0ur opinion:

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ln-car navigation has never been easier - or more affordable. 0ur StreetPilot 'c-series' GPS navigators feature a simple touchscreen interface, with automatic route calculation to any destination and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions along the way. Selecting a destination is straightforward and requires only a limited amount of input from the user. Plus, the StreetPilot c320 and StreetPilot c330 allow you to choose between a three-dimensional navigation view or the more traditional 'bird's eye' overhead view.

For the ultimate out-of-the-box convenience, the StreetPilot c330 comes preprogrammed with highly detailed MapSource City Select street data. The database features nearly six million points of interest?including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. (The c320 comes with a 128 MB SD card and a MapSource City Select CD-R0M for data transfer from a PC via a USB connection.)

As an added benefit, you can now import customized points of interest with the help of Garmin's free P0l Loader software. The possibilities are endless - upload safety cameras or school zones, and you will receive a warning if you are traveling too fast. ln addition, an optional proximity-alert feature notifies you of upcoming custom P0ls.

The centerpiece of both units is a bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display that makes navigation a snap. The StreetPilot c330 features dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning.

The new StreetPilot c-series boasts distinctive and sleek styling?the only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield for easy portability between vehicles.

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With a simple touch screen interface, automatic route calculation to any destination, and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions, the StreetPilot c330 GPS navigator is a powerful companion for your adventures on the road. Plus, Garmin has designed the 'c-series' of car navigation units to be as simple and easy-to-use as possible-- no more intimidating features, just straightforward, basic navigation at your fingertips. Selecting a destination is as simple as a few finger-strokes, and you can choose between a three-dimensional navigation view or the more traditional 'bird's eye' overhead view.

The streetPilot 'c-series' GPS navigators feature a simple touchscreen interface, with automatic route calculation to any destination.

The 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display makes navigation a snap.

The included database features nearly six million points of interests including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions.

The c330 keeps track of places that you find and stores the fifty most recent finds in an easy to access list called Recent Selections, placing the most recently viewed at the top of the list. This becomes a very helpful feature if you visit the same places over and over and don't want the inconvenient of reloading the information in the unit multiple times. Although the c330 boasts distinctive and sleek styling, simplicity is the name of the game. The only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield for easy portability between vehicles. You can customize the unit's appearance with an array of colored faceplates that are sold separately.

For the ultimate out-of-the-box convenience, the StreetPilot c330 comes pre-loaded with highly detailed MapSource City Select street data. The database features an industry-leading five million-plus points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. The c330's bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display makes navigation a snap. The unit also features dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning.

lt's also worth mentioning that with some GPS units the manual to use them is as thick as a phone book, but it was a pleasant surprise to find that the c330's manual was very easy to use and provided many screen shots to make sure the user understood the units capabilities. lf you find yourself on the road looking for addresses often and just want a GPS to tell you where to go simply and clearly than this unit was made for you.


What's in the Box
StreetPilot c330 receiver, vehicle suction cup mount, PC/USB interface cable and quick-reference guide. Also includes a factory pre-loaded version of Americas Recreational Basemap and MapSource City Select North America CD with full unlock (for sale in North America).

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Buyer's feedback: - * Garmin c330 ...
Have used on trips and around the house and provides clear, concise instructions. It did show I was driving in the woods over the weekend (didn't hit any trees) when we travelled a newer part of the highway but overall is excellent traveling the interstates when you need to find particular gas stations, places to eat etc etc.

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Buyer's feedback: - Excellent Buy
I would recommend this product to anyone who would like a GPS. It is easy to use and not large or heavy. It arrives in a plain white Garmin printed box, and other than that, you wouldn't know that it is a refurbished item. Everything inside is covered and looks like it would if you bought it "new." Great price for a great item.

