Garmin nuvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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Our Price: $48.90 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin nuvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Better than TomTom 910
Summary: 5 Stars
I was recently looking to purchase a GPS unit and I had resigned myself to spending approximately $800. The obvious choices presented to me were the Garmin Nuvi 350 and the TomTom 910. For use in the USA, both machines are essentially equally equipped, with large, bright color touch screens and pre-loaded maps. The TomTom also includes maps of Europe, but as I don't intend to travel there anytime soon, this was not a compelling selling feature.
I spent a bit of time in the store using both devices side-by-side. I entered identical destinations and observed how many keystrokes it took to get the machines to recognize the address. The Garmin Nuvi, with a very refined user interface, took significantly fewer keystrokes in most cases. Since the Nuvi allows you to enter the state first, the machine can pinpoint your destination city much more quickly than the TomTom, which requires that you enter the city before the state. As such, you are presented with a (sometimes) very long list of matching cities, which you then must scroll through to find the correct one. Consider, for example, a city name like "Springfield." Once you manage to key in enough characters that the machine can guess the name, it presents you with a list of Springfields, one for each state! There are a lot of Springfields in the US, so you end up wasting considerably time clicking past the ones you don't want.
Now that the addresses were entered (and I was already starting to get annoyed with the TomTom's inefficiency), the machines begin to calculate a driving route. The Garmin found a reasonable route from Paramus, NJ to Cambridge, MA in about 8 seconds, and it took another 5 or so to draw the map and announce the first move. The trip was estimated to require about 3 1/2 hours (reasonable, if not a bit low). On the other hand, the TomTom required more like 30 seconds to calculate the route, plus another 10 or so to draw the map. What's worse, the TomTom told me it would take over 8 hours to reach the destination. Only on a pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday in snow, many years ago, has it ever taken that long!
I figured perhaps some other customer had chosen a route preference that led to this odd path. After searching hopelessly through several poorly labeled menus on the TomTom and failing to see a "shortest distance" or "quickest trip" option, I tried resetting the machine's preferences. Unfortunately, the machine's touch screen registered a finger-touch event right after the reset (I must have brushed the screen accidentally), and it locked in a foreign language I couldn't read. (I guess the first question it asks after a reset is "what language do you want?") There was no "back" button that I could find, and it kept asking additional questions in this foreign tongue. I needed a translator to continue! At that point, there was no sense in playing with the TomTom any further. The user interface was simply one frustration piled on another. Even if they were to update the menu choices to be more logical, the touch-sensitive feature is slightly misaligned, requiring you to press the bottom corner of a button you want in order to get the correct selection. Button presses made in the center of a button often resulted in the button above being chosen. I don't appreciate electronics that waste my time.
The speed of the Garmin's route calculation is more important that simply allowing you to set off quicker, though. If you miss a turn en route, the machine must recalculate your trip so it can correct your path. The Garmin recovers from missed turns quickly enough that it can usually find and announce the correcting route before the next turn. If a machine cannot recover this quickly, you'll simply miss that turn, too, and the machine will set off recalculating another new route. You'll end up in a vicious cycle of missed turns if the machine is off-line for too long. I have not used the TomTom in a car, but given that it was such a laggard in the store, I would want to experiment with it during a missed turn before investing such a large sum.
As for bright light visibility, the Garmin is more than adequate. I have a convertible, and even in bright sunlight with the top down, the Garmin is adequately legible. The built-in speaker, though small, is powerful and clear. Directions are easily audible over the wind and road noise, assuming I've got the stereo at a reasonably low level. The Text to Speech (TTS) feature allowing the unit to speak street names performs well enough to recognize the street without looking at the unit.
The windshield mount worked quite well despite the stiff suspension in my car, my aggressive driving habits, and the fact that it was in the direct sun and heat for several hours today. (The car corners at greater than 0.95g, and achieves about 1.00g in deceleration, which did not so much as shake the unit or the mount. Larger transient forces such as expansion joints also failed to upset the suction cup mount.) The machine snaps in and out of the charger / holder with complete ease.
