this is a great GPS device with easy to read maps and clear ...
356554
This little gem has taken me all over the state. I feel much more confident driving in unknown areas, far away from home. It does seem that it needs to be plugged into the charger at all times; on one trip the rental car didn't have a working charger and the GPS died quickly. I had to stop in the next town to change rental cars and made sure the charger worked before leaving the lot. Other than that, this is a great GPS device with easy to read maps and clear instructions.
2474145
I just received this GPS and right out of the box it worked great.  There were no glitches, frozen screens, or lags like some people have complained about in their reviews.  I think Magellan fixed most of those bugs so if you were to order one today, it should not have any problems.  It comes with the lastest firmware (2.36) and the maps are very up-to-date.

GPS Signal: I acquired a signal instantly.  I don't know why some people said it took forever, they must be living in an area with a lot of obstructions.  My signal never faded and was never lost, either.

Routing:  The routing was pretty accurate.  Re-routing is insanely fast, it took only about 2 or 3 seconds before it got back on track if I made a wrong turn.  The nice thing about this GPS is that it gives you a pleasant chime right before your next turn.  Also, the screen splits in half and gives you a diagram of your next move since the map can look kinda cluttered.  The text-to-speech works fine..sounds pretty computerized but it is understandable.  Volume is plenty loud, I can hear it with my stereo turned all the way up.

POIs: The database seems comprehensive enough...the only thing it has not found for me so far is Sally's beauty supply which I thought was pretty common.  It has all your major chains - Walmart, best buy, target, etc etc.  I didn't really care too much for the AAA tourbook info, it wasn't as extensive as the POI list so there seemed no point.  Pretty good feature if you go out to eat and stay at hotels a lot (neither of which I do often).

Touch screen is very responsive and very easy to input data.  It completes city and street names for you so you don't have to type out the whole thing.

The only complaint I have about this unit is the map.  It is HORRIBLE to look at during the "day mode".  Night mode is a lot better to read since it is a black background with a neon green route.  It switches to night mode automatically after a certain hour, but you can turn this option off and keep it on day mode if you want.  However, there is no way to put it on night mode during the day. The day mode is a light green background with a neon green route.  Pretty dumb if you ask me.  I called support to ask if they have any downloads available to change the map color, but they said engineers are working on software right now so there is nothing yet.  The map really does get washed out in sunlight and it is pretty hard to see.  The fonts and everything else on the map screen are big enough and easy to read (I don't know why some people complained that they were too small).

