Product Description Garmin continues to build up its nüvi 7xx series portableGPS navigators with its nüvi 755T, which adds a number of handy routing and communication features to an already impressive list of specs, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech capabilities, media player, and FM transmitter for transmitting audio--including directions and MP3 music and audiobooks--from the device to your car radio.New to the nüvi 7x5 lineup is Garmin's HotFix satellite prediction (which locates your position quickly and precisely), Lane Assist (which provides lane guidance and junction views when possible), automatic time zone transitioning, and 3D Building views as well as Garmin Connect Photos to help you visually ascertain your position. Additionally, the nüvi 755T includes free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) via the included GTM 20 traffic receiver.The bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70 percent more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
Amazon.com Product Description Garmin continues to build up its nüvi 7xx series portableGPS navigators with its nüvi 755T, which adds a number of handy routing and communication features to an already impressive list of specs, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech capabilities, media player, and FM transmitter for transmitting audio--including directions and MP3 music and audiobooks--from the device to your car radio.
Garmin's nüvis pack top of the line features into a slim form factor..
New to the nüvi 7x5 lineup is Garmin's HotFix satellite prediction (which locates your position quickly and precisely), Lane Assist (which provides lane guidance and junction views when possible), automatic time zone transitioning, and 3D Building views as well as Garmin Connect Photos to help you visually ascertain your position. Additionally, the nüvi 755T includes free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) via the included GTM 20 traffic receiver.
The Garmin nüvi 7x5 Series
nüvi 755T: North American maps, GTM 20 traffic receiver with lifetime traffic
nüvi 765T: Adds Bluetooth handsfree communication; includes GTM 20 receiver, lifetime traffic
nüvi 775T: Pre-loaded European and North American maps; includes GTM 20 receiver, lifetime traffic, Bluetooth
nüvi 785T: Adds enhanced MSN Direct traffic receiver; includes North American maps and Bluetooth
As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of an integrated high-sensitivity receiver, a slim, pocket-sized design with a gorgeous display, an easy, intuitive interface, and detailed NAVTEQ maps for North America (United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) with more than 6 million name-searchable points of interest. The Garmin nüvi 7x5 line features three other models--check out their spec highlights at the right and click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nüvi GPS navigators.
The bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70 percent more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
The nüvi 755T comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps from Navteq for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location.
Important Product Information: This device features a "screen lock" feature. This is a standard feature on all nüvi 2x5 and 7x5 Garmin units. If you slide the "Power" key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the "Power" key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for "Pedestrian" mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.
With Lane Guidance, the nüvi alerts you to which lane you need to be in for upcoming turns. In the image above, the three middle lanes of this seven-lane highway are highlighted.
With Junction View, you'll get photo-realistic 3D views upcoming turns with signage--signs not needed for navigation are faded.
Lane Guidance With the new Lane Guidance feature built into the nüvi 7x5 series, you'll never question which lane you should be driving in again. It provides you with a view of what lane you should be in for upcoming turns. And with the 3D Lane Assist Junction View, you'll be able to see a photo-realistic screen that shows you both the road detail as well as the signs as you will see them on the road. The signs that aren't needed for navigation are faded compared to the appropriate lane signage.
Integrated Traffic Receiver Steer clear of traffic with an integrated GTM 20 FM traffic receiver designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. No subscriptions or additional hardware needed. Just open the box, turn it on, and get instant access to traffic information--the traffic updates are free for the life of the device.
All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. Watch informational video
In most areas, the traffic broadcasts are continuous--there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.
HotFix Satellite Prediciton Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nüvi remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.
Multi-Destination Routing This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care - supermarket-cleaners - office - day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you've found the best router, the "Route Planning" feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, "the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls." The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we're talking about). A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.
Where Am I? Where's My Car? The nüvi 7x5 series is the first to answer two common questions: "Where am I?" and "Where’s my car?" At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And to help drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or vast parking lot, all nüvi 7x5s automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount.
Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos
Using Garmin's Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
View photos in Google Earth.
Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.
Other Features
The 3D Buildings feature helps you navigate by landmark.
The 3D Buildings feature is able to reference the buildings displayed on the map as well. Some buildings will be grey images "extruded" from the map, other buildings will be life like representations of the actual property.
