Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Reviews

• SMALL, POWERFUL, AND SIMPLE...

  
  By A2RUUTTFJQ7CBH on 2007-05-13
  After using the popular TomTom One for six months (and being completely satisfied with it) I decided to give the latest in Garmin technology a try. Garmin's newest line of Nuvi's (the 200, 250, and 270) appears to be designed to combat the basic (and extremely popular) TomTom One, as they are designed with the utmost simplicity in mind. Garmin has finally done away with all the bells and whistles of their past GPS models and stripped down their latest releases to the bare essentials. But don't let the simplicity of the Nuvi 200 fool you, it still packs quite a punch.
  
  The first thing I noticed upon purchasing this product is it's size...very, very small. The unit ways only 0.33 pounds (5.2 ounces) which I found very convenient. Also the Garmin Nuvi 200's wallet sized dimensions, 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) make for easy transport from car to pocket once you have reached your destination.. Because the Garmin Nuvi 200 doesn't come with a carrying case I found the unit's basic rectangular design very handy when searching for a protective case to envelop the unit when not in use. Basically any small camera case at any department store will fit this GPS unit nicely. I found one for $7.00, a real plus considering the unusual design of the TomTom One and it's customized $30.00 carrying case, consumers (of course) had to buy separately.
  
  The Garmin Nuvi 200 lacks the text-to-speech function of it's big brother, the Nuvi 350 and also has no MP3 technology (remember this is a basic unit). However the unit has managed to shed the little flip-up antenna that Garmin owners have been used to seeing on older models, such as the Nuvi 350. Everything is now neatly packed away and internal giving the Nuvi 200 an even sleeker look.
  
  Enough about what the Nuvi lacks, on to what is has. Although the unit is simple in design Garmin has managed to pack in a few extras for it's customers. The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo. Some users may use these features more than others, while others may find them plain redundant but hey...it's always nice to have extras.
  
  The battery life is excellent compared to the TomTom One's weak 2-hour expectancy. The instruction manual brags it can last "up to 5 hours" so you won't have to scramble for the vehicle power cable as often as with other units. The Nuvi 200's 3.5 inch screen (with 320x240 pixel count) is beautiful, bright and detailed Very convenient for such a small unit.
  
  Of course I have to mention the high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver that was able to locate it's position in under 30 seconds on it's first start up. I've even managed to get satellite signals while indoors, quite impressive.
  
  The only fault I could find with the unit was (surprisingly) it's maps. Although Garmin uses NAVTEQ maps I found them very lacking compared to the TomTom (Tele Atlas) maps I'm used to. The clichéd' argument is that because Garmin is a North American based company their maps for The United States should be more accurate then the European based Tele Atlas maps which TomTom uses. This was quickly disproved by a simple drive around town. There were some streets in my home town which have been completed for over 5 years that still aren't registered by the supplied NAVTEQ maps the Nuvi 200 comes with. I never had this problem with my TomTom One.
  
  The Garmin Nuvi 200 gets a well-deserved 4 stars. Although it's maps are sometimes lacking they were always accurate and managed to get me home safely. Garmin is a quality name in GPS and anyone looking for a simple yet powerful unit should give the Garmin Nuvi 200 a chance.
  
  Here is what comes in the box:
  
  - The Nuvi 200 unit that comes preloaded with maps of the lower 48 states (plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
  - Vehicle Suction Cup Mount (instead of sticking this mount to the windshield, I break tradition and mount the suction cup to the driver's side window down near the rearview mirror then just turn it towards me. I find it is much easier to operate and it doesn't obstruct my view.)
  - Vehicle Power Cable
  - Dashboard Disc
  - Set Up And Go Guide (not very detailed)
  
  

• Be careful! Some nuvi 200 have the old map.

  
  By A2D33PWFNFNDAA on 2007-06-20
  I ordered the Garmin Nuvi 200 from Amazon and expected it would come with the new map software (City Navigation North America NT version 2008) as others had received, but unfortunately, mine came with the old map (version 8). I called Garmin support and they wanted $75 more for the updated map. I'm very disappointed at Garmin's new marketing tactic because the last time I purchased the Street Pilot 2610, they provided me with the FREE update software within 30 days of the purchased date to bring my GSP to current map info.
  
  How do you know which map version you have? Go to Tool>Setting>Map>MapInfo on the Nuvi 200. There is no info on the box or in the box to indicate which map software version a particular Nuvi 200 has. However, some people reported in GSP forum that the Nuvi 200 with serial # 14H06xxxx and 14H10xxxx have the old (version v8) map software, and the ones with serial # 14H15xxxx and 14H17xxxx have the new (version 2008) map software. My Nuvis 200 serial # is 14H10xxxx and I have the old map software. The serial # are printed on the outside of the box and also on the bottom of the Nuvi 200 unit. I checked my local BB last night and they had mostly Nuvi 200 with the new map, but a couple with the old map (based on the serial #). So be careful when shopping for the Nuvi 200. I heard the same situation is with the Nuvi 660 as well.
  
  As an engineer I used to admire Garmin for their product and technical support, but I think their new marketing strategy is unethical and stupid (i.e. Garmin is trying to squeeze another $75 out of uninformed/unfortunate customers for map update).
  
  Afer using the Nuvi 200 for a day, I would give Nuvi 200 four stars (missing the compass direction that I am used to on the 2610), and ZERO star for Garmin marketing policy. Thus 3 stars.
  