Garmin's unit is much thinner than the TomTom, and its battery is rated for up to 8 hours of use while unplugged from the car charger (a wall charger is also included). Becaues the unit is so small (think iPod size), it fits easily into a pocket for walking trips, hiking, and biking. It's also very easy to place in a brief case or pocketbook, further protecting your investment when you park.
$800 is a lot of money to spend on a GPS device, but the Garmin has justified the expense with an exemplary machine. With plenty of map data, a very polished and efficient user interface, and simple setup and operation, they have managed to outshine the competition.
As a footnote, I had planned to purchase the Garmin from Best Buy or Circuit City until they told me there was a 15% restocking fee for a returned item. Given the unique nature of this device (you need to like using it IN YOUR CAR, not in the store), this could be quite a loss if you decide against the item. Amazon has no such penalty. However, if you choose the Garmin, I suspect you will never want to send it back! Hope this helps you choose.
UPDATE: After a 1300 mile road trip to Virginia, I am still extremely pleased with the Garmin Nuvi 350. Even gravel side roads off the Blue Ridge Parkway were accurately labeled and present in the map data! No matter where we were, a few taps on the screen brought up a list of nearby restaurants (marked with arrows so you can choose only ones that don't require a U-turn!) or stores. Also, do not underestimate the utility of having a portable, battery-powered device while walking around unfamiliar cities and towns. It's a huge help. In short, this device is a joy to use. Garmin also plan to release Macintosh compatible software in the next several months (according to press releases on their Web site) so that we Mac users will be able to keep our Nuvi's accurate in the future.
Best Regards,
Daniel Wambold, MD
www.ascendiac.com
Customer Review: Hwys intersect -Problem understood thru Environment+Experience=Education
Summary: 5 Stars
[...]I recently responded to a review in Amazon's comments option regarding the Nuvi 670. I don't know if my quirk experience with Nuvi350 was relative to his bug issue on the 670. But I enjoyed his review so much that I felt compelled to share. It's more appropriate to post this as a review for the Nuvi 350. I've added a bit more to my original comments:
Add me to list of people who found the March 21, 2007 review of the Nuvi 670 by Chris Hann's very helpful. The following is a chapter from his review on the Nuvi 670:
"The one significant bug is a holdover from previous Garmin products like the GPS V, it is also an issue it shares with Tomtom. While heading down an interstate, let's take I880 from Oakland to Fremont as an example, with many miles of straight ahead to go, the 670 will direct you off at a ramp, it likes to take the I238 ramp towards Livermore, and then immediately back on. This is amusing to a local, but it could be very confusing to a visitor. It did the same to me in 395 south through Reno last night, that did confuse me. This is a bug that should have been eradicated years ago. "
His comments reminded me of several similar confusing directions from the Nuvi 350 until I realized what it was doing with certain major highways and interstates. I watched the miles count down towards my next mapped exit off Florida's Turnpike. Only to be suddenly confused by the "Recalculation" announcement indicating I took the wrong exit. It just happened to be the beginning of the Sawgrass Expressway. I thought I messed up. One month later... I ...It ... did the same exact thing. Even though I paid closer attention to the directions. Nonetheless, I was very pleased that I didn't get lost - just rerouted - and it didn't add any extra time to my trip.
(On a side note, is it just me, or does the "recalculating" announcement seem like a slight admonishment? I've read that Jill's voice pronounces most street names accurately. Supposedly, the Australian female voice is the most popular.)
Months later, in familiar surroundings, the light bulb went on when I had to pass Hwy 528 on I-95. Nuvi's miles counted down to zero and advised keeping to the left on I-95. It doesn't share the reason to stay left is several additional lanes for 528 East or 528 West. After passing this intersection, Nuvi's directions indicated another 1.5 miles until my exit off of I-95.
It seems that Nuvi counts miles between some major intersections of Highway onto or branching off interstates/roadways usually involving ramps or splits. I'm not exactly sure why it highlights some intersections and not others. I think it may have to do with additional lanes for heavy traffic. My speech function (and not the text function) tells you to keep right or left as the highways divide. Then it counts down miles until the next turn ... the real exit.