With Automatic Time Zone Transition, you'll never have to remember to set the time as you travel. When the unit acquires a position fix, it automatically sets the unit to the correct time zone.
MP3 player compatible with audiobook playback
JPEG picture viewer
FM transmitter plays voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system
Compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide, which provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts.
Add custom points of interest (POIs) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras
Travel tools: World travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more
What's in the Box nüvi 755T preloaded with maps of North America (United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico), vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual
Notes:
Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Like most USB mass storage devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me
Visit Garmin.com to get the latest firmware updates for your nüvi to keep it current and performing at its best
Which nüvi is Best for You?
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
Device
Screen Size inches (W x H)
Included Maps
Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)
Traffic
Bluetooth
Media
FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)
Multi-Point Routing
Battery life (hours)
Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
AK and Canada
Europe
nüvi 205
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 205w
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 255
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 255w
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 260w
3.81 x 2.25
Photos
up to 5
nüvi 265T
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 265WT
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 275T
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 285WT
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free);
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 465T
3.81 x 2.25
FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 755T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 760
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 5
nüvi 765T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 775T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 780
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 5
nüvi 785T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 850
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 855
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 885T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos, MP3s
up to 4
nüvi 1200
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1250
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1260T
2.8 x 2.1
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1300
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1350
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1350T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1370T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1390T
3.81 x 2.25
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1490T
4.4 x 2.5
MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
Photos
up to 4
nüvi 1690
3.81 x 2.25
NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service)
Good job GarminOctober 10, 2008 Dan L. Nichols 276 out of 289 found this review helpful
I'll address what was my biggest apprehension in going for an ad based, free traffic program. No issue! The ads are small and not at all intrusive. My eyes never were pulled in a way that was a distraction. I can even envision the few occasions that it might even benefit both the advertiser and the user. If you think about it ... newspaper, radio, internet, TV ... advertising is very much a part of our culture and in this case very tastefully done.
Before further review, good grief ... now I sound like a sports caster; I should say that I've owned GPS units forever. Started with laptop programs then I started buying all of my vehicles with factory GPS. Acura, Toyota's (two of em) over the years have all been GPS equipped. I travel a lot for work and it was just more convenient to own stand alone portable units when I rent auto's. Magellan and Garmin were my last two portable units. I'm not a nerd or engineer so I'll give this my best shot and hope the average Jill and Joe will get something out of this.
Next, I'll talk about routing and traffic. Garmin (in my opinion) has always been rock solid in terms of routing. With this unit they have taken the art to a new level. I looked at the new TomTom with its smart routing and almost pulled the trigger on that unit but, with what happened today I am not one bit sorry with my choice. This morning I had to make deliveries to a number of Lowe's Home Improvement stores in the Metro Phoenix, AZ market. I went to the "Points of interest" icon typed in Lowe's and after a short wait was rewarded with all of the Lowes stores in the area. I touch on each one and saved it to a sub category I made (Lowes Metro Phoenix), gave each their appropriate store number (the search came complete with address and phone) and then scheduled my day. From home to the factory first, then to four stores, then back to the factory. During the day I had to insert another unscheduled stop. Fantastic! If I could have asked for any improvement here it would have been that each way point was somehow shown as I progressed. It did announce my arrival at each location complete with what side of the street it would be on; in the long run I am so happy with the result that I couldn't bring myself to diminish the 5 star rating. Also, at each stop when I turned the car off the unit powered down. When I got back in the car I needed to go to the "custom routes" icon, where I built my route, and touch the button to activate my named route. Garmin, if that could be automatic I would love it ... and maybe down the road I'll learn something that I don't yet know and this unit is capable. Honestly, it was so quick and easy and the routing picked up right where it left off so not a big deal to me. Traffic probably should have its own paragraph except it ties into the routing. I understand that this is dependent on how your town is covered. Even here in Phoenix only the major highways are covered. I submit that if you need to travel inner belts and outer belts as well as the highways in and out of your towns you will be very pleased. I watched the traffic icon turn from green to yellow to red and back again as road conditions changed. The icon showed how long the delay would be and if you touch it, it shows where and how far away! Garmin gave me the option to bypass each delay but when I answered yes with the touch of the button it reminded me that my route had been optimized including all other options ... with the delay it still had me on the quickest route. Because I had multiple destinations it kept me posted to the delays even in the opposite directions when my routing would require back tracking.