  

• Nuvi 200 vs Maestro 3200

  
  By A20BTR9HJO311J on 2007-11-28
  This is a solid entry level GPS from Garmin. After a week of testing the Nuvi 200 with a similar entry level GPS from Magellan--the Maestro 3200, I had a hard time deciding which one to keep. In the end, I went with the Nuvi, not because one is superiorly better than the other, but down to more personal preferences. Here are some positive and negative factors for each device:
  
  Startup and Satellites Acquisition:
  In my car, the Maestro takes 40 seconds from startup to acquiring satellites, whereas the Nuvi takes 50 seconds. (Your results may vary depending on where you are.) Furthermore, the Maestro takes less than 5 seconds for the main menu to appear, whereas the Nuvi takes closer to 23 seconds from startup to main menu. So that on the Maestro, user is able to start inputing much sooner. Once satellites are acquired, both devices are able to hold on to the signal exceedingly well, even indoor.
  
  Screens, Menus and Interfaces:
  Both devices have a gorgeous 3.5 screen that is very bright and can be viewed from extreme angles. I do find that the Nuvi screen is more pleasing to look at though. Menus and interfaces are very intuitive and user friendly. Most users would not have to read the manual to start using both devices. All the important categories are represented by large icons and easily accessed by touchscreen. In term of layouts, fonts, and color choices, I prefer the Nuvi as the overall design is more inviting. Also, as you navigate between menus and input text, the Maestro would announce your every input such as "Back," "Next," "Cancel," letters and numbers, which I find quite annoying. On the Nuvi, it just "beep" to confirm your entry.
  
  Features:
  Instead of comparing all the features for each device, I will just list those that I find important.
  
  Both the Maestro 3200 and Nuvi 200 are preloaded with map of the lower 48 states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. If you want map for Alaska and Canada, consider the Maestro 3210 and Nuvi 250. However, the Nuvi has the ability to add more maps such as Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia through SD card. As far as I know, the Maestro is not able to add more maps.
  
  I love the usefulness and convenience of the "Points of Interest" database, and thus the more the better. The Nuvi has close to 6 millions compare to 1.3 millions on the Maestro. That means you would be able to find more businesses and attractions wherever you are on the Nuvi without looking up on a computer, phone, or Yellow Pages. For example, the Nuvi lists all the major retailers that do not appear on the Maestro. Both devices allow custom POIs from users to upload.
  
  When searching by POI name, the Maestro is able to bring up the result(s) much faster though. I did a search for a restaurant that is 15 miles from my location and the Maestro took less than 2 seconds to display the result. Whereas, the Nuvi took an excruciatingly 48 seconds to find the result. However, finding businesses that are within a 5 miles radius to a user's location will show up only slightly slower than the Maestro.
  
  The Maestro features a multi-point routing called "Trip Planner" that allows user to input multiple destinations and optimize for the best routes for the entire trip. So, if you do a lot of errands or plan a long trip with multiple destinations, the planner would come in very handy. On the Nuvi, you can only add one additional waypoint at a time while traveling to your final destination. To get around this, Nuvi user can first search all the destinations prior, as the addresses would automatically be put under the "Recently Found" folder or choose to save under "Favorites." Then as you reach each destination, recall the next address under each folder. It's not an elegant solution and your entire trip is not optimize like the Maestro.
  
  The re-route and detour functions are available on both devices. So, if you miss a turn, both GPS will automatically re-calculate and get you back on track. I often find that the new route is generated before reaching the next block. As for detour, the Maestro has a much more robust feature. When using detour, user can specify 3, 5, 10 or custom miles from the main route. On the Nuvi, there is no user specification, just an option to detour.
  
  Both have customizable route methods, such as "Fastest Time" and "Shortest Distance." The Maestro has additional methods of "Least" or "Most Use of Freeways." I find "Most Use of Freeways" to be a valuable option. During the time of day when there's little traffic, I can use this option even when Maestro recommends surface street under "Fastest Time." I prefer travelling on freeways rather than through all the stop lights and signs on surface streets. The Nuvi does not have this option. The Nuvi has an "Off Road" method that I doubt I will ever select. Under a sub-category, user can specify to avoid toll roads on both devices. On the Nuvi, user can further select to avoid u-turns, highways, carpool lanes, unpaved roads, etc.
  
  As for the navigation, routing, and map display screen, this is where I ultimately prefer the Nuvi. The Nuvi renders the 3-D map beautifully with bold outlines, excellent color schemes, sharp fonts, smooth anti-aliasing and shading, and polish appearance. Street name for next turn is clearly displayed on a horizontal bar on top, for example, "Turn Left on Main Street." By clicking the top bar, another screen will appear that display a turn-by-turn preview to your destination. As you approach a turn, the map will slowly zoom in with an arrow prompting a more detailed section of the turn. After the turn, the map will zoom out to the normal display. The whole process is very fluid and instinctive. On the left and right hand corners show "time of arrival" and "distance to the next turn" respectively. There is no option to customize the display such as showing time or distance remain to your destination. There is another screen that you can access for those info. When clicking anywhere on the 3-D navigation map, a detailed 2-D map will appear to give you more information and layout of your current location. Your arrow vehicle can be customize to show a variety of vehicles, from race car to even a tank. More choices can be downloaded on Garmin website. This might seems superfluous to some, but it just adds another level of user experience. After viewing Nuvi's 3-D map, it's difficult to go back to another competitor.
  
  The Maestro's 3-D navigation map is not ugly by any standard, just not as refine comparing to the Nuvi. The Maestro's map display is more cluttered, but with more information available to the driver at a glance. For example, the horizontal bars on top and bottom will display the name of the street that the driver is on and the street for the next turn. There's also an icon to indicate the next turn and compass. User can also customize to display anything from "time of arrival" to "distance remain." On the Nuvi, driver would have to exit the navigation screen for additional info. I also really like that the Maestro will display selected POI icons, such as nearby gas and ATM, on the 3-D map. Furthermore, user can customize what POI categories will display on the map. However, the more categories are selected, the harder it will be to distinguish the icons on a busy street. Like the Nuvi, the Maestro also display a turn-by-turn preview to your destination. However, the Maestro goes a step further by allowing the user to exclude any of the street on the list. So, if you know a street is under maintenance or prefer not to travel on, just exclude that section and the Maestro will re-route when possible.
  