Even if you didn't "turn" onto the intersecting hwy - Nuvi counts it as a "turn." I'll call it the "UN-TURN" and may list as 2 duplicate text instructions on the listed directions. The "UN-TURN" also shows up as a straight line on the visual map. These directions may be slightly different due to choices selected under SETTINGS --> NAVIGATION -> Voice Prompts -> Guidance and/or Status. In the detailed view of an individual map along with text direction, the major clue of the "UN-TURN" is a map with a single straight line (NO TURN - NO RAMP) Text states: Keep left on HWY # N (NO EXIT NUMBER.) This isn't a gentle reminder to keep going the same way you've been going for a bit longer. It's code for additional lanes to choose from because of major intersection. It won't show it but it does count it. I hope I made sense. :-) I originally tried to be very detailed with instructions but it was too confusing. Hopefully, my attempt to Keep It Simple will be understood. Because I know how confusing and frustrating this little "quirk" can be if it's misunderstood
I especially love the Nuvi 350 trip details screen. It's reassuring to know the exact speed I am traveling. Those speed measuring signs on some highways have matched Nuvi every time. Even without that reassurance, I trust the satellite data to be more accurate than my speedometer or even a cop's speedometer. That's a guess really since I've never gotten a speeding ticket. I don't speed very often. I have to say that cause I have been surprised by the max speed recorded. It must have been while I was passing some car because I didn't consciously speed that fast. We were surprised to learn that my mom's car speedometer is only accurate up to 60 mph. No Wonder she's not gotten a ticket when she swears she went 80 mph the whole trip. I think it would be so cool to take it on my next flight to see how fast the plane is traveling. :-)
I also love always knowing how far I've gone and how far to go. No more relying on the occasional "Distances to" Signs along with my odometer and mile markers. I even play my own road games by trying to improve my trip times and/or averages: Total Time, Moving Time, Stopped Time, Overall Average, and Moving Average, Talking about time, it is uncanny how accurate the Nuvi's est Arrival Time has been. Going anywhere, no more stressing about being late or even too early - like picking up someone at a distant airport. I can trust the Nuvi est Arrival time so much that I turn it on in the house before the trip and base my departure on this awesome feature. I make a game out of the arrival time too. By setting cruise control to a safe speed of 5-7 miles over the limit, I watch as Nuvi subtracts a minute from the est arrival time every 40 miles or so. It sorta makes up for gas and rest stops :-)
I've only been researching other Nuvis because my Mom keeps borrowing mine. At first she wasn't interested in it. Then she and my Uncle got so lost in L. A, CA during a friend's wedding weekend. Every event was at a different location. The only time they didn't get lost was returning to airport. Which, of course, they added extra time for the very real possibility of getting lost. Then add in the 2 hours before the flight that the airlines recommend. They were not happy campers - they lost a lot of time they could have spent with loved ones. Now she swears she's never going to rent another car without a GPS. I would have lent her mine except I mistakenly assumed most rental cars had GPS. OOPS!
I Love Amazon for these reviews and the occasional downloadable manuals. The Garmin web site has the manual available for download if anyone is interested. I rarely buy anything without checking Amazon first. So it's appropriate for my first review ever to be about this wonderful GPS. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Nuvi 350. Even More Now that I understand it better. Best thing I've ever purchased. BAR NONE!!! Peace, Understanding, Love and Laughter to All.
Customer Review: Wonderful, with a few bugs
Summary: 5 Stars
We've owned the Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS system for about 3 months now, and used it in Minneapolis and Boston, the cross-country drive, and on several business trips. There are 3 primary users of the system. We spent a lot of time researching the tradeoffs among GPS systems. We selected this one because it seemed to meet our needs the best.
(Pros) In general we love this gadget. It finds the satellites quickly, has a good database of places to go, finds good routes, announces turns nicely, etc.