There was slow downs along the way and one accident and I was notified well in advance. With the accident, I passed the location about 15 minutes after notification. It was minor and had already been moved to the side of the highway yet I could see the remnants of broken head-lights in the lane it happened. I was prepared to be disappointed with the traffic because not all the traffic reviews are complimentary. Again, I tend to feel where you live and the roads you travel could affect your opinion. For me, I would add extra stars here if I could. It amazed me when it routed me a different way from the factory to my house (different from the one I took in the morning) because the road conditions were different. It was right on based on years of living and driving these roads.
The Voice and the timeliness of prompts were strong. I tried all the voices and ended up with Australian Karen. She is very understandable in "text to speech" and very pleasant. Even my wife likes her ... I'd like to meet Australian Karen someday but she wouldn't give me her phone number ... like my wife would like her if she did! With my Magellan I liked the way it would ding just before the turn. This Garmin announces the turn and the timing was very comparable to the Magellan and that is a good thing. Some of the previous Garmin models had problems in this area if you read the posts. Also, loudness with the unit on external speaker was OK to Good, I'd like to see it a touch louder for times when road noise or blasting AC is an issue. I have not tried piping it with FM to my radio and probably won't.
On my wish list to Garmin (you think they read these?), I'd like to see a little more information around the edges of the screen. You can program the "arrival time" button for things like altitude, time of day, direction of travel and many more, but you can't program the "speed button" for anything. I'd like to see my altitude ... just for giggles, and my ETA. Who needs the time with clocks in the car & on every cell phone? Who needs to know how fast you are going with a speedometer in every car? I would also like to know the street I'm currently on. Sometimes you can see it depending on how you are zoomed to the map but sometimes not. I'd also like to know what direction I'm traveling in without hitting another button or giving up my ETA or 3d view. The speed limit of each street is a fantastic thing to have especially when your in areas you don't know or rural roads that go for miles without a sign. I can tell you that when the speed limit changed as I entered different zones the changes were very accurate in their timing.
The last thing for today's review is lane guidance. I went thru some pretty major interchanges today and not once did I see the Navagon style or Garmin advertised type of full screen preview. Again, I'll see if there is a setting I missed or I will just have to live with what I've got for awhile. I understand that Garmin will be adding to their data base as they go along. What I did see though was plenty good. The "distance to turn" indicator in the upper left corner of the screen listed with arrows how many lanes to the interchange and which lanes you should be in. It also listed the lanes not to be in as you transitioned from one highway ramp onto another highway. It was good to have advance notice that the right lane would not continue and you needed to move left before it got crowded.
I'd say buy this unit and help me find Karen!
I have had no reset issues and use the unit 6 to 8 hours per day. This is not to say it hasn't been an issue with others though.
10/18/08
I found the neatest thing on this unit today. I tapped the car on the screen while I was driving and noticed every few seconds the screen updated with the exact address I was located. I could see the street I was on, the numerical location, and I could see the addresses going up or down as I traveled. Also it showed the elevation changing up or down. I have used this exact screen many times when stopped to mark locations I wanted to save to favorites but never on the go. I'm not sure exactly how one would use this information but I thought it interesting.
I have had much more experience with the traffic option now. I have found it very useful during rush hour. Only once... so far, has a delay been so severe that it changed my routing automatically. But, during that occasion I felt gratified in that I was guided off the freeway before other drivers. from my detour route I ended up with a view of a bumper to bumper full stop on the highway that was backed up for miles. To be honest, after a while you take the traffic icon for granted until it turns yellow or red. Even the yellow icon doesn't change things in terms of routing, just information about how many minutes the delay will be.
I can say that sometimes the information is not exactly timely. A yellow indicator may show and when I reach the location the traffic may be moving more normal or a little slower than indicated. The minutes of delay indicated seems not too far off though and arrival times are pretty accurate.
Other that no Junction view's in the Phoenix area at this time I'm still thrilled with the 755t. Garmin support is working on a free update (I spoke with them) for the Junction view.
Additional questions have been ask and answered in the comments section if you would like to read more.
