Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator   [Electronics 2008]

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Rave Reviews (22)*

• 1) Garmin Nuvi 255w

  by Schultzie on July 01 2008
    2100+ helpful votes

  I actually could not decide between the Garmin Nuvi 255w or the 750 model, so I decided to buy them both for comparison. I mounted them both to my car windshield and gave them various addresses to find together. I found that both models took the same routes and announced upcoming turns and street names at practically the same time. One thing I noticed about the 255w was that it was updating my position on the road more often, I'd say about 3 times as often as the 750. This made for smoother graphics on the 255w of the vehicle moving along displayed roads, where the 750's display was more of a "jerky" movement. I also found that the display on the 255w was a bit brighter, clearer, and more vivid than on the 750 in both daylight and at night. Another feature I like on the 255w is the graphic turn indicator in the upper left corner, which the 750 lacks. This is a small arrow which shows upcoming turns and the distance to that turn. It also show things like a fork in the road, (ie: a Y intersection), and which fork you will be taking. The 750 just displays text on the top line for upcoming turns without the arrow. It's just a little extra feature on the 255w which I happened to really like. The 255 also automatically adjusts the font size of displayed text so that even lengthy text will fit.
  Another feature on the 255w is a display of the posted speed limit on the road which you are currently on right above your current displayed speed. I found myself not even looking at my car speedometer as I could easily see my current speed and the speed limit of my route at a glance. The 750 doesn't have this feature. I also like how they moved the zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) buttons on the 255w to the same side of the screen which makes it a bit easier. On the 750 the zoom buttons are on opposite sides of the screen.
  Now there are some features on the 750 that the 255w does not have. The 750 can broadcast it's sound over your FM radio with the supplied cigarette lighter cable, and it has a headphone jack, which I found to be nice features. The 750 also has an MP3 player and an Audio-book player, which the 255w does not. Another really nice feature of the 750 is the car locater. This is a great feature if you are parking in a really big lot, such as at an amusement park or a fair. The 750 marks your location when you remove it from the car, then you take it with you and it remembers where you parked and takes you right back to your car. The 255w doesn't have the car locater.
  I also thought the the voice prompts of the 750 where more pleasant sounding than the 255w's. The 750 sounds more like a real female voice, where the 255w sounds more robotic.
  Another thing to consider was that I paid $50 less for the 750 and it came with the FM transmitter cable and a USB cord to connect it to your computer for updates and downloads.
  My final decision was to keep the 255w and return the 750 because I really liked the graphic turn indicator and the posted speed limit and current speed indicators. I didn't find a need for the 750's MP3 player and Audio book player, but that is up to personal preference. Since the USB cable was not included with the 255w, I purchased it on this site for $10. I also intend to purchase the MSN direct cable when it is available in August 2008.

• 2) Best In Its Class - Great For Traveling

  by EmbeddedFlyer on August 07 2008
    360+ helpful votes

  If you spend much time driving in unfamiliar territory, especially if you rent cars in big cities, a good portable GPS makes an amazing difference. And the Garmin 255W is the best one I could find in the $250 - $350 range.
  
  First this thing just plain works. I haven't had any issues with mine. It was easy to set up and figure out right out of the box, and it's easy to use. It never has had trouble getting sufficient signal unlike earlier and cheaper models.
  
  I chose the 255W for several reasons: It uses some of the newest and best maps available. It has one of the more usable touch screens for entering destinations. It's fast to acquire satellites. And Garmin almost always comes out on top in reviews--especially in routing.
  
  Ultimately, you buy a car GPS to get you from Point A to Point B as easily and efficiently as possible. And that's what the 255W does best. If you've ever had a "Brand X" GPS take you on some strange route that adds 20 minutes to your trip, has you turn the wrong way down a one way road, tell you to turn AFTER you've passed the street, frequently loses the satellite signal, or has old maps missing streets, you know how important this stuff is.
  
