Other products by Garmin Ratting 4.5 Out of 5.0 Special Offer Total New 11 Total Use 3
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Amazon.com Product Description This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished generally means that the unit has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions. Some GPS may contain cosmetic blemishes.
Garmin's nüvi 255W improvesupon its 200-series predecessors by adding top-of-the-line features such as FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content to an entry-level line. But Garmin is also introducing some significant improvements with this new series, like a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature. The 255W adds complete maps for North America and Text-to-Speech, so you get turn by turn spoken directions with the real names of streets (e.g. "turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way", rather than merely "turn left in 50 feet"). The 255W also offers a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen that displays 70% more of the road around you.
The nüvi 2x5 models all sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. Important Product Information: This device features a "screen lock" feature. This is a standard feature on all nüvi 2x5 and 7x5 Garmin units. If you slide the "Power" key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the "Power" key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for "Pedestrian" mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.
Key Features/Benefits for all 2x5 Series Navigators
- New -- HotFix (Long Term Ephemeris Prediction) finds satellites faster (Learn more)
- New -- Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features (Learn more)
- New -- Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns
- New -- Redesigned user interface offers more information (Learn more)
- New -- Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
- New -- Add Enhanced MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger (Learn more)
- New -- Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest (Learn more)
- New -- Automatic Time Zone Transition
- Text-to-Speech gives directions with real street names
- 4.3-inch Widescreen shows you more of what's around you as you drive (Learn more)
- Memory Card Slots so you can add maps and travel guides, or store photos (MicroSD card slot on 3.5-inch units; SD card slot on 4.3-inch units)
- Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of North America + Hawaii + Puerto Rico, including 6.5 million searchable points of interest (Learn more)
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for easy portability (up to 4 hours per charge)
- Custom Vehicle Icons let you personalize your navigator (Learn more)
- Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
- Where Am I? -- instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)
What's in the Box
nüvi 255W, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America or Europe (full coverage), Vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual
Which nüvi is Best for You?:
Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators
Learn More
New -- Improved Interface
| One of Garmin's key product philosophies is to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box, and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin's portable navigation devices. Garmin's interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information. | |
Old Interface | New Interface |
New -- HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction
 | Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position. Until the device gets a "lock" on three satellites, it can't effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get "satellite lock" is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin's new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and dramatically decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off. Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide. | ||||
New -- Navigate by Photo
 | Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
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New -- 3D Terrain Maps
| Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view. | |
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New -- Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest
tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin's website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. | ||
Search for the location you want. | Pick "Send to GPS". | Go! |
Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content
MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content | With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi. Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services. A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription. |
FM Traffic
 | With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous — there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions. A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website. |
Widescreen -- See More of What's Around
| The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push. | |
Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen | and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen |
Where Am I?
On any nüvi (including this one), you can just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.First-Rate Map Data
 nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. | The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store. |
Garmin Lock
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure locationBeyond Navigation
Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. | Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units. Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras. |
Trick Your GPS Ride
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option | All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. |
Notes
- Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
- Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Which nüvi is Best for You?
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.| Screen Size inches (w x h) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | 3D Terrain Maps | Photo Navigation | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi- Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | |||
| Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | |||||||||||
| nüvi 200 | 2.8 x 2.1 |  | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||||
| nüvi 200w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||||
| nüvi 250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | Photos | up to 5 | ||||||||
| nüvi 250w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | Photos | up to 5 | ||||||||
| nüvi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nüvi 270 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nüvi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 205W | 3.81 x 2.25 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 255W | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 350 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | ||||||
| nüvi 360 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | |||||
| nüvi 370 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | ||||
| nüvi 650 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | up to 7 | ||||||
| nüvi 660 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | ||||
| nüvi 670 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | |||
| nüvi 680 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | ||||
| nüvi 750 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||||
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |||
| nüvi 770 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||||
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 880 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 5000 | 4.5 x 2.7 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | | external battery only | |||||
| Basic MSN Direct Content Features | |
| Traffic Reports
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 | Gas Prices
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 | Weather Reports
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 | Movie Times
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| Enhanced MSN Direct Content | |
 | Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
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 | Local Events
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 | Stock Quotes
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 | News Headlines
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| MSN Direct Coverage Map | |
Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.  | |
Technical Details
- Factory Refurbished- 4.3-inch auto navigator with an anti theft feature
- HotFix calculates your position faster to get you there quicker
- Compatible with optional enhanced MSN Direct content
- JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock, currency converter, calculator and more
See more technical details
By happy
Overall, a great product. I was looking for a low end GPS that will do it's basic work while I am in the US for 8 months. It took <10 min during the initial setup and detection. It was easy to use and took me 10-15 min to figure most of the stuff out. While I was trying to setup my HOME location into my favorites, I realized that it was already pre-installed with my delivery address; so that's a big plus point for service. There's only a minor glitch I encountered; while in a underground car park without signal, my friend press YES for "simulation" GPS; when we were out, it remained in "simulated mode", even when we reboot it, re-entered new destination...etc Nothing worked and I thought oh no, it's only been a week....but I found that I need to go into settings and set the "Simulation GPS" to "No"....and then it's back to normal.......
By Sara Bolton
PROS: Cool gadget - when you're in an established area. Easy to use. Loud enough to hear over radio. Overall: happy with purchase.
CON: Doesn't recognize newer buildings/locations/roads, etc. ...which can lead to difficulty.
By GuitarAaron
I'm so glad we bought our Garmin Nuvi 255W for a road trip we recently went on. The one we bought was a refurbished model, which still is under warranty, and we also bought from Square Trade an additional 2yr warranty. The unit we got looked and performed as if it was brand new.
