 "Great Device" | 2009-11-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3J2IDOXXOLKVB |
| I've read good and bad reviews for this product, so I was a little hesitant to buy it, but it was the only one I could find that had bluetooth and the ability to output to my stereo aux input (I didn't want to use an FM transmitter). I've had this for about a month, and the only problem I've had is that it kept trying to take me off the highway early and route me through town. Once I found that this was due to the 'Avoid Traffic' feature, I changed settings and have had no problem since. The antenna acquires satellites in under a minute and gets reception inside my house (so I don't have to stand outside to put in my destination, as I have with other GPS units). The only time I've lost reception has been in a parking garage. I would recommend this unit to new and experienced users. |
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 "Bells and whistles are just marketing ! Some features worse than older models" | 2009-11-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AZH3F43Y79Y7X |
| Voice option is worthless, MSN features worthless. I have 7 older Garmin's . This is no better. I'm comparing to all the previous Garmin's I still own. Very disappointed with this unit but LOVE all the other units. Voice commands are cumbersome and slow,even response time to touch screen is slower than older units? |
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 "Don't buy because it will be usless, MSN will not be available after 1/1/12" | 2009-11-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2V8E7PZUJZUKZ |
I wasted all too much money on this device to recommend it.
The huge advantage on this device is the traffic monitor. I did not realize that traffic monitor on this device had to be purchased separately through MSN after 90 days. It is expensive $50.00 extra a year after your free 90 day trial run.
On 10/27/09 MSN announced that they will no longer support MSN traffic as well as other services on these device as of 1/1/12.
With that in mind I cannot understand why anyone would buy this obsolete product.
Plus Garmin sells other devices that do not use MSN and uses Navteq with lifetime traffic without paying yearly. It is already included with the purchase price of the unit.
I feel that I got ripped off by Garmin and MSN, since the support will not be there. I already had a very good Magellean unit but purchased the Garmin because of the traffic support.
I question in my own mind how much support and effort MSN will be putting in when they have already announced that they will not offer the services within in the next 2 years or so.
I hope this saves you some grief.
At least go MSN website and check it out under the heading of Important service announcement.
[...]
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| "Nice, but needs work" | 2009-11-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1HNIQZQ6RTU6Y |
This garmin is my first nuvi product. I have had handhelds and marine models in the past. I also have a factory installed gps in my other vehicle. We took this nuvi on our last vacation to the rockies and it gave us mixed results. It was sometimes slow to give turning instructions. For instance, there were 2 exits in front of me within 200yds of each other. The nuvi said turn right just as I was beside the first exit. This one or the next one? I turned at the 2nd and I was suddenly off course. This happened at least 3 times where I missed my turn. The integated unit on my Ford gives you a countdown of when you need to turn (1 mile, 1/2 mile, 1/4 mi., turn now) which works better.
We preprogrammed our destination while at home and after getting our rental car at the airport we set our destination from the favorites. The nuvi told us we were 180 mi from our destination. Wrong. We knew we were only 35 miles away. We had to erase the destination and re-enter it before it would take us to the right place. I still don't understand that one.
The instruction manual is online. While on vacation, I wanted to know how to get to specific screens and since I didn't print the manual, I was at a loss as to how to get the info I wanted. An instruction booklet would be nice garmin (hint hint).
The voice recognition works good as long as you speak slowly and clearly without a lot of background noise.
The volume is a bit on the weak side but adequate. Haven't tried bluetooth yet as my phone (palm pre) isn't supported. C'mon garmin, this phone has been out for over 6 months. Garmin sez it's Palm's issue????
Other than the issues above, the unit worked nicely. It only takes a few seconds to get a fix. The screen is large, beautiful, and e z to read in either sunny or night conditions. The window mount never comes loose. Get the above issues fixed and this will be one great unit. |
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| "warning for nuvi 885t" | 2009-10-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: ALJDOLIPPBWX5 |
BE WARNED: I chose this for the MSN traffic, but this service is being cut by Microsoft! I will end up buying a FM traffic device after my MSN traffic expires. So I just bought a nuvi1490t.
Previous owner of nuvi760, I bought this (in Amazon Sept2009) due to good reviews in numerous websites including Consumer Reports, but I got a bad item. I sold it and got a nuvi 1490t and very happy with its performance.
CONS:
- HANGS/FREEZE - even after software updates, this is an annoying problem especially during driving. It is hard to reboot when you are driving, you have to take off the battery to reset the device.
- HOUR GLASS OF DOOM - when searching for POIs this means your device is freezing again....just have to reset device.
- DIM SETTING - hard to change from dim display setting to normal, I just end up resetting the item by taking off the battery.
- LOW VOLUME - can barely hear it at 100%
- ALWAYS ON - even when I turn it off apparently it only shuts down the display but the device is still on, draining all the battery
- VOICE COMMANDS - useless, barely understands me. Only knows 1 clear command "GO HOME". Other commands gives me gibberish results.....
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| "Good product, but NO lifetime traffic" | 2009-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWX032Y2XY9T6 |
Don't wast your money on MSN traffic, it poor at best and MS says they are going to discontinue the service.
I purchased the Nuvi885T for a trip from Orlando Florida to McMinnville Tenn. The directions were great. The approaching a turn warning was extremely helpful, especially going through the east coast's nightmare city, Atlanta.
The extra I used was the headphone output along with the MP3 player and plugged it into my radio's Aux input. I had music and it lowered for directions. It is much clearer this way.
A small issue was when the unit froze. I had to remove the battery to get the unit back up and running. I thought it had died and was grateful it was resettable by removing the battery. BTW - I have the latest software loaded.
The one BIG drawback is MSN traffic. It told me about an accident after I was stuck in non-moving traffic on I75 for a half hour; then it predicted a 20 minute wait (like Vista, can't get anything right). Also, MSN only updates when you have been in a city for at least a half hour. I was constantly seeing yesterday's gas prices or the gas prices 100 miles ago.
Garmin ships the NUVI 885 with the MSN antenna, if they change and ship with a lifetime NAVTEQ traffic antenna, it would be great. Otherwise you have to purchase the NAVTEQ for about $120.
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