GPS Devices Life

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For my first portable GPS, I got the Garmin nuvi 200W as a gift, and it was a revelation. It worked so well, and was so great to have that I got another GPS for my husband, the Magellan Maestro 3225 from my local Costco.

The Magellan Maestro 3225 was a very good unit. But it did have some drawbacks, so I ended up returning it, and buying a Garmin nuvi 360 instead.

Out of the Box

The nuvi 360 comes with a suction windshield mount, a vehicle charging cable, an AC cable, and a USB cable. It also comes with a case and a very simple “start-up” manual. While the nuvi 200W needed to download for a few minutes out of the box, the nuvi 360 could be used right away.

Unlike other suction mounts I’ve used so far, the nuvi 360’s power source is plugged into the mount. So the unit is automatically connected to the power source when you place it in the mount. This makes removing the unit from the mount a one-step process, and more convenient.

Size & Sound

I’ve found that the Magellan Maestro 3225 has a pretty soft sound, while the Garmin nuvi 200W was plenty loud even at 70% volume. I think this was because the Magellan was smaller and slimmer, so the speaker was smaller. The nuvi 360 is smaller, but about twice as thick as the Magellan, and is louder. (The nuvi 200W is even louder, however.)

The nuvi 360’s sound is more than loud enough for me at max. volume, and sounds fine when it’s giving me directions. However, if you use the Bluetooth function, there is some distortion.

The nuvi 360 also has a flip-up antenna, that you have to flip up every time you mount it.

Interface

There are some minor differences in the interface between the nuvi 200w and the nuvi 360. The layout is slightly different, and some of the icons and menu system is slightly different, also. But the differences aren’t anything that affects how I use the unit.

For example, the nuvi 200w does not show a battery meter when the unit is plugged in, while the nuvi 360 always shows the battery meter. I like seeing the battery meter always, but it’s not a huge difference either way.

Here’s the stuff I don’t like about the nuvi 360’s interface:

* What I liked about the Magellan Maestro 3225 is that it asks you every time you calculate a route, if you want “most use of freeways” or “least use of freeways,” and also if you want a faster, or closer (in distance) route.

Both the nuvi 200W and nuvi 360 lets you program those things, but you have to go into the settings. One of the good things about this option is that the Garmin units gives you more choices of things you want to avoid, including U-turns and ferries. But I have to say that I do prefer the Magellan’s interface on this one.

* One other flaw is that when you go to enter a phone number for a POI, you get a numeric keypad, but no buttons for “-” and “space.” Instead, there are buttons for “*,” “#,” “+” and “p.” Huh?

I can see why the “*” and “#” might be necessary sometimes - if you’re using the unit as a dialpad. But what’s with the ” ” and “p?” This isn’t the case with the nuvi 200W, so I don’t know what went wrong here.

This is a bigger drag that it might otherwise be, because the nuvi 360 has Bluetooth, and can directly dial phone numbers. So phone numbers are a little more important in this unit. And it’s lame that I can’t separate phone numbers with dashes or even a space.

Features

* Text-to-Speech

Text-to-speech is great. The more I use it the more I appreciate it. It helps you keep your eye on the road more, because you don’t have to read street names on the GPS screen. It’s especially helpful on a freeway exchange when you’re traveling fast.

It’s not perfect, though. For example, it pronounces “Koreatown Galleria” as “Kore-own Goo-leria.” Hee!

* Bluetooth

This function is awesome! I have a LG Chocolate Clamshell VX8600 with Verizon, and as soon as I paired the two devices, I was able to dial out calls from the nuvi 360 right away. It accessed my phone book and call history, and I could even use voice dialing. Neat!

As I mentioned above, there is some voice distortion at maximum volume when using this function. But otherwise, it really works like a dream. Really cool.

Calculation Speed

Re-calculation speed is particularly important in a GPS. When you make a wrong turn, you want the GPS to give you an alternate route ASAP. I find both the nuvi 200w and the nuvi 360 to be satisfyingly fast - whenever I make a wrong turn, they both immediately start re-calculating, and I have never felt like it’s too slow.

Accuracy & Connection

The routes the nuvi 360 gives me are accurate. GPS accuracy is kind of subjective - every unit I’ve used have sometimes given me directions that I’ve found inefficient, or impossible - like telling me to drive onto a railroad track. So there’s never a substitute for keeping your eye on the road and using your judgment. But overall, the nuvi 360 has been very reliable and accurate.

Both the nuvi 200w and the Magellan Maestro 3225 had trouble connecting to the satellite after they’ve lost signal for a while, especially when I’ve been parked in my underground parking garage. They re-connect very fast if I turn the unit on outside, but naturally, I usually turn the GPS on inside, before I’ve begun driving. So I’m often without a satellite signal for the first few minutes of my trip. If I’m going to a new, unfamiliar destination, this can be inconvenient.

The nuvi 360 has the newest SiRFstarIII chipset which helps re-connect faster, and I’ve definitely noticed the difference. Even after losing signal, it always re-connects within 10-15 seconds. Nice!

Conclusion:

I really like the nuvi 360. The text-to-speech and Bluetooth are very useful functions, and for me, worth the extra money I spent. And it works so well in all other ways. I find it very reliable. I think the nuvi 360 is a great package with all the essentials that I will enjoy using for a long time.

Based on my GPS usage so far - if I was buying a new GPS today, and wanted to spend the least amount of money, I would buy a nuvi 200, based on my experience with the nuvi 200w, which is the widescreen version. I think it’s a great unit with a user-friendly interface and solid performance, and anyone would enjoy using it.

If I wanted to spend a little more, I would absolutely buy another nuvi 360. It’s got a great set of useful features that really enhances how you use your GPS. I like it a lot.

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Tags: car gps, Garmin, LG, Magellan, portable gps