2010 February | Garmin GPS Navigation Products

Archive for February, 2010

Garmin Edge 705 Bicycle GPS Navigator that Includes Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor (Factory Refurbished)

Manufacturer: Garmin
Customer Rating:
List Price: $449.99
Sale Price: $499.00
Availibility: View Product Availability

This is cool.

Product Description

Refurbished Garmin Edge 705

Product Details

Refurbished
GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer
Sunlight-Readable Color Display
Features A High-Sensitivity Receiver That Holds A Signal Under Trees & Near Tall Buildings
Automatically Measures Speed, Distance, Time, Calories Burned, Altitude, Climb & Descent

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

A great bicycle computer

Review Date: May 16, 2010

Reviewer: J. Dockery, Everywhere usa, +

I do a lot of travaling and take my bike with me. I use online sources to find public bicycle route information then upload this to the 705. Satilite aquisition is great. I purchased the maps to complete the device. ANT+ devices, heart rate, cadence and speed work great even the thisrd party devices that I own.

Love my Garmin Edge 705

Review Date: August 9, 2010

Reviewer: Lance Collier,

I received my refurbished Garmin Edge 705 with cadence sensor and heart rate monitor and as far as I can tell it is new. Everything works great and the unit is easy to set up and program. I've never had a gadget that was this capable and simple to use. I downloaded the software update and restarted the unit. It installed the update flawlessly.

One of my favorite features other than all the great functional features is that it will charge with USB, which means I can charge it whether I am in my car (12V port/USB adapter) or near my laptop, or from an electrical outlet using my phone's charger or the charger the unit came with.

Another great feature is the Garmin Connect website. I really enjoy the charting, tracking, and route management features they provide when I upload my activities.

I would highly recommend this product.

Very nice bike computer!

Review Date: June 22, 2010

Reviewer: Gav, Saskatchewan, Canada

I've had mine for a week, and I love using it.

About it's "refurbished" listing.
When I got mine, it was new. If it didn't come in a "Garmin Refurbished Product" box, I wouldn't have been able to tell.
It came with all it's accessories and it was in perfect condition. It also came with a 1-year warranty card.

However, I did notice one thing. My Edge won't accept the latest firmware (3.10).

It came with 3.00 installed and all the features work flawlessly, including managing it through Garmin's mapping software.
I'm able to connect the 705 to my computer, it's recognized, the Web-updater sees it, and I can download and copy the firmware to it. But when the unit is restarted, it won't install the update.

I've been in contact with Garmin about this, and they've suggested that I exchange it. Which is what I will do. I know I'm being picky considering the 705 only has so much functionality, and it all works. But, as a software designer myself, I can't sleep knowing there are bugs that I can't patch.

I'm still very happy with my purchase. Even with the added shipping cost, I still saved about $100 compared to buying this brand new.

Fast shipping, good product, as described

Review Date: July 11, 2009

Reviewer: C. Richard,

Calling for customer service questions was a nightmare and the automated answering service makes it impossible to speak with a live human. However, they responded to e-mail promptly and thoroughly. The product shipped quickly and works great.

A good first gen device

Review Date: September 1, 2010

Reviewer: Justin Seiferth, Massachusetts

While it's marketed as a dedicated cycling device and it works "ok" there's plenty of room for improvement. Buy this if you have some extra cash around or you want an alternative SRM display.

The different roles of the 705 and how it performs in each:

As a cyclometer- it's great to have a nice large display (I ride with 8 different fields displayed) and lots of flexibility in what gets displayed and where. Any info at all that the computer collects can be displayed- heart beat, zones, power, average power, time to end of ride, altitude, you name it. It can't be beat in this regard. However, changing the fields is not something you can do easily and certainly not on the fly. Also, several of the fields like calories, or WAY off from reality and not useful. Like other Garmin devices, the menu structure of the device is a slightly non-intuitive hierarchy of options. You can't change the display to suit the ride without going through and resetting the whole display. In fact, I end up wasting five minutes or so every time because the menu structure is so non-intuitive that it's very hard to remember how to do even common tasks. Also, you have to manually start and stop the data collection AND remember to reset the data between rides. You will take a long and memorable ride only to discover at the end of it that you didn't hit the start button, or forgot to hit steart after stopping for that muffin and coffee or forgot to hit stop after putting the bike in the car and driving home. It's very frustrating and totally unclear why they did this.

