Garmin Nuvi 205, 205W, 255, 255W
Garmin announced four new Nuvi models in the 200 series this morning, dubbing them the “2×5″ series. The biggest news is that now traffic, by way of MSN Direct, will be offered in these devices. These devices will also come with a new “shaded elevation mapping display” which we can only imagine is similar to that found on the HP iPAQ 310. They get a few more welcome updates as well.
A faster 333MHz processor is said to speed up map drawing and route calculation time. Garmin is also releasing a new “HotFix” feature which will likely be similar to TomTom’s QuickFix system of acquiring satellite signals faster.
Like the 200 versus 250, the Nuvi 205 and Nuvi 205W will have maps of the contiguous United States (hey, they actually got it right) while the Nuvi 255 and Nuvi 255W will offer the United States and Canada.
The new Nuvi 2×5 series will have the ability to connect to traffic services through the purchase of an optional traffic cable. Other Nuvi 200 series models were not compatible with those traffic receivers.
Expect to be able to get one of these in your car in the next couple of months.
205 - $213.32
205w - $266.66
255 - $319.99
255w - $373.32
This is getting absolutely ridiculous imo how many Nuvi models there are now. Imagine someone who knows nothing about GPS technology trying to choose between all of these…
Yes, taking a quick count it looks like there are now 30 Nuvi models just in the USA right now… not even counting the “pink” edition.
Must say I like that they’ve added a turn arrow display to the UI now… might have to look at the 255W actually.
Ryan, I couldn’t agree more!
Looks like the industry wide movement may be towards base units with value-added additions at users discretion.
RxNetworks will be supplying the Hotfix, optimized for STMicroelectronics chipset.
Ryan - that’s me. Trying to get a new gps, looking at garmin, want tts and bt, don’t have any idea which one to buy.
beeze - for a Nuvi with TTS and Bluetooth, review this chart of those four devices.
Do you think this will lead to Garmin discontinueing and retailers dumping Nuvi 200 series soon? I can’t imagione both in production for such close pricing.
I don’t think the other models in the 200 series will be discontinued soon. The original 300 series and 600 series models haven’t even been discontinued yet.
Do any of these have golf yardage capabilities?
Mike - no.
Is there a unit out there that does do both?
Not that I’m aware of.
Is there software that can be installed thru SD for golf course info?
Not that I know of.
Anyone know the chipset (s?) used in these? Thanks!
whats the difference between 260w to 255w?
Erin - See comment #107 over here.
Do these have the new 2009 Map preloaded?! Thanks!
Britain - Yes, they should. I can’t image that they wouldn’t, but if they didn’t you should be able to get an update anyway.
I am debating between the Nuvi 255w for [snip, see comment policy] or the nuvi 750 [snip] . I was leaning towards the 255w until I read the comments on the sound quality. I am concerned about the 750 and the time it takes to find a signal. Any suggestions or opinions. This is my first GPS so I am looking for all the help I can get.
I’d go for the 750. It doesn’t take any longer to find satellites than most any other GPS.
Thank you Tim for your quick response.
Would your answer be the same if I also wanted to use the GPS on an upcoming trip to Italy ? I kow I will need to purchase the Europe map .
Then you might want to check out purchasing the Garmin Nuvi 770 instead as it includes the European maps. That might be cheaper (and more convenient) than adding them to the 750.
The 750 plus purchasing a map separately is considerably cheaper at the prices I have available. That being said would you recommend the 750 ? Also the prices of the 750 and the 255w are very close .
If the 750 meets your feature needs– it is a good buy.
may i ask which of the 200w & 205w is better option to buy
lol Ryan your comment made me laugh I am that person that knows nothing about GPS systems and I’m trying to buy one I’m looking at Garmin and its to the point they all look the same..any advice?
Lindsy - I’d checkout this and then we can help narrow down the list for you.
well I am from HK and now staying in Malaysia, I have just got my driving lienence, my car is a latest Toyota model. Since I am a brand new citizen and newly ride on road. Just as Ryan & Lindsy comments, & my last comment/query, I have got 2 models in my hand for me to choose..pls advise @_@
The 2×5 series devices gain the option to connect a traffic receiver, shaded terrain in some areas, and a graphical turn arrow instead of text. However the voices don’t appear to be quite as clear as the older models, and the newer models are at a higher price since they are so new.
I just bought Garmin 255W. It has 2009 Maps. But I wonder if it has a Sirf Star III receiver. I checked the “About” info on my unit and it did not display anything about the receiver chipset. It does not find a signal when I am indoors. It took 30-35 seconds to find a signal outdoors. I have used Magellan 3250 and Tom Tom One XLS. They aquired the satellite more quickly than 255W (also when I was indoors). But I got rid of them as I did not like their navigation instructions and Tom Tom’s screen glare and suction mount were awful. I have used Garmin in the past and preferred to go back to Garmin especially for Garmin’s keep left/right instructions and it’s ability to tell whether the destination is on right side or left side of the road.
Nuvi 255W’s route recalculation is faster. Overall I felt it is faster than Nuvi 750, which I found little sluggish when I tried it in the shop.
What is this new “shaded elevation mapping display” on the 255W?
It just uses variations of shaded colors to help depict terrain like mountains and valleys.
Do you recommend the nuvi 205 for a first time buyer? If not, which model? Help!!! Thanks for replies.
Mike, if it meets your feature needs, it is a fine pick.
