Nuvi

Ever since the Garmin Nuvi 880 was announced at CES 2008, we've been excited to get out hands on this portable navigation system. Given the good track record of the other Nuvi series devices, we expected more of the same, solid feature list and good performance. However, we were most looking forward to taking its speech recognition capabilities out for a test drive. To be honest, we were a little weary since we've tried other such-equipped GPS devices, including the Magellan Maestro 4250 and the TomTom GO 930, and while they worked, there weren't the most accurate … Read more

If you're not keen on squinting at a little display to view maps and driving directions, then feast your eyes on the Garmin Nuvi 5000. Unlike most of today's portable navigation systems, which have 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch displays, the Nuvi boasts a 5.2-inch touch screen with a 800x480 pixel resolution and is designed for RVs and trucks. It's well-stocked in the features department as well with preloaded maps of North America, text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, multimedia capabilities, and compatibility with MSN Direct for real-time traffic, weather, and more. There's even a composite video … Read more

Voice commands in portable navigation systems: We had a feeling we'd be seeing more of this trend at CES 2008, and Garmin proved us right with the launch of the Garmin Nuvi 800 series. The series includes two models--the Garmin Nuvi 880 and the Garmin Nuvi 850--and both have speech-recognition technology so you can perform certain navigation functions with the sound of your voice. For example, you can look for local businesses with phrases such as "find nearest Chinese restaurant," and unlike the Magellan Maestro 4250--which we reviewed earlier and also had voice command functionality--you can … Read more

Far be it from Garmin to let TomTom have all the spotlight today. Yes, Garmin had some news of its own as it introduced the Garmin Nuvi 700 series of portable navigation systems. The family includes three models--the Garmin Nuvi 750, Nuvi 760, and Nuvi 770--and features an enhanced user interface that makes these systems simpler to use. For example, you can now choose between a QWERTY or alphabetical keyboard. I know, it may not seem like such a huge deal but after struggling to enter addresses on an alphabetical keyboard, I'm pretty excited about this new functionality. … Read more

The Garmin Nuvi family of GPS devices just keeps growing and growing, and today the company added two new members to the crew: the Garmin Nuvi 200W and the Nuvi 250W. Both models are similar to the Garmin Nuvi 200 we just reviewed, except they boast larger 4.3-inch touch screens (versus 3.5 inches). The 200W comes preloaded with maps of the contiguous United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, while the 250W throws in maps of Canada and Alaska to boot. Like the rest of the Nuvi series, the pair offers tools for the traveler, including currency and unit … Read more

We're huge fans of the Garmin Nuvi series of GPS devices, which include the Nuvi 660 and the Nuvi 350. These little bundles of joy (seriously, they're about the size of a deck of cards) can be your navigator and your tour guide; they come with foreign-language dictionaries, currency converters, and the option to add on other travel-friendly features. Now, what we don't love is the jaw-dropping price tags. I don't know about you, but I don't have an extra grand to plunk down for the Nuvi 660. And even if I did, I'd … Read more