Garmin n?vi 265WT - GPS receiver - automotive Review

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(More customer reviews)My job requires me to do a lot of driving to unfamiliar locations throughout the city and surrounding areas. The Nuvi is an excellent tool. Storing points of interest has made going from one saved location to another a breeze. Saves me time on the road. I highly recommend the Nuvi and suggest visiting the below website for learning to use POIs.
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Garmin 265WT Automobile Portable Navigator 010-00575-1F Portable / Handheld Navigators

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Magellan RoadMate 1340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
SEE 8-29-09 UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF REVIEW:
I recently purchased a Magellan Roadmate 1340. This is one of the first new releases by Magellan since they were acquired by MiTAC (parent company of MIO)
I am using the Magellan 1212 as a basis for comparison, since I have been using that for the past 3 months and been very pleased with it, other than some occasional routing quirks.
The 1340 is very similar, but does add some significant extra features and improvements, for relatively little price difference:
1) "One Touch" Favorites menu offers quick access to many of the most used features and shortcuts.
2) Customizable route method lets you instantly view and compare and select the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways to customize your route.
3) The AAA TourBook is a nice addition that provides ratings and descriptions on AAA approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
4) Several other features such as Highway Points of Interest have more conveniently positioned shortcut buttons.
5)A new "Highway Lane Assist Signs" feature show highway signs to point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
That being said, the 1340 has 2 "glitches" that need to be corrected by Magellan:
First, in any kind of sunlight, the screen is very difficult to see! The 1212 is very visible in all kinds of light, but the 1340 almost seems as if there is some kind of coating on the screen that makes viewing very challenging in sunlight. I contacted Magellan support, and they indicated they were aware of this issue and would hopefully have a fix available at some point.
Second, of less importance but still a step down from the 1212 is the voice clarity on text to speech. When the voice announces the street names, the names are slightly "fuzzy" or "garbled". This is not a "deal breaker", but definitely does not have the excellent clarity of the 1212.
I tried 2 different units, and they both have the same problems in these 2 areas. In summary, I think the added features make the 1340 a better unit than the 1212, and an excellent value for the money. However, if these shortcomings could be corrected, it would be a GREAT unit!
UPDATE (5-19-09)

I contacted Magellan support about these issues a couple of times and they said they were aware of the issues and that hopefully a "fix" would be issued. Yesterday, a firmware update (to version 1.10) appeared on the Magellan website and I downloaded and installed it, thinking it was to correct the brightness and sound issues. However, I did not notice any difference in either problem, so I emailed Magellan support. They said that the update was to correct another issue, and did not address the brightness and sound problems. They acknowledged that "you are correct that there is a significant difference between" the 1340 and 1212, but could not tell me for sure when or if another update will be issued to correct these known problems!
UPDATE (8-28-09)
After it became apparent that Magellan was not going to do anything to correct the visibility and sound problems (which have also been stated by many others here and on other review sites), I decided to return the 1340 and go back to the Magellan 1212. True, the 1212 does not have some of the new features that the 1340 has, but to me, the screen brightness and very clear text to speech makes up for it! (There are also several features that I like better on the 1212 than on the 1340.) I got a recertified 1212 on another site for $65 (Dell just had it for $80) Then, there was a firmware update on Magellan's site.....and you can order the spring 2009 map update for just $10 shipping. So, for $75 total, I have a great GPS that is totally updated, and although lacking a few features, more than makes up for it in quality of performance!
I noticed that a couple of people indicated that they did not noticed the sunlight visibility problem. I cannot understand that, but when I got the 1212, I compared the 2 units side by side and the difference is VERY evident. Even in the shade, when I previously thought the 1340 was "OK", it had a much more faded, dull look than the 1212!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan RoadMate 1340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The Magellan RoadMate 1340 device boasts the acclaimed OneTouch menu, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, and an ultra-thin design. Preloaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico make the RoadMate 1340 ideal for both business trips and vacations. Easy-to-use premium features give you confidence on the road and deliver a powerful navigation experience.

