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The pocket-sized Garmin nüvi 205W gives you turn-by-turn voice directions and a large full-color, touch-sensitive widescreen, so it’s easy to stay on course! The nüvi mounts quickly on your windshield or dash with the included suction cup mount and adhesive dash disk, and pops off with a gentle tug, so you can take it with you. The Li-ion battery lets you use nüvi to navigate on foot for up to 4 hours between charges, so you can let it lead the charge when you’re making sales calls, or out for a day of shopping conquest.
The unit ships with City Navigator NT street maps of North America and Europe, and includes more than a million Points of Interest (POI), like gas stations, restaurants, attractions and parks, and shopping. You can also use the Garmin Poi Loader software (free download) to install custom POI like traffic camera locations and school zones, then set proximity alerts to warn you when you’re approaching one.
This Garmin also supports an FM traffic receiver (receiver and subscription sold separately) to help you avoid sitting in traffic jams. The Garmin nüvi 205W is a slick entry into the auto GPS market and at an affordable price!
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- 5
-
- 51%
- 4
-
- 33%
- 3
-
- 8%
- 2
-
- 0%
- 1
-
- 8%
| Product Rating: |
 
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| Total Reviews: |
12 |
Nice solid entry level GPS
- Pros: The Garmin Nuvi 205W is very solid GPS device which comes with the basic package of features. Clearly aimed at the average driver market.
Fast CPU (quicker screen updates and responsive user interface). Very fast satellite acquisition when used regularly (when you turn it on, it takes less time to find the satellites and start updating the map). Nice large touch-screen display (easier for the fingers to hit the right place). Simple address entry system. Very quick and automatic rerouting (to get you back on track if you miss a turn).
This model pretty much has all the core features you'd expect in a GPS navigation system, and it has all the maturity of a later generation product.
- Cons: Probably the greatest annoyance to me is the windshield mount. The mount itself is solid enough. But it doesn't have an integrated power connector. Why is this important? Because I can't leave the Garmin in the car. It attracts thieves too well. So, when I go somewhere, I have to wrangle with hooking up the power connector and managing the wires and locking it into the windshield mount. When I arrive at my destination, I have to undo everything. Over and over. It really is cumbersome enough that I don't want to take my Garmin every time I am driving.
The second greatest fault is in the map errors, even with the latest map data. They problems are usually minor. But now and then, you'll hit a rare but significantly wrong address (1 block off). My city has a complete lack of speed limit information, except for the highways.
Finally, the third major annoyance is that it doesn't have a concept of a default city. Every time I want to go to a location, I have to tell it what city to st
- Other Thoughts: Garmin needs to do some more map work, even not accounting for recent changes.
Doesn't contain the bells and whistles of higher models. (Automatic traffic updates, ability to speak street names, ability to find your vehicle in a parking lot, bluetooth, FM transmitter, etc.) But a low-end model is great for finding out what features are important to you.
PRIVACY ISSUE: The Garmin will show on the screen where you've driven unless you change "Trip Log" to "Hide". But even then, it still stores an internal log (which can be downloaded into a PC) of where you were, and what time you were there. You can manually clear this out each time by going into "My Data" and then "Clear Trip Log", but I wish that Garmin would not constantly create these records in the first place. There is no way to disable that feature.
A great all-around GPS
- Pros: The GPS offers a very user friendly interface and can be navigated easily. There's no mumbo-jumbo and it does everything one would need it for. It tells you when to turn as well as the distance left until turning. Speaker is great and it even has a screen where it tells you how far you have traveled, your average speed, your top speed etc.
The touch screen is great and doesn't get overly smudgy. Another great thing is you can upload a picture with an SD card and use that as a Point-of-interest label instead have having to type in the address everytime.
Overall, the Garmin 205W picks up satellite reception really well over here in the Bay Area and offers great POI options as well as a great interface. Works perfectly out of the box.
