
New (71) Used (1) Refurbished (10)
Avg. Customer Rating:  990 reviews
Sales Rank: 3
Format: Cd
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 12 x 12 x 5
nv:Type: Car Kit
Waypoints: 500 with name and graphic symbol
Trip Computer: Average Speed
Trip Computer: Resettable Odometer
Trip Computer: Timers
Trip Computer: Maximum Speed
Inputs: 12/24 Vdc
Display: Color
Touch Screen: Yes
Voice: Yes
Battery Life: 7 hours
Antenna: Flip-up patch
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 010-00540-00
Model: 010-00540-00
UPC: 053759065110
EAN: 0753759061265
ASIN: B000H49LXQ
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Don't buy this for the FM transmitter November 8, 2006
32 out of 37 found this review helpful
I have been using the Nuvi 660 for the past 40 days. The wide-screen is pretty nice and the ability to house the entire North American continent is very convenient. I purchased this unit to replace my TomTom Go that died after 18 months of use (TomTom offers a 1 year warranty). Here are my perceptions:
1.The FM Transmitter is useless. The radio antennas in my vehicles are all in the back of the car. The transmitter range in this unit appears to be about 2 feet. I was able to pick up the unit on my car radio when I had the Nuvi on the back sill. I think this FM transmitter will only work if the vehicle has it's antenna imbedded in the front windshield.
2. The direction of the next maneuver can only be seen by going to another screen. This creates interaction with the unit while driving. The next manuever should be seen on the main screen. (TomTom has this feature).
3. Similary, the time of arrival is the only cue as to how far you are from your destination on the main screen. You can find the total miles to go on another 'dashboard' screen. This should be able to be configured for the main screen as well. (TomTom also gives you this info).
4. The routing can be a little odd sometimes, but I also found this to be true with TomTom. Neither are perfect it seems, but the Garmin maps appear to be more up-to-date than TomTom's. (Some of TomTom's were 4 or more years old)
5. Garmin support is far far superior to TomTom. I have phoned Garmin several times for questions or issues (I have a few wrist-GPS devices too). I always get to speak with a real person within minutes of calling. TomTom takes weeks to get back to you and it is only via email.
6. There are some issues with the traffic receiver. As another reviewer mentioned, sometimes I have to unplug the power supply several times to get the traffic to work. I have not spoken to support about this yet.
7. One reviewer mentioned that it would be nice for the unit to shut itself down when power is removed. The Garmin does this automically and it shows a message that the unit will shut down in 30 seconds if it is not confirmed to stay on. Garmin does this so on can keep track of the total trip time (and average moving/stopped speeds). It is a nice feature.
8. Without the FM transmitter capability, the MP3 player and book reader are useless. the volume of the 660 is very faint and it is difficult to hear spoken directions when the vehicle is moving.
This unit could be greatly improved with a software update to offer better info on the main display and to correct the quirks with the traffic receptions.
 Very nice GPS, but several frustrating flaws November 6, 2006
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
This is my first GPS, but I had very high expectations after reading nothing but glowing reviews about the Nuvi 660. Overall I am pleased with the Unit, but I am going to highlight the areas where it has caused me the most frustration.
First, lets just say the traffic receiver is far from perfect. Half the time it says "Traffic Data Not Available." Then sometimes when I unplug it from the Nuvi, plug it back in, the traffic alerts are miraculously available. But I shouldn't have to unhook it from the back of the unit while I'm driving (which is not easy from where its positioned)just to get the traffic updates working. I live in DC, so I RELY on the traffic updates immensely, and is the main reason I got the Nuvi 660.
Yesterday I was driving south on the 495 beltway and for my entire 30 minute trip I got the "traffic data not available" notice again. Except this time, even after powering down the unit 2-3 times and repeatedly unplugging the receiver from the unit, I never got any traffic updates, and there was a traffic jam on my route. This is unacceptable. I am very displeased that these traffic updates are available only part of the time. And I shouldn't have to unplug it from the unit, & replug it back in to get the traffic info.
