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So far I am very happy with the nuvi205W. A couple times it did not recalculate. But, I think it is with the program now.
I agree with the complaints about when typing in a city name or street name it has a bit of lag. At that price I would say that the software on this unit is very clean and cut. I found a pretty good deal on the Nüvi 205w for only $139.54. I think that is something that I see myself getting used to, not getting rid of this unit. I like garmin's screen with the road you need to turn on listed at the top. I have used tom tom's in the past that haven't been very clear on which road you are exactly turning on to. I like the features where you can change your car icon if you really want to, or even the voices that guide you along (even though the selection of the free voices available from garmin are very few). Overall I think for a basic, entry level navigation unit, the garmin nüvi 205w is worth the price if you are just looking for a widescreen GPS with 3D maps and voice guidance.
I just pulled an ad out of the NY Daily News and saw that this version is on sale for $149 and includes suction cup mount and dashboard disc. Thanks to everyone who posted great feedback on this item because it's convinced me that it's the perfect product for my less than tech-savvy Mom.phewww : )You can get it $10 cheaper here on Amazon, however I want to read the box, make sure the PC power cable is included, plus I want to buy a dashboard holder and a nice case for all the items. Model # NUVI 205W, 4.3" screen. With all the great reviews I've read, I'm going out tomorrow morning to purchase this item for my Mom. I'm trying to make life easier for my Mom and unless I get all the components, it's just a little too overwhelming for her. So, the Amazon rate is great w/the free shippping.
You don't have to print directions from Mapquest anymore, so you can save papers, ink, and (of course) trees. I like the piano black finish. And plus, I'm a big fan of the QWERTY keyboard. In order for that feature to work, I had to enter the city and highway gas mileages and the gas price. [.].[.].In conclusion, this is a very nice device for going to places without getting lost. It also picked up satellite signals in my bedroom on the 2nd floor of my house.My Garmin nuvi 205W has several additional bonus features. After I unpack the GPS device, it works fantastically.
First, I like how the device has the on-screen QWERTY keyboard, so I decided to use that kind of keyboard instead of the ABC keyboard, which was used in the past Garmin GPS models. With the QWERTY keyboard, I can enter letters more rapidly and efficiently than using the ABC format. I got my Garmin nuvi 205W at Best Buy for my 21st birthday. Third, I also like the HotFix technology, which can make the device obtain satellite signals faster, so that's how it picked up satellite signals on the 2nd floor of my house, as I mentioned above.Another major additional feature is the ecoRoute. With ecoRoute, the device can help me save money on gas. It even calculates the cost of gas when I go from one place to another. Therefore, I highly recommend this device to all of my friends. "turn left in 500 ft"), you don't have to take your eyes off the road, which is safer than reading directions while driving at the same time.
I also like the 4.3-inch widescreen and the bright high-resolution screen. Also, you don't even have to call people for directions anymore because all you gotta do is enter addresses on the device. Second, I also like the speed limit indicator, which is displayed on the left of the map screen. With that feature, I don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket anymore, but it's not always accurate and the device doesn't display speed limits on major roads in Vancouver, WA, which is where I live. And since the device talks to you (e.g.
First the new owner will have to obtain an access code and password on the Gamin website, then sign some user agreement, then buy a USB cable and connect the device. Compared to the C330 the Nuvi has a much faster processor and is much quicker at locating the satellites (which at times will take a couple of minutes with the C330). If all of this is done, after about four or five steps the new owner will obtain the privilege to register. Two very welcome and important improvements.Strangely, the Nuvi performs worse than the C330 in most other areas which makes one wonder how Garmin has used the time since the C330 was launched:1) While the C330 had no difficulties whatsoever to find our house (in an old development in Silicon Valley); the Nuvi places our house some hundred meters from where it really is. In the C330 the only limit was the slow processor speed. I had the same problem in a 200W which I returned for that reason, but it appears that this is an engineering problem with the whole line.4) When leaving from a parking lot the Nuvi often gets the direction of travel wrong. May appeal to teens or fans of videogames.
That doesn't keep it from making directional recommendations via the crappy speakers, though. Same for streets.3) The speaker in the Nuvi is horrible (it sounds like it has overheated coils). I have already driven off in the wrong direction three times in two weeks.5) The directional arrows disappear when the car comes to a standstill which isn't the case in the C330. The maps are totally out of date, the user interface isn't as nice as in the C330 and so forth.
I bought this device as an upgrade for our Garmin C330 which we have had a couple of years. I don't know why Garmin doesn't let you choose the interface based on one's own personal preference.7) The search function for restaurants etc. seems to be limited to only a radius of 5 miles. Why this limitation.8) The registration process is a nightmare. Makes no sense at all.6) The graphic interface is much more straightforward and professional looking in the C330. Otherwise, Gramin has moved in the wrong direction in many ways. Our neighbors who also have an old and new Garmin have the same problem.2) The "new" 2009 map is remarkably not up to date - even big stores that were built two or three years ago right in Silicon Valley are not listed. Go figure.
Why. In the Nuvi it's more like a computer game. Buying a new car is easier.Overall: The Nuvi 205W works reasonably well and it's satellite lock and processor speed are much improved over the old C330 unit. Given the keen price point ($150 including tax) this is still a reasonable unit but Garmin should really invest in product development.
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