  As for the 3-D rendering, the map outlines are a bit jagged but very detailed with sharp fonts. As you approach a turn, the Maestro will split the screen vertically and show a close-up of the section along with the normal view. Having tested the Maestro and Nuvi for a week, I find both GPS very capable in their routing algorithm. Both devices don't always give you the identical routes to your destination, but I can't really say one is better than the other. However, I observe that the Maestro tends to calculate routes with more turns. On the Nuvi, the voice guidance does indicate whether your arriving destination is on the right or left hand side of the road, which I find helpful. Both GPS have its quirks, such as sometimes calculating longer routes than necessary or the destination off by a block. However, for the most part, the routes on both are very accurate.
  
  Another thing for me to consider when choosing a GPS is the battery life. Both the Maestro and Nuvi can be powered using the included vehicle cable. However, when driving around town, I prefer not to have the unsightly cable dangling from the windshield, especially if you have other devices that use the vehicle power, like an iPod. The Nuvi rechargeable battery is rated up to 5 hours comparing to 3 hours on the Maestro. Both do not come with an A/C charger, but can still be charged using USB to mini-USB on a computer or alternatively charging by car. The speakers on both are pretty loud, but I much prefer the voice on the Nuvi as it sounds more warm comparing to the very robotic pitch of the Maestro. I have yet required customer support, but from what I read from other users and reviewers is that Garmin gives better support to their products. For example, Garmin provides a free WebUpdater software that will automatically update the GPS with the latest software. When I purchased the Nuvi and ran the software, it automatically update my GPS system version from 3.4 to 3.5. That to me instill confidence that Garmin will continue to support their devices.
  
  In summary, the Maestro 3200 and Nuvi 200 are excellent entry level GPS that I have no problem recommending. I decided on the Nuvi due to the excellent 3-D map, interface, large POIs, route calculation, overall design, and battery life. However, the Maestro has more features such as trip planner, a robust detour, faster search, and "Most Use of Freeways" option that some might consider more valuable. Prices are comparable and really come down to personal preferences. You can't go wrong with either one.
  
  
  
  
  

• NUVI 200 - Good Basic GPS

  
  By A3QRN0I64UVHQ7 on 2007-08-31
  I ordered a NUVI 200 for my son as he was planning on taking his car back to college. I have a NUVI 350 which is a great GPS system but I wanted a no-frills GPS that was less expensive - my target price was $250.
  
  Although Amazon had the best price around I had to pay a little more than my target. The unit arrived within a few days and is a good no-frills GPS that is very compact.
  
  One problem I had was the unit not being able to hold a battery charge. It worked fine on car power but the battery would go dead in under two hours and would charge over 2 of the five bars. I sent a note to Amazon customer service explaining the issue and I mentioned that we needed the GPS for a car trip in three days. Within the hour, Amazon notified me that a replacement would be sent out as using next-day service. They also clearly explained how to return the faulty unit. The next day at 10AM I had a new unit that worked perfectly - I sent back the faulty one with an Amazon generated UPS label at no cost to me - Amazon provided me feedback the next day when they received it. Amazon Customer Service also gets 5 Stars for this quality of customer care.
  
  My son and I drove from CT to Charleston, SC and the NUVI 200 worked perfectly. We're very satisfied with it.
  
  

• OK product but has pretty bad flaws

  
  By A2EI0H2YF289EG on 2007-07-06
  I received my Garmin Nuvi 200 (250) about 2 weeks ago and have found certain flaws in this GPS system. The first is that the old version map (V8)comes with the system and you need to pay another $75 to upgrade. Also when the weather is a little bit cloudy then the satellites are hard to make contact with. This might be the result of having no external antenna.
  I just returned from a trip to Canada and while I was leaving Canada the system almost redirected me to reenter Canada. Of course, I used common sense and did not reenter, but this is certainly a flaw that must be pointed out.
  If the skies are clear this system is a very good system but otherwise I think that there is a good chance you might get lost with this system,thus defeating the purpose of having GPS in the first place. I would not recommend this system to anyone until Garmin corrects some of the problems mentioned.
  
  
• Great basic GPS Nav system
  By A3UKX4MUL7UMXZ on 2007-08-06
  I bought this Nav system for my parents. Both of them are retired and like to take trips and visit friends. They would always ask me to print Mapquest directions for wherever they were going but now with the Nuvi 200 they don't need to.
  
  I went with the basic model because they are not very tech savvy and would not use the extra feature anyway. I guess the text to speech option would be nice for hearing the street names but they have found the device more than functional without it.
  
  It is very easy to use and enter addresses into. This is important because if it wasn't simple to use my mom and dad would have a hard time getting anywhere and it would have been a waste of money. If my parents can use it anyone can, as I have stated before they are not tech savvy people.
  
  Getting a satellite signal outside or in the car has not taken longer then a few minutes even on overcast/cloudy days and calculating your route usually only take a few seconds. You may have trouble getting a signal inside your house. Sometimes I can but sometimes I have to go outside but I don't think it was designed for that anyway.
  
  Now I only had the device a week or so before I gave it to my parents but in that time I really enjoyed it and I am currently thinking about getting one for myself.
  
  There are a couple of things I wish it had though. For one I wish you could enter a different starting location than where you currently are if only to plan ahead.
  
  Also, I would be nice if they included an AC adapter in the package instead of just a DC car charger. You will most likely not be leaving the device in your car so it would be nice to bring it in the home and charge. If you want to do this you will have to purchase the optional AC charger.
  