As a mapping device- what should be the device's strong point is just lame, lame, lame. There are several confusing options for loading routes onto the device (gpx, tcr) and no real clear explanation for why you'd choose one over the other. If you want to load a route and have the device guide you as a replacement for a route sheet then you need to use GPX but if you happen to enter the ride near one of the markers other than the start- it will guide you to the start and abandon you rather than guiding you back to where you started. Further, if you are off the path at the start of your ride the unit offers NO guidance as to how to get to the route other than your manually staring at the display and figuring it out for yourself. Also, it has a propensity for asking you to turn around rather than routing you in the same direction you are going. Then, if you deviate or are misplaced due to a poor GPS signal the unit will reroute and you'll loose all your entered points. Why the hell would anyone on a bike on a recreational ride want to turn around and reride a route you've already been on? This happens a lot when I'm out and decide to go back home, the unit will turn me around and then put me back on a main road- Not at all what you'd want to do on a ride. I could go on... In short, the routing is just the default stuff you see on a car or walking GPS and not at all customized to be useful for typical biking scenarios.

The Garmin connect and PC based software is OK but I still end up using bikely or something similar to plan routes. The garmin stuff just isn't setup to help cyclists. The auto uploads are nice but Linux isn't supported by garmin- why I can't begin to imagine since their site otherwise works fine in Linux and Firefox.

Lets see other minor good and bad points-

good: it's rugged and seemingly water resistant if not proof. The bike mount is easy to use and stable. the battery lasts a good while

bad: the rubber on the joystick button shreds and falls off. there's no indication about battery status (in time for instance) until it's dead and shuts down. Most of the displays other than the map and cyclometer are useless. routing is tough and not cycling specific. The display is not easily readable at night or dusk. the buttons on the unit seem poorly chosen and not helpful to the typical cycling tasks.

It's nice to have a unit which works reliably and can be moved from bike to bike but it would be nice if Garmin actually spent some time making this very expensive unit suitable for cyclists.

External Links

Share and Enjoy:

Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Manufacturer: Garmin
Customer Rating:
List Price: $329.99
Sale Price: $339.99
Availibility: View Product Availability

This is cool.

Product Description

Travel throughout North America without loading any more maps with the Garmin nüvi 680 Personal Travel Assistant with MSN Direct. Plus, you can receive door-to-door directions while staying on top of local weather, traffic, and more with nüvi 680.

The device features a colorful widescreen, hands-free calling, and an FM transmitter, then takes it up a notch by adding dynamic content from MSN Direct, as well as a convenient digital travel kit that includes an MP3 player with sample MP3s, audio books, a picture viewer, a world clock, currency and measurement converters, a calculator, and more.

This pocket sized personal travel assistant has a super bright, sunlight-readable color screen. See side view.

Easy control via the simple touch screen.

Weather reporting available with bright, colorful graphics.

Despite being loaded with features, the nüvi 680 still allows you to navigate with ease. This unit comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded NavTeq City Navigator NT street maps for North America, and includes a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs and more.

Simply touch the super-bright, sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and the 680 takes you there with either 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions.

This navigator voice even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road, and can concentrate on your driving to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

In addition, the 680 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs that require your special consideration such as speed zones and safety cameras.

Speaking of keeping you safe, the nüvi 680 lets you make hands-free calls so you can talk freely during your worry-free driving.

By integrating Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, you can pair your nüvi with any compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free while staying focused on the road.

You no longer have to fumble with your phone's handset to answer a call or dial a number, just tap the 680's screen and you're instantly connected.

And with 1-touch dialing for your POIs, you can quickly and conveniently call ahead to make reservations or get needed information.

Simply insert a memory card to enjoy pictures, songs, and audiobooks.

You can also use the mini-USB port for tranferring files directly to the memory card.

The new nüvi 680 lets you get localized information with dynamic content from MSN Direct, making it one of the most resourceful navigators available.

Using the included receiver and free trial service to MSN Direct, you can check your local weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, and even check movie times and locations, all while you travel.

Easy and virtually fool-proof to use, the MSN Direct receiver is plug-and-play portable so you can quickly connect to your navigator unit when you are out and about.

All of which can be customized with configurable vehicle icons that let you choose individual car-shaped icons in a variety of colors that show your position on the map.

