Garmin - nüvi 205W Portable GPS

We are over 50 and believe that cell phones are to talk on and we use maybe 1/100th of the things that computers can do. If you are reading this you may not know that you can get cell phones and other devices that have GPS already integrated as a feature. However, that was way more complicated than we care to learn. We really enjoyed ours as we navigated every state east of the Mississippi on a driving tour and really enjoyed ours telling us where we could eat, get gas, find points of interest (museums, libraries, courthouses, hotels) shop, and tell us how to get to specific adresses. Now and then, it would direct us to an establishment that had closed so it will lie to you now and then. But with a little pratice, and an updated map uploaded, it was indispensible. We loved it telling us where we were, (so we could check our map) where to turn, etc. It talks to you loud and clear so you do not have to watch the screen. Don't let this scare you, use common sense, but the thing will kill you if you try to drive and read details at the same time. If you have to check stuff, depend on your co-pilot, or pull over. It will try to keep you on the freeways ("faster time") unless you tell it not to, and if you tell it "shortest distance" you will be driving through interesting back roads. Practice with it on familiar territory before you take off to strange places. The road details are incredibly accurate (it knows which streets are one-way, and whether you take exit 99 A, B,C, or D for instance) but it provides few topographical features other than lakes and rivers. So you will be very happy for the 100 bucks or so it will cost you. We bought ours when it was about $200 and we do not regret our purchase one cent. We are buying a second unit for a Christmas present for a fellow who can't find his backside with two hands.

Recent Bestbuy Purchase Review 7 January 2010 Garmin nuvi 205W Portable GPS SKU: 9470556 I need your help! I ordered the GPS via online on 11/26/09. I received the GPS about 12/03/09. The GPS unit worked very well until I attempted to update the map. All attempts to update have failed. During the first update process attempt, the previous stored map has been deleted via the failed update program. I am extremely frustrated and disappointed with the GPS at this point. I hope that either Bestbuy or Garmin will fix or replace my GPS unit as it is totally unusable and worthless at this time! Here is what I have done: I have downloaded FOUR TIMES from Garmin the one time free map update that I am entitled to get during the 60 day window. These downloads take eight hours each approximately. After downloading, I then would extract the files and attempt to install the maps on the GPS unit. In every case, I received the following error message when the extraction was completed: “The file or directory\Garmin\gmapprom.uni is corrupt and unreadable”. On 7 January 2010, I called Garmin technical support. I spent about 1 1/2 hours on the phone with advanced tech support today to no avail. I even had Garmin techs use remote assistance into my computer to analyze the problem. The tech support people said that the “unlock file” is corrupt because it does not have anything in it. It is supposed to have 47 Kb in it. Tech Support tried to copy and paste a valid replacement file to replace the corrupt file, but that did not work. As I said before, I liked the GPS device before the failures in updating the maps. I would appreciate hearing from Bestbuy as to what can be done to remedy this problem. Please contact me and give me some direction on where to solve this problem. Thank you.

We have only used it in the little area around us but it picks up the little roads around us. One time it said there was a road when there wasn't out in the country but unless somebody actually went to that spot they wouldn't know that for that one section the road discontinues and start up on the other side. Also there is a dirt road but it just leads to the field so somebody probably just didn't know it didn't go though Also from what I've noticed is that if I type in an address and it takes me to the road where the 400's starte but not to the house on it. So it puts you close enough that if you can count house numbers you would be fine. We used it to fine a gas station in the area. I also like that it tells you how fast you are going and the direction. I think if I updated the map it would probably help some of the roads it has or doesn't have if they are new. But we really enjoy it and it seems to have a lot of the roads we didn't know if it would have. Like our house wasn't in there but our neighbors was. We been living here for around two years (out in the country). Probably just hard to keep up with the growth and new construction of Highways. We'll see how it does on our trip North! I would recommend it to others it does better than others. We also like the bigger size and the talking. Hope this helps- I bought this gps after reading a lot of other reviews about other products and things people didn't like about them. When I came across this one people seem to really enjoy it and I'm glad I took my tom tom back because I couldn't fine any reviews about it.