I purchased this Nuvi255 unit because it was able to get traffic updates, gas station prices, movies etc. and found out afterwords that the “optional” receiver has not yet even been manufactured. Now I am out $299 for a unit that will not function as advertised. I called Garmin and they said there was nothing they could do, that they were not sure when the Garmin GDB 55 MSN Direct Receiver would be available, the customer service rep said they had received a Memo,stating it was due to technical problems and it would be Aug 24th at the earliest, more likely September and posibly October, before the receiver “should” be ready for distibution. What a mess, this is likely my last Garmin Product, they have really gone down hill, and there stock value is taking a nosedive also.
The above comment is listed on Amazon and other GPS sites with other names as the author. It’s the same complaint, word for word. Garmin showed a shipping date of “End of July” for the traffic receiver and it’s started shipping the second week of August. If you needed traffic so badly, you should have bought a unit with that feature readily available. Complaining about the stock price makes this post suspicious looking. Garmin has a good part of the GPS market. Their stock took a hit due to people spending less on luxuries and more on gas and the cost of living. Also, Garmin announced that the Nuvi Phone would be postponed so the stock went down. If Apple postponed the iPhone, Apple’s stock price would take a small hit as well.
Deal with it or return it.
Well you must have difficulty reading and are probably a Garmin Employee. Like I said When I purchased the Unit there were no references to the fact that the MSN would not be available until July, August or whenever. I bought trusting what they advertised. When I went to Order the receiver it was not available. In fairness I called Garmin on 2 seperate occasions as well as 3 seperate emails. I received conflicting information and was told by Garmin then were unsure of the date of release but “projected it to be August 24th” so don’t be so defensive I’m simply stating fact. That Garmin is not the company it used to be, and if it is to survive it better get back to treated its customers like the life blood they are.
Looking to buy my first gps. Kinda lost… I don’t need the traffic service so I guess that the 260w would be fine? What about the 205w? I read reviews comparing the performance between Garmin, Magella and TomTom and Garmin was the winner for picking up the best and fastest routes. What do you think? Is the Magella Maestro 4210 a good option vs Garmin 255w, 260w or 205w?
Thanks a lot to look at all my questions.
This site is incredible!!! Thanks Tim!
Comparing route quality is tricky business. “Best” according to what conditions? Just because one device says it will take 40 minutes to cover a route and another device finds a route that it thinks will take 43 minutes doesn’t make the first one “better”. It could have an unrealistic estimate for how long it takes to cover the route.
People will disagree about the “best” route, as we all have our own different tastes and driving styles. So I think it is impossible to declare any of the top GPS companies has having significantly better routing than another. I use GPS devices from all of the top manufacturers pretty much every day. They all produce reasonable routes the vast majority of the time. There will always be routes I agree with, and some I don’t. But when I don’t agree with a particular route, someone else might think that route is just fine. So I don’t consider route quality something that can really be determined “this one is better”. Too many variables. (See this for an example.)
Of the 205w and 260w, I’d go for the 260w since it has text to speech which makes it easier to follow the directions with fewer distractions. Another good consideration might be the TomTom XL 330s which offers a few more bells and whistles– although they might not be a big deal in your application.
The Magellan Maestro series is an okay pick, but their customer service is notoriously poor and they are a little bulkier than competitive devices.
Thanks Tim.
I am considering traffic option after all, the 255w and 260w are the same price right now [snip]. What is the difference between FM traffic, TMC traffic and XM Navtraffic?
XM NavTraffic is rare and not available on the devices you mentioned. FM traffic and TMC traffic are essentially the same thing, although they differ from the MSN Traffic available on some of the devices you mentioned. You can learn more about all of it on our GPS Traffic page.
hi there! I just bought the nuvi 205 here in Canada for work. This may be a silly question but i cant seem to input numerical addresses. I have the city, house number, but then if i want to put in say 200th street i try 200 and it says no match found. what am i doing wrong?
Janina, if you know where the street is, you might browsing and panning around the map to see how the street is named. Otherwise you might check to see if the street is also known as a different name. I’m assuming you are just typing “200″ as the street number.
I am considering purchasing a Nuvi 255W. I read a review where the owner of this same unit said he could not download updated maps with this unit. First of all I would assume that the unit ships with updated maps and secondly if not with the use of a usb cable why wouldn’t you be able to download to the unit?
Depending on the production time, shipping time, shelf life, then shipping time to you, etc– the device may or may not come with the latest maps. But more than likely, since it has been a few months since the last map release, it will come with the latest maps.
The USB port is used (among other things) to load map updates and the 255w is capable of installing updated maps.
I purchased a Nuvi 205 last night but haven’t yet opened the box. Please help me decide if this is the right unit for me. I will use it mostly driving in my hometown. A few times each year I will use it on trips. I want traffic information. My eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be, so I’d like the device to tell me how to get from A to B. It would be nice to tell the device where I’m going rather than typing that info into the system. I find TV remotes challenging, so the device needs to be user friendly and intuitive. Should I keep the 205? Is there a different unit that better suits my needs? Thanks!!
I am considering purchasing the NUVI 255W. I live in Canada, and plan to use it in North America, but would like to know if it can be programmed to display maps for the UK as well?
Thanks!
Jill, you won’t be able to tell the device verbally– only the Nuvi 800 series currently has voice recognition.
Todd, you can purchase UK maps on SD card.