Pros/Cons & Compare to Navigon 2100 maxDecember 29, 2008 Young Professional(Silver Spring, MD United States) 115 out of 120 found this review helpful
Background: I had always rented vehicles with a GPS until recently my frequency of travel to unfamiliar cities had reached a point where it made sense to purchase my own. I was not looking for a GPS to play MP3s, make phone calls, take photos, or fill out my taxes. I simply care about its ability to navigate from point A to B and to get around an unfamiliar place, and so I'll limit this review to those features. I tried two devices: the Garmin nuvi 755T (same as the 765T minus the Bluetooth) and the much cheaper Navigon 2100 max with the bundle that included lifetime traffic.
Garmin Nuvi 755T
Pros:
-Could use all the features right out of the box
-Always got me from Point A to Point B
-Map very pleasing to my eyes
-The lane guidance is useful, but not as useful as I thought it would be (I find that keep right/left voice commands can stand alone).
-Considerable more Points of Interest than Navigon 2100 Max. Also many more Points of Interest categories and the ability to simply enter a category if it's not listed and still get good results (e.g., Salons or Dance Studios were not categories, but I entered them and the device retrieved many nearby options [you can also search in a different city]).
-Really good recalculation, it doesn't waste time just trying to get you back to the original route if a different route from your current location is better. It also recalculates at blazing speeds (I had a new route before I made it to the end of a 800 foot block).
-Text to Voice is really good (far more useful than I would have guessed). This really allows you to keep your eyes on the road and gives you peace of mind that you're turning in the right place.
-Very useful visual layout indicating direction of the turn and the street onto which you should turn (but the voice prompts, especially with Text to Voice, are so good you never need to look at the display).
-Local speed limit always posted with your current speed nearby (more useful than I imagined)
-Good volume and easy to change volume while in use.
-Easy to turn on or off with an external power switch.
-The traffic feature was extremely useful and the information was easy to access during use. The much discussed ads will not be an issue for you, trust me.
-The 3D navigation created a nice view, but honestly, even in strange areas with tall buildings, I didn't find this feature to be of any additional value.
Okay, But Could Be Better:
-The screen could be more sensitive, but it's a lot better than the Navigon 2100 Max.
-The device did not always properly locate me (this can be avoided by turning it on and setting the route about 45 seconds before actually leaving).
-The power source plugs directly into the mounting cradle, but it's still such a chore to remove the device from the cradle (pressing a button on the bottom on the cradle, which is mounted on a moving ball, while tilting the device forward) that the time advantage of a direct cradle plug in is lost.
Cons:
-The turn warning distance is way too short (only 0.2 miles)
-There's no ability to exclude particular streets from a route (you can set it to avoid highways, tolls, etc. though).
-Initial estimate of arrival time was a complete farce in every single test. It estimated a standard 45 minute trip to be only 25 minutes and pushed back the estimated arrival time nearly every minute never reflecting the accurate arrival time until I was at the final destination. Easily bested in this category by the much cheaper Navigon 2100 Max.
Navigon 2100 Max
Pros :
-Always got me from Point A to Point B without deep confusion
-Always correctly located me
-As in the Garmin Nuvi 755T, the lane guidance is useful, but not as useful as I thought it would be (I find that keep right/left voice commands can stand alone).
-Good turn warning distance (0.5 miles)
-The recalculating is quick, but not as quick as the Garmin Nuvi 755T
-Ability to exclude particular streets from route (a hidden feature: after the route is initially calculated, open the turn by turn and simply x out the streets you don't want to use).
- As in the Garmin Nuvi 755T, the Text to Voice is really good (far more useful than I would have guessed). This really allows you to keep your eyes on the road and gives you peace of mind that you're turning in the right place.
-Very useful visual layout indicating direction of the turn and the street onto which you should turn (but the voice prompts, especially with Text to Voice, are so good you never need to look at the display).
-Warnings when speeding (And the ability to set how far above the speed limit [separately for city streets and highways] triggers the warning)
-Ability to have local speed limit either shown constantly or when a speed warning is triggered
-Good volume and easy to change volume while in use
-Initial estimate of arrival time very reliable. Estimated a standard 45 minute trip to within 1 minute and pushed back estimated arrival time only once (adding a minute).
-Easy to turn on or off with an external power switch.
-The traffic feature was extremely useful and the information was easy to access during use.
Okay, But Could Be Better:
-Screen sensitivity
-It sometimes took a couple of minutes to initially locate me, but was always spot on when it did.
