Garmin i3 streetpilot - the mapbook is dead.

Advantages: never get lost again, very portable.
Disadvantages: you can't have your music up loud.

...I bought my Garmin streetpilot i3 because I got fed up of passengers map reading and getting me completly lost and then giving excuses like, "you're driving too fast", or "you should have turned left back there". And the best one at the start of a journey "are the blue lines rivers or motorways?" Anyway, the Streetpilot cost me £129 from Halfords who were very helpful and knowledgeable about all their GPS systems. Basically I bought the cheapest one because of the amount of use it gets - on average once a month. The first thing I noticed was that the streetpilot took a long time to find the satelites. I quieried this with Halfords and was told that some cars have a thermal element built into the windscreen which can block the signals to and from satelites. To get around the problem, you need to buy an exterior aerial for another £20...

bigkev007 22.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

Garmin StreetPilot I3

Advantages: Simple to use, convenient, compact
Disadvantages: Takes time to lock on signals

...What an item. After buying my Garmin StreetPilot I3 I was up and running withing minutes. It is an amazing piece of kit. The support from Garmin has been exceptional and software updates are sent to me when they are available. The only downside that I can mention is that when not using back-up batteries it does take a little longer to 'lock on' to the satellite signals. However having said that, if that is all that there is to complain about then thats a small disadvantage. I use my street pilot 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. It is unobtrusive, simple to use and easy to update. I also use it more for keeping an eye on my speed. When not actually navigating the display shows what speed you are doing, this can be in MPH or KPH. All in all, well done garmin...

Scuzzy1965 31.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

Garmin I3 - Small but perfectly formed

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...

Leedle 05.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

  "GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME!"

Advantages: Shows & Tells Directions; Helps you find your way if you miss a turn; gives detours
Disadvantages: Big brother knows where you are - tracks you while it gives directions.

...points, of course, for the actual money spent when the item was purchased. An e-mail from themutual.com before Christmas directed me to Maplin Electronics (a partner - where "Mutual Points" loyalty points can be gained by purchasing through the link). Here, the Garmin StreetPilot i3 (with colour screen) was on offer for £199.99 - and a "B-grade" version would be £144.99. When I told my husband he thought that either would be a reasonable price - particularly the lower price (although he wasn't quite sure about "seconds") - in fact - WHY NOT BUY TWO? (one for Richard, AND one for US!) - on reflection, I agreed that it seemed a good idea, and if Nigel was prepared to PAY for them, probably well worth it. After all, the longest time spent sometimes in getting to his work (doing supply teaching) is finding the school where he is assigned...

jesi 15.01.2006 (15.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

Garmin Streetpilot C320

Advantages: Came free with the car
Disadvantages: Poor Support, Poor Satelite Reception, Inaccurate POI, User POI limited

...This unit came free with my car, otherwise I would have returned it for a full refund. After having it for less than 2 weeks, the unitcompletely crashed and would not operate (even after using the reset button.) It was replaced under warranty by the dealer, but then my problems really started. The new unit would not work with the maps that came with the original. It needed an unlock code. I attempted to get one by calling Garmin support UK (Waited for half an hour and gave up). then tried email support - The responses comming back on how to unlock via theirweb site were rubbish and didn't work. The thrashing of emails went on for a couple of months, and I only got a proper response when I wote to them, and Photocopied the letter to their CEO in the USA! However to actually get a properl working set of Maps and Unit took 2...

P_S_Price 02.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot C-320

Garmin i3, good but small

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

...of the direction commands. When you do have to look at it though, it is clear, and easy to understand the map that it is showning you. you also have the option to change the map view, either birds eye, or kind of 3D, which is more difficult to see. Power: The Garmin I3 can either be powered by AA batteries or using the cigarette lighter in the car. If you are going to use batteries, i suggest you invest in some good rechargables, or it will cost you a fortune in duracells as at eats batteries for breakfast. I have never found this a problem though as i always use the cigarette lighter. Ease of use: The garmin I3 i so easy to use. Other reviews on ciao say it is difficult, all i can say is maybe these people have never actually bought one. On the unit there is 3 buttons, a power button, a "back" button, and a roller, to scroll up and down...

jaguarchallenge 26.05.2007 (25.05.2007) · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

Garmin i3 for foreign driving

Advantages: Small, easy to use, works with 12v and 24v vehicles
Disadvantages: Slow to lock onto satellites sometimes, reflection from screen

...I have owned my Garmin i3 for a few years now, and I have had no problems with it. Garmin give you a free mapping upgrade for the first time, so after one year, or when the mapping goes from v7 - v8 you get a new card if you give them a call. I recently purchased the Europe mapping on Ebay (was a counterfeit, but works perfectly), holiday in Italy, hire car (centre of Florence!), took us through all the mad driving safely, whilst my wife was reading a map which the guy in the hire place gave us with a marked route out) Garmin chose the same route, and didnt get left from right mixed up either!! We used it all over the Florence area, brilliant, worth every penny!...

foursprungdugtechnique 25.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

A good Garmin

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

...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...

beany_spoon 07.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot C 510

  Sack the wife get an i3

Advantages: Small and very good value
Disadvantages: Not for the sales rep

...on to that. --------------------------POI Loader-------------------------- Garmin have produced a Points of Interest (POI) loader for the StreetPilot i3, which is quite a handy utility. The POI loader allows you to upload your own POI's to the device, most people will as I do will use this feature to upload the location of safety cameras. The POI loader is a wizard driven application that takes information from comma separated value (CSV) files, these contain the longitude and latitude of the object along with an identifier. When loading the CSV file in, if there is a BMP file with the same name as the CSV this will be loaded in as the icon that shows on the GPS when you are approaching the POI. The software allows you to set the speed or distance in the case of redlight cameras where it alerts you at. I get my safety camera updates from...

grovej 04.12.2005 (10.01.2006) · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3

Never get lost again

Advantages: Cost, Style, Looks,
Disadvantages: None as yet

...I decided a few months back that I wanted sat nav for my new 7 seater car that I was planning on buying this year. **Searching** I search the net and of course the good old Argos book to see what was available and at what price. I think it is very important that you set a budget at a very early stage as you can easily get drawn in to the more expensive ones to which are over your budget. I searched many sites including eBay, Amazon, Argos, and general sites. I set myself a limit of £200 which I thought was high enough to get a decent satellite navigation system that suited me. In the end I decided on either the Garmin or Navman which to be honest I had never heard of any of these. I finally decided on the Garmin just due to the positive reviews that I had read on many sites. Time to research??. **Garmin! Who are Garmin...

marcellep 21.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Garmin Streetpilot I 3