Jill, the 205 will do all you ask of it except for voice input as Tim notes. Unless your eyesight is very poor I think the screen itself is fine. There’s always the ‘w’ model optoin for a 4.3″ widescreen. The other consideration is the 255 model for slightly more $. That will give you specific street names for the next turn vs. ‘turn right in 200 feet’. Good luck.
Tim and Mike - Thanks for your input on the Nuvi 205. I took it out of the box and had it set up in minutes. It’s very easy to use and it mounted quickly in my car with no tools. I really like it a lot. I want to buy the MSN traffic receiver for it, but unfortunately I couldn’t find it locally, so I’ll have to order it.
Mike and Tim - Thanks for your input on the Nuvi 205. I decided to keep it. I had it set up in minutes with no trouble. It’s very easy to use, plus it mounted in my car with no tools. I love it! I want the traffic receiver, but unfortunately I can’t find it locally so I’ll have to order it.
Jill, the only place I’ve seen that is reporting stock of the GDB 55 receiver can be found here: Garmin GDB 55.
Tim,
In keeping with policy, a local “club” has the 750 for about 40 dollars more than the 255w online. If I understand correctly the usb cable is required to download map updates to either unit. A usb cable is ~15 bucks or so making the net difference only 25 more for the 750 after the cable purchase for use with the 255w. The 255w has all the bells I need and some reviews state that the 255w DOES update faster than the 750 which has been described as somewhat sluggish. With the above information, does it make sense to buy the 255w and the usb cable or the 750? I know, an impossible question but I value your input. Thank you.
The 750 has a number of feature advantages over the 255w…. an FM transmitter, the ability to save routes, multi-destination routing, the ability to plan routes on MapQuest and send them over, a little bit longer of a battery life, included USB cable, and an MP3 player. The advantage of the 255w is the newly designed interface with the turn arrow, and a slightly faster redraw rate.
Personally, the perceived sluggishness of the 750 isn’t a big deal for me personally, and I could get my $40 worth from the other features the 750 offers.
I was looking over the Garmin website tonight after I got home with my new 255W, which so far is everything I hoped it would be!
The sales person at the store said that Garmin was discontinuing some models, and as I search the Garmin website, I find the 255W nowhere. Maybe I’m not looking in the right place, or maybe it is being discontinued. Will this affect my ability to update maps and do add-ons as time goes by? I don’t want to be left with a model that Garmin forgets about and I’m stuck with outdated goods.
The 255w is on Garmin’s website and has not been discontinued. You can read here about what Garmin’s Discontinued Status means.
I recently purchased a nuvi 205W and I was very happy with the purchase, but as I have used it more, I am finding the unit not to be quite as great. Two issues I have with the unit: First, it seems everytime I want to go to a specific place (entertainment, park, recreation, etc.) the specific place I want to go is not in the pre-loaded points of interest. Last night we wanted to go to a specific movie theatre (we were out of town) and the movie theatre was not listed. I ended up having to ask for directions. The movie theatre did not appear to be so new that it shouldn’t have been included, and other locations of this theatre chain were listed. My second issue is with the download of a points of interest file. After registering my nuvi 205W, I went to the list of companies offering free downloads for the Garmin and I downloaded a file that was suppose to have the location of all the lighthouses in the United States. I downloaded the software POILoader first and then the file. I then transferred the file to the Garmin, but it doesn’t seem to show up in the points of interest. Are there any know issues with file downloads with the nuvi 205W? My operating system is Windows XP. After asking the friend who recommended the Garmin, they said they were issues with Vista and to check online for issues with XP.
Thanks.
Unlike the road database, GPS companies don’t try to put every known POI into GPS devices. They typically include only about 5-25% of all known POIs.
Overall the Nuvi 255W is a great GPS unit. The unit takes very quickly locks on to satellite signals, tracks very well and when you miss a turn or do something unexpected, recalculates a new route very quickly. I recently took it on a trip from Michigan to Washington, DC and it proved to be extremely useful. There are some quirks that I elaborate on below.
Good points: Hotfix (TM) to lock on to satellite signals works well. Tracking is excellent and without noticable lag. Likewise, it quickly notices that you’re off track and recalculates a route quickly. Display is excellent - the layout of information on the screen is very good showing upcoming turns at the top, your speed, the local speed limit and the estimated time of arrival at the bottom. The automatic zoom in and out of the map works well too. I never came across a situation where I felt that the map showed too little (zoomed in too close). On I-76 in PA, I travelled through a mile long tunnel and it tracked me perfectly even though it obviously could not get satellite signals inside the tunnel. There is a sharp turn left just out of the tunnel (going east) and it had no trouble locating me at the turn so soon after I got out. Very commendable.
Not so good points: The quality of the voice (for announcing street names) leaves a bit to be desired. It is robotic as many people have commented and the pronunciation isn’t great. It took me a while to recognize the word “ramp”. I first assumed it was some Australian term! (I used the Aussie gal to do the announcements - I found her voice the least annoying). But as I got used to it, it ceased to bother me and I could recognize all she said.
I noticed several mistakes in the POI list - for example it did not list the Mobil station nearest my house but listed a party store as being a gas station (about 1/2 mile from the Mobil). I could not locate any of the Smithsonian Institution Museums in the list - a very glaring omission. In fact when I tried to locate museums near Washington, DC, it would not identify Washington, DC at all. It listed several Washingtons all around the country but not in the District of Columbia. I could not even locate the District of Columbia when doing this. It was annoying. Strangely it found a Smithsonian Institution somewhere in Virginia (No, not the Udvar- Hazy center though it located that as well) - I did not follow up.