-The power supply is plugged into the device which is mounted on a cradle, but the cradle provides such limited range of motion that it's difficult to get the device in the most desired position and I was forced to accept it slanting slightly during every use.
Cons:
-Thin Points of Interests (more important than I thought) and no ability to search categories not already listed (a real problem). You also must select a city each time you search; it doesn't just automatically pull up nearby locations like the Garmin Nuvi 755T.
-It's hard to see ALL of the display icons including information on speed and your current speed
-The dull, mostly gray, maps with an orange route indicator are hard on eyes.
-The keyboard takes up only half the screen making it chore to type in anything. This is especially problematic when trying to switch states or from letters to numbers (or vice versa) as these display buttons are extremely narrow and it was difficult to select them without long fingernails.
-The recalculation kept trying to send me back to the original route even if it was no longer the best. For example, it took the device 15 minutes to stop trying to reroute me to 16th St. (in DC) after I had purposely driven up Connecticut Ave. Had I taken its recommended rerouting (thus backtracking), my trip would have taken 20 minutes longer.
-You can't use all the features out of the box. I was forced to register the device and thus provide an email address in order to use lifetime traffic and fresh maps features (but, in all fairness, you can opt out of spam, and I've yet to receive an unwanted email).
Conclusion:
The Garmin Nuvi 755T was about $350 versus the $160 for the Navigon 2100 Max with lifetime traffic included. I think both devices performed solidly, but the edge can only be given on personal preference. All said, the Navigon 2100 Max is probably the better value for the buck, but such a statement is relative to what's important to you. I personally went with the Garmin Nuvi 755T because: 1) the map coloring and icon size was easy on the eyes, 2) it was much easier to type on the Garmin Nuvi 755T, 3) the number of Points of Interest, and the ability to type in your own category, are of particular importance to me, and 4) I personally find not losing time on rerouting to be worth the additional costs. Hope this helps.
Best GPS I Have Used- Worth the InvestmentDecember 3, 2008 AA(Northern Illinois) 67 out of 70 found this review helpful
After much research I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 755T portable car GPS device. It has lived up to my expectations in every way after using it for a week. It was extensively used during a 250 mile day trip to Milwaukee from suburban Chicago. I felt extremely confident driving around in unfamiliar territory.
*Sattelite load is quick- nearly instant except for (1) instance where it took about a minute.
*Traffic alert and map showed congestion and offered the option to go around.
*The selected routed for areas I am familiar with were nearly identical to the ones I have driven over the years.
*The dislay is bright, clear and updates quickly. I did not experience any sluggishness.
*The lane assist works on several exits in the Chicago area- not any in the Milwaukee area. These snapshots appeared at just the right time to illustrate the proper exit lane based on the highlighted road sign. I imagine this will become available for many more highways as maps are updated.
*Mounting and connecting were first rate- the windshield suction worked very well as did the unit power adapter and cable.
*I did not use FM transmitter- I see no need to do this.
*The street names and voice commands were loud, clear and in plenty of time to navigate properly.
I am not displeased about any attribute of this device. I highly recommend it.
I'm both delighted and disappointedMarch 4, 2009 Thorgils(Massachusetts, USA) 38 out of 38 found this review helpful
After two months' use in the Boston, Washington DC, and Portland (OR) metropolitan areas, and also on O'ahu, I now feel qualified to review this product. I'm both delighted and disappointed by the nüvi 755T. I chose this model because it combined the set of functions in which I was interested, and I'll discuss its different functions in turn.
Basic navigation functions
I've not had much first-hand experience with auto GPS units since the first generation Hertz "NeverLost" model, so I'm not able to compare the nüvi with current competitors. However, I'm very impressed with the speed and spatial precision of this unit. Even long and complicated routings are typically computed in less than ten seconds. Adaptations because of route variations are detected quickly and a revised route is computed speedily. I will pass a speed limit sign and within no more than one or two seconds the changed speed limit will usually appear on the screen. And I'm impressed, too, with how the unit automatically scales the map to a level appropriate for current navigation purposes.
Problems with basic navigation are few. The most serious one encountered so far happened only in Portland (OR), and so it may relate to the quality of the mapping there. The unit pinpoints the vehicle's starting position within a rectangular grid of streets absolutely correctly, but when I then request a routing the unit sometimes tells me to "drive to the highlighted route" starting several blocks away from my current position (sometimes even off the current map). Yet it has no difficulty navigating me back correctly through the same grid all the way to the starting point.