  The suction cup mount is nice but for me than only place it will stick to is my window and nowhere else. It will not stick anywhere to the dash or center console in my Durango. I have tried both the suction cup and the sticky disk mount. Maybe I use to much armor all or something but I can only stick mine to the window. This is actually the best spot for it when you don't need it plugged in but if you do need it plugged in having a wire hanging from your windshield is kind of a annoying.
  
  All that being said I really like this Nav system and would purchase one for myself without any hesitation.
  
  
  
• Fantastic Car GPS; Basic, but great
  By AZEZ2N7XYS27Q on 2007-11-23
  I bought this for my wife. (She has found my long love of gps units a little baffling until now, but she LIKES having this in her car now.)
  
  I have owned five Garmin gps over the years: aviation, hiking & car.
  While the nuvi 200 doesn't have many of the detailed options the older 2650 has, it does have 95% of the functions most people would want & use in their car.
  
  Plus side:
  It's small, light & has a great, bright screen.
  Has ALL of USA maps & points of interest like food & hotels
  Very simple navigation menus & option menus
  It announces turns (but cannot pronounce street names)
  It has a good battery, to use on foot for a while.
  It has a very good antenna built inside. (on my 2650, I added an external wired antenna to my roof for fast satellite acquisition; no need on the 200)
  Maintains reception on wooded Atlanta streets.
  It routes fast and recalculates fast; looks up addresses fast; Seems about as fast as a more expensive unit.
  You can save waypoints (favorites) of all your special places you go or might go.
  The windshield mount works great (has never come close to loosening up)
  You can send it waypoints using Garmin mapsource software or g7towin software, but it's not as obvious. It's almost like they downplay this capability so you buy a fancier model? You can backup waypoints (favorites) to computer.
  Can add photos.
  It has 5 "map detail" settings.
  It does have a pedestrian mode, which I liked when I took it hiking.
  
  Doesn't have:
  It doesn't pronounce street names (must buy fancier model for that)
  You can't customize data displays at the 2 bottom corners. While navigating to a place, it shows arrival time & distance to next turn in the corners. Then their is a pop up to announce specific turns. (Fancier units allow you to display other things, like total distance, etc., and control when pop ups happen) While not navigating it shows speed (Fancier units can display the road you are on, and the next cross street- useful sometimes at night, but I suspect most owners would not bother with all the option menus to get this set up on their fancier unit)
  Can't attach an external antenna (doesn't seem to need it)
  I don't think you can put Garmin topo maps onto it, but I have not tried.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Great Basic GPS
  By A14MER71N2DCDW on 2007-09-04
  I'm really glad Garmin offers this GPS only model and cuts out all the other junk I would never use. I've had it for a month now and really can appreciate it. My model had the latest maps installed, and it was nice to find Garmin now supports Mac computers with their update software.
  
  I tested it out on a couple of my normal routes, and while it doesn't have every back-alley and short-cut in it's database, it would get you where you are going, even if it's the long way around. It's actually found a quicker route for me on a trip I was regularly taking. I also love how you could tell it to not use highways or tollroads, and stick to normal city streets only.
  
  It's points-of-interest database is very up to date, and very extensive. I was surprised to see a lot of my neighbor's running small businesses out of their house and show up on the map. All that info packed in there!
  
  I knocked it down one point because the first thing you have to do when you get this is run out and buy the carrying case for $30 at Bestbuy, why couldn't they include it in the pack? If that was included I would have given it 5 stars for sure.
  
  I also bought the in-house charger AC power cord, but I find I don't use it as the Nuvi is able to get a charge when I hook it up to my Mac's USB port, so you could probably skip that.
  
  In Summary - Highly Recommended!
  
  
• A basic, excellent unit.
  By A3OL0OZTKT08WO on 2007-10-30
  (Revised 11/20/07 -- new notes at bottom)
  
  Not flawless, to be sure, but a what a world of difference it makes! And the few flaws it has, I strongly suspect, are shared by other units, both Garmin and competition. There's little in the upscale units I'd pay another $50 for, much less an additional $150 or $250 or more. This one will get you there just as well.
  
  First of all, it has pretty much everything you need for a basic GPS. I HAVE an iPod, I HAVE a Bluetooth headset, and for traffic reports, I HAVE a radio (remember, the traffic options for the 300 series are subscription-based AND per city). And the display clearly shows the name of the upcoming turn, so do you really need the synthesized voice trying to pronounce it? Do you NEED Canada maps? If so, go for the 250, if not, this one's great.
  
  First, the interface is simple, elegant, and amazingly quick to learn. It requires no setup, no calibration, no nothing. Turn it on and go. It knows where you are, where you are going, how to get there, where to eat, shop, or whatever; either nearby, where you are going, or along the way. It will get you there. Sometimes, not the most effective way, particularly if you're familiar with the area and know where the stopsigns are, and what roads clog during rushhour, and which ones are just more pleasant to drive on, but then you don't need a GPS for YOUR neighborhood now, do you? You need it for navigating through unfamiliar territory. And an inefficient turn or two between friends, particularly when it will guide you there with sureness, what's a couple minutes lost?
  
  Faults: Occasionally chooses a path that is not the best. I suspect whichever map base a GPS uses, there will be some of that. Playing with toolkit preferences will help to some degree. Searching POIs in other locations may require repeated input of city, etc.
  
  Strong points: Easy to use, bright display, clear (albeit somewhat cartoon-like) maps, with your route shown in bright magenta, quick recalculating, small size, excellent windshield mount.
  
  Limitations: No music player, no text-to-voice street names (though street names are displayed clearly on screen), no Canada maps, no upgrade path to traffic reports. I can live with these. I'm told that the gps receiver is different from the one in the 300 series. Maybe so, but this one is very good.
  
