Advantages: Literally plug in and go
Disadvantages: Expensive, and Garmin has a strange map sale policy

...Garmin won't sell me UK maps (!) so this is a review of the US version. I bought my unit when I was on holiday in Canada to help me find my way around. I needed one that was "ready to rock" as I had no access to a computer while I was there. It came with City Navigator North America pre-installed. The kit consists of the GPS, glue pads, a portable bean bag mount, a permanent mount (for use with the glue pads), a 12V power lead with speaker (they have no internal batteries, so can only be used in a car or via mains power supply), a manual, remote control, and *no seperate maps* The GPS unit itself which has a decent sized touch-screen display complemented by four buttons giving access to other features. The bean-bag mount allows you to sit it on your dashboard without a permanently glued fixing, and the remote control to allow... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use, does what it's suppsed to do!
Disadvantages: Satellite pairing takes ages, no mains charger!

...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... Read review

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Advantages: Clear navigation, easy to use
Disadvantages: Camera alert noise gets on your nerves!

...is a little difficult to spot, but once you know it's there you'll never need to look for it again! The settings menu though is very easy to use. It has large buttons with clear colour pictures on and easy to read wording. In the settings menu you can change to kilometres, choose the faster or shorter route, select avoidances etc. There is a "toggle-type" button on the side to change the volume, it's a sort of wheel that you turn up an down. (Apologies for not knowing the correct term!). The off button is also located at the side, which is easy to access. Unlike many of its counterparts, the Garmin does not come attached to the suction pad. It depends on your view as to whether this is an advantage or not, but I personally feel that it is. The suction pad has a good hold on the device and because where the Sat-Nav fits on the back... Read review

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Advantages: Does everything you expect, accurate
Disadvantages: small screen

...Having recently passed my driving test, i decided to buy a navigation system off ebay, i looked around and found that these particular ones are bought new for around £130, which is cheaper thanmost of the tom tom units. I have used it now for almost 6 months and it has never let me down, and has always got me to where i need to go. Garmin: Garmin is part of a group of campanies that design and manufacture navigation and comms equiment for the aviation and consumer markets, they have been in the industry since 1989. So it is safe to say that Garmin know what they are doing with these satelite navigation systems. The Screen: The screen is quite small, being only 2.5 inch screen. However, i have never found this a problem as the voice commands are good and clear, you only have to look at the screen of you miss one... Read review

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Advantages: wireless, accurate, can analyse data, water proof - Excellent
Disadvantages: Sometimes a loss of GPS signal, still quite expensive

...Why I chose the Garmin Edge 205 **************************************** Being a bit of a gadget 'freak' I stumbled across one of these on a cycling accessories website but instantly dismissed it because of its price tag of £149.99. Being a recreational cyclist who would never enter a cycling competition of any discipline there was no way I could justify the price. However, after being introduced to the Fat fingers concept on Ebay, and seeing the bargains a close mate of mine was enjoying I decided to scour the Ebay search engine in hope of finding one of these at a 'reasonable' price. All brand new units (I will not buy second hand electrical items/gadgets off Ebay since I have been stung before) were retailing between £95.00 plus P&P of £25 and £169.99 plus P&P of £5.95. Using the Fat fingers finder I found a "buy it now... Read review

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Advantages: Small size, light weight, works brilliantly, price
Disadvantages: not as customisable as the more expensive models

...for many people. Looking around for alternative devices I stumbled across an artical that mentioned that Garmin were close to releaseing a new model in their Streetpilot range. On further investigation I discovered that this was aimed at the 'first time' GPS user. Garmin have an excellent reputation in the GPS market, I was myself an owner of one of their earlier models, but this didn't have the navigation facility. I bought my unit from Maplin, at the time of writing they were the first reseller in the UK and offering a deal on the I3 - £199. So, that's the background, but how have I found the unit? In Summary - I love it! Controlling the Device: The device is so easy to use. There are only three buttons to control the device. The main method of control is via a clickable scroll wheel. You use this to Enter destination... Read review

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Advantages: good battery life and good instruction manual
Disadvantages: sometimes slow software and have to pay for camera feature after 30 days

...I bought a Garmin 760 GPS receiver for my car I had not had a satellite navigation system before this but had been borrowing my brother in laws for when I went on business trips. These are a brilliant devise you just put the postcode, town and other information in as to where you want to go and it will voice guide you there and also show you your route on the screen. It also shows other useful information such as time, how long it is going to take to get there, what time you will arrive and how many miles it is to your destination. So you will never be late for a meeting again and can plan routes with this amazing device. The Garmin 760 that I have came from Halfords and cost £250 the sales people in Halfords got it out of the display cabinet and showed me how to use it and all of the features it has, they also offered to install... Read review

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Advantages: Great for tracking your performance and working to improve it
Disadvantages: Doesn't feel good losing a race with your virtual partner :-(

...I purchased the 205 shortly after it was released in the UK and so have had one for some time now, other than a problem with a faulty button (the guys at Garmin promptly replaced the unit under warranty) I've not had any problems with it. + The Product: Essentially its a small wrist mounted GPS, at its very basic it will record information on your run (or walk or cycle ride). Information can be viewed on this history section of the GPS so you can see / compare things like distance run, average speed, fastest speed etc.. You can then download this information for a permanent record, or to carry out more analysis, or even to save the route so you can send this to friends. + Training Options: Another key feature is the training options built into the GPS, training sessions can be set to enable you do carry out specific training... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use
Disadvantages: loss of signal

...I can't imagine life without my Garmin. Those days before it seem dark compared to now when I charge off down the road knowing that all the information I need is strapped to my wrist. For starters I was suprised to find I had been further than I thought, which is a bonus. I was more of a runner than I thought I was. It's an expensive bit of kit, but worth every penny. It is motivational because I can't wait to upload the data onto the computer and study it. Was this run better than the last one? How much have I improved since last month? Oh yes, that's when I was chased by that dog! I could tell because my speed had suddenly shot up along with my heart rate. Heart rate, mmm that can be a little hit and miss. The garmin sometimes loses its signal shooting my HR up and giving me a false reading. I used to struggle to see... Read review

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Advantages: Sleak, compact and aesthetically pleasing
Disadvantages: Innacurate on some roads, commands sometimes confusing

...Purchasing the Garmin Nuvi..... I bought this unit for my girlfriend as a present sometime back in the hope that it would help her find the exit out of that proverbial paper bag. At the time of purchase, I had narrowed my choice down to two satellite navigation systems that both fell well within my price range; the Tomtom One and the Garmin Nuvi 300, both of which contained GB maps only. Based on my previous experience in using handheld GPS units for hiking and general map work and the fact that Garmin are well represented within the GPS world, I chose the Nuvi over the Tomtom. I was made further confident of my choice when I found the unit for approx £30 less than the TomTom One. Initial impressions.... On receipt of the unit I was impressed with just how small and neat it was - I was, after all, comparing this unit... Read review

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