The Magellan RoadMate 1340 includes many premier features, starting with Magellan's exclusive OneTouch favorites menu, QuickSpell with SmartCity search, and highway exit point of interest (POI) search, to name a few. Magellan's attention to detail delivers a superior user experience.
Intuitive and Robust Navigation The RoadMate 1340 lets you bookmark your favorite destinations and searches with the OneTouch favorites menu so you can access them anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
QuickSpell with SmartCity search help you quickly enter addresses and narrow your address and city searches, making destination entry easy. Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want. Or, have the device optimize your trip for the most efficient route, helping you save time and money.
Safety First on the Road You can keep your eyes on the road as you drive, because spoken street name guidance announces the street name along with audible turning cues. Highway lane assist offers visual aids to point you in the right direction and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Should your vehicle unfortunately break down as you travel, the AAA locate screen provides your location so help will know where to find you. Get support fast with the AAA Member Roadside Assistance phone number and your location displayed on the RoadMate 1340 screen.
Ready to Roll You're ready to travel with pre-loaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico that make the Magellan RoadMate 1340 ideal for both business trips and vacations. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.MagellanGPS.com.)
With millions of points of interest at your command, you can easily locate gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more. If you need more information or you want to save money, select the AAA search menu after your search entry. AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
When you're traveling down the interstate and need to find gas, food, or lodging in a hurry, touch the highway exit POI icon to see which upcoming highway exits have the services you need.
Do you often find yourself tied up in traffic? The RoadMate 1340 is Traffic Link-compatible, offering live onscreen traffic-incident reports. (The Traffic Link accessory is sold separately.)
Turn It on and Go! The Magellan RoadMate 1340 is loaded with premier features you'll need to get you where you want to go.

Magellan RoadMate 1340 Features
OneTouch favorites menu affords instant access to your personalized bookmarks of favorite places and searches anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
3.5-inch color touchscreen provides powerful navigation that's easy to view and use.
AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
AAA Member Roadside Assistance gets you help fast with a toll-free member services number to assist you in finding an AAA-approved tow truck or repair shop. The menu also shows your exact GPS location so you can provide precise information about your location.
Highway lane assist signs show highway signs to point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Spoken street names and directions so you can hear and see where you need to turn next.
QuickSpell with SmartCity search narrows your address and city searches, making destination entry easy.
Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want. Or, you can have the device optimize your trip for the most efficient route, saving you time and money.
Pre-loaded maps give you information and directions as you travel the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.MagellanGPS.com.)
Millions of points of interest (POIs) help you easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more.
Highway exit POI search shows you gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near upcoming highway exits.
Branded POIs display your favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and more by their respective logos.
Traffic Link provides live onscreen traffic notification updates. (This accessory is sold separately.)
Customizable route method lets you select the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways to customize your route.
Address book enables you to create and store contact information.
Auto night view adjusts your screen's color and contrast for easy night viewing.
Automatic re-route lets you quickly get back on track in case you missed a turn.
Plan route on map by simply touching a destination on the map screen and then directly routing to it.
Rechargeable battery gives you the freedom to drive wirelessly or plan your trip when your vehicle's engine is turned off.

What's in the Box RoadMate 1340 GPS receiver; pre-loaded maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; windshield mount; adhesive disc for dash mounting; vehicle power adapter; user handbook; USB cable; and user's manual on CD-ROM.