  Comments: I had read that this unit, unlike the 300 series, cannot plot a path from a location other than the current location of the device. So, for instance, you couldn't get directions from the LA airport to Aunt Sadie's house in Woodland Hills. Not true! The system allows you to program one WAYPOINT along a route, so what you can do is set a course from your home to Aunt Sadie's with a waypoint at LAX, or better yet, the car rental place at the airport, and ignore everything before the waypoint. Doesn't matter if you live 2000 miles away, it just takes a moment to calculate the whole trip. Ignore directions prior to the waypoint, and you can easily find route, estimated time, and mileage.
  
  By the way, mine came with the 2008 maps, but prior to my purchase, via e-mail communication with Garmin Customer Service, I was told that they would send new maps gratis for buyers who purchased units with outdated maps. Check before buying.
  
  (Notes from 11/20/07) After using for a month or so, I'm still very happy with the unit, but some of its flaws are becoming more apparent.
  
  1. Searching for POIs other than where you are often requires inputting the city name (again), a selection of the state it's in (which for some reason is neither exactly alphabetical (actually, it's sorta alphabetical, listing alphabetically, the states it missed in the first go-through), nor listed by distance. Remember not to back up to the main menu, or you'll have to enter the city and state again. A "last lookup" selection would be good, in addition to the choices in the "Near" submenu.
  
  2. Acquiring satellites is usually pretty quick, but it can take several minutes.
  
  3. Teaching the unit a preferred route would be great. For example, I know there's construction on Lake-Cook Road, and that it's hell to get anywhere on it. I'd rather take Dundee, which moves better and has no tollway access to muck it up. I'd love to be able to teach that to the GPS. But she keeps telling me to take Lake-Cook.
  
  I DO find myself arguing with her quite a bit, but it's still a remarkably useful device.
  
  
• Garmin is the king of GPS
  By A3I80FRODW84QN on 2007-05-25
  I used to own the StreetPilot c320 and eventually sold it because I wanted something pocketable. At the time the Nuvi line of GPS's that Garmin came out with were over $700 and out of my budget. I waited and found a great deal on a TomTom ONE... I was on the fence about TomTom because I heard that they used TeleAtlas maps and they weren't as good as Garmin's Navteq maps. I wound up going with TomTom but never really felt as if it really had an accurate routing engine. Sure, it got me from point A to point B, but I never had any confidence that it was the best route like my old c320 did. Well, now Garmin comes out with their new 2x0 series of GPS and Amazon is selling it for only a few dollars over what I paid for my c320.. I am VERY happy to be back in the Garmin family of GPS's. Garmin is just fantastic with their user interface and simplicity. More importantly, Garmin consistently provides me with accurate, intelligent routes to get me from point A to point B efficiently. The nuvi 200 is fantastic. For a bare bones GPS it's got a great screen, very polished UI, and my unit from Amazon came with City Navigator NA 2008 maps which I understand to be the latest 'v9' maps that are not even available yet from the Garmin site as of this writing. This is a super compact (smaller than TomTom ONE) GPS and with it comes the confidence factor that Garmin is so proficient at delivering. If you're sitting on the fence about a GPS, don't think twice about this unit. It's a solid buy and you won't be disappointed with your decision. My TomTom is on eBay and now I have a solid, reliable, and pocketable GPS that I'm very happy with.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A2Q0O0QIFENJF2 on 2007-06-30
  I originally ordered a nuvi 600 series, and I fell in love with the product for its bluetooth capability. However, I recently changed careers and needed a treo phone for my work. When I tried to sync the nuvi with the treo 700wx, I was unsuccessful. In calling Garmin they said that if I was patient, they would probably be releasing some software to deal with the issue in the coming weeks. Well, when spending that much money, I'm not that patient. So, I purchased a car with bluetooth capabilty and decided instead to purchase the newest nuvi 200 for its simplicity and small design. When I got the product, it worked well for the first 24 hours. It then repeatedly locked up. I spoke with Garmin, and they instructed me to do a hard reset, which I performed. The product worked for about 2 hours until I parked in a parking garage. When I left the garage, it took about 10-15minutes for the nuvi to find any satellites. I have dealt with this same problem for the last two weeks. I am now sending the nuvi back to purchase a better unit with an antenna, the most likely problem with this nuvi 200. If you plan on using this nuvi for quickly accessing street navigation in a car, I highly discourage you.
  
  
• Garmin GPS Units Really Rock
  By A2Z67HW6W6G5KZ on 2007-09-06
  In a nutshell:
  - Easy to use right out of the box.
  - Touch screen is a blessing. The thumbwheel on the StreetPilots was fine, but the touch screen on these Nuvi's is much faster.
  - Even this entry-level unit has a great database of points of interest.
  - Excellent volume. Very loud.
  - Very compact. Very portable.
  - If you have vision issues, opt for a model with a larger screen.
  - It would be nice if they supplied a carrying case. You might want to purchase a small, hard-cover case for it.
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• 5 stars...at least so far
  By A2P6NLNCVDJ3W5 on 2007-05-16
  Okay, when it comes to GPS, I'm a total nubie, but a move to a strange city with streets that like to change names almost necessitated the purchase of this product. I've owned the unit for 1 day and I've tossed my city map and am just getting by on the Nuvi 200. I'm boggled by the technology. This is just one of those areas that I'd been ignoring while I learned other technologies. I can't say anything about the instruction book; I just started using it as soon as I purchased it. It's dead-on and I've been getting around in this city like a champ. I only give it 4 stars because I'm not sure that the maps can be upgraded and that would be a nice thing considering that new places (and streets) appear from time-to-time.
  
