Garmin Nuvi 255 W portable GPS
The Garmin Nuvi 255 W is one of the most affordable entry level GPS navigators available today.
You might expect to get only a small 3.5 inch screen but the 255W has a large 4.5 inch touch screen that works well even if the sun is shining directly on it.
The nuvi 255 also features the slimline design of the 2X5 models (and it’s dimensions are 4.8 inches by 2.9 inches) and weighs only 173g (about 6 ounces).
Because of this it is so convenient for storing in your pocket or purse to navigate on foot (great for hiking with it’s unusually long 4 hour recharge battery life).
The Garmin 255w is a good performer suitable for most driving situations.
Notable Features of the Garmin Nuvi 255 W
Text to
speech
The 255W includes text to speech which is usually found one in far more expensive units. Text to speech (TTS) means that the unit will speak out street names instead of just announcing the left of or right to turn in so many yards. For example TTS will say “turn left main street in 500 ft” whereas older units will say “turn left in 500 ft”. TTS makes It easier to confirm that you are driving down the correct street.
HotFix
The Garmin 255W GPS has the Hotfix(tm) feature. It’s a way of the unit gaining satellite lock very quickly and it does this by remembering the previous position of satellites which were detected the last time you powered up the unit. It calculates their new positions so it can find them easily again which means the unit quickly locks onto a GPS signal.
6.5 million POI (Points of Interest)
The POI database contains tons of local information to let youeasily find Hotels ATMs restaurants and more.
Optional MSN Direct or FM Traffic reception
To use these services you’ll need an antenna but they give a lot of extra information – most importantly for commuting they will give the 255W up to the minute traffic informaion and the 255W will use MSN Direct to automatically avoid traffic congestion. MSN Direct will also give you other information such as Weather, Gas prices and movie times and the enhanced version gives you route planning, local events, news headlines and stock quotes.
Other features of the Garmin Nuvi 255 W:
- Built in maps for of North America, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada and Alaska.
- 3D shaded terrain maps.
- MSN Direct / FM Traffic compatible (optional receiver and charger required)
- Send addresses from Googlemaps or mapquest to create your own POIs.
- SD card slot to add maps and travel guides.
- Photo navigation.
- Touch screen.
- JPEG picture viewer.
- World travel clock.
- Currency converter.
- Calculator.
The main difference between the Garmin nuvi255W and 205 units is that the 255W uses text to speech. The other units like the nuvi 250 and nuvi 200 devices have less features and are good for basic A-B route navigation – there’s no TTS or options for MSN direct/FM Traffic.
Pros
- Solid design and ease of use make this an ideal sat nav system.
- Excellent value for money.
Cons
- Won’t let you plan routes (single destination only) – not a problem for most users.
- Does not have MSN direct/FM traffic built in (it is an optional extra).
The Garmin nuvi 255 W is a very good solid product that won’t let you down. It has advanced features and is ideal for easy navigation .
For previous office uses it will take little time to learn how to use and you may really like the new menu tabs.
New users should be able to use it quickly as well.
Some things are not as easily customizable (ribbon menu).
If you don’t need the new features or expanted capabilities you may not want to upgrade. But the new featuures and capabilities are nice (million row limit in excel is nice).
I held out on buying a new GPS as much as I could once my StreetPilot 340 started sputtering. I found this one on sale and the price was reasonable for what you got: my big requirement was that there be spoken street names and plus the traffic transmitter was included. It does connect to the satellites much faster than my old unit and I don’t have to stay put in one place waiting for it to get a signal.
It also is quicker to perform a simulated route in case you are indoors or don’t have a signal.
A few cons: the volume level is on the home screen, so instead of having something tactile like a wheel to turn the volume down or off, you have to go through the screens making it very dangerous while driving.
Also, the instruction manual is not good. I am pretty good at figuring out technology, but it should come with a manual that spells out things like: the transmitter is not in the unit, it’s in the power cord. The only way to get traffic information is if it’s mounted on the dash or windshield and plugged in. This I had to find out after prodding. Also, to register and upload maps onto the unit you need a mini-USB cord. If you’re like me, who keeps that kind of stuff around, then you’re in luck, but otherwise, you might have to go out and purchase one…and I can’t remember right now, but it wasn’t on the box. If the guy who sold me the unit hadn’t told me, I would not have known.
I think the NAVTEQ (traffic transmitter) is pretty useless. I upgraded to a unit with traffic information because I now live in an area with pretty unpredictable traffic patterns. This is just not “real-time” information and the way the information is presented does not serve much help either. Today I stood in traffic for 1hr and 50 mins to get to work in what usually is a 25 mins commute. The NAVTEQ had me going right through the back up and claimed it was the best route even as I could see the traffic building up. After I was “in it” it claimed that the back up was just 2 mins, then it went up to 21 mins, then down to five. To know where the traffic is going to be (to then determine whether to request a detour) you need to go through the screens…and once again, that’s dangerous if you are moving.
I am not any more pleased with Google traffic information from an iPhone. There’s still a lag from an accident happening to the information showing, plus, you have to look at your phone, which is dangerous if you are in a moving car.
I signed up for traffic alerts in the form of text messages from News12. Hopefully that can solve my issue and I can put that unsightly traffic transmitter away.