Garmin nuvi 255W Product Report

With the number of GPS systems on the market growing all of the time, it can be difficult to find the information you need to choose the best GPS for your particular needs. Each model has certain strengths and weaknesses that will need to be considered before settling on which one is right for the way you drive. Obviously, price is a major concern. GPS units start out at slightly more than $100 and can range up to $1000, depending on the features and accessories you need or want. When you look into the choices that are available, one of the options you’ll want to examine is the Garmin Nuvi 255w.

Garmin products are considered to be the Cadillacs of the GPS world, and the Nuvi 255 is no exception. The 255 is portable and will fit into almost any pocket or purse and also mounts on the windshield or dash while driving. Text-to-speech allow directions to be given clearly and concisely. Instead of hearing “Turn left in 2/10′s of a mile” as in some more basic models, the 255W includes the street name in the verbal directions, “Turn left on Main Street”. in 30 yards”.  Since your GPS will speak to you, albeit in somewhat robotic tones, you won’t be distracted by having to look
at the 4.3” screen very often.

The Garmin Nuvi 255 is preloaded with maps of all of North America. In addition, the unit has a JPEG picture viewer, a rechargeable lithium battery, a currency and measurement converter, and a world clock.The anti-glare display provides easy viewing, especially when combined with the touch screen technology. With the larger screen of the nuvi 255W you will see more of the area you are driving in than with a smaller screen unit.

Of course, like with all GPS technology, there are some downside issues to contend with when using the Nuvi 255. You need to be aware up front that the price of the unit itself is not the only cost you will be facing. Although software updates are part of the package, you’ll only get map updates by paying extra fees. These can be purchased as lifetime updates or singly. Another potential expense is that you won’t be able to replace the battery yourself. Although the battery is designed to last for a number of years, if it should happen to crash on you, you may or may not be able to find a technician who’ll be able to change it for you, especially at a cost that’s economically-feasible.

Other Garmin Nuvi 255w reviews have commented that the user’s manual is too basic to be of any assistance, but some say that the operation is so simple that anyone should be able to figure it out. Although there is a website to help you if you run into problems, some users find it to lacking in useful information and not very user friendly. If you’re trying to plot the route of a long trip, it’s also likely that you’re going to end up frustrated because there isn’t enough memory to do long, elaborate planning like this.

General consensus has it that the Garmin 255 is going to be easy to use and give you all of the features you need to travel in unfamiliar territory. This model does not come with Bluetooth capabilities to allow for hands free calling. However, if you’re looking for the basics and a unit that’s going to be reliable and efficient, the 255w will probably be a good fit.