  
• garmin gps nuvi 200
  By ABLVXT7WEJQ8A on 2007-09-21
  The GPS sent me to a resturant, the Boathouse, in Lindenhurst, NY that closed down in April 2005; a library in Camp Hill, PA that closed down over 5 years ago and to a dead end street in Sleepy Hollow for something else! Several times it would tell me to make a turn and when I would turn, it would say "recalculating". I called Garmin about this and they said that this sometimes happens. I wish I knew all the details of the GPS, I might've gone for the upgrade which allows you to choose scenic route vs highway. When the GPS works on your behalf, it can be fun.
  
  
• Garmin Customer Service STINKS - BEWARE!
  By A2MMNDW7996KRD on 2007-10-23
  I purchased this little device about 2 months ago and I have had nothing but problems with it. The biggest problem is that the charger doesn't work in my SUV in either power adapter. In my other car, it works, but if you bump it, the screen changes to a notice that it lost power and asks you to choose to stay on battery or turn off. Very inconvenient while driving. My cup holder in my car is right below the power adapter, so this happens all of the time. The connection is VERY tight and scratches the adapter every time I pull it out. I called Garmin about this.
  
  WOW. It takes no less than 30 minutes on hold to get to a human (I've done this 3 times now). On the first call, I was told that this is a known problem, he documented what types of vehicle(model and year) that I had, and sent me out another adapter to see if it made a difference. It didn't. I even went to a store and purchased a splitter (to turn 1 outlet into 2) and it wouldn't work with that either.
  
  So- I call in again to see there is any other option or if another model of Nuvi has a different adapter and another 30 min. on hold. I told them that I desperately wanted to make this work but without power, this will be useless. I offered to purchase an adapter to turn my car adapter into a regular wall-type outlet...the representative said "No- we don't want you to have to do that...we don't have them here, but I can go out and get one and send it to you, along with the adapter to connect the Nuvi to a wall outlet." WOW I'm thinking to myself. GREAT customer service, right? NO! Lies!
  
  2 weeks later and nothing in the mail. I call back. Again. 35 min. later I'm told that they have no record of me talking with the 2nd person (convenient!). The rep proceeds to tell me that they would never do something like that for a customer. SO I ask if he can at least send the power to wall adapter, and I'll get the one for turning the car outlet into a wall outlet. SURE he says. Guess what?? LIES again. Almost 2 weeks later and still nothing in the mail.
  
  OH- and I frequently sit on "Acquiring Satellites" for as long as 15 minutes (and I live in the metropolitain Washington DC area, have the GPS on the dash with no obstructions), so you need to make sure you have signal before you actually start driving. Garmin said that it shouldn't be doing that, but offered no solution or assistance on that either.
  
  OVERALL- I'd recommend buying a different brand. The customer service alone is worth avoiding this. Because I ordered online, I now (with all of the time elapsed in trying to work this out with Garmin) cannot return this. Beware.
  
  
  
• Garmin nuvi 200, Garmin makes the best GPS
  By A23B9XIHJMYILR on 2007-05-24
  I owned this GPS for few days now and very much know everything about it. I am very impressed with what this GPS can do. I tried out many other GPS before buying this one but none of other brands can match Garmin in this area. I tried Magellan, Tomtom one, other Garmin GPS (included other Nuvi). Nuvi 350 has better feature such as MP3 player but little pricy. This GPS actually looks and feel better than what it look like in the picture. It's so simple and easy to use. It has V8 map which is about 2 years old map and the latest map Garmin provides. V9 mapping is coming soon within few months. Direction and voice guidance are very clear and accurate. Touch screen is one of the nicest, very soft and sensitive. If you missed a turn, it recalculates a new route very quickly. POI is not very complete but good enough, you will not find many of the new POIs and some old POIs that existed for many years. Over all, it's a great GPS.
  
  
• Garmin has terrible customer support!
  By A1G4R2BK11YNFI on 2007-12-28
  I bought the 2008 North America map update from Garmin for my Garmin StreetPilot GPS in August and was never able to install it. I kept getting an error message "The product key you have entered has already been assigned to a different Garmin GPS" The 8-digit "product key code" on the sticker which came with the disc was evidently not enough to unlock the disk. After 5 calls to customer service and 4 emails they finally acknowledge that they sent me the wrong disk - it had been assigned to 3 different unlock codes, so the maps could not be unlocked and loaded onto my GPS. This is another example of software protection run amok. It took 3 calls to customer service before they even gave me the 25 digit unlock code. If they are so concerned about security, they should send someone out to my house to load the new maps. Each time I called customer service, I had to wait on hold for 30-45 minutes to speak to a representative only to be told that they need to transfer me to the software division which was another 20-30 minute wait. The tech support in software has no direct line so each call took over 1 hour. When I sent a detailed email message to their customer support, I got an email telling me to call the 800 number. I am NEVER buying another Garmin device. I will wait until Apple makes a GPS.
  
  
• Don't waste your $$$ on the Nuvi 200 - Buy a TomTom One instead!
  By A3PQGWAN6GM9IF on 2007-09-25
  This overpriced product suffers from an awkward interface, a dim screen, and a very limited feature set. I also find the routing capabilities far too limiting.
  
  I've traded in my 200 for a TomTom One and couldn't be more thrilled - it costs less (amazon running a blowout sale for $199), fits more easily in a pocket, and has bluetooth connectivity for handsfree calling. In addition it also has mapsharing capabilities which (theoretically) ensure that maps are constantly up to date, though I haven't had a chance to put that feature through its paces.
  
  
• Nuvi 200 vs. TomTom, I gotta choose the Nuvi
  By A1OJF6FAWIT6Y1 on 2007-11-28
  I was definitely torn between the two models, the Nuvi 200 and the TomTom 3rd Edition. And the LE was added to the mix with the Black Friday sales and deals. In the end, I really narrowed it down to the Nuvi and TomTom 3rd Edition. It's my first GPS and I really wanted three functions: good navigation, a strong battery life, and good POI database. If you're looking for a GPS no more than 150, take the TomTom. However, if you can ease your way into 175-200, the Nuvi 200 is the better model.
  
