Garmin nuvi 200W

When I was recently in the market for a Sat Nav system, there were so many available, that I barely knew where to start. There were a few specifications that I had in mind when looking for a suitable GPS system. I didn't want to spend too much money to begin with. For months previously, I had been observing reviews and prices of sat nav systems online, and what was clear to was the fact that new systems were constantly being released, which meant that prices were being reduced all the time. So I didn't see a point in splashing out on an expensive system, knowing that the price would probably fall before long. I also wanted a widescreen sat nav, simply because they look better and more modern, but also because pretty much all new sat nav systems are manufactured in widescreen, and that the 4:3 screen aspect ratio will become a thing of the past, much like tv's. After extensive researching, price comparison and review reading, I came across the Garmin Nuvi 200w, and a sat nav system that seemed to impress greatly, so i decided to take the plunge and bought one.

Much like many of the reviews I had read on the Nuvi 200w, my first impressions of it were very good. I bought the system off the Littlewoods website, as it had been reduced in a seasonal sale that they were having. This meant that the system was on offer for around £30 less than on any other reputable site that I could find it on. The product was well packaged, securely and compactly fitted to an inner cardboard shelf, that meant that the sat nav was unable to move or rattle within the box, therefor limiting the chance of damage during postal delivery to a minimum. Included in the box was the Nuvi 200w sat nav system, a vehicle suction mount cup for attaching the system to the windscreen, a dashboard disc for attaching the system to the dashboard, a usb power cable and the instruction manual. The mounting equipment are of good quality, and assembly and attaching to either windscreen or dash is very easy. I have read a few reviews where users had complained about the suction cup not being very strong, although I have yet to come across this problem. I was slightly disapointed to find that there was no mains power cable with the system, only a usb power cable, which is not always convenient.

The Garmin Nuvi 200w is a very nice looking piece of kit. It is silver and grey in colour, and it's actual dimensions are 4.8"x2.9"x0.8". It is a very solidly built system, and also has a little bit of weight to it to give it a good quality feel. The screen is a very nice 480x272 pixel widescreen, with a very impressive, brightly coloured touch screen, sunlight readable, anti-glare display. Navigating through the systems menu's is very easy, with big, bright picture icons available on each screen, and the on-screen instructions and icon descriptions are available in a number of different languages. One thing I did find quite annoying and time consuming is when the system is switched on, pairing it up to a satellite can take some time. I found myself having to stand out in the open for up to 10 minutes whilst the system attempted to pair up to a satellite. Whether this is a common problem, or one that is dependant on your location, I do not know.

The Nuvi 200w is packed full of great features. It comes preloaded with City Navigator NT data maps for all UK and Ireland roads. The maps themselves are bright and clear, and have turn-by-turn voice directions which can be turned on and off. The maps can be viewed in either 2D or 3D, and can also be zoomed in and out of for various levels of detailed views. The system also comes pre-installed with a large POI (points of interest) database, which includes ready directions for hotels, restaurants, shops, petrol stations, cash machines etc. Custom POI's can also be created and saved into the database. It also has a built-in Cyclops safety camera info, which can warn you of any up-coming stationary speed cameras. The systems maps and speed camera information can easily be updated with new maps online, and at no extra cost and with no subscription fees, unlike many of it's competitors. The system also has several other features including, JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock & time zones, currency & measurement converter and calculator. An SD card slot is also included on the Nuvi 200w, for any additional memory needed.

The Garmin Nuvi 200w has a full UK postcode search feature, which once the system has paired up to a satellite, is very easy to use. A coomon complaint with may sat nav systems is how many of them mis-guide, and fail to arrive at the requested destinations, this however is a problem that I have not yet come across with the Nuvi 200w. The voice directions are clear and concise, and overall, I have had very few problems with the navigation itself. the sat nav system has a useful 5 hour battery life, thank to it's re-chargeable li-ion battery. The Nuvi 200w is build for both road and foot use, as the system is small enough to fit into most pockets. The Garmin Lock security feature means that a pin code can be used to lock the device, as a security measure.

In my opinion, the Garmin Nuvi 200w is an excellent satellite navigation system. There are not many better systems on the market today at the same price, if any. I have had no previous experience with sat nav systems, however I found the Nuvi 200w to be extremely easy to use and very user friendly. It does have a few minor faults, with it's long satellite pairing wait, and the lack of a mains charger, however these can be picked up fairly cheaply. Apart from that, I cannot fault the Nuvi 200w. As well as being very stylish, and with a high quality feel, it also does exactly what it's designed to do, which is fundamental, as well as being packed with a wealth of other top features. This satellite navigation system certainly comes well recommended.

Detailed Specifications:

General
Product Type GPS receiver
Width 12.2 cm
Depth 2 cm
Height 7.4 cm
Weight 173 g

GPS System
Recommended Use Automotive
Connectivity USB
Voice Navigation instructions
Aerial Built-in
Features Built-in speaker, calculator, clock, 2D / 3D map perspective, Garmin Lock
Maps Included Ireland, United Kingdom
Software Included NAVTEQ ON BOARD, MapSource City Navigator NT
Compatible GPS Software Garmin SaversGuide, Garmin Travel Guide

Navigation
Waypoints 500
Trip Computer Avoid highways, quickest route, avoid toll roads, fast/short route

Built-in Display
Type TFT - widescreen
Resolution 480 x 272
Diagonal Size 4.3"
Display Illumination Yes
Colour Support Colour
Features Touch screen, anti-glare

Connections
Connector Type USB
Slot Provided
Slot Provided SD Memory Card

Battery
Battery Enclosure Type Internal
Technology Lithium Ion
Run Time (Up To) 5 hour(s)
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories Car power adapter, vehicle mount

The price of the Garmin Nuvi 200w varies, however one of the best prices I have recently seen the sat nav system sold for is around £108, on Amazon.co.uk.