Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
Customer Review: Perfect Enough
Summary: 5 Stars
I like the 265wt, recommend it, would buy it again, and think Garmin is the cream of the crop, BUT, like all GPS units, it's not perfect.
Pros: Great little unit; easy to use. Especially like the speed limit readout, Text to speech, "Where am I" feature (w/ elevation), and widescreen (since it conveys several information icons on the sides).
Cons: Thick car power / traffic cord, short USB cord.
Maps: Very good. Only one error found so far, which drives me nuts because it's in my neighborhood, so I can't get meaningful routes or simulations before I leave. I want map editing software. (Note: See update at end).
POI Data: Mediocre at best (especially gas stations), but I think this is common to most. My old c320 was awful.
Directions: Acceptable. If you're not familiar with an area, it will get you there, but it seldom takes the route I want when I know the roads. Two quirks so far: 1) Routes me down a secondary road instead of a parallel interstate (in all 3 modes). I always take the interstate, as did my c320. 2) It wants me to exit to a service road 1.5 miles before my true exit, and doesn't realize I stay on the interstate until I'm almost there. I suspect the interstate / secondary road priorities need tweaking (my c320 was slightly better, at least in NJ).
Traffic: Inconclusive. Glad to have it, but I don't expect much. No warnings yet even though I'm using it in NJ rush hour traffic. But that's not a fair test because it's always backed up. Even the radio stations seldom get it right.
Bluetooth: I was surprised that my basic Tracfone w376g worked with it. Coupled with the fact that the database has phone numbers, this could be handy. However, like many reviewers pointed out, the audio quality leaves a little to be desired.
Wish List: A dashboard video cam so I can record all the idiots, then post the videos to a website ;-)
Bottom line: This is a wonderful GPS and a worthy upgrade from my c320. Everything I'm picking on is relatively minor. Go ahead - help the economy; hurt the landfills - get it.
UPDATE 2-14-10: Just did my free "nuMap" update. The 2GB file took 6 1/2 hours to download over slow DSL and another hour to load to the GPS, but it was well worth it because that annoying map error in my neighborhood has been fixed! Joy. I got a little confused along the way (while updating two units) and had to call Garmin, but their tech support is excellent. Just updated my rating to 5 stars.
Customer Review: Solid GPS, Good price
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're looking at this GPS, I can tell you I spent a lot of time researching it, you can't go too far wrong with a Garmin -what sold me on this version was the free traffic for life & bluetooth.
Otherwise, they are pretty much all the same - same software, just a few different features based on the specific model. The bluetooth functionality works, and although sometimes it takes a few minutes to show up, my address book shows up, as well as my call log, which is nice. (Blackberry Curve, think model is 8310). I definitely like the widescreen - it gives you enough real estate to read everything clearly. Voice commands were clear, and with the radio on, I did have to be careful not to drown out the GPS, but I saw the visual cues anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. I'll just have to tone down cranking Metallica while trying to find some place :-) I would hear 'something' & notice the turn arrows. It gives you a couple of warnings, so it really isn't a big deal. Call quality was decent, although at highway speeds, my wife complained periodically about it cutting out - I may move where I put it so that she can hear me better - definitely a cool feature though.
I've used this a handful of times now, and it gets me to where I want to go. For local places, I know better ways than the GPS, but it still gets me there. My wife just rolls her eyes as it tells me to take a turn which is not our normal way of getting there (can you just hear it, "this thing is stupid, why do I need GPS to get to the grocery store" :-). Another cool feature (for all garmin's) is the ability to send POI's from google.
I fought the GPS a couple of times, when I wanted to put POI's in ahead of time, for a business trip, but I think that was more me than the GPS. It assumes you want to navigate from where you are (ie, NJ), vs. where you would be starting from (say... Arkansas Airport). This shows up when you search for a city outside the state you're currently in. However, once I arrived, it worked like a champ, getting me to my destination & back to the airport with no problems. I'll mess with it some more & figure out what I was doing wrong.
Customer Review: Good unit for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
Purchased the Nuvi 265wt in February 2009 after much study looking for something inexpensive (relative to features)and reviews, both magazine on line and Amazon. This was my first GPS purchase or use.