  I usually have my phone or satellite radio plugged into the car adaptor, so having a long battery life is a top priority. The TomTom goes for about 2 hrs, but I can't afford to unplug my phone or satellite radio to keep it going. On a side note, spend the 25 bucks and get an AC-USB charger.
  
  The navigation is excellent. Navteq is top of the line. I went thru roundabouts, purposely took wrong exits and the Nuvi recalculated immediately. Also, in the planning, if you're not in the car, you can simulate the route and directions you need to take, which is a great feature. Sure, no multiple trips or points, but even when I go on road trips, I make stops ad hoc or spontaneously. But for you parents or sales reps, it'll require a lil more leg work. But the touch screen is really easy to use, literally can be used out of the box.
  
  The POIs are a great use. Sure, I want to know if there's a restaurant nearby. However, they have it categorized by type of food, which will surely save some unnecessary arguments with friends in the car.
  
  There are some extras that the garmin doesn't have that the TomTom have. No traffic updates or customizable voices. Then again, that would require spending $200+ on antennae, I just listen to the radio. Also, does hearing a celebrity's voice enhance my navigation experience? :) I've kept the volume at 20-30% since the prompts are timely and, well, prompt!
  The only bummers: no AC adaptor or USB cable(I used one from my digital camera); no maps of Canada(might hurt since I drive to Vancouver); and obviously an update is needed which will be $100-$200 for an SD Garmin card.
  
  Overall, battery life, navigation, and POIs are extremely helpful and useful for the first-time user. Definitely look for any sales or price drops, as I got mine for $169. I've had it for a few days and enjoy it, get the NUVI 200!
  
  *Note to CA users, pick up the beanbag mount, very useful!
  
  
  
• Buyer beware!
  By A2VJ2C9X69ZTW on 2007-12-25
  I just received this product today. I ordered it in new condition but I believe it was used. The product came from the amazon returns center and when I opened the box, none of the pieces were wrapped in plastic. The main unit itself is a little scratched. I bought a case for it so it does not get scratched further.
  Overall, I like this Garmin nuvi 200 much better than my tomtom. First, it is smaller and easier to put in your pocket or purse. The interface is much easier to use and the garmin has more options.
  The features that I think the garmin excels in are the 3-D display, routing features, and the point of interest database. The display is very clear, easy to understand and this makes it easier to follow the directions given. The point of interest database is amazing compared to my tomtom. The garmin database has about 5 times the information than the tomtom making it much easier to find a destination (restaurant, gas station, etc.) that is near your location.
  The only negative that I have found is that this garmin does not have the text to voice directions (does not announce street names). Newer garmin models have that feature.
  
  
• compact and accurate
  By A33SJOJMA35U77 on 2007-08-02
  Maps are up to date, routing is good. don't need mp3 or bluetooth functionality, so this model is what I got. The autozoom feature of Garmin is fantastic. I don't like the car icon it has by default so i changed it to a smaller arrow. otherwise it works great out of the box. The screen auto dim at night and it gives good voice direction also.
  
  
• What would I do without this thing.
  By A4GAZ9E9HMPHA on 2007-08-25
  I purchased the nuvi 200 just before setting out a 3,300 mile trip across the U.S. Having safely driven from Portland, Oregon to Washington DC I can safely say that this is an incredible device.
  
  Pros:
  The screen is very nice and can be viewed from a wider angle than many other gps units that I looked at. The touch screen is responsive and usually interprets my prods correctly. The unit itself usually connects to satellites in anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes (in DC it can be difficult to get a signal until I get away from my apartment). The maps are highly accurate, although that doesn't always mean it will select the right route. The points of interests are excellent, I can't tell you how many times I used this thing to find gas stations and lodging. It automatically changes brightness when you get into dusk. It usually gives ample warning. The directions are generally very clear. The size is definitely a pro, I have no problem dropping this into a pocket.
  
  Cons:
  Don't get me wrong, I really love my nuvi, but during my trip there were a few experiences that I have a hard time forgiving it for. For instance, during my trip there was a detour of sorts because of a forest fire (it wasn't really a detour because the guy at the roadblock basically said turn around or take the county service road which he couldn't suggest that I do). Anyway, during the next ten miles it kept trying to get me to turn onto roads that looked that they had been made by loggers 15 years ago (you could just barely make out a faint trace of a road). Then it took me 10 miles over dirt roads, which was fine because it turns out that that was the correct path. HOWEVER!!! it then turned me onto another dirt road that ultimately lead to a locked gate with no way of turning around so I got to back up for a quarter mile!!! It turns out that instead of turning I should have gone straight for another quarter mile and that would have put me back onto pavement and lead the the highway. It also went a little crazy when I got into Chicago, it kept listing me on the wrong roads and suggesting that I turn the wrong way into one way traffic!!!
  
  To sum it up, I don't know how I would have completed the trip without my Nuvi. True, there were a few bad experiences, but those were only a few hours out of a two week trip. The only feature that I wish it had, and I don't even know if this exists, is the ability to to tell you which lane you should be in. Not that it doesn't say keep right or keep left, but on a four lane highway keep right doesn't always help when there are two lanes exiting right.
  
