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- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 119 reviews Back to product review
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51 out of 52 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Garmin....Take Bow"
Pros: Touch screen, low learning curve, features, speed
Cons: Price, Sub-par manual, slight screen glare in sunlight
Summary: This is my first Navi ever, but I'm no stranger to it, I just never owned one till now. For the features I was looking for, I narrowed my options to The Garmin 2620, Garmin C330, and Megellan 700. Needless to say the C330 was my pick.
I painstakinly reviewed these (3) GPS items and read every review and feedback I could find, then combing the manufacturers websites for all specs and features,updates yaddy yadda, then I made a few trips to the store to get some hands on experience and feel of the products.
The C330 has a refreshing out of box experience. It can be fired up right away to begin use. I did not need to read the manual to start using it, the idiot proof interface makes it very easy to learn, which is a plus because my wife can use it when I'm doing the driving. The models that I also considered provided a little more features than the C330, But they did not have an internal power source. Memory wise, the C330 has a 2 GIG micro drive, which is quite adequate for all the US maps and any updates etc.
Personally, my heart was set on the Megallan 700, but the cost and the fact that it only had 2 million POI (Points of Intrest) compared to Garmin 5 million POI, turned me away from it. Of the (3) items I considered, the C330 is the only one that has a 100% touch screen interface and the smallest size so that it can be mounted/stored anywhere. GPSs' are not getting any bigger, with todays designers using micro/flash memory technology, our units will become more inconspicous.The C330 can be a little difficult to see in the Sunlight, but not too bad. The Megellan 700 and the Garmin 2620 does have a port for an external antenna as well as the C330, which can be had for about $20 from a third party source.
The manual is very easy to read and colorful, but I found that it was not indepth, some things I had to call Garmin to clarify. I was curious about the internal battery, that only they can change. It would cost $125 just to send the unit in if it need work outside of the warranty period.....hopefully the battery will last about five years when I ready to upgrade.
Garmin updated maps usually comes out every 10-14 months so one is due out any time now. and it would cost me $75 to update the maps if I so desire. If you plan to get one and you get it on or after the new maps release date, the upgrade would be free.
I'm very please with the touch screen response and the layout out the maps, the the list of Hotels resturants etc. all w/ phone numbers too. the volume is great, as long as you're not do 80MPH w/ your windows down. It recognizes dirt roads also - provided that the roads all existed before 2004 (the last map release date).
I will not be redundant and mention all the other points that the previous reviews mention, but for the most part the (3-4) reviews before mine were accurate and very helpful.
The C330 does not display your elevation, which is nice to know when driving in the mountains.
This unit has its share of nuggets to find that will just leave you in amazment. If I had to choose all over again I'll still get the C330.
Buyers beware, If you purchace the more expensive model (c330) it comes preloaded with all the maps so there is no need to be transfering data back and forth, but you DO NOT get the software on City Select CD ROM. If you opt for the cheaper version (C320) you will get the the City Select CD, because the intire map can't fit on that unit..you'll have to transfer data via memory card.
I've also noticed that unless you are looking directly perpendicular to the screen, the colors don't show correctly, in other words if you are the driver or passenger and you look at the screen at an angle, it will be still visible but the colors tend to wash out, sort of like with a laptop if the screen is not tilted right.
My experience with Tech support is fair. The wait time is a little lengthy, but once one the phone, they don't try to rush you through your questions to get you off the phone. I was helped adquately with all my questions.
A great advantage is the mounting flexability, any area of the windsheild, the dashbord or console (comes w/base mount) or as a handheld providing the internal battery doesn't quit. Icons, splash screens and markers can by customerized via the garmin software on their website. the images can be transported back and forth from the unit as BMP files and edited.
There are three ways to view the map
1) Bird's eye view with the map always facing north and the arrow/cursor moves as you drive.
2) Bird's eye view with the arrow remains still and the map moves around as you drive
3) "3D" mode. Where the view is the same as you would see out of your winsheild except it's slightly elevated so you can see a wider angle and detect streets about a block away an all three sides of you.
The unit automatically detects you speed and zooms out when you're driving fast and zooms in when you're moving slow so you're never over/under driving the map. The reciever is very good in my opinion, sometimes (depend on what part of the house I am) I get a good signal indoors. I have my C330 mounted above my rearview mirror in my vehicle (bearly got it to fit) so it does NOT have a clear view of the sky and if it did, the factory tint in the windshield would also block it...yet I get a good signal. Mounting it on the middle of my windsheild yeild the best results and start up time, but I chose to mount it abouve my reaview mirror to eliminate any sunlight glare from hitting the screen and it's working great.
To respond to previous reviewers comments.... It was pointed out that Garmin should've added a feature where you can see an Icon or marker that indicated the locations of all the POI nearby as you drive by them. Well I've found a way to do it, although it's not noted in Garmin's sub-par manual. All you have to do is go to [Menu - Where To - Show Map] and you see all the attractions, lodging, eating, gas etc. locations on the road/area that you're currently on.
Another thing that's not mentioned on the manual. Lets say you're somewhere and you don't know the address, but you want to save and revisit that location. Go to [Menu - Where TO - Show Map - Info - Save]
- 1 reply to this review
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All things considered, a very accurate review! Thanks very much for pointing out two important features that aren't mentioned in the user guide! Until I read your review I thought they didn't exist.
Where to buy
Garmin StreetPilot c330:
$198.99
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$198.99 | Yes |
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