We love its form factor - it does fit in your pocket, just as the advertisements claim. The display is bright and large enough to see while driving. The antenna does a great job of maintaining satellite signal. The suction-cup mount works well most of the time, and transfers nicely from car-to-car. The interface is intuitive. When listening to a book/music, it pauses playback before announcing driving directions, & then rewinds a couple of seconds. I love being able to just put my finger on the screen and move the map around, and also to specify "go here" just by pointing to the place without needing the address. We really like the time estimates to your destination.
(Cons) I'm guessing that this list of cons will be true for any GPS system of this size, so take them as a list of suggestions for software enhancements. The fact that software updates are available online is nice; I look forward to seeing what gets fixed.
The biggest irritation is the automatic zoom. It *always* zooms out too far. I think the algorithm decides to zoom out to show the entire next segment (till the next turn). Often that means your car is displayed much, much larger than anything useful on the map. It doesn't seem to matter what distance you're travelling, the zoom-out is too far. For example, I've had a 400-mile segment displayed in a 2-inch wide window. Getting mile-long displays in a neighbourhood means you can't see the upcoming intersections. All of us will consistently hit the zoom-in button 3 or 5 times after every turn. We think the decision should probably be based on the density of roads/intersections.
Occasionally, when a highway splits in two directions, you get a reasonably long distance of them running in parallel before actually separating. The Nuvi algorithm seems to "prefer" to assume that you are on the correct path, and occasionally won't warn you that you are in the wrong lane before it's too late to make the correction. If the zoom factor were corrected, you'd be able to see these nuances in the route, and self-correct... but it would be better to relax the "magnet" factor in these cases. (This problem is much more serious in Boston than the other places we've driven.)
When searching for "where to", the system lists all the locations and approximate distance/direction from where you currently are. I would really like the map to be able to display these icons on the screen... for example, driving on a long highway route, I'd like to know which upcoming towns have gas stations. I don't want the planner to plan a route to these locations, I'd just like to be able to see ones that are "near" my future route.
When you go to "map explore" mode (moving the map around), it is sometimes too quick to assume that you wanted to go to that point (rather than drag the map). Up pops a yes/no window asking whether you want the point added as a waypoint. If you say "yes", then it adds a waypoint while leaving the final destination the same. If you say "no", it makes that point your final destination and recalculates the route. This menu desperately needs a "cancel" button.
I would LOVE to have an "avoid this place" menu item. This would be useful for intersections that you know are bad for traffic, or under (long term) construction. It's really irritating to have it generate the same route over and over again when you know you won't be able to follow it.
I would like to be able to add to (or correct) the main database. The only way to add to the database is to call something a favourite. However, sometimes a store is missing or the name spelled incorrectly, and you really don't want to "clutter" up your favourites list. (I also think that Garmin should use this information to update their maps; users could easily upload data.)
While the database of landmarks is large, the "search" for items is a little weak. For example, I would like it to grey out letters of invalid keys, i.e. I type "Q" and the only available letter is "U". As another example, I haven't found a way to search for wild cards. This is particularly irritating for places like "KMart" (or is it "K-Mart", or "K--Mart")? (There is a hyphen that doesn't match the dash.) You also get strange situations with numbered highways. I've also had a few times when someone said "the restaurant is just a few blocks down, at the corner of Main and Broadway;" I assume (incorrectly) that it's in the same town, and Nuvi can't find it. I'd like it to suggest the "nearby" options.
The estimate of time to destination is extremely accurate for highway driving, but the algorithm isn't too bright about predicting red lights. (We've learned to "round up" appropriately.)
Finally, it doesn't have the bicycle routes in its database. This feature would be a huge bonus.
After 6 months of use, the "on/off" switch stopped working: that meant we couldn't adjust volume or use it without the car's electric system. BestBuy replaced it without question under their extended warranty plan.
The software has been updated since we originally bought the unit. The most significant change that it shows your current lat/long. However, not one of my complaints has been addressed! Rather disappointing.
Customer Review: My Trusty Travel Companion
Summary: 5 Stars
I used iGuidance 1.0 for the Pocket PC for over 4 years before I got the Garmin nüvi. I loved the iGuidance but the Garmin nüvi blew me away!