While it was great for navigating through big cities, we did experience a few issues I will elaborate on below.
First, when I was using it in our hometown (just to get familiar with it) it did tell me that the local landfill was on the right, when it was actually on the left.
Second, our trip took us about 1700 miles across the US (from western Colorado to eastern Georgia). When we reached St. Louis, there was a large interstate section closed that our Nuvi didn't tell us about. When we got off if I-70, it just kept directing us back to entrances to I-70 that were closed. Also, the main strip it kept telling us to take was closed for a big parade. But we enjoyed seeing downtown St. Louis, it was actually a fun detour.
Third, When we got to Georgia, It took us to my father-in-laws rural address, but it told us to continue past his house 1 mile. Thankfully my wife saw his address and we didn't miss it. When we stopped at a friends' apartment in Smyrna, GA, the Nuvi told us we were there when in fact, we weren't quite there. It took us pretty much to the gate of their apartment community and we had to navigate the rest of the way ourselves.
One word of warning, on the display it shows you your arrival time, and I personally felt it highly reinforcing to watch the arrival time slowly get shaved down (it took 2 days of driving to get there, approximately 16 hours each day). Therefore, watching the arrival time get sooner led me to speeding, which landed me a nearly $200 speeding ticket in Kansas. The 10-15 minutes I shaved off by speeding were lost when I got stopped for over a half-hour by a state trooper. But thats not Garmin's fault!
All in all, we love our Nuvi 255W, and we did much better on our trip with it as opposed to just using google maps and/or an atlas. Just read the disclaimers and don't rely solely on the Nuvi. Pay attention to signs and don't break the law!
By Barry D. Reid
Garmin 255W-Refurbished
Ordered August 2 w/free shipping. Shipping date August 9, received August 11
As with other reviewers, seems like a manufacturer's brain malfunction to ship without USB cable (which I ordered separately from Amazon.)
Could not detect anything wrong with the unit, so refurbished is the way to go. The $90.00 savings versus "New" is definitely worth it. In fact, there is a school of thought that suggests that refurbished are better than new due to the extensive testing necessary to complete the refurbishing process.
The unit came with a code number that allowed me one free map update good for sixty days after registering the unit. I was able to acquire the free download without difficulty with respect to accessing the Garmin site.
A couple of warnings: (1) the Garmin site indicates it will provide on-line step by step instructions for the download. This is pretty much true but not 100% as Windows threw up a couple of Message boxes that required choices not outlined in the Garmin instructions. (2) After a number of clicks on the numerous `continue' buttons, a screen pops up which says, "This update could take several hours." By now you're committed so there is little choice but to continue. Even with a high speed internet connection, the process to the better part of an hour. If I had known upfront that it would take so long, I might have opted to skip the update.
Also as noted by other reviewers, the documentation is pitiful. Even the 64 page owner's manual which can be downloaded as a PDF file is woeful. Simple question such as `how long does it take to charge the battery' was no where to be found.
I bought the unit to use for a major trip around the country. From Massachusetts to New Orleans, Palm Desert California, Redwood National Forest, the Pike's Peak Cog Railway, Niagara Falls and back to Massachusetts. Thirteen overnight stops along the way, four side trips for sight seeing, and eight restaurants not within walking distance of hotels.
I wanted to program everything into the Garmin before leaving. I tried to use the "Via Point" option. Didn't get half way through before I got a message that the trip exceeded memory. Solution: I made every stop a "Favorite." On the road, just select the next stop (hotel, restaurant, or sight seeing place from the favorites) and press "Go." To get return directions (e.g. back to hotel from restaurant) select the hotel from list of favorites and press "Go."
Garmin warns that mounting on windshield is illegal in some states. [Make that California only.] Do an internet search to get the actual law.
Being old fashioned, I got maps, etc. for the entire trip from AAA which gave me total mileage of 7,483 and driving time of 110 hours. Garmin was within 50 miles and 2 hours.
Major difference was through NYC. AAA had me going around the heart of the city via the Tappan Zee Bridge while Garmin had me stay on Interstate 95 across the George Washington Bridge. In that I was going to be there on the Labor Day Holiday before noon, I opted to follow the Garmin. This turned out to be a mistake as the route for the GW Bridge was too complex for my liking.
In spite of the warnings, there is a natural tendency to look at the unit too much while driving and it is easy to suffer from information overload. The Garmin will give multiple, almost foot by foot, directions for some Interstate Exits and it took a while for me to realize that in the vast majority of cases, the State installed highway signs warn you of, and direct you through, the necessary turns and lanes to use. Depending on speed, the Garmin will announce exits from between 0.9 miles and 0.5 miles ahead of the exit. At 65 mph that is sometimes not enough. Thus, it's best to keep an eye on the Garmin and make a mental note of upcoming lane changes a few miles ahead and then follow the posted signs.
This model allows a choice between `shortest distance' or `fastest time', which I chose. The Garmin kept me on the major Interstates often through the center of larges cities. Would have preferred an option to use some of the beltways around the cities to avoid heavy traffic.
I experienced only a couple of errors, which, for a trip of this magnitude, is pretty amazing. The unit got confused as to which side of the street a hotel was located. It's normal message, "arriving at hotel on left" should have been, arriving at hotel on right."
It also was not aware of the fact that Main St in Buffalo has been made into a trolley line route and is not accessible by car; my hotel's address was 601 Main St but had to be reached via Washington Street.
Overall performance and relative ease of use leads me to recommend the unit. Given the magnitude of the trip, I would have had a lot of difficulty without it.
By bob
I like my gps but did not know that I will have to up date it because it was not new it was refurbished.I though refurished was used but fixed and updated.
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