Garmin nuvi 40 Portable GPS

very happy with it so far

I really think this gps was a great deal. I did a lot of research on global positioning systems before I settled on this one. I even considered just getting a smartphone with a ...Read complete review

I really think this gps was a great deal. I did a lot of research on global positioning systems before I settled on this one. I even considered just getting a smartphone with a gps because I will probably be needing to get a new phone soon. Well, I'm glad I didn't because those things will drain up your phone battery and the last thing I need is a dead phone, which would also basically mean a dead gps; It's better not to throw all your eggs in one basket. Also, I thought of getting the newer and larger models, some of which I found at cheaper prices than this, but I found out that some of these newer larger screened models have more flaws because of their newer, less tested technology/software and larger screen sizes suck up more battery. It's also just nice to have a more concealed one that is less noticable to thieves. Honestly though, I was shocked at the size of the nuvi 40. it's really not small at all; the size is just right. very tiny difference compared to the nuvi 50, which I originally was debating on getting. I got this gps because I am a volunteer that gets called to local disasters and I have to get out the door fast, at sometimes odd hours of the day and sometimes with bad weather and I need good directions. I can't afford losing time or money with getting lost anymore. I tried this gps out yesterday and I was so grateful that I had it. it made a huge difference. I now feel more secure and less anxious with getting call outs. A couple things I would mention:check with your State laws on gps devices and where you are allowed to place them in your car. some states don't allow you to put them on your windshield (the gps comes with the windshield attachment/holder). honestly, I wouldn't want to anyhow because I think that's dangerous, distracting, and a red flag to crooks who break into cars to steal them (they look for the holder if you leave it or the residue marks that it leaves on the window). If your state does have a law against it, you can easily go on to your mygarmin account and send a request for a dashboard dock and garmin will send it to you for free! Personally I just keep mine in the windshield holder and prop it up in the small compartment right next to the cigarette lighter receptacle where it's plugged in. you don't really even need to look down at it that much except for like a second when it shows you the lane assist; the voice guides you very well on its own.to those nervous about the voice options given to you: I know I wanted to be able to choose a male voice and was scared after lots of people said they were stuck with an annoying female voice michelle. well, don't worry. even though the in-box gps didn't have it installed, you simply go to 'mygarmin' on the garmin website, then you can register your product(i recommend it because it is nice for insurance or if it gets stolen) then you upload their web uploader thing after updating my windows video player, then you can choose different voices (yes it's free). australian, british, there are some other (Male) voices to choose from (yay!) only complaint at all is the very start of the directions after you press 'go.' i don't like that it doesn't tell you (out loud) what street you are on or which street to turn on. it just says " please go to the highlighted route." that doesn't help if i am trying not to look at the screen while i'm trying to safely back out of somewhere. I don't understand why it can't just say the name of the street since it does say the name of the streets in the directions after you start driving a bit. eventually it will say "turn left onto .... street" but not when you are getting out of the parking lot or pulling out of the driveway. this got me lost the moment I turned it on and started the directions from my house. on the map my car was not facing the direction I was actually facing (it would point south even though i was facing north) everything else was very clear and accurate. I also like the red light photo enforced warning. I just wished it would warn me of every red light since I accidently ran one yesterday (not the fault of the gps, honestly i couldn't see it because the overpass was completely blocking my vision of the stop lights). but yeah, the gps can't go doing EVERYTHING for us, right? lolI highly suggest that if you got the LM (lifetime map updates) to: do it right after you get your gps but first 1. register the product 2. update the gps software to the newest version recommended on your mygarmin account 3. THEN do the map update.I can't remember how many updates you get in a year, it's something like 4 or something. The map updates look pretty accurate and recent.you can also choose what type of routes you want to avoid in your settings: like if you want to avoid unpaved roads, backroads, ferries, tolls, etc. it gives suggestions of places to eat nearby and even will give suggestions based on food preferences (i think it even had vegetarian on it), it would be nice if it also had vegan but i'm not vegan anymore so I personally am not affected by this. it has the nearest gas stations and hospitals. man this has a lot. gps comes with the cigarette lighter receptacle power adapter and the usb cable , but not the AC power adapter (the kind you plug into a wall outlet, this you have order separately). The gps charges very nicely though in the usb on the computer. and no annoying advertisements on the nuvi 40!!!! (another reason why i like this better than the newer more 'high tech' 'LIVE' or whatever they call them models.as far as doing business with staples: I was pretty happy. The gps was shipped incredibly fast in a nice sturdy box. to compare how fast it was: I ordered something from another company four or five days before i had even placed my order for a gps with staples and I just got that package this morning --and that was like ordered around the 17th of December, while with my gps that I ordered from staples around the 21st, i got that on like the 23rd. (mind you i chose standard shipping on both and Staples had free shipping). I didn't like though that they posted some price as a deal ($19.00 off for the holidays ) and then right after I filled out everything it added the 8 dollars tax so it ended up over the initial deal. not that i think tax is bad, I just wish websites would show you right up front how much it will be with tax so you don't end up filling everything out and then end up going over your intial budget you made. BUT one thing I will give huge kudos to with Staples is at least it is honest and doesn't try to trick you like Offi--Max did when I tried to buy this gps from them (warning to you all)- their website gave me a lower price with free shipping, then after I added the one item (GPS) to the basket, filled my intial info out, it gave me the tax which obviously made it a bit more ( as I said before all websites do it this way and I am not a big of this)--- but what REALLY upset me was that after displaying a window with the total price (with tax added and free shipping and everything) I was led to yet another window where it asked me to press the final button to pay for everything. At this point, [@] had sneakily added like 10 bucks to the originally stated 10 dollars tax, with no explanation as to why(putting it to a total of 20 bucks in tax!) and it was done very quickly and discreetly on a sidebar. I was just lucky that I caught it before I pressed the final button. very very shady. watch out for this stuff when buying your gps.