Accuracy
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The nüvi is very accurate; it has yet to fail to bring me to my destination. However, I've encountered a few instances where an address or road wasn't in the nüvi database (I have the 2009 maps). In such cases, your best bet would be to simply enter an adjacent or nearby location into the nüvi.
Directions
The software lets you know how far ahead your next turn is when you're within between about .1 to .5 miles. It says something like "In .1 miles, turn left onto Broadway" and a few hundred feet before your turn, it omits the information on the distance before your turn and simply says "Turn left onto Broadway." I wish it used feet instead of miles when specifying distances .2 mile (1056 ft) or less but it's a minor complaint.
The software gives you the directions for two successive turns that are very close together (say, 300 feet apart) all at once to make sure you have ample time to respond to the second turn that immediately follows the first. For example, "Take exit 70, then keep left", or "Turn right, then immediately turn left."
However, it may occasionally notify you of a turn a little late, which results in you missing the turn. Thankfully, this doesn't happen very often. If you do miss a turn, however, the software recalculates a new route very quickly (within a couple of seconds)!
Auto-Off/Resume Function
My Garmin is a permanent fixture in my car. I leave the car adapter permanently hooked up to the unit. What I really love about it is it automatically turns off when the external power supply is lost. What this translates to is whenever I turn off my car engine, the unit automatically shuts itself off. When I start my car, the unit automatically fires back up. It gets better - it remembers your set destination when it turns back on and resumes giving you directions to your destination. This feature is handy for when I need to fill up on gas midway to a destination. After I'm done filling up my tank, I start my car, at which point the GPS unit fires back up and immediately resumes giving me directions to my destination. Very cool! This makes the Garmin nüvi the perfect In-Car GPS solution!
Data Entry
The keys for entering addresses into the nüvi are arranged alphabetically from A-Z, not in a QWERTY format. Personally, I find the tedium of having to hunt for letters in the A-Z format a real inconvenience and annoyance!
Lock It
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You can lock your nüvi with a 4-digit PIN. The package comes with 2 decals that state that your GPS unit is secured with a security code to deter would-be thieves from stealing the unit.
Text-To-Speech
The text to speech still sounds like it comes from a synthesized voice but it's perfectly intelligible.
Nice Extras
- SD card Slot
Since the unit can serve as an MP3 Player and a photo viewer, it has an SD card slot allows you to load mp3 and photos (JPEG) onto the unit.
- MP3 Player
The MP3 Player is very basic. It has shuffle and repeat track/playlist. The unit will only read mp3 files in the root directory of the SD card; it will not read mp3 files that are in a folder. It will, however, read playlist (pls) files, which can have their source from one or more folders / sub folders. There are other limitations to the mp3 player:
(i) you cannot delete tracks
(ii) you cannot arrange/edit your playlists
To edit/delete your tracks or playlists, you will need to do so in your computer, mobile device, or music device.
- Picture Viewer
You can load your photos via the SD card slot and view it on the screen.
nüvi 350 vs. nüvi 360
The only difference between the nüvi 350 and the nüvi 360 is the nüvi 360 has Bluetooth for connecting your cell phone whereas the nüvi 350 doesn't.
Alternatives
I would really recommend the Garmin nüvi 765/765T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic instead. The nüvi 765/765T has *live* traffic (it comes with a traffic receiver and a *free* lifetime traffic subscription) - it factors in current traffic conditions and routes you accordingly. It has a built-in FM transmitter so you'll be able to listen to the voice directions (and music, if you choose to use the included MP3 player) through the stereo/surround-sound speakers in your car. It also has bluetooth and a host of other features. Here's the clincher - it costs half as much as the nüvi 350 sold here!
Conclusion
The Garmin nüvi is a very affordable In-Car GPS Solution. Apart from the cumbersome interface (A-Z keys) for entering your destination, I really don't have very much else to complain about it. As good as the nüvi 350 is, I would strongly recommend the nüvi 765/765T instead. It has many, many more features than the nüvi 350 and costs half as much!
Customer Review: Nuvi 350 - FIVE STARS
Summary: 5 Stars
After a lot of research, I recently received (and tested) my Garmin nüvi 350.