Got this GPS on black friday for 99 (plus tax) and let me say that it's worth the hundred bucks. It's cheap, has a decent set of features, can tell you about places around you that you might want to go to (college students who wander around aimlessly at night trying to find somewhere to eat, I'm talking to you!). Keep in mind that I am very good with directions and you don't have to tell me twice about how to get somewhere, but even without that knowledge, I am very impressed with this little unit and would say that just about anyone can understand it. I like that it posts the speed limit on the screen just in case you forgot (or don't bother obeying in my case). The on-screen data display is very clean and simple, not complicated at all. When you're on the freeway it doesn't put much more than a few simple cross-streets you're going over and the actual freeway you're on. Once you get off, it loads the immediate area and displays "On Ramp" to let you know that it knows exactly where you are, very cool feature. Things that could be better are the touch screen. I'm not sure if it's just my unit, but every time I attempt to type in an input, the screen mistakes my input for the character on the left of whatever I selected. Not all the time but enough for me to notice it. Other than that, for the money it can't be beat. You are allowed to update the map data on your device for free on Garmin's website and for that I give it a 5 overall!

After the Tom Tom left a bad tasted in my mouth after 1 wk of usage and silly glitches I purchased my Garmin. What a wonderful buy! At first, all I wanted it to do was speak. Who knew it would be so useful! On top of the fact that it is VERY accurate, it allows me to put my vehicle information (city and hwy mpg) and the fuel price so that I can track how much fuel I am using. I am just learning how to take the "Driving challege" which also gauges how my driving habits also burns excessive fuel. I just saved myself $20 a week in gas for the last 2 months! When I'm running late it automatically tells me what my estimated time of arrival to my destination would be! So there's no wondering if I'd make it on time! Downloading new maps is a snap! I just vacationed in Hawaii and realized I needed maps for Hawaii. I hooked it up to my laptop and within minutes I was ready to go. I wasnt afraid to venture out and see more of the island this time than I had before! You should purchase one and see for yourself.. I just ran out of space!!!!!!!

My wife can get lost driving out of town. (Slight exaggeration.) Using this GPS she made a 4 hour trip without a problem, though she did turn into someones driveway on the way. I tested it before I sent her off and was surprised on what detail showed up on the map. The non-public road in our local mall was on the display even though it has no name! Driving along the road with a golf course on both sides it showed the beginning of the course almost exactly when we drove through it. Small bodies of water are drawn accurately as well, things you see but never notice in day-to-day travel. These are ALL important when you are traveling in new areas. The minor flaw is that it tends to announce your turn around 250 feet early. That's great if you're on the highway, not so great in the city. You may end up turning too early. Not a real problem since it will recalculate your route if you make a mistake. It also tends to favor main roads over quicker side roads. Side roads may or may not have street names show up on them as well. Not a real issue since it does get your there eventually. I tried to throw it off by going the wrong way a few times but it did recover quickly. Sometimes the routes given to recover are a bit silly, but as I said, it gets you there. Overall, I would recommend this GPS to anyone.

Maybe I went in expecting too much for a $100 GPS, or maybe it really just doesn't suit my needs. Either way, the little things were what made me return this unit. The GPS itself was fine (other than sometimes leading me the long way, or thinking I'm still on the highway when I'm really on the frontage road). It was also pretty simple to use and get going. However, having just moved to a huge city, I need more help with lane changes ahead, which this unit doesn't have. It also didn't include a USB cable for computer hookup, which honestly costs 10 cents and should be a no-brainer. The touch screen is also way worse than I'm used to in the iPhone world. Bad touch recognition, selecting buttons I didn't push, and not selecting buttons I did push were huge headaches for me. I don't like having to finesse a touch screen to do what I want when I need driving help. Overall, this is a perfectly okay starter unit. For the more tech savvy, spend the extra money for at least the next level of GPS.

I've had this unit for a few weeks now and have been very pleased. Past reviews said that this unit is not usable for navigation when plugged in to the charger, but this is completely false. Battery lasts about 5 or 6 hours on a good charge. Route calculations take no more than a few seconds and reroutes are almost instant. It self dims at night to a dark blue background so you don't go blind. You can input your fuel economy and it will tell you the trip cost and carbon footprint. Also has a "driving challenge" where it tracks your acceleration and deceleration and gives you a score. Suction cup mount is very sturdy. Also includes an adhesive disc to mount it to your dash if you want to. Overall very pleased, if you want a dependable GPS for navigating from A to B this is the best deal out there.