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TomTom EASE 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Red) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a couple of different GPS units - an off-road/hiking model, and a higher-end Garmin for my auto - cost more than twice what this Tom Tom sells for. My expectations for the Ease were not that high - I figured it would be a basic, no-frills unit. In part, it is. It does not have BlueTooth (My Garmin does, but I have never used it) and has a smaller screen and no SD card support. The smaller real-estate means that the informational displays need to be smaller, and less of the surrounding area displays. I expected this to be a headache, but it really was not.
I opened the box in my car, popped out the GPS, suctioned it to the windshield (using a unique twist lock, not the typical lever type), and turned it on. After entering some basic information (home, time, etc.) it was ready to go. It locked on to the satellites really fast - far quicker than my Garmin. I drove around for an hour, hitting my usual stops. The maps are incredibly accurate - the unit defaults to 3D, but switching between 3D and 2D is one touch away. I kept it in 3D.
One point I really, REALLY liked was the accurate street names. For example, I live near 95th Street. Everyone calls it 95th St. My Garmin calls it "Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Highway" - nobody I know calls it that - or even knew it was named that. The Tom Tom calls it 95th St. The Tom Tom also displays the correct street names - AND - the alternate numbers, with the appropriate symbol. So 95th Street displays all three "official" names/numbers. Imagine how much LESS confusing this is driving in an area you are not familiar with. I can't count the times I've been on a highway and wondered "is this 90/94/41/53" because the display on my Garmin shows one thing, and the signs another. Why? The highway has two designations (sometimes three or four!), and what the GPS shows may not match what the road-side signs display.
I'm taking the Tom Tom with me to Wisconsin this weekend to see how it compares side by side (literally) with my Garmin.
In the box: the GPS, manual, car charger and USB cable. Thanks for the right angle connectors - Keeps the unit's profile / clutter down. Also has a dash board pad - adhesive one side, smooth plastic on the other. This way the GPS can be suctioned to the dash.
After the initial use (did I mention it was fully charged in the box?) I hooked it up to my computer (Windows 7.) The software installed automatically from the GPS. After installation, it went to the Tom Tom website and checked for updates (the basemap was current) and offered additional installs/downloads. Mostly FREE installs. A "safety Camera" database (like I said - FREE!), new voice (Dave), and map share application. Map Share is a user updated database - if users find mistakes in the maps, they can submit them to Tom Tom - these corrections can then be used in your device (you can turn this feature on or off) - but I think it's a really cool feature.
You can also purchase optional featured downloads from this screen - When I visited it was a Homer Simpson voice pack and fuel price addon. After installing stuff from the web, you'll see the Tom Tom home screen for your device. Here you can download more maps (for a price). One thing I did not like was that there was a newer map available - but I had to purchase it. With my Garmin the first update was free. But overall the Tom Tom updates are less expensive. $50 for a year with Tom Tom vs $90 with Garmin.
You can also download other voices from the home screen - there are two categories: Computer and Recorded. Recorded include Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, Dr. Felix (A German shrink), John Cleese, Mr. T., Snoop Dog, and others supplied by Tom Tom users. Some are free, many are not. All the computer voices are free.
Also available for download are POI sets (points of interest) - Most are free and look like they are supplied by outside parties. For example, 7-11 locations, AAA offices, Ace Hardware locations. Mostly useless stuff.
What else can one download? Color schemes (all free), car symbols, plus start up and shut down images (you can customize the image displayed when the unit turns on and off.)
There are also help sections, including creating your own content: voices, symbols, images, POI's and more. A huge cool factor! Try doing that with a Garmin.
I read the other reviews on the Ease and can honestly say I had none of the issues others complain about. Online registration was seamless and error free. There were automatic updates / add-ins downloaded with the click on one button. Voices - I found them all to be easy to understand, the spoken more-so than than the computer.
For the price, this is one great GPS.


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TomTom's EASE is an entry-level car navigation solution that's easy to use, ultra-portable, and packed with the latest technologies. This is an affordable GPS unit that lives up to its name, providing intelligent navigation for anyone--switch on and go, right out of the box.


EasyMenu TomTom's two-button EasyMenu makes getting on the road faster and easier. With just a few taps of the screen you'll be on your way to any destination in the U.S. Just enter the address on the touchscreen and your TomTom EASE guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions including street names. 3D graphics help guide you to your destination.