In the end I am deciding to return the Magellan for the Garmin nuvi 650.  The maps on the Garmin look a lot easier to read (white background with hot pink route) and the unit has pretty much the same features as the Magellan except for bluetooth (which I would not use anyway).  I couldn't stand the daytime map on the magellan.  Other than that it is a great GPS system and I would still recommend it to anyone.
2799121
I've been using Garmin GPS products for about 10 years.  My other GPS, a Garmin GPS-III+ is Great.  But when they added routing to this III+ look-a-like I had to try it!
I'm in the LA area and have set the GPS V with everything from LA County below Whittier to the ocean, and all of Orange county along the same northern line.  This device works GREAT!  I went on a driving trip to San Luis Obispo after uploading that area and it took me right to the door!  This product is great for travel because it's easy to take with you!  And at 20% off I it's a steal!
2689419
I bought two of these GPS units in October 08, a new unit for my daughter as a gift and a refurb unit for myself.  Both units work great.  No major problems.  I updated the firmware from Magellan's web site, it's free.  I also updated the maps.  Both units shipped with 07-08 maps.  The update is to the latest 08-09 maps, cost is $80 per unit.  The traffic indicator works great and is inexpensive $40 for a year of service.  With it enabled, the unit will route you around heavy traffic.  The unit is very easy to operate.  The controls and screen are very intuitive.  The fact that the unit can act as a hands free speakerphone (Bluetooth) is a plus.  The unit works with both my BB Pearl and my daughter's Palm phone.  Without the firmware update you have to connect the phone to the unit every time you want to use it.  With the update, once synced, the phone will auto connect.  I looked at the 4350 at a major retailer, much more $$, no real difference I could see (maybe it comes with new maps, don't know).
1166900
This is my first GPS, I liked because it was easy to use.
I did not read the instructions,and I was able to set it up.  I didn't have time to charge it inadvance so I did it in the car while driving.  It shows crossing streets, nearby restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and important landmarks (name of lakes, museums, airports), it even shows if there are airplanes flying above you.
It will let you know in advance and in detail when is your next turn.  It had very clear instructions when we encounter mergers of different highways that out of the sudden split up.
It also tells you the approximate arrival time to your destination, so you know if you will make it on time...
For a firsttimer, it had everything I needed... for local and out of state travel.
The only Con I had so far is the house number is 300 ft off. and battery life is a little short, but you can recharge while driving.
2899878
I'm not in need of a map (GPS map) so this device is perfect.  Great if you don't need the color glossy screen
3962071
Great screen, easy to read.  I like the split screen showing traffic, or your upcoming exit, or the amenities available at each exit. Good flexibility in settings for what the GPS will show you as you drive. The only negative comment I have is that the GPS  allows fewer changes to basic settings "on the fly" via the voice commands than my prior nuvi 880.  There may be a way to do it, but I haven't figured it out using the manual or  through trial and error while driving. Also, calls routed to the GPS are difficult to hear. Other than that, I love the Nuvi 2597.  Lots of options, looks great, wide range of capabilities. The smartphone link app has been very useful - definitely recommend downloading the smart phone link app. Can't wait to use more of the features on a long trip.
4667464
I got this for my parents as an early Xmas gift. And they, especially my dad loves it. This GPS has preloaded maps and other assorted features and is very easy to use. My dad, who is not a wiz with electronics figured out to use it in no time and he loves the touchscreen, He's not used to such things being pretty old-fashioned about technology. A great GPS at a great price!
3383478
It came to the house in no time at all and it is really easy to use. It has lifetime traffic AND maps so it's really a great purchase for me. I have had a few Garmin type devices in the past that had free traffic but not maps, but this one is great for me. It is a little different than the Garmin as far as the way it's screens are set up, but once you use it, you will see it's great. The lane assist is awesome and the time to arrival is a nice feature as well.

A good buy for the features it offers, in my opinion.

Thanks
27109
I have owned this device for almost two months now, and find it to be a very well made product.  Adding an 8 GB SD card makes it the only music player that I need for the motorcycle and the car.  It's a damned fine GPS too.  As usual, the mapping products supplied by Garmin leave a little to be desired, since there have been a few roads I've travelled that weren't in the maps (on four year old roads).  But overall, anyone should be very happy purchasing this unit.
523614
This is only my second handheld GPS. Like my Garmin before this one the UI is clean, simple, and easy to figure out. This screen is way large and the GPS antenna is fast to connect to the satts. A great GPS.

Demo Mode!
I had one big issue at the start: this device would not exit Demo Mode (turn GPS Simulation mode off). The manual does not cover this issue and most user group posts give the wrong solution. I'm guessing this is a regular problem for Garmin as the device has the simplest solution for exiting Demo mode: get in your car with the GPS and drive! In well less than a mile your GPS will discover you are not standing at a store counter. It's as simple as that.
4667218
This GPS was a Christmas gift for my husband, but we used it on our recent trip to Florida.  It is easy to use and the screen is quite clear.  We used the traffic warning and were steered around the traffic jams in the northern VA area.  I would surely recommend this Navigator.
721818
The device is excellent and does what it says it will do. It's very easy to set up. I do wish I could set it up to take us on different types of routes: no highways, scenic, no dirt roads, etc. It is set up with only two options: Fastest route and Shortest Distance. We prefer shortest distance because if we deviate from the charted route it will readjust to follow our course and will then direct us on the next shortest distance. However, it is very difficult to get a large overview of how the Garmin is actually planning on taking you to your destination. Also, I wish you could save destination words that you frequently type in. You can save favorite destinations, say a specific address or a specific business in a specific location. But we use the Garmin to sniff out Starbucks, Targets, Home Depots, Kinkos, etc, all across the country (it works beautifully for this.) However, I can't just save the word Starbucks. I have to retype it in every time I want to find a new Starbucks in a new area.  Also there is no way to ask the Garmin to take you to a certain town or a certain intersection. For example, if you know you want to head toward Charleston, you can't just type in Charleston. It needs a specific address (including street #) in Charleston. I find myself typing in Charleston and then from the list that the Garmin offers selecting Charleston Honda or Charleston Baptist Church or Charleston Bar & Grill. Whatever comes up that sounds like it probably would be in the center of town. This can sometimes lead you on wild goose chases too because it will then direct you to that specific business which may or may not be in the center of town. The same goes for requesting an intersection or a highway name. At one point we were lost in Queens NY and needed to find the Van Wyck Expressway. We were very close to it but couldn't find how to get onto it. I wanted to ask the Garmin to find the Van Wyck but there was no way to do it.

