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| Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $428.56
Buy New: $260.99
You Save: $167.57 (39%)
New (38)
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 25
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.8
MPN: Nuvi 260w
Model: Nuvi 260w
UPC: 753759077174
EAN: 0753759077174
ASIN: B0011ULQNI
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed - Authorized Dealer- 1 yr Warranty - SHIPPING INSURANCE INCLUDED - SHOP WITH CONFIDENCE WITH OUR 30 DAY DEFECTIVE RETURN POLICY
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 22 | | NEXT » |
 Very pleased ! May 14, 2008
The NUVI 260W was a gift.
At first I thought, "what am I really going to do with this?"
POI is great. If you are in a bind and need "something" just punch in the screen and there it is. Amazing.
The new firmware update (May 5, 2008) increases speed and clears up a lot of connection issues on earlier production runs.
Updating software was extremely easy.
 Good value - lacks support info, features May 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is my first standalone GPS receiver (I have previously used a computer-based GPS - too bulky for everyday use). Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase. FWIW, my "disclaimer" is that I was a satellite technician on the Block II GPS (NavStar) satellites. So, I actually worked on the satellites themselves (vehicles 13-24) for almost 5 years, but I'm just now getting a unit for our cars. Go figure! ;-)
On to my review...
The Good
* The screen is wide and clear. About the only time I had trouble seeing it (glancing, really) was driving towards the sunset with my sunglasses on. You really can't expect it to overcome that level of contrast, so I don't fault the display for this.
* Reasonably fast calculation. The computer-based GPS I am replacing with this unit often took several minutes to calculate a multi-state trip. This unit typically completes route calculation within 20 seconds or less.
* It does a recalculate pretty quickly as well (typically just a few seconds). So, if you decide to take a slightly (or even radically) different route, it "goes with the flow" and will still get you there.
* I was concerned about this unit not having a way to output the audio to either an external speaker or to the car FM radio (these features are available in more expensive Nuvi models). I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the TTS voice is, albeit a bit distorted from time-to-time. On occasion, I had to turn down the radio or pause my iPod to hear what it was saying, but for the most part it is very clear and understandable.
* I've not tried to stress the battery life to the max, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far at how long I can use it without being plugged in. It's not a unit designed for extensive hiking/backpacking, but for short hikes it seems like it will at least keep you oriented in regard to roads, etc. I've not explored (pardon the pun) whether or not one can load topographical maps for off-road use.
* Size and portability. This is a nice, slim unit. I can put it in my shirt pocket and carry it with me. Even with the suction-cup mount and power supply, it's fairly easy to move from vehicle to vehicle.
* Satellite acquisition is good. Unlike another reviewer, so far I'm pleased with the speed of acquisition. My laptop GPS unit almost always takes 1-2 minutes to be good to go. The Nuvi typically takes only 15-20 seconds to acquire if I'm out in the open (i.e., not between tall buildings, indoors, under a bridge, etc.). I've ready what other reviewers have said, but I've not experienced it so far (I probably just jinxed it, however!).
The Bad
* The documentation is bare-bones. Even when visiting the Garmin website, I found no additional information on how to use the device to get additional features to work. Sure, you can upload pictures for viewing (woo hoo!) and upload "cool" (read: "Dorky") vehicle 3-D icons, but other than that - the "Quick Start Manual" seems to be all there is.
* About 20% of the time, there seems to be a slight hesitation in the voice - almost like it is loading something from the flash memory. It ends up sounding something like "Turn r...ight on M...ain Street". Still understandable, but a bit disconcerting.
* There is a way to search for intersections as a destination point. All fine and dandy, but you still have to know the exact names that the Garmin unit will identify these intersections with. If you are trying to get to a major highway intersection, you would do best to zoom in on it and "click" (with your finger) the roads involved to see what they're named. Either memorize them or write them down, because once you go back to finding that intersection, you'll need to refer to that exact name (e.g., if it says "Bell Blvd." even though you know it's also "Highway 183" - use "Bell Blvd."). Even having a computer open running Google Maps doesn't always help you as Garmin's map supplier may not agree.
* As related to the above point, unlike online resources like Google Maps, Mapquest, etc. - you can't just have it direct you to a town or city. You *have* to know the actual address or intersection or it will refuse to try to route you. It would be _nice_ (HINT, HINT - Garmin!) if it would just say "well, here's an arbitrary address in the city you've requested" and let you deal with the consequences.
The Ugly
* As I'm sure many purchasers will do, I tried it out around my home location (trips to the grocery store, work, etc.) just to see how it would perform. I often found that it chose routes that I knew were not optimal. When I would deviate from its suggestions, it (thankfully) doesn't fuss and say "Off route" as I've heard other units do. It simply recalculates and things straighten out. However, I would like a better way to "encourage" it to take a particular route other than creating a via point (and you *only* get one per trip!).
* Trying to plan a trip via this unit is frustrating. It is really designed for point A to B driving. Granted, I knew that when I bought it. However, it seems that the interface could have been improved a bit in trying to set up a multi-stage trip. The only way around this that I've found is to: (a) Search for a location, (b) go to Recently Found Locations (or whatever it's called), (c) Save the location. Once you've done that, you can reference this point in your favorites and use it as an anchor for your trip.
* The voice prompts can be a bit overdone. "In .2 miles, turn left at Main Street" - immediately followed by "Turn left at Main Street". I realize this is the correct default behavior, but it seems that there should be a way to adjust the threshold of the "nanny" approach. It's not a huge deal - it just gets irritating when you have a lot of turns.
Summary
Besides the peccadilloes I've mentioned above, I still really like the unit. My advice is to do advanced planning (using a computer) to get a feel for the layout if you're going on a long trip. Create via points where they make sense (and save them to your Favorites). Be willing to break up longer trips into smaller ones just so you can get better/more customized routing from the unit.
+ Great screen visibility, TTS clear and correct pronunciation, works pretty well for what it was designed to do.
- Interface limitations/poor choices, refuses to help "guess" destination points, relies far more on built-in help than even what Garmin's website has for documentation.
Love my Garmin nuvi 260W May 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I knew what I wanted in a GPS after getting lost with a friend who owns a Tom-Tom! Her Tom-Tom got us so lost because we trusted its information over our own sense of direction! I decided after wandering around Indianapolis I wanted a GPS that announced the street name when telling me to turn. I also wanted one with volume control and one I could see easily. It is easy to use for me, the tech challenged. I haven't had to have anyone show me what to do to program it! I love my Nuvi 260W.
As advertised May 11, 2008
Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
Great GPS -- works as advertised -- only downside is that map updates don't include all of the minor roads constructed/named in the last few years.
Very good search of restaurants, public buildings, sites of interest. You won't go wrong with the 260W. The wide screen was worth the wait for this model.
smart buy !!!! May 9, 2008
i'm glad that i picked up Garmin Nuvi 260 W. It was extremely helpful during my recent trip to Houston/galveston area. In some areas it outperforms my built in two thousand dollar GPS. Me and my wife are quite satisfied with this smart piece of machine.
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