In general terms, this is an EXCELLENT GPS and I'm very satisfied with my purchase.
Here's the detailed rundown for potential buyers:
((MONEY))
If you're thinking of saving money by getting the c330, c340, or c530 then consider 2 things:
- 1. The nüvi 350 fits easily into your shirt pocket while the c330 and c340 are built like miniature (but bulky) computer monitors. You WILL want to carry your GPS unit with you at times and you'll be glad that you got the slim nüvi 350 instead.
- 2. The nüvi 350 uses the new SiRF satellite receiver and almost instantly acquires a satellite signal. Many c330 and c340 owners complain about how long these older units take to get a signal (plus frequent dropped signals). Also, neither the c330 nor the c530 provide Text-to-Speech.
At the time my purchase, Amazon's price is: 368.50 (no tax and free shipping)
Compare to Current Retail prices:
Best Buy - 499.99 plus tax
Radio Shack - 499.99 plus tax
Circuit City - 449.99 plus tax
Wal-Mart - 448.95 plus tax
Target - 429.99 plus tax (internet only - not on the shelves)
((FEATURES))
- SiRF provides excellent and fast, satellite signal acquisition (unlike older units).
- Text-to-Speech (calling out the streets By Name) is FAR more helpful that I originally thought it would be. I was tempted to get a unit without this option, to save money, but am now SO VERY glad that I went ahead and got the nüvi 350 instead (this feature is a BIG deal when driving through a cluster of streets in heavy traffic).
- MP3 Player ~ again, this is a feature that I didn't originally rate as a high-priority when purchasing a GPS unit. However, after loading many of my favorite MP3's onto the unit (and being able to easily play them through my car speakers), I now realize that this was an excellent add-on. ((* HINT: I bought a $9 adaptor at Wal-Mart that connects the headphone jack of the nüvi 350 directly to my car stereo - This is a MUST as the nüvi 350 speakers are good for navigation, but not so great for listening to music))
- Flip-up Antenna is a great feature. When the antenna is flipped down, the GPS system is turned "off" and saves on battery-life if you're just listening to MP3's or if you're just exploring POI's or programming your favorite locations, etc. ((* HINT: When you first receive your nüvi 350, flipping up the antenna is 1ST thing you should do after power-up so that the unit will find your current location)). The very first satellite acquisition takes about 25-30 seconds, but they become much faster thereafter.
((IN THE BOX))
- I was pleasantly surprised that the nüvi 350 box includes THREE (3) types of power adaptors (a car adaptor - a wall adaptor and the USB cable, which also charges the unit from your computer).
- Owner's Manual is included on the unit itself. Just hook-up your USB cable and the 2.8Meg pdf-file owner's manual is pre-loaded and easy to cut and paste right onto your PC for quick viewing and/or printing.
- The SD memory card slot is nice, but I haven't needed it yet. The total size of the nüvi 350's internal memory is almost 1.4 Gig (needed for all the big maps, voices, etc.), but it still has over 500Meg of free space for adding mp3's. I may get a card down the road, if I want to add more stuff, but I was quite happy that Garmin provided over 1/2 a gig of memory right out of the box!
- I expected a cheap and thin carrying case. No so! The carrying case is thick, very soft interior, and of generally high quality.
((NAVIGATION))
What can I say? The nüvi 350 does an excellent job and it's VERY reliable. New users should pay particular attention to their settings. The "Shortest Distance" setting may take you down a road with MANY stoplights because that route is indeed the shortest distance. "Shortest Time" is probably the setting that most people would want to use as it will forego the shorter distance, if there is an interstate, Hwy, or thoroughfare that will get you to your location faster.
Bottom line: GREAT Navigation - just pay attention to your settings.
((SUMMARY))
The nüvi 350 is by-far the best GPS for the money (especially Amazon's price). I didn't really need, or want to pay for, the more expensive bluetooth units so I feel that the nüvi 350 was the perfect choice in every way for me. For business trips, vacations, or just running errands in unknown areas, owning a solid GPS navigator is simply indispensable. The nüvi 350 was the perfect choice for me.
Hope this review was helpful. :-)