  
  
• Garmin Nuvi 200
  By A1CN8GSYHZ89H on 2007-12-23
  Having already used a Garmin Nuvi 370, we were very disappointed with the Nuvi 200. We intend to replace it with the 370 which is far superior. The 200 does not name any of the streets to turn at. It only tells you to turn in point x miles which is not at all helpful when you are driving in an area you are not familiar with. The 370 warns you ahead of time the name of the street to turn at and repeats the name at the point of turning. Just listen and drive. Much easier than having to look down at your Garmin screen and try to read the map.Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
  
  
• Garmin Nuvi 200
  By A35QAXBZDLFSLL on 2007-06-27
  Excellent...my husband and I use it everywhere..in the car, Walking, . It's easy to use and extrememly helpful in finding your way no matter where you are!
  
  
• Not so good
  By A1TTZD3SFTSGO9 on 2007-11-15
  I am a newbie to this technology so maybe i was expecting too much or i just had a bum unit but i had significant problem with the battery. The car charger that came with it apparently had a busted fuse to begin with. no big deal but it seems that you cannot use the unit while charging it in the car charger. Maybe just my bad luck or this is how all systems work.
  
  
• Missing some simple things that disappoint
  By A2LBYR5WLIWH7Z on 2008-06-28
  Compared to my 5 year old basic MIO GPS, I thought I was buying something at least marginally more advanced, only to find that this product is missing some very basic things that I would expect on any GPS:
  
  I was disappointed for the following reasons:
  
  1 - No altitude data is available - Based on the way GPS works, this data is available once you see at least 4 satellites, so why the designers chose not to display it eludes me.
  2 - Its difficult to see the actual STREET ADDRESS once you assign a name to it.
  3 - Once you name a destination, it doesn't display the address as you approach the destination (I'm not even sure if it does even if you don't name it). This is really annoying as you start approaching a dense neighborhood and start wondering what house number you were going to.
  4 - No option to search by ZIP code - I ran into some ambiguities which could have quickly been resolved by the ZIP code.
  5 - Complicated to change the screen layout (from 3D to 2D or Directional) - no quick keys to change the display.
  6 - If I choose to orient the display based on the direction of the car, one would think that at least somewhere on the map there should be an arrow pointing to North.
  
  If you've never owned a GPS you might not wonder about these things but if you have, you'll be disappointed with the nuvi 200.
  
  
  
  
  
• Garmin Nuvi 200
  By A23RA5RYQ6TYAQ on 2007-10-05
  My first GPS as I've been waiting for the prices to come down. The Nuvi 200 doesn't have all the features of higher priced models(MP3 player, bluetooth, etc.) but it does its job of navigation just as well as the higher priced models in the Garmin line.
  
  At first I thought I really needed to have the text to voice option(the actual street name spoken vs. just turn left)which this model does not have. In reality it's not a big deal as the top of the screen shows you the name of the upcoming turn in large letters...so just a glance to the screen can quickly confirm the street/route name if indeed you really need to see it.
  
  Size of unit is perfect, easily slips into pocket, yet no problem with entering destination on touch screen. Volume is loud enough to play radio with decent volume and still hear the Garmin's cues. Screen brightness is very good and battery life(should you decide to not use the supplied plug into your lighter outlet) is very good. I charge the unit with a USB cable from my computer as there is no supplied AC power adapter on this model. Unit charges up quickly with USB cable. Of course you can just plug it into your car's lighter power outlet and your good to go.
  
  Only disappointment so far has been that some addresses do not show up on the updated maps(latest 2008 version shipped with my Nuvi)...such as Retirement community in a small town that's been there for almost 5 years, therefore the reason for 4 stars vs. 5 star rating.
  
  
  
• No unwanted frills and does its job
  By A2OXVPRIKOMPOY on 2007-10-06
  I bought this for my wife, who has little patience for most technology. This unit is easy to use, great interface and gives you what you need without confusing the picture with stuff you don't need. She loves it, and more importantly, she can use it without getting frustrated. It got a bit confused up in the hills around our house when she was out by herself, but she thought it may have been her fault. Good restaurant database, good audio quality, clear screen even in relatively bright light. The compact size and light weight is important to us since we mounted it on a crowded center console in our Mercedes E420. The suction mount is excellent, easy to use and sticks well as long as the surface is glass smooth. The fact that you can put the 200 in your pocket or purse can come in handy.
  
  Some limitations: once you are underway it is not clear how to alter your route to allow an intermediate detour. I think you pretty much have to know what you plan to do at the outset, set up multiple destinations, and follow the game plan. I could be wrong, but we couldn't figure this out on the fly. No big deal, just turn it off to reset and input the new route. A little clumsy, but this is not a frequent issue. The only thing my wife might have appreciated is for the unit to actually say the names of the streets. Text to voice would be worth the extra money, but it seems that to get that you end up buying a bunch of other features (MP3) that are superfluous. Bottom line, it does the job quickly, accurately and with no fuss. Money well spent.
  
  
• Great GPS Unit
  By AZCLDJURWNX61 on 2007-11-13
  I've had this unit for a month now and am very pleased with it. I liked the unit size. The screen is plenty big and the features are everything that I would expect to use. The window mount worked great. Satelite aquisition was fast and reliable.
  
  The base model is limited to continental US, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, which if fine for me. It's simple to enter an address or look for a nearby business (restaurant/gas station, etc.) and the route comes right up.
  
  
• Doesn't work as advertised - returning unit
  By A2VCKMPH2NQENV on 2008-02-19
  I just returned my Garmin nuvi 200 after trying to drive to The Bronx from Manhattan and it many errors (almost sent me to NJ on the GWB coming back!). These days most digital products just work so I thought going with low-end model should be fine - I don't need fancy features, just a basic GPS that works. Within half an hour out of the box the unit sent me the wrong way several times including telling me to stay in the left lane of a four-lane highway - then later saying get in the right lane to exit. It also kept saying "recalculating route" even when I was following the route that it had me on. It might work fine for country roads but in NY this GPS did not meet my (basic) expectations. I need to buy a new GPS but am hesitant to purchase another one from Garmin.
  
  

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