It would not let me locate a commuter store in Herndon/Reston, Virginia that was closest to my hotel. When I tried to use the street adress it would not accept the Building # (12530 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA 20171 ). It was listed in the POI database but at the wrong address.
When I tried to go to Safeway located at 413 Elden Street, Herndon from the Vienna station parking lot, it chose a route that while direct had me make a U-turn to get into the store parking lot. That would have been OK except that the road did not have a left-turn lane at that point and so making a U-turn would have been dangerous. Even stranger, when it asked me to make a U-turn, the symbol indicated a U-turn to the right! but the store was on the left side (as it knew). That confused the heck out of me the first time. I traveled the route again the next day just to make sure that I wasn’t reading it wrong and it did it again. However on other occasions, it did correctly show a U-turn as being a turn to the left (all those were legal U-turns). All of this was a little disconcerting.
This model does not feature a compass. So it you’re into Geocacheing as I am, other models might be more suitable. I find the lack of a compass very annoying - should’nt it be a basic feature of a navigation device? Particularly one that features “off road” and “Pedestrian” modes?
Prashant, unlike the road database, GPS manufacturers don’t try to fit every known POI on the device. Typically only about 5-25% of all known POIs will be included.
I first tried the model 205w that a friend purchased and liked it for my job as a delivery driver. It did the job reasonably well enough. However, my luck with newly purchased 205w’s stinks! The first unit I bought lasted 3 days and wouldn’t turn on. Thankfully I kept the receipt so I took the 205w back to the store and was given another new one. Unit #2 worked for about 5 minutes through the setup process. You go to turn it on and it’ll “almost” turn on…and shuts down. I’m not sure if it’s a charging problem or internal but I would bet on internal problem. Garmin evidently has quality control issues. Hopefully I will have unit #3 sometime in the next week. Third time is the charm??? Let’s hope so!
A correction: The 255w does feature a compass - but not a good one. In the map view, if you touch the display button to the left of the “Menu” button (bottom center), it brings up a display that features some stats about your trip and includes a compass of sorts. It gives your heading not in terms of degres but only in terms of one of eight directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). This is not as useful as the heading in degrees but will do.
Tim - The one missing POI I complained about was the Smithsonian museums - and those MUST be on any POI list that contains museums - they are among the most important museums in the country and the world. As far as the missing Mobil station goes, I was pointing out that a nearby party store was listed as a fuel station which it was not, the implication being that the party store was somehow mistaken for the gas station. Perhaps it wasn’t clear from my statements. Ditto (almost) for the commuter store, it was listed but at the wrong address.
I just bought at nuvi 205w yesterday, I am happy with the system but when I am on the frontage road, the device still thinks I am on the freeway. Also, I was sitting at a light to turn “Right” like it said, but the device thought I had driven past the light and was trying to tell me another way to go. Overall, I am happy with the system. I think there should be a way to download the TTS program. Because it would be a lot easier if the garmin read the names of the streets instead of saying “turn right”.
Also, why does it say to turn right, when I should be turning left? or vice versa
I bought a 205W unit and have been happy with it except that the symbols for stores, restaurants etc, only show up when you touch the screen, not when you are riving down the road.
I could have sworn it showed them when I first bought it.
1) on the D.C. area and lack of Smithsonian museum listings. I agree this is glaring but I think some are listed without the word ‘Smithsonian’. e.g. ‘National Museum of xxxx’
2) To Kristen, this is simple model differentiation. If you wanted TTS you should have purchased the 255w. You’ll never be able to ‘download’ those features onto a lower priced unit. Simple as that.
Chuck, it will only show POI icons at higher zoom levels.
Buying a GPS for my husband - getting mixed reviews from different people - main question is Tom Tom vs Garmin. (specifically Garmin 255w or 260w vs. Tom Tom 360 I believe it is) From what I gather, the Garmin 255w and Tom Tom 360(s) are fairly new. What are the main differences and which would be a better unit? Thanks for any help.
The reason you see mixed views is that they are the two top GPS companies. So the debate quickly becomes subjective and more like a “pepsi versus coke” or “mac versus pc” type debate. In short I’d look at it like this. For simplicity and something that “just plain works”– go with the Garmin. For more advanced features and the ability to customize, go with TomTom. Anyone who says that one “just sucks” is likely biased.
Thanks, Tim - So, in your opinion, is the Garmin nuvi 255w a good choice? I have heard that with Tom Tom, you can update maps free online but with Garmin, there doesn’t exist such a thing (unless you pay yearly). Basically, I want to get it for my husband so we no longer have to spend hours getting lost in new cities (haha). Would the Garmin nuvi 260 be just as good or should I stick with something more current like the 255w?
I’m not Tim but IMO if you can get the 260 with current ‘2009′ maps I’d go for that. Otherwise get the 255. I’ve had both. Either way you are set!
How would I know if it has the 2009 maps? and if the 255 is the same price, wouldn’t it be the better deal? Just wondering before I make my final decision…. thanks again for any input.
Tracy - TomTom offers users the ability to make map corrections, and share those changes with other users. That is free provided you have a fairly recent map, and is something Garmin doesn’t offer. However TomTom’s official map updates come with a charge, just like Garmin’s do.