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Buyer's feedback: - * very happy with this prodcut! ...
I absolutely love this little navigation unit. I moved to a new city one year ago, and I purchased the item to help me get around this big city. I use this unit almost on a daily basis and it saves me all the time. When we had a big snow storm and parts of the highways here were closed this little unit would modify my course so that I could get home even with all of these unexpected detours. My only MINOR complaint is that it is a bit bigger than other more expensive units. But that is not a really issue when you see how well this product works. I absolutely LOVE mine and would highly recommend it! money well spent!

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Buyer's feedback: - New C330 has "V8" maps from June 2006.
Amazon's listing for the C330 says that "every unit sold will come with the most recent map version". This statement is not true. I just got a brand new C330, which is loaded with City Navigator North America "V8" maps (found by touching Map, then Map Info). Today I visited the Garmin web site, went to the map update page, and entered my device's serial number. The web site told me that an update is available for my unit: "Map Update 2008 City Navigator".

Somewhat perplexed, I called Garmin's customer support line and received the following explanation from Peggy. The V8 map package was issued in June 2006. A newer mapset, version 2008, was issued in June 2007. However, the size of the improved and more detailed database in version 2008 is larger than will fit in the memory of the C330. Therefore, when you install the update, you have to choose whether you want to load the database for United States, or the one for Canada. The Canadian subset includes all of Canada plus the border states (including Massachusetts, not strictly a border state, but useful for Canadians who visit New England).

If you purchase the 2008 Update, you can make the decision about which subset to load into the C330 repeatedly. So it can be updated first with the V2008 maps for the US, and then subsequently loaded with the V2008 maps for a vacation trip to Canada. Of course, if you're not living in a border state, you won't be able to use the Canadianized C330 to navigate to Canada, but once you're there, you're all set.

Should you choose to install the US portion of the database, all of the old (V8) Canadian data is deleted. Similarly, should you install the updated Canadian 2008 maps, the V8 US information is wiped. In my view, this was a poor design decision.

Even though the C330 has an SD slot for expansion, it is not possible to load the US database from the 2008 update into the unit and put the Canadian database into an SD chip (or vice versa).

The Map Update 2008 is $70US and is shipped on a DVD. Whichever subset of the data you choose, a PC or a Mac is required to load the 2008 update into a C330.

If you want your cake and eat it too, you have to buy the complete V2008 Mapsource City Navigator North America NT map product from Garmin ($140US list). The entire North American database will fit on an SD card.

Peggy was unwilling to provide me with a free update to the 2008 maps, even though I just purchased a brand-new unit that was advertised as having "the most recent map version". I have read elsewhere that some purchasers were able to obtain an update to 2008 maps at no charge, but Peggy would not be swayed. Her explanation, which was carefully wordsmithed by Garmin's marketing department, was that the V8 maps are the 'latest that were shipped from the factory' with the C330. Thus, the unit that I purchased, in Garmin's opinion, is the most recent version that was offered for sale.

According to Peggy, the same limitation in map storage and upgrade applies to the StreetPilot C530 version, a more modern unit that was recently discontinued by Garmin.

I am now debating whether to keep the C330 or not. It's a nice product, and seems very easy to use. But I resent being sold a mapping device with map data from 2006, especially when it was explicitly advertised as having the most recent map data "through April 2007". Garmin's policy to then demand an additional $70 to upgrade strikes me as designed more to satisfy shareholders than customers.

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Buyer's feedback: - * very disappointing ...
Garmin StreetPilot c330 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
I have had a new Garmin c330 for 6 weeks. I have found many errors and outdated maps in the system. Some restaurants and other businesses that it locates have been out of business for at least 3 years. One recent error directs me to a non-existent street over a concrete retaining wall. There has not been a street at that location in over 50 years. Another problem is that it doesn't even show streets built in the last three years in newer housing developments.
The Garmin web site provides supposedly newer maps :( for a PRICE. The upgraded maps have the same errors and omissions that the original maps have. Garmin doesn't want this piece of junk back, and I can understand why! My next gps will be a Tom-Tom.