Garmin nuvi 780: Review

Posted to GPS 2009-02-26

Garmin nuvi 780 Review:

The Garmin nuvi 780 is Garmin's latest entry in their high-end nuvi line of navigators. The unit is packed with features, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and hands-free Bluetooth capability. You can get enhanced content using the built-in MSN Direct receiver, view 2D or 3D maps with voice directions, and use the convenient "Where am I?" feature to find the nearest hospitals, restaurants, and gas stations.

More than just a GPS, the unit also features millions of POIs (points of interest), an MP3 player, an audiobook player, and a JPEG picture viewer. You can plan your routes from the comfort of your home computer and transmit them wirelessly to the nuvi 780. The 780 has an SD card reader, automatic route re-calculation if you miss a turn, is FM traffic compatible, and has one of the most user-friendly touchscreen interfaces on the market.

Rating:

5.0 out of 5

Features

The nuvi series is known for its wealth of features, and the 780 lives up to this reputation. If you are a GPS navigator power-user, you'll appreciate all of the things that you can do with the 780. The touch-screen interface is one of the best around, and you can always get back to your map with the press of a button, no matter where you are in the menus. The optional MSN Direct service adds a lot of functionality to the unit, allowing you to check weather, avoid traffic, check local gas prices, view stock information, read the news, and save your favorite web destinations.

Performance

The nuvi 780 really shines in the performance category. The route planning is spot-on, and estimated trip times include real-time traffic data and proved to be very accurate. One of the worst aspects of sitting in traffic is not knowing how long you're going to be there, and the nuvi 780 can give you an accurate estimate of how long your route will take in addition to providing alternate routes. If you miss a turn, the 780 will calculate an entirely new optimized route rather than using the existing route as a basis.

Summary

If you're someone who really uses a GPS navigator, then the nuvi 780 definitely belongs on your short list. It's advanced features, excellent user interface and slim, sleek design make it one of the best values available in a high-end GPS. You can even save the location where you parked your car, and use the unit on foot to navigate back to it. And if you add the MSN Direct service to this device, you get much more than just a GPS navigator.

Pros

4.3 in. widescreen LCD touchscreen
User-friendly touchscreen interface
Built-in receiver for MSN Direct service
Advanced route planning features
FM transmitter, MP3 player, Bluetooth capability

Cons

There are no cons for this product