The Bottom Line: This is a great system, I bought it in doubt, but it has worked for me, even in areas where buildings seem they might block satellite signal.
fsustriker's Full Review: Garmin nuvi 200W Car GPS Receiver
I was always talking about going and getting a GPS System but I could never actually put out the money and pay for one of those fancy digital maps. I was hoping to be able to wait till I gone out of state or something, but I started up a new class which was going on in Minneapolis, MN and if anyone knows the area, it was confusing to me at first, and I didn't want to take a chance of being late.
However, I am extremely happy that I decided to buy the Garmin Nuvi 200w. The GPS was very easy to use, and didn't take much to get used to it.
Specs: The size of this system is rather small, but the screen is plenty big to view. It is about 5in. x 3in. The battery life is nice and long. However since you have the charger that comes with it, why take the chance, and just keep it plugged in while you drive, that's what I do. The colored touch screen makes it easy and quick to use. It has a feature which is loaded into this which keeps you from plugging in addresses while driving, since it is a hazard to do so. The nicest thing about getting this GPS for me was that there was no setup involved; all you have to do is charge it and turn it on. From there, it is whatever you want to use it for.
I have not yet used all of its features, but I know that it sure works when needed to find my way out of downtown. When I first got it, I was nervous I would have to return it and buy a more powerful unit to be able to receive signal when surrounded by the tall buildings. However, the first time I tried it, I was leaving the parking ramp, and just as I went outside, the signal picked up. It had a strong signal between the buildings, and was already more than what I was expecting from such a small system.
The sound on this Nuvi is great; it's clear and loud enough to hear. I personally like to listen to my music up a bit, and have my windows down, but that still doesn't drown out the sound, and I can still listen to the directions in which it is giving me to go.
Why choose a Garmin? Well I have never actually used a GPS system before, and could go only based off what I know others have had, and what I have seen on TV. I have heard of the Tomtom, and the Garmin, and since I have more friends that have used Garmin before, I decided to go along with that.
One feature which I use the most often is the "Home" feature. You just program the location in which you want to be marked as home, and the option is on the first screen when you click "Where to?" This option is helpful because I normally use it when I have gotten lost, and need to find my way back on track to go home.
If you just want to look at the map, to find your way, you can just look at the street names as you are driving along. It has a zoom feature, where you can go close in on the roads, or zoom back, and see farther ahead.
It has a favorites feature where it can save addresses of places you go to frequently. I can see how this can be helpful for the first few trips there, but I find it useless after awhile, because if you go somewhere often, you learn the route, and don't need help to go there anymore (Unless Roadwork, that would be the only help for a detour).
Now if you are thinking about getting a GPS system, and don't know where to start, I would recommend you to this system. If you don't think this is your type, and you prefer something that's bigger, or more high-tech, I would suggest going to a store like Best Buy or Target, and just talk with the people in electronics section where they are sold. Most of them know about the systems, which ones work well, and one that will fit your likings in what you are going to use it for.
If you buy this, I hope you like it, and it works out for you like it does for me. You will never have to worry about getting lost with this system in your car.
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