You won’t know ahead of time which map version the device comes with, although most (but not all) in the supply chain now likely have the new maps.
Just checked out the the 255 voice - it is indeed really robotic!! Not sure if I should be disappointed - how does it compare to the 350 for example or any Tom Tom’ text to speech? Thanks!
Many of the newer models are using a different TTS system which doesn’t sound as good. My opinion is that they are still intelligible, but not as clear as the older Nuvi models or competitive models like TomTom.
Thanks Tim - would that sway you in terms of getting a 350 despite it being discontinued?
For me no, the voice isn’t as good, but it isn’t so bad you can’t understand what it is saying. People who haven’t heard the “good” voice are typically not complaining about the “new” voice… But if you’ve heard them both you will notice the difference.
I was looking at purchasing a Garmin for my husband to help when he plows but not sure which is better the 255 or 260. Any advice?
See my response in #73 above. Good luck.
I’d go for the 255 over the 260.
Thanks so much for all your responses - they’ve really helped - although there are so many to choose from - I think I’ll go with the Garmin 255w seeing as how it’s newer and has some great features.
I just saw an ad for Garmin Nuvi 205W GPS which said it was “Brand New”. Is this the newest version? I’m confused. Would the 600 series be newer than the 200 series? This will be my first GPS. I don’t need all the bells and whistles. Is the voice on Text to Speech going to improved anytime soon?
The 600 series was one of the earliest. The 2×0 series came later, and the 2×5 series are newer.
Thanks for your previous response. The Garmin Nuvi 205W is advertised as a 4.3-in. touchscreen and sleek ultra-thin design. Have you heard of any specific problems with this model?
The speech quality isn’t quite as good as previous models, but I wouldn’t consider it a big issue.
Judy - The first 205w I purchased died 2 days after I started using it. It wouldn’t turn on at all. I took it back and was given another one which would not accept a charge. Unit #3 has been in my possession for 2 days and so far it’s working like a champion. It’s basic but does a good job. I wouldn’t be afraid to buy one for the price but hang on to the receipt in case of problems!!
I was trying to decide between the 255 and 260 models. The 260 was cheaper because it had the older version of the maps. The 255 has the updated version
Tim,
I considering the Nuvi 255w or the 255. I know the 255w has a wider screen and a qwerty keyboard. The 255 doesn’t. These are the only two differences that I can find between the two. The 255w costs about $40 more.
Questions:
1. Are there any other differences?
2. Would you give me some examples of why I would need a Qwerty keypad? Is it worth the extra cost (besides the bigger screen) ?
3. Neither model comes w/ a USB cord to plug into laptop, but if I already have a similar cord for my digital camera - it will work, right?
Melissa - (1) the only other difference is the 255 can use optional MicroSD cards and the 255w can use optional standard SD cards. But that will not make any difference to most people. (2) Some people are just faster on a keyboard style layout versus one where the letters are in alpha order. (3) It should, yes.
Any comments on the Garmin 750? Is that newer and better than Garmin 255w?
The 255w is “newer” than the 750, but the 750 will offer a few more features such as multi-destination routing.
Hi I just bought the Garmin 255w GPS. I know nothing about GPS its my first one. but I noticed a slight problem, it gave me 2 “fake addresses” for pizza hut today lol just wondering if that has happened to anyone else. because these 2 address it gave me NEVER EVER existed (although the phone number was correct the location was not), im thinking about returning it. do the 255w really come with2009 maps?
Of course it isn’t 2009 yet so it is only a name rather than a publication date. The “2009″ map was released by their mapping supplier in the second half of 2007.
Hello Tim
I was deciding on the 260w or the 255w.. I was leaning toward the 255w because its newer. I was wondering if you have any ideas why the 255w is cheaper. This will be my first GPS.
Hello again.. I have a few more questions.
Do you think it’s worth waiting for the 265WT? How long does it usually take for the price to drop? I’m really thinking about getting the 255w =(
Jeff, I don’t know why it is cheaper other than product availability. I’d lean to the 255w for the same reasons. I wouldn’t wait for the 265w… it would probably take 4-6 weeks before there was much of a price drop from retail.
I am considering the Garmin 255W or the Magellan 1430 as my first car GPS. Both seem new and have similar abilities at the same pricepoint. I have tried the Mag 1412 and I like the multiroute and fast satelite acquisition due to the Centrality Atlas III chipset. It is missing the ability to adhoc add to the route once enroute. I have a few questions about the 255:
1. What chipset does it use. I can’t find this anywhere at garmin.com.
2. Does the 255w have the QuickSpell feature like the Magellan for easier text entry? I recall using a 200W and it had it, but when I tried a 255w in the store and it wasn’t working that way.
3. Any other comments about the difference between the 1430 and 255w?
Thanks in advance!
Garmin doesn’t disclose which chipset they use on a particular device… it can also change mid-production. They do not use QuickSpell.
Hi, I am considering the Garmin 360 or 200 or 205. Without considering the bluetooth of 360, are the features of this better than the new ones 200 and 205 ? which one do you choose, considering that the prices now are very similar ?
Thanks in advance
I’d go with one of the newer models like the 205.
I got the 255w and I am torn about it.
It is fast, it comes with 2009 navtq maps and the interface is very intuitive.
But it has alot of problems imo.
- Voices are not very good. I am using British voice because all the others sound so horrible.