- Cons: The only thing I have against the GPS is that when i don't turn it on for a day, I lose half the battery charge on it. Maybe it's just mine.
| Model | 010-00718-40 |
| Type | Portable Navigation Device |
| 3D View | Yes |
| Traffic Alert | Optional |
| Pre-loaded Map | Yes |
-
- 5
-
- 51%
- 4
-
- 33%
- 3
-
- 8%
- 2
-
- 0%
- 1
-
- 8%
| Product Rating: |
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| Total Reviews: |
12 |
Great GPS for the money
- Pros: Very easy to use right out of the box. You don't have to be a electronics wizard to get up and running with this unit. You get the most current map when you register your unit in the event the pre-loaded is out of date. The unit is customizable with additional voices and icons which are available for free from the garmin site.
I had previously owned the street pilot c330 and really liked that one however, it really needed to remain in the car whereas this unit can be put in your pocket and can walk around with it if you are traveling in a larger city i.e. Philadelphia.
The wide screen is rather nice and its slim design make this an attractive unit.
- Cons: A pair of cons that I have with this particular unit is (1) being a larger man, I have large fingers and some times, entering an address can take a couple times as I hit multiple letters on the qwerty keyboard and (2) with this unit unlike my street pilot, the screen is a little less sensitive and subsequently results in double entered letters.
- Other Thoughts: Overall, I really like this unit for the price. I have even recommended this and subsequently purchased this particular unit for my neighbor and she loves it. Despite some of the keystroke issues I have had, it really is a great unit. Note: Unless you live in a large city i.e. Philadelphia, Washington D.C traffic updates are not a real useful feature and not worth paying extra for. I also plan to pick up another unit for my in-laws this holiday season.
Good Budget GPS
- Pros: I travel a lot for work all over the intermountian west and this has been a great addition to my travels. I don't really need it to get from city to city but to find places in town. I have downloaded several POE lists from different websites and they have made it even better. The ability to add and change voices, and Icons has made it fun to use also.
- Cons: I have found a few errors in navigation and reported them to Garmin.
Nice solid entry level GPS
- Pros: The Garmin Nuvi 205W is very solid GPS device which comes with the basic package of features. Clearly aimed at the average driver market.
Fast CPU (quicker screen updates and responsive user interface). Very fast satellite acquisition when used regularly (when you turn it on, it takes less time to find the satellites and start updating the map). Nice large touch-screen display (easier for the fingers to hit the right place). Simple address entry system. Very quick and automatic rerouting (to get you back on track if you miss a turn).
This model pretty much has all the core features you'd expect in a GPS navigation system, and it has all the maturity of a later generation product.
- Cons: Probably the greatest annoyance to me is the windshield mount. The mount itself is solid enough. But it doesn't have an integrated power connector. Why is this important? Because I can't leave the Garmin in the car. It attracts thieves too well. So, when I go somewhere, I have to wrangle with hooking up the power connector and managing the wires and locking it into the windshield mount. When I arrive at my destination, I have to undo everything. Over and over. It really is cumbersome enough that I don't want to take my Garmin every time I am driving.
The second greatest fault is in the map errors, even with the latest map data. They problems are usually minor. But now and then, you'll hit a rare but significantly wrong address (1 block off). My city has a complete lack of speed limit information, except for the highways.
Finally, the third major annoyance is that it doesn't have a concept of a default city. Every time I want to go to a location, I have to tell it what city to st
- Other Thoughts: Garmin needs to do some more map work, even not accounting for recent changes.
Doesn't contain the bells and whistles of higher models. (Automatic traffic updates, ability to speak street names, ability to find your vehicle in a parking lot, bluetooth, FM transmitter, etc.) But a low-end model is great for finding out what features are important to you.
PRIVACY ISSUE: The Garmin will show on the screen where you've driven unless you change "Trip Log" to "Hide". But even then, it still stores an internal log (which can be downloaded into a PC) of where you were, and what time you were there. You can manually clear this out each time by going into "My Data" and then "Clear Trip Log", but I wish that Garmin would not constantly create these records in the first place. There is no way to disable that feature.
