WARNING: Using this for navigation could be very dangerous!!! I just got this and after testing it to plan 2 routes over roads I know very well, I found I cannot trust the routes it chooses. The first one told me to make an illegal left turn in front of 3 lanes of traffic. The next one took me through terrible city traffic over a much longer distance, rather than use the Interstate. It also labeled an Interstate with the wrong number. Yes, I had it configured properly, and downloaded updated software as of Oct 16, 2008. So, the only use for this is as a tiny (possibly inaccurate) map or for GPS coordinates, speed, and elapsed time.
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The digitizers on garmin products are fragile. The section cup mount is not sufficient to mount the unit, it will release unexpectedly after long trips. For this reason a dash mount is preferable to the included windshield mount, unless you have quick reflexes.
This is the second product from garmin I've owned where the digitizer has cracked in under a year. Customer service is terrible and the repair cost is nearly the price of a new unit.
This unit suffers from frequent confusion and periodically recommends illegal U-turns in the middle of major intersections or old map data will recommend bad routes (new map upgrade is $69). Also periodically it will not recognize that you have passed your via point and will enter in to a verbal loop where is repeats the same direction until the unit is turned off and restarted.
Don't waste your money.
I've owned a few older LCD/digitizer touch screen or stylus type devices that ran flawlessly until obsolescence. I've never encountered such a fragile device, but as I have not had experience with tomtom or competitors. I don't know if this related to the glass digitizer or if it is specific to the garmin device's design (thin glass, lack of included screen protector).
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Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Nuvi 200 is a great GPS that I have no problem recommending - excellent 3-D map, route calculation, interface, overall design, and battery life.
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The nuvi 200 is a great product. It doesn't have the traffic alerts but once you get the nuvi and update it by hooking it up to your computer and downloading updated maps, it will leady you anywhere with ease. It's great for the price!
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I am baffled that no one else has pointed out the obvious with this thing! On several occassion over a 2 DAY PERIOD this thing had me taking the long way just about everywhere I went. It had me going through street lights in Oakland for 12 miles! I later found out that I was running parallel to a freeway the whole time! It would have me take earlier exits than necessary and then I'd take surface streets for miles and miles. I was glad when the 3 hour battery life came to an end and I was forced to get out my big bulky laptop with 5 year old maps and was at least able to get to my destinations without having to add 2 hours onto my trip. When I returned it to Walmart the associate said, "oh, I have this same one! She said she loves it but she doesn't always follow it's directions because it frequently has you going the long way!" Well, if you are like her and have ooodles of time to waste, this is the one for you!
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