I have also experienced some variability between cities in what are regarded as network decision point nodes meriting the provision of route guidance there. On the Washington DC highway system, for example, merges and splits that in Boston would have been treated as decision points are not identified in the same way.
One other improvement to "basic navigation" would be valuable. At the highest levels of map magnification, it would be very useful to have arrows showing the directions of one-way streets.
Street name pronunciation
The unit comes with a wide array of voices, languages, and national shades of English. I'm impressed with the capabilities of the name pronunciation feature; it works pretty well most of the time, and given the idiosyncrasies of the English language that's quite an achievement. It struggles, of course, with unfamiliar word structures (such as Hawai'ian names) or non-standard pronunciations (e.g., "Van-cow-ver"), but there are a few more mundane peculiarities. In Washington DC, where a compass quadrant designation follows many street names, the "St." is invariably taken to mean "Saint." "Rt." for "route" gets pronounced as "artee." The most amusing and ingenious muddle so far has been "Ames St.," which the unit interpreted as "American English Street."
Lane assist
I live in a state (Massachusetts) where the highway department's motto appears to be "Never give a sucker any advance notification of the lane he needs to be in," so Garmin's "Lane assist" feature was a strong attraction to choosing this model. But as of now, it is the most disappointing feature. First, only certain areas currently have this capability, and (unlike the real-time traffic information) I have been unable to find on the Garmin website any indications of just where it is available. It appears to be available in the Boston and Portland areas, for example, but I saw no evidence of it in the Washington DC and Honolulu areas. Secondly, it appears to be currently primarily available on the Interstate system (where the standards of highway signage are relatively good), whereas it would be of much greater value to drivers in dense urban core areas (e.g., lane guidance for Dupont and Washington Circles and the Potomac bridges in Washington DC). But it isn't clear to me whether the Navteq maps used by Garmin even have the basic lane detail to allow such guidance to be feasible eventually, even with a significant expansion of the geographical coverage for "Lane assist."
Free real-time traffic information
This was another strong attraction to me of this model. I concur with other reviewers who have opined that the advertising that allows the information to be accessed without a subscription charge is not at all a distraction (it's small, and appears only at the end of a trip or when the vehicle is stationary). But I haven't experienced congested conditions often enough yet to form strong opinions about its efficacy. In the Boston area I've experienced slow moving highway traffic a number of times (an amber traffic symbol on the screen, along with an estimate of the traffic delay minutes) and have occasionally noted that the system's information was not very current, but up to now I haven't experienced a high enough congestion level for the system to generate an alternate routing.
In overview, I'm very pleased with this model and glad that I bought it (particularly at a Thanksgiving weekend 43% discount from MSRP), but I would caution purchasers not to expect too much from either "Lane assist" or Navteq FM traffic at this stage of their development.
*** UPDATE, February 2010 ***
Here's a second take after 13 months of use. I now have a stronger appreciation for both "Lane assist" (after using it in heavy traffic on the relatively unfamiliar Los Angeles and San Francisco freeway systems) and the real-time traffic information service (after being given good advance warning of serious incident-caused back-ups on the Providence road network, and diverted onto local streets to avoid those serious delays).
On the other hand, the problem of computed routes starting several blocks away from one's current location turns out to be more pervasive than I thought back last March; it's not limited to just some cities. The nature of and reasons for the problem are difficult to understand, given that the unit (i) knows exactly where the vehicle is, and (ii) has an accurate map of the local network at that point. As well as being told to "Drive to the highlighted route" (which may be outside the limits of the then visible map), the unit also displays a street name . . . but in unfamiliar surroundings that isn't much help either!
Finally, two other issues have emerged. First, the touch screen detection is not very precise, so mis-entries can be annoyingly frequent. Secondly, the internal battery (which, remember, is not replaceable) seems to have a short life. After about nine months of use I started getting frequent messages of a low battery level when not connected to my car's battery, and when I do a full recharge from my computer it quickly depletes. Since I rarely if ever use the unit off-vehicle, that hasn't been a problem for me . . . but someone anticipating a lot of off-vehicle use (or considering purchasing Garmin's "lifetime" map updates) should certainly bear it in mind.
