0ur opinion:

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Garmin's nüvi 200W combines the thin profile and attractive price point of other nüvi 200-series GPS with and a beautiful 4.3-inch (diagonally) wide touchscreen that lets you see more of what's around you as you drive. As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of a high-sensitivity integrated receiver, a slim, pocket-sized navigator with a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that lets  you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface.

Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators.

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

The nüvi 260W comes preloaded with maps for U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and features an  ultra-slim design.

See More of What's Around
The 4.3-inch backlit widescreen touchscreen 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.


Smart, Powerful Design
nüvi is built with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 6.6 ounces. The nüvi display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.



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 PlN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location



First Rate Map Data
nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty database of more than 6 milliong points of interest (P0ls), such as hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more, that are searchable by name or category. 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. ln addition, the nüvi accepts custom (P0ls), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming P0ls




lmportant note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by will come with the most recent map version. lf you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.







Easy To Use lnterface
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that 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.





Beyond Navigation

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.

nüvi 260W accepts custom points of interest (P0ls). View larger.

Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. lt also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.




This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD 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.




Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (P0l’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 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.

What's in the Box
nüvi 200W, preloaded City Navigator NT for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico (no Alaska or Canada detail), vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and set up and go guide


Note: 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)	lncluded Maps			Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)	Traffic	Bluetooth	Media	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 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

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Testimonials

Average Buyer Rating:

Buyer's feedback: - * Pretty good product but slow to start. ...
Overall we really like the Garmin nuvi. The screen is big, and it totally saved us when we were traveling east and trying to find a place to stay overnight. It gave us hotels along our route and their phone numbers. Now, the bad: IT TAKES SO LONG TO FIND THE SATELLITES WHEN YOU FIRST TURN IT ON! Oh, my gosh! When we were driving in Upstate NY, we were sitting in the back seat, and it couldn't find the satellites. When we gave it to someone in the front seat, it clicked on immediately. It takes about 10 minutes average to find the satellite each time you turn it on. That's kind of annooying.

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Buyer's feedback: - Garmin Nuvi 200W
Very easy to use - intuitive settings a snap. Points of interest lists excellent as well. Easier to use and just as accurate as the navsystem in my Lexus, for lots less cash.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Garmin ...
I'm very pleased with this product. If you travel at all it's worth the cost.

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Buyer's feedback: - Great Price - Very Easy To Use
The Garmin 200W comes at a very great price and it is also very simple to use. Spend the extra $50 for the 200W (Widescreen) over the smaller 200. The extra screen space is well worth it.

Be sure to upgrade the firmware once you get it. The newer firmware updates the map on the move much faster. It also takes care of a couple bugs. Unfortunetly, the GPS doesn't come with a (mini) USB adapter, however I had one on hand that came with my Sony PSP.

If you register, you can also download the 2009 City Maps for free. It is a 2GB download.

I've also read that the 200W will work with topography maps (with a few limitations), should you want to use it for hiking and camping. I haven't tried this yet since I don't have an SD memory card yet, but plan on giving it a try. Of course, the 200W isn't really an "outdoor" GPS, so I'll have to come up with some way to waterproof it.

Overall, it is a wonderful little unit that has all the basic features that you need for auto navigation -- and a few nice extra features. It doesn't have Bluetooth, FM transmitter, MP3 player, nor will it wash your dishes, but it will easily get you from point A to point B.

The voice audio is also very loud and can easily be heard even when listening to your car stereo.

It also comes with a mounting unit, which allows you to either mount it to your windshield or dash. It uses a suction cup to mount to the windshield and can easily be adjusted while driving. To connect to the dash, it uses a (very) sticky pad, which will likely mess up your dash when you remove it. I have it mounted to my windshield. It is also very easy remove from the windshield mounting, so you can put it in your pocket after leaving your car.

Little trick: you can save your current location, so if you are parked in a very large parking lot, just save the location of your car for later. I was at a large amusement park recently and after a very long day, it was cake re-locating our car.

Comes with many Points-Of-Interests (POI), so it makes it very easy to find pretty much anything you would ever need: gas, food, lodging, shopping, etc. This is nice if you are on E and not sure if that next exit in the middle of nowhere has a gas station or not!

I have no problem recommending the Garmin 200W.

Edit Add:

I have since purchased an 8GB SD memory card along with TOPO (Topography) Maps. TOPO works fine with the 200W, although make sure that the map orientation is Always Up or North Up as it won't work correctly in 3D.

I wouldn't recommend the 200W as a primary "outdoor GPS", but for occassional and light "on the trail" use, it works wonderfully with TOPO maps.

I'm still learning how to use MapSource (PC program to select and create maps to install to GPS), but it is pretty straight forward. The only thing, I think, is that each time you create a new map set, it creates it entirely. I.e., you can only have one actual map file in the SD memory. The single file can, however, contain as many maps as you want. Again, I'm still learning, so this may or may not be the case. I'm referring to add-on maps, not the US City Navigator 2008 (or 2009 if you get the free upgrade) that is the main GPS memory.

After having the 200W for a relative short time, I can't imagine not having it now. It comes in handy every day. One of the things that really comes in handy is that all the POI's include their telephone numbers. Its like having a national Yellow Pages in your car. Very handy.

Even in your own local and familiar area, it comes in handy. Last night, my wife and I wanted to check out a seafood restaurant that we heard was really good. We didn't know the full name of the restaurant or the location though. We were able to find it on the GPS by simply entering the partial name. Fifteen minutes later, we were seated and ordering drinks and appetizers.

The 200W is a very useful gadget at a very great price. $200 was a great price for this gadget that actually does make life easier.

As for the reception, I haven't had any problems at all. It even acquires the satellites from inside my house.

Since the screen seems to be pretty scratch resistant, I'm not even going to bother with a screen protector. Touchscreens sure have come a long way as far as scratch resistance goes. My first PDA's touchscreen back in '99 would scratch by just wiping it with a cloth. You will want to get a case for it though. Since GPS's are the "latest big thing", accessories can be expensive, but there are plenty of other alternatives that work just as well if not better. I found a leather case at Walmart for $5 that fits my 200W perfectly.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Best GPS for the money ...
This is the first ground GPS, although I have used several flying. In aviation, the Garmin is considered the best, and this one lives up to its relatives reputation.
It is very easy to use, works perfectly in every expected way. The voice is clear, and the volumn can be set high enough to hear well. The screen is clear and very easy to read. The variety of information is very nice to have, and presented well on a couple of pages. The touch screen only requires a light touch, and addresses etc. are extremely easy to enter.
The bracket for the windshield works perfectly, and has never come loose.
This is one fantastic unit, and would be a bargain at 2 or 3 times the price.