Garmin nüvi 200 GPS Navigator
Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Other products by Garmin
SMALL, POWERFUL, AND SIMPLE…,
| By | Justin Paxton “CLOWNZ IN MY HEAD” - |
After using the popular TomTom One for six months (and being completely satisfied with it) I decided to give the latest in Garmin technology a try. Garmin’s newest line of Nuvi’s (the 200, 250, and 270) appears to be designed to combat the basic (and extremely popular) TomTom One, as they are designed with the utmost simplicity in mind. Garmin has finally done away with all the bells and whistles of their past GPS models and stripped down their latest releases to the bare essentials. But don’t let the simplicity of the Nuvi 200 fool you, it still packs quite a punch.
The first thing I noticed upon purchasing this product is it’s size…very, very small. The unit ways only 0.33 pounds (5.2 ounces) which I found very convenient. Also the Garmin Nuvi 200’s wallet sized dimensions, 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) make for easy transport from car to pocket once you have reached your destination.. Because the Garmin Nuvi 200 doesn’t come with a carrying case I found the unit’s basic rectangular design very handy when searching for a protective case to envelop the unit when not in use. Basically any small camera case at any department store will fit this GPS unit nicely. I found one for $7.00, a real plus considering the unusual design of the TomTom One and it’s customized $30.00 carrying case, consumers (of course) had to buy separately.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 lacks the text-to-speech function of it’s big brother, the Nuvi 350 and also has no MP3 technology (remember this is a basic unit). However the unit has managed to shed the little flip-up antenna that Garmin owners have been used to seeing on older models, such as the Nuvi 350. Everything is now neatly packed away and internal giving the Nuvi 200 an even sleeker look.
Enough about what the Nuvi lacks, on to what is has. Although the unit is simple in design Garmin has managed to pack in a few extras for it’s customers. The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo. Some users may use these features more than others, while others may find them plain redundant but hey…it’s always nice to have extras.
The battery life is excellent compared to the TomTom One’s weak 2-hour expectancy. The instruction manual brags it can last “up to 5 hours” so you won’t have to scramble for the vehicle power cable as often as with other units. The Nuvi 200’s 3.5 inch screen (with 320×240 pixel count) is beautiful, bright and detailed Very convenient for such a small unit.
Of course I have to mention the high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver that was able to locate it’s position in under 30 seconds on it’s first start up. I’ve even managed to get satellite signals while indoors, quite impressive.
The only fault I could find with the unit was (surprisingly) it’s maps. Although Garmin uses NAVTEQ maps I found them very lacking compared to the TomTom (Tele Atlas) maps I’m used to. The clichéd’ argument is that because Garmin is a North American based company their maps for The United States should be more accurate then the European based Tele Atlas maps which TomTom uses. This was quickly disproved by a simple drive around town. There were some streets in my home town which have been completed for over 5 years that still aren’t registered by the supplied NAVTEQ maps the Nuvi 200 comes with. I never had this problem with my TomTom One.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 gets a well-deserved 4 stars. Although it’s maps are sometimes lacking they were always accurate and managed to get me home safely. Garmin is a quality name in GPS and anyone looking for a simple yet powerful unit should give the Garmin Nuvi 200 a chance.
Here is what comes in the box:
- The Nuvi 200 unit that comes preloaded with maps of the lower 48 states (plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
- Vehicle Suction Cup Mount (instead of sticking this mount to the windshield, I break tradition and mount the suction cup to the driver’s side window down near the rearview mirror then just turn it towards me. I find it is much easier to operate and it doesn’t obstruct my view.)
- Vehicle Power Cable
- Dashboard Disc
- Set Up And Go Guide (not very detailed)
Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Other products by Garmin
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