Also, I assumed that traffic data would be available throughout the city, not just along selected highways. Well that's not going to help me when it detours me into the city where traffic is just as bad. Yet they advertise the Traffic Receiver to make it sound like its super sophisticated and if its available in your city, you will be made known of all the traffic situations throughout the city. Wrong. Only along major highways.
Next, I wish the Nuvi gave you the option to choose your route preferences for EACH trip (e.g., avoid highways, shortest distance, etc.). You have to go through a bunch of menus to set it. It would have been much more useful if you could change this option before or during your trip. For example, I was driving on the highway on the way to work, I saw traffic up ahead, so I hit "detour." So it told me to get off the highway and take a local street. No problems, until I noticed more traffic ahead on the local street and I hit detour again. This time the Nuvi recalculating my route but wanted me to make a U-Turn and get back on the same highway I was just on! If I would have been able to select "avoid highways" in my detour, it would have been much more useful.
Third, not all the POI addresses are 100% accurate. I set it to take me to an Einstein Bagel in Silver Spring, MD. Well, it was close, but it told me to take a right on a street when I should have taken a left on my last set of directions of the trip. This is not a huge deal, but when its the A.M. RUSH HOUR, then yes, its a major, time consuming mistake.
Fourth, I downloaded the updated software online (2.5) and updated my Nuvi. Now for whatever reason, the voice directions have a second pause/break at times, so you miss what they say sometimes. They need to fix this. For example the directions might be to turn right on Old Georgetown road, and the voice will say "turn right on old G..(pause)...town road." ???? That can be frustrating if you're not familiar with the street names.
Lastly, when using the Nuvi in the dark, it can get annoying to have the screen lit up all the time. Yet, the only other options are 1 minute, 2 minute, 30 sec., & 15 seconds to leave the backlight on. Wouldn't it make more sense to have an option to automatically light up the screen when the voice comes on and you have to take a turn or something so you can see the map, and then have the backlight turn back to dim while you're done with the turn?
I will add more to this review when I get more time. I guess I had my expectations set too high.
 Nuvi 550 from Tedlar in Florida November 5, 2006
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Fantastic GPS, just took it on a trip from Michigan to Florida, navigated perfectly, told me about traffic problems well before I encountered them and then routed me around them. Saved me at least 4 hours in Atlanta by helping me avoid a massive traffic jam. Have used it for about 2 weeks (3000+ miles), the detour feature is fantastic, when you run into a detour, just press the detour button and it finds the route of the detour. Ran into a very poorly marked detour route in Louisville and another near Lake City, Florida and it got me through both perfectly. Many many folks missed an unmarked turn they should have taken in Louisville. MP3 player is OK, FM transmitter is so, so, but who cares you bought this thing to get you where you are going and to give you information on the way and it does it flawlessly. I had the sound turned up all the way and did not notice any distortion as reported by another user, also the unit I have seems to be holding its charge well as I took it out of the car fully charged and used it for about 6 hours without an external power source over the next 2 days. If you are looking for a GPS, this is the one to buy today.
 Simply the best GPS ever made.PERIOD November 2, 2006
12 out of 31 found this review helpful
This GPS is so much better then every other one out there it is'nt funny.Garmin has clearly taken the rein as making the BEST GPS systems out there and they leave Tom Tom in the dust.The Garmin Nuvi 660 is ten times better then the $3000 one i had in my Lexus.It is superior in every possible way,screen size.maps,POIs,ease of use.Brightness.Frankly i cannot understand why anyone would buy anything else.I also just bought my wife one and she loves it and used it right out of the Box(and this from someone that need help turning on the Radio).Thank you Garmin for creating the world best GPS.
 DON'T TRUST AMAZON November 2, 2006
24 out of 130 found this review helpful
I HAD THE NUVI 660 IN MY CART TO BUY FOR $749.00 AND AMAZON TURNED AROUND AND RAISED THE PRICE TO $849.00. YOU CAN BUY IT FROM GPSNOW FOR $749.00.
GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY AMAZON!
|
|
|
Copyright
©
2006 Adminpal LLC | |
