I Can't Get Lost With My Garmin GPS! June 30, 2010

The need to take care of a business matter in the un-familiar San Francisco area, prompted us to consider the purchase of a GPS unit. I've never owned one and was not sure what questions I needed to ask when selecting one. At the store I was greeted by a helpful associate who began to explain what GPS was all about. There was a display of several working GPS units that helped me with decsion making.
I was drawn to the Garmin series of GPS because the mapping was displayed in a format that seemed logical and was very easy to read since my eyes are not what they used to be. The display screen colors and contrast are well defined and I'm happy with the gentle ladies voice contained within my new Garmin GPS.

I purchased an accessory dash mount that keeps the Garmin 255 GPS positioned where I place it. I also purchased an accessory 110 volt house charger because I did not want to be sitting in my car every time I need to program my GPS. I can now sit comfortably in my air conditioned home while I program my GPS while letting it charge as well. Another useful accessory I purchased is the Garmin cable that provides a USB link to my PC. This link makes it possible to charge the unit as well as connect to the MyGarmin.com site where you can download updates and fun exttras for your Garmin GPS unit. I can also load personal photos to my new Garmin and use it as a digital photo frame when it is not being used as a GPS unit.

My Garmin 255 GPS has other features that may or may not be useful to me. My San Francisco trip was a bit confusing on the way home, mostly due to the programmed default traffic avoidance setting, that I was un-aware of. The traffic avoidance program worked like a charm I believe, because it took me around and around in circles to avoid down town rush hour traffic jams. On our way home the traffic began to slow rapidly and I soon found myself following the GPS routing off the free-way into parts unknown to avoid a car accident that lay ahead. I did not know this was the case at the time and I really thought my brand new Garmin went "bonkers" on me. But the radio news explained clearly why my GPS performed the re-routing through details of the accident ahead. I've since turned the traffic avoidance feature off!

In a nut shell...our Garmin 255 GPS did what it was supposed to do, clearly and precisely...and we are very happy with the purchase!

There's a reason they say give a Garmin! June 16, 2010

I have used the Tom Tom 130, the Garmin Nuvi 205, and the Magellan Roadmate 1200 along with this Garmin Nuvi 255w. Here is what I can best tell you why I will buy Garmin's again and again. First each one I used has been very accurate so far, so there is no major difference there. I like Garmin for the little things:

Points of interest -  On both Garmin models I have used they are way faster at finding POI than the Tom Tom, and a little faster than on the Magellan. I also like the auto complete better on the Garmin as it gives more than one suggestion and you can click the one you want.

Screen - Magellan and Garmin both felt very nice. The Tom Tom was very hard to read in daylight for me, even with the screen set to daylight colors. The Tom Tom here felt like the resolution was not quite high enough. On the Garmin it is very bright and clear.

Sound - The Tom Tom model I used did not say street names as the Garmin and Magellan do, but there was more than that. Both the Magellan and the Tom Tom were hard to understand sometimes, even on the Tom Tom when it only said turn right 500 feet ahead felt forced. The Garmin has been very easy to understand and the voice doesn't annoy me like the others.

While prices continue to fall, and features get more and more plentiful I hope Garmin stays with their basic concept..... easy to use, clear, and accurate. So far with both models it has been the case, the only thing noticeable was the screen size change.

Never done me wrong June 09, 2010

I love this GPS. I get lost... a lot, I mean, a lot. It has never given me directions to somewhere totally off base and the re-route is amazing (because sometime if you're not used to downtown driving, it can be hectic). People tell me their GPS horror stories with other brands, and I reccommend the Garmin 255W for them. I've had it for a year now, with numerous trips by myself and I swear by it.

Just What I Wanted March 10, 2010

I got this for Christmas.  It's my first navigation system so I don't have anything to compare it to but it works great for me.  Make sure you take advantage of the free map update during the 1st 60 days so you have the latest map.  Otherwise map updates cost $$$.

It has Auto, Bike and Pedestrian modes.  Works great in the car and I've even used it walking with it in my pocket and it still picks up the sattellite signal.  Measures distance, ave speed and tracks where you've been.