GPS Information

I bought the GARMIN nüvi 260W to help with work and family travels. After extensive research with Magellan, Mio and Tom-Tom, I bought the Garmin for three reasons. 1) Ease of use. 2) Screen clarity. 3) Amazing accuracy. And no, despite where I live, I have no affiliation with Garmin. I don’t even know anyone that works for them. I am in the architectural business.

I have tried several GPSs while traveling with business associates, friends or in rental cars. As such, I have seen them in real world action. All of the devices saved me time and most found the place I needed to be. I could used any of them and been somewhat satisfied.The problem: I am a perfectionist. As such, I want the unit to be the best. So, after using a text-to-speech Garmin GPS unit earlier this year, I knew that was one feature I could not live without when I pulled the trigger on a purchase. Text-to-speech is a must have on GPS. A MUST. If you have never used a GPS, trust me, you have to have text-to-speech. It eliminates the frustration of urban driving and having the non text-to-speech units tell you to turn right in 200 feet, only to find two roads that are 200 feet away and have to pick one and hope it is right.

I decided to wait until a wide screen GPS came out that didn’t have so many bells and whistles and was priced fairly. The GARMIN nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch fit the bill. Pulled the trigger still knowing that GPS units drop in price every month it seems and I would knowingly be mad in 90 days when the unit was 20% cheaper (oh well).

Back to the GARMIN nüvi 260W…I am amazed how it can find the driveway of my house at the end of a cul-de-sac directly adjacent to a road that is named the same. It is so accurate that it lets me know if I pulled into the wrong driveway 15 feet away from mine (I know, I tried it). It is so easy to use; I didn’t even use the manual – once. It is that user friendly. I even downloaded new voices via the Garmin site without a manual. I like the fact the screen is very clear and refreshes quickly. I can even use my polarized sunglasses with the Garmin 260W screen and it does not distort the screen colors or have numerous horizontal lines (if you use polarized glasses, make sure to try out any GPS screen before you buy. Many look blank when using polarized glasses).

The POI seem to be pretty good, but I really haven’t used it long enough to evaluate POI depth. I do know that the maps seem to be fairly accurate in terms of new roads since I have yet to find a road that does not exist on the map.

Not everything is perfect with the Garmin 260W. The downside is the time to acquire a satellite. The 260W takes longer than I like…sometimes up to one minute. However, once it gets a hold of the satellites, it never looses them. Plus it gets such a strong signal (with no external antenna); I can use the device on my lap in the passenger seat (when I am not driving and after it finds a satellite). Another couple of downers are it has very few voices that work with the text-to-speech feature. I hope Garmin increases the choices via a web download in the future (I want celebrity voices…please). Plus, I would have liked a case, any case to be included for the price I paid.

Overall, the unit is amazing and the larger screen size of 4.3 inches really helps those with fat fingers and those that don’t want to squint to read a map. I am just sorry I had to wait this long to own one. It is a must have for those that travel to unfamiliar areas.

Garmin 260W is definitely one of the most outstanding GPS device in market today. The unit is filled with features, and yet it is easy to use, and it has many physical pluses which make it a truly helpful travel companion.

Probably the most wonderful feature of Garmin 260Wis its text-to-speech capability. The device can certainly display visible directions on screen, but more than that it can say the directions audibly, including calling out name of streets as well as turn-by-turn directions. This feature lets drivers keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic and tricky roadways. The information is displayed on the screen very clearly and readable. The screen is back-lit and wide-screen with size of 4.3 inch, giving excellent view not only of maps and travel tracks but also of what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. The display is equipped with touchscreen capability which makes it easy to manage the menus. Garmin 260W GPSis preloaded with City Navigator NT North America, with road maps for the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico as well as about six million point of interest. City Navigator NT North America has everything you need to travel in North America. Powered by NAVTEQ who is a world leader in premium-quality digital map data, City Navigator provides very detailed street maps which enable you to navigate with exact, turn-by-turn directions to any destination. On top of that, the device is built with an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data, so that it is easy to add more maps to accommodate whatever destination you are going to.

Besides the above features, Garmin GPS 260W also has ultra sensitive GPS receiver which allows high accurate operation. The device has a built-in FM traffic receiver that alters you on road condition in real time and provides you with on-demand detour instructions. The device has reroute functions as well so you have the freedom to choose the shortest distance or the quickest route based on existing conditions. The device also has a JPEG viewer for browsing pictures, world clock, converters (currency, measurement), calculator and more. It is also equipped with anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you choose the car icon of your desire to show your position on the map. The device can operate up to five hours with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Loaded with the above features, Garmin Nuvi 260W is definitely the ultimate travelling companion.

Garmin Nuvi 260W is a member of Garmin’s popular entry level nuvi 200 series and hottest gift for christmas 2009. The Garmin Nuvi 260W is the all time best selling Garmin Nuvi in the world and have more than 2 years in the top 100 at amazon. Nuvi 260W is ultimate gift for traveler person and top christmas gift 2009 .I bought the Garmin Nuvi 260W for three reasons. 1) Ease of use. 2) Screen clarity. 3) Amazing accuracy.

The Garmin nuvi 260W GPS personal travel assistant combines a wide variety of state of the art navigational features and options to choose from all housed within an ultra stylish design along with a reasonable price tag, making this model ideal for any type of traveler.

Garmin’s nüvi 260W combines the thinprofile and attractive price point of other nüvi 200-series GPS with directions in real street names and a wide screen that lets you see more of what’s around you as you drive. Garmin’s line on the device is that, “the nüvi 260W gives consumers the most sought-after navigation features, while eliminating many of the premium add-ons. The result is a PND that simply gets you from point A to point B – reliably, efficiently, and with style.” As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of a high-sensitivity integrated receiver, a slim, pocket-sized navigator with a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that lets  you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface.

Smart, Powerful Design
The nüvi 260W is built with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 6.6 ounces. The nüvi display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.

light Interface
Garmin’s interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

See More of What’s Around
The 4.3-inch backlit widescreen touchscreen on the nüvi 260W gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

You can buy Garmin Nuvi 260W from many big retailers offline or online like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart etc. But which one is the best? you can buy this product at amazon.com.com. This giant online retailers give the best price which included FREE Saver Shipping (in US only) for this holiday season.

Amazon.Amazon.com is a popular company. You will have a piece of mind because not only they will make sure you get the holiday gift on time but they are very actively in updating you the status of your gift delivery. Gift wrapping is also available for just a small additional fee.