Garmin 255W GPS Navigator

The Garmin 255W is an improvement over the previous 200 series of personal navigators. But it retains the 200 series' compact, easy to use features in a resonably priced package. It even comes with complete maps of North America and Text-to-speech features.

Garmin nuvi 255W GPS Navigator

Product Overview

The Garmin 255W features a newly redesigned interface that not only offers more visible information but is also easy to use, even for the novice or those who are completely new to the world of GPS and personal navigators. Ready to use right out of the box, the 255W model has simple controls and sub-screens for more details and easy access to the many onscreen icons that will perform a host of useful functions, including the text-to-speech (TTS) feature that announces street names and upcoming exits, instead of the generic, "turn left in 500 feet."

The Garmin Nuvi 255W has a 4.3 inch antiglare, full color display in front of a white backlight which is in place to make the device readable at any angle or in the sunlight. Because the 255W has a built-in antenna as opposed to the flip-up type, it's slim, compact, and fits neatly in a pocket or purse for taking it on the go.

Included with the purchase of the Nuvi 255W by Garmin is the Quick Start manual, dashboard disc, and vehicle power cable and suction cup mount. Depending on the features being used, the included rechargeable battery will operate the device for up to four hours without being connected to a power source, making it easy to bring the 255W along while exploring an area by foot.

Also included are three month subscriptions to both MSN Connect, which offers a variety of information such as gas prices, stock market details, movie listings, local events and more, and another to TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts. After three months, users will have to pay subscription fees for both if they want to keep the services.

Actual user comment:
• I have had the Nuvi 200W for a couple of years. The Garmin user interface is very good - even my wife says its easy to use. I don't use GPS that much - usually on business trips or vacation, but in unfamiliar areas, it is a "must have". The 200W does not have Text To Speech, so after a couple of years I decided to upgrade and give my old unit to my daughter. What I like most about the 255W is that it shows the road's speed limit right above your actual speed, which I find most helpful, since, again, I use it mostly in areas where I'm not familiar with the roads and local speed limits. - D Jeffrey

Notable Benefits and Features

Like all of the Nuvis by Garmin, the 255W model comes loaded with large database of roughly six million points of interest (POI), which include establishments such as restaurants, local attractions, hotels, ATM machines and banks, fuel stations, and plenty more. Also, this particular Nuvi is capable of accepting custom POI from third parties, allowing the user to enter their own places of interest to the list.

With features like digital elevation maps you're able to see more details with the Nuvi 255W, giving you a better idea as to the actual surrounding terrain. And, if you're interested in navigating with the help of actual photographs, the 255W is compatible with Garmin's Connect Photos which gives users the chance to choose from millions and millions of geo-located pictures that come from the photo sharing community of Google's Panoramio.

The "Where Am I?" emergency locator feature gives users the peace of mind while traveling as with one touch of the icon the unit will display the closest intersections or addresses as well as listing the exact latitude and longitude of your location, even the nearest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations.

Customize your navigation experience by choosing from one of many car shaped icons that will represent your place on the map with the Garmin Garage feature that offers icons such as tanks, motorcycles, RV's sport's cars, and more. Garmin Lock, the company's patent pending antitheft system, is also included with the 255W model and works by disabling the unit from operating unless it is taken to a secure location that's determined ahead of time, or by entering a personal identification number (PIN).

Going beyond navigation, the Nuvi 255W also includes several travel tools such as the world time clock with accurate time zones, the currency and measurement converters, the JPEG picture viewer, calculator and others.

More user comments:

• "I considered a lot of different GPS devices before finally settling on this one. At first, I was firmly in the Tom-Tom camp b/c of the free upgrades on their maps and the customer correction stuff. However, after much reading, I finally decided to take the plunge and try a garmin. My mother has a TomTom so I'd already experienced her TomTom One. There is no contest. I adore the Garmin. After 2 weeks, it has yet to make a mistake, and is always completely accurate - even to the point of telling me which side of the street my destination is on. I couldn't love it more. " - Sarah Wall, Maryland, USA

• "We just returned home from a trip to Florida and I was very pleased with the performance of my Garmin 255W. We have traveled in a motorhome for several years and I had wanted to purchase a navigational unit for quite some time, and the price just seemed to be right. It performed perfectly. I have a Navi unit in two of my other vehicles, and the Garmin out performs both of them. I am very pleased with the product, the price, and the fast shipping." - G. Truea, OH, USA

Average User Rating:

List Price : $329.99

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