We were planning a trip to Orlando for a week and not going to the big places like DW. What a great device to have along. Got us where we wanted to go everytime. Gave prompts prior to every turn or expressway change/exit. Never had a routing issue with the 2009 maps that were installed when purchased. Have since updated to 2010c maps. POI came in handy when the wife wanted to rent a movie (DVD). Looked for blockbuster and there was one a couple of miles away. Never saw one closer. POI can in handy for restaurants, drug stores, etc. The MSN traffic is accurate at times and other times never see any issue that would cause a backup. Probably delayed toooo much. The 265wt can be set to automatically route around traffic or not. I have chosen to say not as where I live I know if it is to be believed. When I have had it reroute it did take me in the same direction I would have gone to get around the delay so that is good. Other MSN features are good/interesting. Can get weather, news (not great), flight status, gas prices (may be a day old)and some other things.
All in all this has been a great travel companion and got us there more then once when we would have gotten lost or had to figure out on a map how to get there. Saves hollering at the wife about where are we now as she is reading the map and missing the turnoff. Reading a map and driving at the same time is not a good thing. Really nice when in an area you are not familiar with and want to get back to where you are staying. What I do is create a favorite when I arrive at the place we are staying at and when I want to get "home" I just tell it to take me there. Great
Wife loved it so much that she wanted one as well. She had recently taken a couple of road trips and got lost. So I found that Amazon was having a sale on the Nuvi 780. More features, etc and cost less then the 265wt. Now she has the 265wt and loves it and I have the 780.
--bill
Customer Review: Good unit, I would buy it again.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is our first GPS unit and we have used it for 2 months now in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I did a lot of research about different units and functions before buying one and this one has been a great value.
The 265WT is one of the newest Garmin units and it performs well. It does not have some functions that other units does, like MP3, Audio book or FM radio but I don't need that extra crap. It does have FREE Traffic Alert for Life and I like that.
The Windsheild mount I use in my pickup and it works great. The suction cup is very high quality and I have no concerns that it will accidentally detach from the windsheild. I love the swivel capabilites and it allows you a perfect view no matter where you put it. My wife used velcro to stick it where she wanted it so there's never the suction cup on the windshied as evidence of a GPS unit in the car for thief deterent.
My wife uses the Bluetooth with her phone, first a Razr and now a Samsung 777 and loves it. I have no problem hearing her and she me while she's driving down the road.
The Map directions and screen have been great. The GPS unit so far has given me perfect directions and the re-route capability works flawlessly. The screen is clear, bright and easy to navigate.
Turn by Turn
You have two options here. You can use one of the Text to Speech voices or one of natural voices. The text to speech voices will give you more information such as street names. This is great and a function I looked for. It will say the street name to turn on instead of just turn right in a half mile, the 265wt says in half mile turn right on the street name. This is what I use and even though you can tell it's a computer generated voice its quality is superb. The 265WT does a good job at keeping you updated. Also at any time you can hit the turn Icon and it will speak the distance to the next turn, giving you street name as well as direction.
Overall the 265WT has been a great value and one that I would recommend. I'm going to buy my own as this one seems to always be in her car.
Customer Review: Saved By A GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
Garmin nüvi 265WT 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Integrated Traffic Receiver
I purchased this Garmin from Amazon for $215.00 on 7/9/09 after a lot of research and reading customer reviews. Other than short runs to get the feel of the GPS we didn't use it until our vacation in late August. This is what I found:
Cons: It tends to want to take you off the interstates and put you on the slower U.S. Highways ( Example it kept directing me off I-95 and onto US-1 or US-6). Since I always look at a Highway Map before a trip, I new to ignore these directions.
It does not come with an Owners Manual. I printed it down from Garmin's web site, thus helping HP's bottom line via my ink cartridges.
I could not register it on line ( as stated in the directions) with Garmin and was not able to get my free download of new maps.
The last two are just examples of company greed and screw the consumer.
Pros: It worked GREAT. It has the accident alert feature with the automatic re-routing of a new faster route. Will that baby saved our vacation. Unbeknownst to me, A small airplane made an emergency landing on the interstate causing a tremendous backup. I was headed right for it. I was not familiar with the area I was in. The Garmin 265wt starting giving me warning alerts and alternative routes, way before I hit the effected area. I just followed its instructions and it took me around the tie-up, and right to my destination. It saved me about 6 hours of sitting in stopped traffic. THAT DAY IT EARNED THE $215.00 I paid for it. I also like that it calls out the names of the streets and the ramp numbers you will need to use long before you get there. I found it to be able to recalculate very quickly as you drive. It has many other nice features. And, (unlike the company) it is user friendly. For your money, I do not think you will find a better GPS.