Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

The Garmin Nuvi 255W is a great product. I've only had it a few weeks, but I've found it to be user friendly, reliable, easy to read and accurate. It calculates the best route and provides the estimated time of arrival. I visited stores and examined more sophisticated GPS versions (more bells and whistles), but this is more than adequate for all my needs.The only con I have is that the Quick Start Manual could be more user friendly (written GPS 101 or GPS for Dummies style).

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

Although not a total novice w/GPS, I have only used a few different units. I use the 255W for both work and casual trips. I hesitated to get a 4.3" model, but there are some real advantages, not the least of which is that being able to have the keyboard in full QWERTY mode makes entering locations easy, as does the predictive text, and having recent cities, etc., in a folder for quick entry.

The screen is very easy to view, even in sunlight, and the actual layout is clean, functional, and easy to pick up, even at a glance.

I like the simple controls, sometimes less is more, and just so for an automotive GPS. I can get what I need done without having too much of my attention on the GPS!

Voice volume is adequate, and the included window-mount works as well or better than others I've used. I absolutely prefer having text to speech, with street names spoken.

Accuracy is on par with the TomTom One and cell-phone GPS that I've been using, no better/no worse.

Mine came with up to date maps and Garmin's web site was a lot of help...did an immediate firmware update w/no fuss!

Only minor complaint: This really should have come with a mini USB cable...granted they are easy enough to come by (I've got several anyways!), but some folks may not have one, and it is needed to update firmware and stuff at Garmin's site.

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

When I first purchased this product, I decided to try it locally to see how well it performed. I was quite impressed. It will find the shortest or fastest route, but it may also take you through sections of a city you don't wish to enter. And it will ignore a highway if a city route is more direct. It does offer the option of changing the preplanned route if you choose, which is a nice feature. And when you miss a turn, the unit will begin to recalculate, usually within 30 - 90 feet or so. My wife took it on a business trip. She followed the directions provided from her company and arrived without a problem. On the way back, she used the Garmin. When she hit "home", it took her on a different route which avoided a major portion of the traffic she had faced in the morning, bringing her right to our door! The one hitch I've found is when I asked it to bring me to a [...] in another city, it missed the entrance by a few hundred feet. No big deal as one could easily see the store. The unit may have problems with pronunciation at times, but for the most part it is easy to understand. And I really appreciate being able to select the option of telling me to turn with a street name rather than just telling me to "turn here." Some have criticized the voices, but I think it might be more a limitation of the speakers than the software. And I would appreciate a greater selection of voices to choose from. All in all, I'd buy this again!

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

I love this GPS, BUT I have owned it less than a year and it is so outdated. It took me to a Burger King that has not been there for years.
I tried to update but I would have had to pay $ 69.97. They should update at least once for free.
I use to own a TomTom and got free updates.

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

did my reserch before purchase, knew what i am getting, it's performing as expected, worthe money definitely[...].

Comments about Garmin nuvi® 255W Portable GPS:

I only use it when I am going to a location I don't know. When I start away from home, like a shopping center, it always says to go left or right at a certain street. But it is the wrong way. Once I get to the street it works great. My biggest complaint is that in order to register it, you need a special USB cable which they don't provide. If you call their number and complain they will send a cable free. Otherwise, it works great! It was on sale when I bought it, and well worth the price.