- Not geocache friendly. Sure Garmin offers on its website access to geocaching and allows to download caches directly into the unit. But thats the problem, they go into the favourites section and all the info that the unit will provide is the codename of the cache. Thats it. Completely useless. It should at least provide the coordinates to make easier to pinpoint to the exact location. Trying to find a cache using that big chest icon on the screen is the same as looking for a needle in a haystack.
- It is very slow realizing that it veered off course and a recalculation is necessary. Many times I drove more than one hundred meters off track before the unit decided to recalculate.
- Routing is very poor in the Canadian Maritimes. I blame it on the map provider. In this part of the world there are alot of unpaved roads and tracks and the unit thinks they are paved roads.
I cannot use the Home function from my work because everytime it will calculate the route thru an unpaved road that cars cannot use at all, its impossible.
Also the map is not very accurate. Nearby city Saint John has alot of one way streets that the Nuvi does not know and it makes planning a route very problematic.
The Nuvi 255w is a nice unit and if it would provide a bit more info for geocaching and had better maps it would be a great unit.
As it is right now it is an average unit imo.
I forgot to add that this unit is supposed to show the speed limit. Not sure if it is true or not as I havent seen it.
I assume that the map would at least have that info for the TransCanada Highway #1 which I use all the time.
Louis, The Nuvi 255w is not intended for geocaching.
Does the Nuvi 255 diaplay latitude, longitude and elevation?
I believe if you touch the car icon from the map it will show you the lat/lon and elevation, but I don’t have one with me now to confirm.
Hey Guy and Gals,
I have questions reference the 255w
1) When y’all said the device didn’t have quick spell, does that mean it won’t display names of streets/cities as you are getting close? - I have to type out the entire street name?
2) Does the device have an auto diming feature for night time driving?
Thanks guys
Eric
Eric,
The answer is yes to both your questions.
The unit is smart enough that if as you type there is only match it will give you the option to choose it.
Otherwise you can enter just a couple letters and click done and the unit will show you all the entries that match those letters.
As for auto diming, the nuvi has a day and night feature that changes automatically, which is basically just a black background at night, but its very effective.
Its mu first GPS purchase. I woould like to have GPS saying street names. Its available in Garmin 255 but not in 205. But price differene is appoximately USD 100. any suggestion?
Sandeep - You can read about the Text To Speech feature to see if it is for you. You might also consider the Garmin Nuvi 260 which you may find cheaper than the 255.
Eric and Luis,
Actually, the Garmin 255 does NOT have Quickspell. It will give you a list of options after you type 3-4 characters. It will not highlight the only possible keys as you type. The Magellan 1400 will do this.
What is the ‘Sim Card’ used for on the 255w??
Hi Paul, I’m not sure what you are referring to. The Nuvi 255w (and similar models) doesn’t use a SIM card. There is an SD card slot for adding things like additional map coverage not already included– but it isn’t necessary to operate the device.
I think I have the 255 or the 255w not sure which one but can either be used to hook up to your computer and use wifi mapping on it?? Thanks.
I don’t know what wifi mapping is.
Thanks Tim……I guess it is a SD card…..could I update my Garmin with it in the future??
Paul
Steve, you will update the device through USB, not through the SD card.
200 VS. the 205? what would you recommend. what’s the difference? I do basic local travel. Any views would be appreciated.
The 205 has a slightly shorter battery life, but can store more favorites, and is compatible with optional traffic services. Those are the major differences in addition to price.
Thanks for the response. I dont see myself buying the optional traffic services. (Don’t travel that much.) Looks like the 200 will suit me just fine. Thanks for the chart, it was helpful.
I have a Garmin 350 on order and just noticed the Garmin 205W was going on sale. Should I blow off the 350 and go for the 205W? What would the differences be?
Julie, I’d take the 205w so long as you don’t need maps of Canada. The 350 is in Discontinued Status, the 205w has a Widescreen display, an updated user interface, and an integrated antenna among a few other small goodies.
Tim thanks for the quick response. I think I will go with the 205W.
After more research I see I can get a Garmin Nuvi 205W for the same price as a 260C. Any recommendations?
Anyone know how to enter a zipcode into the Garmins? I played with a 255W in the store and could not figure it out. Alternatively, how do you find a city near one that is not in the database?
This is useful in case the city (like Cobb, CA) is not in the database. You can enter the zipcode and find cities close by and create a route to one of them.
TJ, I’m not sure I understand what it is you are trying to do. Where exactly are you trying to go? GPS devices don’t really work with vague places, they want to take you exactly somewhere. In the example you listed, Cobb, CA– my understanding is that Cobb isn’t really a city or town, but is a CDP. So the place you are looking for would likely be in Clearlake or Lakeport, the actual town names.
How many way points (points where you want to stop on the way from A to B) can be put on nuvi 255W? Does it remember the way points? I noticed the nuvi 255W does not speak all the road names. Specially when I was driving in downtown of a state capital it will only say “turn right on NC 21″ instead of saying the actual road/street name. Will it be the same in more expensive models of garmin line? Thanks.
Only one waypoint can be added to a route with the Nuvi 255w. Text-to-speech will be the same on more expensive models.
Tim, thanks for the response. I was trying to get to Boggs Mt and the directions are to go past Cobb. I was unable to find Cobb on my Magellan but I was able to enter the zipcode from the Cobb Mt map and find a nearby zipcode. Looking this up, I could find the location on Hwy 75 to the turn off.