Portable and Easy to Use The EASE features a sleek, lightweight design and integrated EasyPort mount, making it the most compact TomTom device available yet. Drivers can easily fit the entire device and attached mount into a pocket, purse or small glove compartment.

Tele Atlas Maps The EASE is preloaded with maps from Tele Atlas, covering more than 6.5 million miles of roadways in the US. Mmillions of points of interest enhance your traveling experience--easily find your favorite gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and more.

IQ Routes TomTom IQ Routes Technology shaves time off even the shortest trip. IQ Routes calculates the fastest route possible based on time of day, so you'll always travel the smartest route.

MapShare TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom MapShare technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, points of interest, and more on your own device. And with the "Help Me!" menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations and hospitals.

EasyPort Mount The EASE comes with an integrated Fold & Go EasyPort mount. Permanently attached so you'll never lose it, the mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car.

What's in the Box TomTom EASE With Integrated EasyPort Mount, User's Manual

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Magellan RoadMate 1440 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am very happy with the Magellan RoadMate 1440, it's just such a good GPS Navigator with all the bells and whistles!
The 1440 is very accurate at saving you time during trips, you can set it up to give you the fastest route or the shortest distance to your destination, which in many cases, is not the same route.
The highway lane assist is one of those features that you might not think you need until you start dealing with lower end GPS units that don't offer such features. Take it from a guy who used to own a tomtom One 3rd edition! This feature helps you make sure that you are choosing the correct lane to exit during a freeway interchange. You'll be glad you have this feature, trust me!
Just in case you were wondering, this unit is also compatible with the "Magellan Traffic Link" (sold Separately) which gives you FREE real time traffic alerts in exchange for small banner ads such as "AM/PM too much good stuff!" displayed on the top of your screen. a small price to pay for such a great service! In case of a traffic jam, a small timer will appear right next to the traffic warning sign, which tells you how many minutes it estimates you will be stuck in there. Click on the warning sign and it will give you a second route to follow. It will compare both routes for you and give you an estimated arrival time for each one. At this point you can opt to avoid traffic or deal with it. This is one of the best features of this unit and a must have for people who have to deal with hours of traffic on a daily basis! (yes, I live in California and traffic jams are a part of my life)
I purposely "got lost" many times to test how accurate the unit was. I would assign a "point of interest" and make the wrong turns just to see how long it would take it to catch up to me, let me tell you it's fast! in most cases it will have a new route to follow before I even hit the next intersection.
It comes with TTS (text to speech) which means it actually tells you to "turn right on Magnolia" as opposed to "turn right in 30 feet", this is a nice feature to have, but it was a must have feature for me, since my previous unit didn't have it.
One odd thing about the 1440 is that when you save a new address to your address book, it automatically assigns it to "Home" in many cases I was trying to add a place of business and it didn't give me the option to do so, it has the "Business" space but you need to add a home address before it lets you add the business address, so everytime I click on "work" it shows me a little picture of a house as opposed to a picture of a building. Nothing big really, I'm sure they can fix that with a firmware update.1440 vs 1470
I also tested this unit against it's bigger brother, the Magellan RoadMate 1470 displaying a 4.7" screen. If you are like me and are looking at this item, you probably have been switching screens between this one and the 1470!
Looks: The 1440 seems to be a little thicker than the 1470, not a big difference, really. The 1470 feels smoother and it has rounded edges as opposed to the square look on the 1440. The back on the 1470 is silver, the back on the 1440 is black.Display: The 1470 screen has richer colors than the 1440, at their higher settings, the 1470 is just a little brighter than the 1440, still the 1440 screen is just as bright as you need a GPS screen to be.
Response time: I tested them in situations such turning them on/off, missing my turns to see how fast it would relocate, assigning destinations and looking up Points of Interests, The 1440 responded from 1-3 seconds faster than the 1470 model. Might not seem like much of a difference, but when you're on the road, just a few seconds might make you miss your exit!
Features: they both have the exact same features, nothing different here.
Sound: The 1440 has a slight louder speaker than the 1470. Both units are great, differences were very minimal. This choice is mostly determined on how big you want the screen and how much you are willing to pay for the difference.
I hope that this review helps you make a better buying choice!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan RoadMate 1440 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The Magellan RoadMate 1440 device boasts the acclaimed OneTouch menu, a 4.3-inch color touch screen, and an ultra-thin design. Preloaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico make the RoadMate 1440 ideal for both business trips and vacations. Easy-to-use, premium features give you confidence on the road and deliver a powerful navigation experience.