In additional to all this functionality, the nüvi 680 includes many must-have entertainment and travel tools such as an MP3 player, an audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), and a JPEG picture viewer so you can take your favorite music and pictures with you wherever you go.

This unit also features a world travel clock with time zones, a currency converter, a measurement converter, and a calculator so that wherever you travel it will be easy to know what you are getting and keep track of your costs.

The MP3 player lets you browse music by artist, album, and/or song, while the optional audio books may be purchased from Audible.com which features over 70,000 hours of audio programs.

What's more, the nüvi 680 allows further customization via optional software such as a travel guide, savings programs and language translation on plug-and-play SD cards for all your travel needs.

The Garmin nüvi 680 comes with a built-in, high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, and lets you view and operate it via its bright, LCD TFT touch-screen, wide-screen display that measures 4.3 inches (diagonal) and has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels with 64,000 colors and a white backlight.

As a whole, the nüvi 680 measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D), and weighs only 6.2 ounces for easy portability.

This unit provides you with from three to seven hours of battery life (depending on use) via its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and comes with Garmin Lock, which is an anti-theft feature to protect your investment.

While you can add software via the SD card slot, the Garmin nüvi 680 also lets you interface via high-speed USB for loading data, though users should note that, like most USB mass storage devices, this unit is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

The nüvi 680 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs, and more.

What's in the Box
Garmin nüvi 680 with MSN Direct, City Navigator NT maps for North America (preloaded, full coverage), MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable, vehicle suction cup mount, an AC charger, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, a USB cable, leather carrying case, quick reference guide, and owner's manual.

Product Details

Pre-loaded with complete Navteq Maps for North America
2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions; Accepts custom points of interest (POIs)
Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker allows for hands-free calls
1 year free subscription to MSN Direct Traffic, Weather and Entertainment Service
Super-bright, sunlight-readable color screen

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

External Links

Share and Enjoy:

Car Charger Power Adapter Cord for Garmin Nuvi 300 310 350 360 370 465 465T 500 510 550 GPS By Chargercity (9ft Coiled Vehicle Power Cable for Longer Reach & Easy Storage) **Item includes ChargerCity's Manufacture Direct Warranty!**

Manufacturer:
Customer Rating:
List Price: Varies based on product options
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability

This is cool.

Product Description

ChargerCity GPS AccessoriesChargerCity Vehicle Charger power cable Cord Adapter for Garmin Nuvi GPS Models 300 310 350 360 370 500 510 550

Product Details

No details are available for this product

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

No customer reviews were found for this product.

External Links

Share and Enjoy:

Arkon GPSHDCSXL Protective Hard Case for 4.3-Inch GPS Devices (Black)

Manufacturer:
Customer Rating:
List Price: Varies based on product options
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability

This is cool.

Product Description

Protect your portable GPS to against bumps, dings and scratches. Fits most GPS with 4.3 inch screens. The removable inner padding gives your GPS extra protection or remove it to fit larger GPS.

The deep mesh pocket keeps accessories organized. The divider safely separates the GPS from the accessories.

Product Details

No details are available for this product

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

No customer reviews were found for this product.

External Links

Share and Enjoy:

GARMIN CITY NAVIGATOR EUROPE NT ON MICROSD

Manufacturer: Garmin USA
Customer Rating:
List Price: $199.00
Sale Price: $89.35
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

This is cool.

Product Description

City Navigator NT EuropeDetailed maps of major metropolitan areas in Europe, including motorways, national and regional thoroughfares and local roads.

Product Details

City Navigator Europe NT provides highly detailed
Gps-software
750W10-Channel Powered Mixer
Powerpod1062plus

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

No customer reviews were found for this product.

External Links

Share and Enjoy:

« previous entries

Welcome

Hello, My name is Peter OBrien and I love to travel around and experience new things and people.

When I am traveling, I always use my garmin handheld gps device. Garmin always gets me where I need to be quickly and safely.

Garmin also is great for enjoying some of my favorite activities like golf, fishing and hiking. These great gps units can make life on the golf course, lake or on the trail a lot more fun.

I have many garmin gps reviews on this blog with a star rating system and actual customer reviews.

All orders and payments are processed through Amazon.com and their secure server, which encrypts all submitted information.