I go to out of the way places so this is my test for GPS units. How do you locate the area of CA where Cobb is near to easily zoom to that place on the map?
When I was there, Cobb has a post office and there is a restaurant in the “town”. FYI, when I tried this on the Tom Tom 330s, they have Cobb in the database. Unfortunately, I don’t like the Tom Tom UI.
Tim,
Roy
Garmin Nuvi 205w or
Magellan Masetro 5310
for a gift purchase?
Ease of operation and least amount of technical know how to operate?
Thanks for your guidance and knowledge
Roy, either would probably work, but I’d probably lean to the Nuvi.
Roy, I find the Magellans are easier to use for most people. For example, they highlight the keys as you type. I also find the vocals easier to understand. Stop by a store that has them on display and try them out.
How do you update the 204W…my son got one and there was no computer interface cable included
Byron - the cable is a USB to mini USB cable. Many digital cameras and other electronics devices use the same cable, so you might already have one that works. Otherwise you can pick one up at places like Circuit City, Best Buy, or Target.
I am considering purchasing the 255w. What is the comparable TomTom model? Is one better than the other and why?
The most similar model is the TomTom XL 330s. Debating the two comes down to personal preference most of the time rather than big feature differences. TomTom’s are generally more customizable offer more control over routing, and have user-editable maps. The Garmin devices tend to be a little more streamlined in their operation, and sometimes considered a little bit easier to use.
Pls help me out. I purchased a 260 and have called Garmin and the retailer, however they can’t answer my question.
Problems:
1. Acquiring satelittes can take awhile
2. If I’m on the 401 (I’m in Toronto) and I don’t have to exit for a long time, the Garmin tells me every 30 seconds to stay on 401. This is annoying. Do I need a more expensive model, or is this standard? I can turn off the volume, but that would be pointless.
Hope someone can answer my question by Oct 20th!
What is the difference between the 255 and 260?
Ruby, see our Acquiring Satellites page for tips on that issue. As to the voice issue, if your device is running the latest application version there isn’t anything you can change. A more expensive device will not likely behave any different.
Henry - The 255 has a little bit shorter battery life, can store a few more favorites, uses microSD cards instead of SD cards for expansion, is compatible with optional live traffic services, and has a redesigned interface with a few small helpful features.
Tim,
The 255w has a SD card slot not MicroSD.
I just wanted to add that I am not happy with the map even thou it is the 2009 version.
I dont think Garmin is to blame here as they dont make the maps, but I sure wish they will offer an upgrade soon, because in my part of the world theres alot of roads with no name, that should be unpaved roads, or that simply should not exist, or roads that are not on the map yet (being new).
- I am also not happy with the offroute detection of the device.
Frequently I drive off the calculated route and the unit does not pick it up and recalculates a new one.
Sometimes I drive over 300 feet before it decides to recalculate. Not good at all.
I want it to pick up that if I am on different road than the one that I was supposed to be then recalculate a new one.
- The detour function can be quite handy but I found out that the unit will calculate a new route based on the nearest exit not the best route.
IE theres two exits ahead the first to the left and the second to the right.
Clicking detour, the unit will calculate a new route by turning left, even if turning right would’ve been a better option.
- The timezone detection is flakey at best.
I drove from New Brunswick to Maine just on the other side of the border.
The unit still calculated the arrival time using the New Brunswick Timezone.
And while I was on the Maine side (true close to the border) the unit would have New Brunwick timezone, but would not display an arrival time.
The unit knew that I was in MAINE because when doing a search for a city it would show that I was the State of Maine.
I had to drive farther from the border for it to change to the Maine Timezone.
I dont know exactly how far it kicked in, but it was least 5km’s (3miles) from the geographical border. Thats right, driving a road along side the border will not change the timezone it doesnt matter how far it is from the crossing point.
Very annoying.
I’ve reported these problems to Garmin, and I hope more people will too, so they will issue a fix for them soon.
Louis wrote:
Yes, the 255w does have an SD card slot. But the question was about the 255 (not w) which has a MicroSD slot.
Tim - re: satellite signal problems: thanks for the quick reply, much appreciated. Well, this isn’t the 1st time I’ve used it, so next time, are you saying that once I lock onto a signal, I should stay there and not move the car for 30 minutes, so in the future, it won’t have as many problems acquiring satelite signals?
Tim - my battery life for 260 says 5 hours, why am I getting way lower than that? Do I need to fully charge it? I’ve been just using it now and then with the charger, so maybe it never charged fully? Secondly, I have been reading that quite a few other uses are not getting 5 hours either
Ruby - Re:satellites - Yes.
The battery life of five hours is a “up to 5 hours” rating. That is with optimal conditions… low brightness setting on display, little processor usage, etc. I’d suspect “real world” use is probably more like 3.5 - 4.5 hours.
Thanks Tim - would you say the 260 is a better buy than the 255?
No, I would say the 255 is a better buy than the 260.
Hi Tim - just one more question, even with a longer battery life, the 255 is a better buy than the 260?
I would say the 255 is a better buy than the 260.
I always feel confused when buying electronics. Salespeople always try to talk you into buying extended warranty. Is it really necessary for a Garmin GPS (255 or other)?
Tim - a question if you don’t mind. Are you the moderator of this particular discussion? I’m just not sure who you are? You have some very great info btw, thank you for such an informative and easy Q&A!
I generally don’t purchase extended warranties, but that is just me. I don’t tend to hang on to consumer electronics devices very long.