| General |
| Brand |
GARMIN |
| Model |
nüvi 205W |
| Part# |
010-00718-40 |
| Type |
Portable Navigation Device |
| Dimensions |
| Height |
2.9" |
| Width |
4.8" |
| Depth |
0.8" |
| Weight |
5.93 oz. |
| GPS System |
| Receiver |
High-sensitivity receiver with HotFix |
| Warm Acquisition Times |
1 sec |
| Cold Acquisition Times |
38 sec |
| 3D View |
Yes |
| Voice Guidance |
Yes |
| Audio Features |
Voice prompts |
| Text-To-Speech |
Yes |
| Built-in Speaker |
Yes |
| Traffic Alert |
MSN Direct compatible
FM traffic compatible |
| Map |
| Basemap |
Yes |
| Pre-loaded Map |
Yes |
| Maps Included |
Preloaded City Navigator NT data for the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico (no Alaska or Canada detail) |
| Navigation |
| Waypoints |
1,000 |
| POI |
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest) |
| Routes |
Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation)
Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road)
Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.)
ecoRoute (calculates a more fuel-efficient route) |
| Trip Computer |
Speed limit indicator (displays speed limit for most major roads) |
| Internal System |
| Operating System |
Garmin |
| Memory |
| Support Memory Cards |
SD |
| Display |
| Screen Size |
4.3" |
| Screen Format |
TFT |
| Touchscreen |
Yes |
| Display Resolution |
480 x 272 |
| Display Features |
WQVGA color TFT with white backlight |
| Connections |
| PC InterFace Supported |
USB |
| DigitalPlayer |
| Digital Player |
Yes |
| Supported Formats |
JPEG |
| Tuner Bands |
FM |
| Battery |
| Battery Type |
Lithium-Ion Rechargeable battery |
| Battery Life |
Up to 4 hours |
| Accessories |
| Mount |
Vehicle suction cup mount |
| Feature |
| GPS System Features |
Where Am I? (find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersection)
Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos)
Garmin Garage (select car-shaped icons for map navigation)
World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator
Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout)
Garmin Lock (anti-theft feature) |
Introduction
The pocket-sized Garmin nüvi 205W gives you turn-by-turn voice directions and a large full-color, touch-sensitive widescreen, so it’s easy to stay on course! The nüvi mounts quickly on your windshield or dash with the included suction cup mount and adhesive dash disk, and pops off with a gentle tug, so you can take it with you. The Li-ion battery lets you use nüvi to navigate on foot for up to 4 hours between charges, so you can let it lead the charge when you’re making sales calls, or out for a day of shopping conquest.
The unit ships with City Navigator NT street maps of North America and Europe, and includes more than a million Points of Interest (POI), like gas stations, restaurants, attractions and parks, and shopping. You can also use the Garmin Poi Loader software (free download) to install custom POI like traffic camera locations and school zones, then set proximity alerts to warn you when you’re approaching one.
This Garmin also supports an FM traffic receiver (receiver and subscription sold separately) to help you avoid sitting in traffic jams. The Garmin nüvi 205W is a slick entry into the auto GPS market and at an affordable price!
Highlights
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4.3” Wide Touch-screen Display
Simply touch and go - the brilliant 4.3-inch TFT color, touch-screen display puts navigation at your fingertips and with an impressive resolution of 480x272, the super-bright, white backlit widescreen display provides incredible contrast and detailing even in direct sunlight.
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Get MSN Direct
The Garmin nüvi 205W provides access to enhanced dynamic content from MSN Direct including traffic conditions, fuel prices, weather reports, enhanced movie listings and local events (subscription and receiver required).
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Preloaded City Navigator NT Maps
Preloaded with NAVTEQ maps of the entire U.S. (includes Hawaii and Puerto Rico) and comprehensive points of interest locations, the Garmin nüvi 205W helps make your travel safer, smarter and more efficient wherever you may go.
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Voice Prompts
The Garmin nüvi 205W delivers turn-by-turn voice navigation instructions, so you can focus on driving without the need to check the GPS’ screen for enhanced driving safety on the go.
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microSD Card Slot
The Garmin nüvi 205W provides microSD card expansion capability so you can add more maps, POIs and photos to the unit!
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Quick Specs
| Brand | GARMIN |
| Display Resolution | 480 x 272 |
| Receiver | High-sensitivity receiver |
| Screen Size | 4.3" |
| Screen Format | TFT |
| Pre-loaded Map | Yes |
| Battery Life | 4 - 8 hours |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion Rechargeable battery |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes |
| Digital Player | Yes |
| 3D View | Yes |
| Support Memory Cards | SD |
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Reviewed By: jmccorm on 2/4/2009
Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