The Magellan RoadMate 1440 includes many premier features, starting with Magellan's exclusive OneTouch favorites menu, QuickSpell with SmartCity search, and highway exit point of interest (POI) search, to name a few. Magellan's attention to detail delivers a superior user experience.
Intuitive and robust navigation The RoadMate 1440 lets you bookmark your favorite destinations and searches with the OneTouch favorites menu so you can access them anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
QuickSpell and Smart City search help you quickly enter addresses and narrow your address and city searches, making destination entry easy. Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want or optimize a trip for the most efficient route, helping you save time and money.
Safety first on the road You can keep your eyes on the road as you drive because spoken street name guidance announces the street name along with audible turning cues. Highway lane assist offers visual aids to point you in the right direction and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Should your vehicle unfortunately break down as you travel, the AAA locate screen provides your location so help will know where to find you. Get support fast with the AAA Member Roadside Assistance1 phone number and your location displayed on the RoadMate 1440 screen.
Ready to roll You're ready to travel with preloaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico that make the Magellan RoadMate 1440 ideal for both business trips and vacations. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.magellangps.com).
With millions of points of interest at your command you can easily locate gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more. If you need more information or you want to save money, select the AAA search menu after your search entry. AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
When you're traveling down the Interstate and need to find gas, food, or lodging in a hurry, touch the highway exit POI icon to see which upcoming highway exits have the services you need.
Do you often find yourself tied up in traffic? The RoadMate 1440 is Traffic Link compatible, offering live onscreen traffic-incident reports. (The Traffic Link accessory is sold separately).
Turn it on and go! The Magellan RoadMate 1440 is loaded with premier features you'll need to get you where you want to go.

Magellan RoadMate 1440 Features
OneTouch favorites menu affords instant access to your personalized bookmarks of favorite places and searches anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
4.3-inch color touch screen provides powerful navigation that's easy to view and use.
AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
AAA Member Roadside Assistance gets you help fast with a toll-free member service number to assist you in finding an AAA approved tow truck or repair shop. The menu also shows your exact GPS location so you can provide precise information to your location.
Highway lane assist signs show highway signs to point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Spoken street names and directions so you can hear and see where you need to turn next.
QuickSpell with SmartCity search narrows your address and city searches, making destination entry easy.
Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want or optimize a trip for the most efficient route, saving you time and money.
Preloaded maps give you information and directions as you travel the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.magellangps.com).
Millions of points of interest (POIs) help you easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more.
Highway exit POIs search shows you gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near upcoming highway exits.
Branded POIs display your favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and more by their respective logos.
Traffic Link provides live, onscreen traffic notification updates. (This accessory is sold separately).
Customizable route method lets you select the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways to customize your route.
Address book enables you to create and store contact information.
Auto night view adjusts your screen's color and contrast for easy night viewing.
Automatic re-route lets you quickly get back on track in case you missed a turn.
Plan route on map by simply touching a destination on the map screen and then directly routing to it.
Rechargeable battery gives you the freedom to drive wireless or plan your trip when your vehicle's engine is turned off.

What's in the Box RoadMate 1440 GPS receiver, Pre-loaded maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, Windshield mount, Adhesive disc for dash mounting, Vehicle power adapter, User handbook, USB cable, User manual on CD-ROM

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