Garmin StreetPilot 2620 3.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a 3 year old Navtech based CD GPS system in my Volvo and purchased this device to use in my older SUV that has no GPS system installed. I first tried using the new Streetpilot on a recent trip to Dubuque Iowa from Chicago; using it and the in car systems simultaneously to compare them. The Garmin SP 2620 outperfomed the Navtech installed system hands down. Although the in car system found satellites instantly the Garmin only took about 10 seconds to find them on start up. And it is MUCH faster on route calculations and more importatnly recalculations, about 3x faster. The in car sytem could not locate the exact street address in Dubuque even though I had the Iowa CD disk installed. The Garmin unit did. The details on local businesses was MUCH better with the Garmin. The map was clearer and was better illuminated. Only things I'd like to have in the Garmin would be a two map display option (for differing zooms of the the same route at the same time) and a display of the remianing miles on the main route display, you can get it but it's on another routing description page. The Garmin does display more immediately useful info such as time and distance to next turn so this is a very minor quibble. It is solid, extremely well built unit and mounts very nicely. It tilts and twists to optimize viewing. The "beanbag" friction mount works very well. The nice thing about the portable system is it's portabilty to other cars and rentals, for instance you can loan it to friends and family if you wish! Furthermore, upgrading is very easy via the Garmin web site whereas updates for my Volvo Navtech in car system have been rare and expensive. The hard drive in the Garmin is a memory card which I can see being enlarged if necessary but the current 512mb card has plenty of map details on it. A new CD disk set for my in car system costs over $200, the Garmin updates so far are free. Overall a stellar value and a device that exceeded my expectations in every way. If you travel by car (and who really likes flyng anyway?)in the US and/or Canada, get one, you'll love it.

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Featuring MapSource City Navigator pre-loaded, detail maps, the Garmin StreetPilot 2620 is a plug-and play portable automotive GPS navigator that's ready to use right out of the box. Forget about unlocking or uploading map data to your unit -- with Garmin you'll be ready to navigate as soon as the StreetPilot arrives at your doorstep. The pre-programmed hard drive that stores the City Navigator detailed maps of North America is simple to set up and use. Drivers can navigate to a particular address or access an enormous database of more than five million points of interest (POI). Whether it is lodging, restaurants, gas stations, or local attractions, the StreetPilot 2620 will help you get there. And the user-friendly, menu-driven touchscreen ensures that navigating the unit is as easy as navigating the road.
Like its successor -- the StreetPilot 2720 -- this unit features a high-resolution color touchscreen with voice prompted turn-by-turn navigation and a powerful microprocessor for fast route calculation and map redraw. Although the new model has a few extra bells and whistles, the 2620 delivers all the navigation you'll need with a lot less strain on your wallet. This unit comes with a unique wireless infrared remote control, which allows easy operation of the unit from a distance and it also offers WAAS-enabled support to ensure the highest degree of GPS accuracy. Mark and name important waypoints with over 500 graphic symbols, set a course for your destination, and listen to the voice prompts for navigation instructions and warnings. And when you get there, you can check your trip computer for miles driven, time on the road, and average/maximum speeds.
With a host of software upgrades, the StreetPilot 2620 can lend assistance in almost any situation. You can find the most efficient route for deliveries or sales calls with the multiple destination feature. Enter all your destinations and the 2620 will automatically sort them to provide the best route. The StreetPilot makes it easy to avoid traffic jams or road work -- just tell the unit where you don't want to go and you'll be redirected around the congestion. Almost out of gas? No need to fret. With a time-saving feature that allows you to limit searches to gas stations, restaurants, and more, this unit will notify you of upcoming points of interest near your route. And, of course, there are those times when you'd just like to take the road less traveled. With the adjustable road class preference, you can select from major, medium, and minor road categories that will help you stay off the highways for a leisurely drive through small towns and winding backroads.
The StreetPilot 2620 receiver includes everything you need to get started right out of the box, including an alphanumeric remote control, car and home power supplies, two kinds of mounts, and a factory pre-loaded version of Americas Autoroute basemap and MapSource City Navigator North America. The basemap is loaded with routable maps of North and South America that contain state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, state and interstate highways, local thoroughfares and secondary roads within metro areas, and federal interstate highway exit information for services such as food, lodging, and service stations. Beyond the basemap foundation, the 2620's pre-programmed hard drive comes with MapSource City Navigation that provides street-level details and addresses, plus millions of listings for restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and more throughout the United States and metro areas of Canada.
What's in the Box StreetPilot 2620, remote control, external speaker with 12/24-volt adapter cable, PC/USB interface cable, AC power adapter, integrated dash mount, and a portable "bean-bag" (friction) mount.

