Posted to GPS 2008-12-08
When it comes to personal navigation devices, Garmin is among the top recognizable names in the industry. The Garmin nuvi 265WT is part of a new line in the 2x5 series which tries to integrate features generally found on the high end navigation devices with the more affordable models. They manage to do just that with providing a solid performer at a decent price. The 4.3 inch anti-glare, touch screen with the car mount provided, gives the user a large surface to view the 2D or 3D maps, which ever you prefer. With City Navigator NT, the Nuvi 265WT provides street-level maps across North America and over 6 million points of interest, including ATM's, hospitals, gas Stations, restaurants and more.
ValueWith an easy interface, large screen and responsive touch screen, the Nuvi 265WT is a great purchase. It is competitively priced for around $250- $300 and has many great features that really help to save you headaches and u-turns later. Originally, I only saw navigation's systems as a needless expense. After all, I can pull out my Rand-McNally and know where I need to go in no time, so why spend the money? Well, the answer is simple, convenience. Now owning a nav system, I wouldn't go back. And while interstate travel is pretty cut and dry, where navigation devices earn their keep is in the cities or towns where you don't know every street like the back of your hand. (Although honestly, how many people memorize the back of their hand?) So whether you're in the market or just debating on if it's necessary, checking the Nuvi 265WT out would be a good place to start. PerformanceFeatures are only good if the product performs those features well and the Nuvi 265WT does just that. Simplistic design makes the menus easy to navigate and destinations easy to find by providing a full qwerty keyboard, including numbers, on the touch screen. Sometimes the voice-guided directions were a little delayed, but the large screen helps you to keep on track as well, informing you how far you have to go until your next turn. When you initially power up your system, it can take 3-4 minutes to register your location, but Garmin has included software called HotFix that helps to store general information about you specifically, helping to minimize wait time to around 90 seconds on the next power up. On the go, traffic updates can be a little slow, but if you're planning out your trip before you leave, you can actually see where there might be pockets of dense traffic and detour around those areas. The traffic subscription is free; however, if you sit idle in one spot for more than 10 seconds, advertisements will come up on the screen. Once you start moving again, the map reappears. Yes I know, as if we aren't media blitzed enough already, but at least you get the traffic updates without having to pay for them. The Bluetooth connectivity is a nice option too, but unfortunately, sound quality isn't the greatest, primarily for the person receiving the call. It's nice to have the option though, as when you sync your phone, the phone book and call history are both transferred to the GPS unit, making it very easy to place calls. SummaryIf you're new to GPS navigation, this is a great option because the Nuvi 265WT is easy to use and very reliable. If you've had one for a while and it's time to get another one for whatever reason, with no subscription fees and reasonable price, you can't go wrong. There are so many different types of personal navigation devices on the market it can be tough to choose, but Garmin has done a great job to balance the options giving you everything you need to find wherever you need to go. Pros
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