Friday, April 1, 2011

Garmin nьvi 750 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Portable Dashboard Mount Included (Electronics)


This review is from: Garmin nьvi 750 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Portable Dashboard Mount Included (Electronics)


I will start this review by stating that I am a professional navigator, a perfectionist, and a tightwad. I have been retired for a number of years and finally decided to get a GPS for the car. I bought Garmin because I have used their commercial units for deep sea navigation and have always been happy with them. I spent a lot of time comparing the various units and opted for the Nuvi 750. I don't need Bluetooth or the traffic routing. I really don't care about using a gps as an MP3 player or putting photo's on it either. The 750 was so close in price to the various other wide screen units with fewer features that I figured it was the way to go. I also really wanted the FM transmitter since I am hearing impaired and read in other reviews that the speakers were tinny sounding and not very audible. So, here are a few things to consider before buying this brand and particular unit. I hope you find the following helpful, and that it makes your selection process a little easier.



pro-ish:



1) Support, support, and again support. A product is only as good as the support that comes with it, and Garmin gets an A+ from me. I sent an email to Garmin with a question and got an answer within one day. When I called Garmin to ask a few more questions , I got a human operator immediately. This tech rep was based in the U.S. and was able to answer all of my questions fully and clearly. I was impressed. The support alone would cause me to buy a Garmin. (A friend of mine has a Tomtom, and he is having a hard time reaching anyone for help with his unit.)



2) The FM transmitter is a nice feature, but really isn't worth bothering with. If you use it, you will a) have to listen to static hiss, b) have it fade in and out, c) have to change stations as your location changes, and d) won't be able to listen to the radio or your tapes/cd's. If you want more volume than the Nuvi speaker puts out, just buy an inexpensive portable travel speaker and plug it into the Nuvi headphone jack. The FM transmitter is a great idea, just not that practicable.



3) The Nuvi speaker. I would prefer more volume, but the speaker is perfectly adequate for the job as it is. My wife can hear the directions just fine, and I can make out most of what it says, even with my hearing impairment. There is really no need to listen over the radio or use an external speaker.



4) I have gotten a few odd routings, but Mapquest gave me the exact same directions. I think it is just a matter of personal preferences. You get used to driving on certain roads, and that's that. Update: I wanted to check just how much longer the Garmin route was compared with my usual way of driving to the library. I knew Garmin was longer. I would have bet money that my way was better. Garmin routing shaved off .6 miles and 1.5 minutes off my route. That was for a 4 mile trip. I am humbled!



5) The unit arrived just three days after I placed my order with Amazon, even though I had it sent with free shipping. It should have taken 5-9 business days. Maybe because Christmas was so close?



6) I really didn't want to wait till the next day to try using the GPS. So, it's 11 pm and I am standing out on the front lawn expecting to be there for up to a half hour while the unit initialized. That process took less than 10 minutes. I really should have timed it. When I came back into my house, I didn't lose satellite reception. That was a surprise.



7) The unit did come with the latest maps and firmware. When I went to the Garmin web site, I didn't need to download anything.



8) I have had no problem getting a satellite lock. By the time the maps load, the unit is ready to navigate.



9) I deliberately missed a few turns, wanting to see how fast a new route was calculated. Rerouting occurred before traveling more than 100 feet. There is adequate time to adjust and make your next turn on your new route.



10) Being able to switch mode from automobile to bike to pedestrian to off road is a fantastic capability.



11) I love the way the screen adjusts itself automatically at sunset.



12) The routing with multiple stops is an excellent feature.





Con-ish:



1) A case should have been included with the unit. It didn't have to be a great case, but it should have been there. I found that my old hand held calculator case is just about a perfect fit. It's just enough protection so that I don't have to worry about scratches when I carry it in my pocket.



2) Should have included an AC adapter. I bought one when I bought the GPS. Way overpriced. Still, glad to have it.



3) No instruction book. They can include a 50 page booklet with instructions in 10 languages on how not to cause myself grievous bodily harm with a lithium ion battery , but can't include a full instruction booklet? The quick start guide is a waste of paper. They should have gone with the complete manual. I did call them up, and they are sending a full manual to me.





Conclusion:



The only way a person like me could get the perfect GPS is to design one myself. That being said, the Nuvi 750 is the next best thing. The price is right, the functions are excellent, it looks and feels substantial, and it works like a charm. I would highly recommend Garmin and in particular the Nuvi 750 to anyone interested in buying a GPS. By the way, I bought the air vent mount and am very pleased with the way it fits the vents. Much better than mounting on the window in my opinion.
Garmin nьvi 750 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Portable Dashboard Mount Included (Electronics) at amazon.com
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