So in summary I would say it is extremely helpful. We love putting it on the general map setting and just watch where we are going when we are just out exploring. We like being able to know exactly what direction we are heading. Very helpful when it is getting to be dusk and we want to vaguely head toward home...without really going home.

If we need to arrive somewhere quickly, the Garmin is excellent. If you don't like to meander, you'll love it. But it tends to like to put you on highways (especially when set on Fastest Route) even for short distances with easy alternatives. But it always gets you to your destination which is a huge asset over manually reading a map.

When we really are roadtripping though, we find we still need the morning examination of the road atlas with our coffee, just to get our bearings. To know where we are heading and generally how to get there. Then the Garmin can take us there more specifically and the map can spend the whole day in the backseat...enjoying the ride.
431115
This GPS is loaded with features!  I love that I can uses the AAA ratings system when looking for places to eat or stay.  And the multi-destination map feature is great.  It makes planing my trips to the city (Phoenix, AZ) much easier.  I can input all of my destinations before I leave and have my entire trip set.  This keeps me much more relaxed when my time is tight.  These are two factors that set this GPS apart from the others for me.

The best part about this GPS is the large size screen and clear maps.  I've tested some other GPS brands and models in the store and sometimes the maps are too busy and colors too loud.  This map looks great.  It's easy on the eyes yet also high enough in contrast to easily read the maps while driving.

I haven't tried the WiFi yet.  But it is a nice feature.  If you do have data on your cell phone then using the GPS for WiFi won't be a big plus.  But it's nice to use a larger screen when you need to surf the web or check emails on the road.

The dual orientation mode (landscape or portrait) is another neat feature.  I'll likely always use this GPS in landscape mode, but it's nice to know that I can change the layout if I need to.

I'm very happy with this GPS and recommend it to others.
3119270
I bought the Nuvi 265WT as my first GPS unit. After using this for some time now, I really like this product. Pros: Easy to use, Speech is very clear, Bluetooth works well, Satellite reception is great, Easy to set up, Great display, The speed limit and speedometer features are great and accurate, Arrival time is calculated accurately. Cons: Pre-installed maps and software are out of date, Only one free map update is available, Updates to software and maps are quite expensive. This GPS would get 5 stars if it weren't for the software deficiencies and the cost to update. Overall a great product. I highly recommend it!
3425038
My wife and I recently purchased the above GPS when it was time to upgrade the maps on our old Garmin GPS and the unit was not equipped to handle importing the new maps.  The new unit has a better design for updating maps and that feature is included at no extra cost.  The new unit is similar to the old one with a few minor improvements.  I highly recommend the optional; dashboard mount in place of the windshield mount.

Jeff
Wyncote, PA
2928229
I purchased my first GPS nav device (the Tomtom ONE) in April '07.  I used it for relatively short local trips near home in NC and it worked flawlessly.  Using it is easy and fairly intuitive.  The windshield mount is excellent - it never came unintentionally detatched.  But the real test of the device came on an 8-day vacation trip to Savannah, GA, St. Augustine, FL, and the Orlando, FL area at the end of May.  Hotels, theme parks, restaurants and movies were found w/o a hitch.  It made navigating in an unfamiliar location much less tense or stressful.  I especially like the display indicators that show the distance to the next turn and the distance/estimated time to the final destination. Exploring side roads and making detours on a whim were accomplished without drama or fear of getting lost/disoriented because Tomtom was so accomplished at getting us back on the right trail to the intended destination.  A paper map was never needed nor missed during the trip.  I highly recommend this device.  I think I paid something like $250 for an on-line order from Crutchfield.com.