I run this website, yes.
I bought a Nuvi 350 over 2 years ago, and I love it. Driving through large cities on expressways with 6 lanes, I know when the next turn is coming, and I am in the correct lane. When a large truck prevents me from seeing the overhead road signs,I still know when my exit is coming, which is a big safety feature in my mind. Finding your way around in a strange city at night is a breeze; you feel somtimes as if you have lived there all your life.
However, you need to remember to remain in control and not let the GPS do the thinking for you. Example: Entering an intersection, nuvi might say turn left; however, you have to be aware of the red light and not blindly obey by turning left through a red light–HELLO!
Which is the better buy for a new GPS user. I have priced the Tom Ton 130 S at [snip] and the Garmin Nuvi 255W at [snip]. I am interested in ease of use and many POIs.
Hi Tim, I have the opportunity to buy either the 255W or the 750. I’ve never owned one before. Traffic is not important to me. I’ve haven’t been able to find a 3rd party comparison online. Can you tell me the main differences between the two and which model you prefer. Thanks.
Ellen, we have a comparison tool near the top left corner of our homepage. Although with the numerous Nuvi models we don’t list all of the subtle differences between them. If you need Multi Destination Routing then the Nuvi 750 is the way to go. Otherwise the Nuvi 255w offers great value.
I have recently given my StreetPilot c330 to my son. Overall I have been pleased with the unit and with Garmins customer service. I like the larger screen size of the Nuvi 255w, does it compare well to the c330?
I have recently purchased the 255W. Im not sure if my expectations are to great but maybe someone can help me if the below is normal function or a fault.
1 When Iam driving along, only side roads show up as named streets and some side roads wont be named at all. If I approach a major intersection that road/st wont be named at all.
2. The unit only ever tells me on the top the road/st Iam currently driving on, should it tell me a major road/st Iam approaching?
3.I have been told if your moving to fast this will effect what it can process, but its the same standing totally still, major roads are not named and only some streets around me are named.
4.I have noticed if I get off the road, and into a car park/ shopping centre, where the device wont know what road Im on, the unit will say at the top (ready to navigate), when in ready to navigate mode it starts to show a lot more road/st names around me, still not major roads though, but definatly a lot more street names apprear when in this mode. Why do I seem to get more steet names when the unit is in (ready to navigate) mode? This seems like a better option to always be in if I could keep that setting.
4. School zone speed alerts? It does warn me but kind of to late, if there was a camera I still think I would be caught as Iam right on them before it tells me.
Note: all of the above is based on driving in map view and not being specifically guided to a destination. I have all the latest firmware etc.
Todd, I won’t respond to each of those, but the GPS is designed to help you get to places with a destination entered and will behave differently when you are navigating to a destination. Not all of your points above will change, but some will.
I have a nuvi 205W. It does not indicate Interstate highway rest areas, at least in my local area. Is that normal? Is there some add-on to get those?
It is normal in the sense that your device isn’t defective. Not all known POI locations get included in the database. Some areas will be better covered than others.
Is there a difference in the quality of the voices between the 205/205W and the 255/255W?
Hi there
Been cking out GPS for days,rding reviews and checking on Consumer Reort, buying my first GPS and which would you buy or better unit Garmin 255w or Garmin 755t both new model and not a lot of history on them or is there a better Tomtom out there which does more than above Garmin units.
Thanks
Murry, I’m not sure I can help you determine which is better for your needs when I don’t know what your needs are. You might try our GPS Recommendations forum.
Hey Tim, I am having trouble with my 205w, used it twice and both times it gave bad info. First it told me I was driving in an alley when I was on a main street,it then told me to turn left when I needed to go right and stopped me 400 yrds from my dest. Is this a device issue or map issue? Thx!
Tom- Probably map.
I travel by RV 5 months of the year to various locations throughout the US, and have used my laptop with a popular mapping program GPS. I would like to do away with the bulk near the driver cockpit and switch to a dashtop 255W. Does this GPS have camping and RV parks among the POI? Is there a specific download for these POIs?
I just got Garmmin nuvi 205w and wonder if it has 2008 or 2009 maps. How can i determine what maps it has loaded?
Tools -> Settings -> Map -> Map Info. (Just going from memory.) It likely has 2009 maps, which are based on data from the second half of 2007.
hi, I have a 2 year street pilot dash top that has worked well for me. i am looking at the nuvi 255w for my other car. however i have seen some really good prices on nuvi 680. I know its older, but seems to have a lot of capabilities. need opinion making decision. major differences ??
thanks
The 680 does have some advanced features, but it is an older design. The question comes down to if you really need any of those extra features. Most people will not and then IMHO the 255w becomes the better deal.
I just purchased a 255W and when it came, the instruction booklet was for 205 series. Is the manual the same for the 255W?
Yes, same manual.
Hi, I purchased a Garmin 205W for my 26 year old daughter for a Christmas present. Now I see at the same store the 750 is selling for just about the same price. I have never purchased a GPS before and don’t know if I should return the 205W and get the 750 instead. What would you recommend? It would mainly be used to get around within the state of Washington.
Hey Tim, I am looking to get my first GPS system and i cant choose between the Garmin nuvi 255w or the Magellan Maestro 4250. I would like to know what system do you think is better for there first system or which one has less issues with it. I hear the Magellan has some freezing issues and at times it can be slow. Is this true? Are there any problems like that with the Garmin? Thanks