Notwithstanding those concerns, overall I'm still pleased with the 755t.
Impressive little deviceDecember 30, 2008 Aubrey Louw(Chicago) 38 out of 39 found this review helpful
I received this unit for Christmas and could not be more impressed. We recently moved to the Chicago NW suburbs and I was in desperate need of some expert navigational help. While I have not had the device for very long, I have logged about 12 hours of driving time in the Chicagoland area with this beauty directing me.
Pros:
First, and this should be reiterated, it is a beautiful device. The rubberized metallic frame feels solid and looks stunning. The heft is just right and nothing rattles or moves when it is transported from car to house or office. It just gives off the appearance of solidity; it either looks nor feels cheap.
Second, the screen is incredibly vivid with zero distortion or rendering delays. I have used 3 different Garmin GPS devices in the past 2 years in some wildly different settings (a week driving in Charleston, SC; two weeks in Cape Town, SA; and a 4 days or so in the Loire River Valley in France) and all of them were plagued to some degree or the other with rendering delays or insufficiently distinct graphics. This unit suffers from none of these defects.
Third, the directions are solid. While it does not always recommend my favorite or preferred routes, the alternatives thus far were always the obvious choice. Unfortunately, it does not know that some roads are plagued by meteor-sized potholes or that certain diagonal streets in the city are not designated snow routes (and thus not plowed with the same frequency). These drawbacks I can live with as using a GPS unit does not mean one should surrender common sense.
Fourth, the lane assist has thus far worked every time. On my morning commute alone, I see the iconic 1st person lane assist graphic (see the main product image) no fewer than thrice; furthermore, I receive a visual indication (arrows in the top left hand corner) whenever a road branches off into multiple directions or I need to turn. Suffice to say, I am very impressed. From some of the other product reviews, it appears that this feature functions well in some areas and poorly or not at all in others. At the least I can vouch for the Chicago area.
Fifth, the built-in FM transmitter is a nice bell-and-whistle. Thus far I have not benefited whatsoever from its warnings about traffic as there usually is nowhere else to go and the delays thus far have been fairly minor. Furthermore, while the device usually is accurate within 1 to 2 minutes when traffic is rated green, even the slightest delay makes the estimated time fluctuate wildly. However, once the stalled traffic is behind me, the estimated arrival time calculation is usually spot on. The chief value of the FM transmitter though is the automatic updates of the MPH speed limit graphic in the lower left-hand corner. I am more aware of the speed limit now and thus also more conscious when I exceed it. Definitely very cool.
Sixth, the battery charge is excellent and functions as advertised. Depending on whether the voice is activated or not, it lasts anywhere from 4 1/2 hours to 5 1/2 hours on battery life alone.
Seventh, the screen touch sensitivity is perfectly dialed in. I do not find myself cursing as the slightest touch activates ten unwanted features nor do I jab at it several times before the desired function activates.
Cons:
First, I have yet to see the 3D view feature. Granted, I have not been downtown with the device yet, but to my mind I have passed through multiple areas where the office buildings are suitably tall and dense that 3D view was warranted.
Second, sometimes, and admittedly quite rare, the FM transmitter is slightly delayed and the speed limit is updated 15 seconds or so too late. This has happened only twice that I have noticed so far and both times the transmitter was blinking yellow (an indication that the signal is weak). I wish Garmin had somehow incorporated this indicator in the GPS unit itself - perhaps by changing the speed limit sign background from white to yellow whenever signal strength, and therefore accuracy, degrades. It is unsafe and annoying to have to glance down at the power cable to get a signal strength indication (note that I am here referring only to the FM transmitter signal strength - the unit displays satellite acquisition problems on the screen).
Third, the lack of a manual in the box is shocking. Furthermore, the one available online is so superficial one may as well dispense with it altogether. There are clearly multiple device features about which I know, as of yet, precious little. Garmin should realize that they have effectively wasted their time developing features rendered obscure by missing or incomplete documentation. For example, how do I configure multiple routing points and have the GPS sequence them logically? The product page claims this as a feature yet I have yet to figure it out. Another example is the mouse pointer that appears on the screen when one double taps the map - what does this do? how do you use it?
Overall, the Nuvi 755T is an excellent navigation assistant but definitely not a perfect product. It is the best GPS unit I have used thus far and I cannot wait to take it on a longer drive.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