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Garmin Carrying Case for C300 Series (010-10704-00) Review

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(More customer reviews)A MUST have for the street pilot.
I have had my street pilot c330 for 6 months and when I dropped it (and cracked the screen rendering it useless), I was on the way into a hotel room -out of town and I had the rest of my trip saved in the favorites (not to mention all the milage that was stored for my expense report).
Later after I got it repaired, I went on a quest to find a better way to store it. I would have thought the unit would have came with a case for the price.
This case fits the pilot, mount and cables. Perfectly snug. Case is stretch cloth (kind of like a wetsuit) and end is harder cover (think it is plastic under the cloth) that zippers down. Unit slides in - attached to the suction mount. Cables have a place in front of screen with a protective cover in between the screen and the storage for the cables. Wish I could post a picture how good this thing is.
I wish I bought it from day one. Used to hate the mount with the cables all over the place and would wrap it tight every time I took it down. Look at the picture - that is what it looks like stored... no messy cables, no exposed screen and easier to hold when going in or out of car.

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Garmin 0101070400 Case for C3 Series. This lightweight case holds your GPS, mount and power cable. Great for keeping your gear together when traveling and using your unit in multiple vehicles or rental cars.

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Garmin Deluxe Carrying Case for StreetPilot and GPSMap 176 (010-10231-01) systems Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the carrying case to use with the Garmin Street Pilot Deluxe package. With the case you can snugly fit the Garmin Street Pilot unit alone. However, when trying to also put it the cigarette adapter/speaker, both don't fit without having the zipper on top partially opened. Also, don't even consider trying to store the bean bag mount in the case.
I do like the fact that the bottom of the case has a protective cushion so the unit can be stored face down.
I think it would be nice if they had another sized bag -- one which can store the unit, adapter cable, plus the bean bag mount all together. This would be the ideal size for those who want to carry the unit and all the accessories at once.
Review update: The original review is for trying to hold the Street Pilot III with accessories. The case does fit the newer smaller Garmin units. I was able to easily fit the Garmin Street Pilot 2620 with it's cigarette lighter adapter and remote control. I also was able to add the external power adapter too -- but this was a bit tighter fit when the adapter was added in.

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Keep your StreetPilot GPS safe from harm with this attractive deluxe carrying case. The case also has a storage area for extra data cartridges.

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Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros: Easy to use, sharp screen, clear voice instructions and less expensive than other GPS units with comparable features
Cons: Needs more dynamic search capabilities for POI (its a little too simple which is good and bad)
The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit, I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans, but the Garmin was the hands down winner.
It has built in street level maps for both US and Canada - so there is no need to download detailed maps from your computer. In addition, the interface is a breeze to use - w/o even reading the manual I was able to get it up and running. The screen is razor sharp and the navigation controls are intuitive. Another bonus is that it has a built in rechargable battery, so you can walk around with it for a while or even program your next destination while you're away from the car.
I recommend this unit very highly - especially after reviewing the alternatives at this price point.
---------Update--------------
Just an update because I've taken my Garmin C340 to: 1) Toronto, Canada 2) Omaha, NE 3) Salt Lake City, UT 4) Denver, CO and 5) Seattle, WA. I have to say it worked wonderfully. It NEVER led me astray and got me to my destinations without any problems. This is a definite must have because it's so compact and easy to program that it makes exploring new cities a breeze. Who needs to rent an expensive GPS unit from a rental car agency when you have the Garmin C340 with you!

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If you're looking for vehicle navigation that's powerful and simple to use, the Garmin StreetPilot c340 is just the ticket. Right out of the box, this unit helps you make the right turns wherever your travels take you. With an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, text-to-speech voice commands, a brilliant display that shows the way with 2D or 3D animations, and a massive points of interest database, the c340 has all the basics covered. Plus, you'll find some great additional features that make it a must-have companion.
The c340 is designed with simplicity in mind, although Garmin hasn't forgotten to add a touch of class. With a weight of under ten ounces and a width of 4.4 inches, the c340 is ultracompact and easy to transport. To keep confusion on the road to a minimum, the only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The bright 3.5-inch-diagonal display features a touchscreen, making it a snap to input routing information and make quick selections on the road. The c340 sports dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, a USB port for PC connectivity, and an internal lithium-ion battery that provides power when you're planning your routes outside the car (approximately 4-8 hours battery life). In addition to an included 12-volt power adapter for in-car power, there's also an SD memory card expansion slot for use with other Garmin MapSource mapping products. The unit is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield, allowing for easy portability between vehicles. You can even customize the c340's appearance with optional colored faceplates that suit your style. While the c340 has an internal GPS antenna, it also has an MCX-type connector for hooking up an optional external GPS antenna.
Finding your way with the c340 starts with inputting a location on the touch screen. Next, the unit's text-to-speech feature speaks to you just like a back seat driver, telling you the names of streets and when to turn and in what direction. And if you happen to miss a turn--don't worry, the c340 automatically calculates a new route to your destination. Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings help you navigate more quickly while keeping your eyes on the road. You can also choose between a 3D mapping perspective or 2D overhead view.
Another time- and frustration-saving feature of the c340 is the database of preloaded maps and points of interest. Gone are the days of uploading partial maps from your computer to your GPS device: the c340 has them all built in. The unit comes preloaded with Garmin's highly detailed City Select NT street data of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Finding points of interest along your route is made easy with the c340's huge built-in database of nearly six million hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin has also made it easy for users to upload custom points of interest--now you can add school zones or safety cameras to your database. You can even turn on a proximity alert to notify you of upcoming custom points of interest.
Garmin really kicks the power of the c340 up a notch with the addition of real-time traffic information. This optional service will display congested areas on a color-coded map, allowing you to avoid traffic by simply pushing a button that calculates a new route. All this wizardry is made possible by the new Garmin GTM 10 receiver that connects to the c340 and other select Garmin products. Note that while the GTM 10 receives digital data from specific FM broadcast stations in select major metro areas throughout the United States and Europe, note that these traffic services are available only in select cities where coverage exists. The service requires the GTM 10 FM TMC traffic receiver and, in some cases, a subscription to enable these traffic capabilities.
What's in the Box StreetPilot c340 receiver with built-in antenna, dual internal speaker system for voice guidance and alerts, vehicle suction cup mount with 12-24 volt adapter, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, preloaded City Select North America NT database, and quick-reference guide.

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Mio C230 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I have the Mio C230 for about a month now. I have to say it was not very easy to use, but after a couple of hours, I was able to find my way around it. This is my third GPS, I have a Garmin C340 for almost two years, and a Nuvi 370 for about eight months; so I can say that I have a bit of experience with the Garmin products which considered to be one of the best GPS in the market. The only reason I got the Mio is the ability to add multiple stops to your final destination (Via Points), and the Mio's ability to optimize the route for you, a feature not available in the Garmin products. My girlfriend is a realtor, and she makes numerous stops to show houses to her clients; with the Garmin, she had to enter one stop at the time, which means that she might be going back and forth or zig zaging around; with the Mio, all she has to do is to input as many addresses as she needs to, and then the Mio will optimize the route and guide her around, cool.
You can enter address either by state / city / street; or you can use zip code / street; very nice feature. Any address you input will be automatically stored in the history and you can retrieve it at any time; you can also copy everything to the SD card and store it in your computer or use the data in another Mio, cool. If you don't have the address but know where your destination is on the map, you can touch that point on the map, and the Mio will take you there.
There is also an icon for "Home" where you can store your home address, by clicking it, the Mio will take you home, a similar one is for "work". You can rename both if needed.
The detailed information available on the screen in "cockpit mode" is impressive, on the upper left corner it shows the next maneuver (an arrow going right or left), below that it shows the distance to that maneuver and the estimated time of arrival to your final destination. Next to that you have four icons to zoom in and out on the map, and to change the view from 2 to 3 dimensions and vise versa. Another nice feature is the pedestrian mode, in that mode; the Mio will take you thru the shortest route ignoring the traffic direction of one way streets. You can customize the Mio for brighter screen or to get louder if you reach a specific speed; routing can be customized to shortest, fastest or economical. You can avoid Toll roads, U turns, unpaved roads, Highways, etc.
The Text to Speech feature is also a definite plus. The only thing that I really don't like in the Mio C230 is the very limited number of POI's (about 900K), you will hardly be able to find anything in there, Mio needs to do smoothing about that limitation. However, you can add you own POI's to the data base if you know the address.
In short, if you don't need the MP3/Photo player, or the blue tooth; then the Mio C230 is the one for you. It is a great basic GPS, loaded with features that may not be available on other big name brands. Impressive signal reception, bright screen, clear TTS voice, nice design, pocket size, at an unbeatable price.


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Mio Digiwalker C230 is a stylish, affordable, and easy to use solution.Featuring pre-loaded maps of the U.S. (Including all 50 states and Puerto Rico), and real time Text-to-Speech, the C230 delivers incredible performance at an unbelievable price point.

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