  The 255W has a really clear display that's easy to see in any light. It's small enough to use on foot. The windshield mount works great and it's easy to toss in the glovebox when you park. It even tells you the speed limit on most roads. The "points of interest" feature works very well to find places to eat by type of cuisine, gas stations, etc.
  
  The difference between the 255W and 205W is the 255 speaks street names and includes Alaska and Canada. The 205 and 205W will tell you to "turn right in 500 feet" which isn't as helpful or obvious as "turn right on Ivy Street in 500 feet". The "W" models are widescreen which makes entering destinations easier due to having a bigger "keyboard" and also lets you see more map area while driving.
  
  All in all this isn't the cheapest GPS in its class but it's one of the best. My only gripe is you need an expensive add-on to get live traffic data--something that's included with the Magellan Roadmate 1430 which is close to the same price. But the Garmin 255W is a better GPS in every other way.
  

• 3) LOVE the Garmin Nuvi 255W

  by L. Smith on June 29 2008
    160+ helpful votes

  I received this GPS system about a week ago, and I haven't found one thing to complain about yet. The features are great, and all entirely user friendly. No need to read the manual, just plug it in and go! The Garmin Nuvi 255W connects to satellites extremely fast--So when I get in my car and turn it on, we're pretty much ready to go immediately. The new display posts speed limit signs of major roads flush left on the screen, which is a new feature that is also really helpful, if you're driving in an unfamiliar area. The widescreen display makes it possible to view the names of roads that you are passing on the screen--which makes it much easier to differentiate between which road to turn on when there are two streets on your right (not clearly labeled) that are only one house apart...which has happened to me twice... Also, the fact that the Garmin Nuvi 255W speaks street names is also helpful in times like these. In addition, another feature I find to be immensely helpful is how fast the Nuvi 255W recalculates your position if you do miss a turn. I love the detour feature, it saved me a ton of time when I heard there was an accident on the highway and took back roads that I would have never known existed! I would recommend the Garmin Nuvi 255W to anyone looking for a fast, reliable, and easy to use GPS system.

• 4) Great widescreen, street naming unit at a budget price

  by Derek on May 16 2009
    120+ helpful votes

  Was exactly what I was looking for. Widescreen unit that spoke the actual street name at a budget price. Was originally shopping on auction websites but Garmin's 1 year warranty doesn't support refurbished units sold on auction websites. Was also scared about it being a refurbished unit, but so far no issues. I've updated the software and downloaded the latest maps, all without issue. Doesn't come in a fancy retail box, but does include the mount and suction cup. Based on my experience, I would recommend the unit to a friend.

• 5) Great product- very happy

  by Chuck T. Moser on July 27 2008
    100+ helpful votes

  I've never owned a GPS personally, but have had the occasional opportunity to use friends and family's GPS that comes with the cars, most notably the ones in Honda's CRV's... and have wanted one ever since.
  After picking up the Nuvi 255w, I gotta say, this comes pretty darn close to the experience with the expensive factory-installed units... only smaller. In short, I can't think of much I don't like about it.
  It picks up the satellites quickly (I've never noticed a lag), routes fast, has good animation (maybe 6-8 frames a second?), and is very, very accurate. The preloaded maps don't include some of the roads that have been built in our town in the last year (which is to be expected), but does include our street, which isn't even available on Google Maps yet. (Go figure) It's light, looks good and comes with everything you need EXCEPT the USB cable to hook it to the computer. If you don't have this, the only way to charge it is to use the cigarette lighter adapter that comes in the box. I just used the one that came with my digital camera, and it works fine. The screen is easily readable in the sun, and I love how it automatically dims to 20% at night.
  One purpose this can be used for, which I never thought of before, is a portable yellow pages. Not only does it give you the address of the business, it also gives the phone number. Pretty cool. I didn't have the problems with the sounds of the voices like others have. They sound good to me... a little mechanical, but good.
  The interface is a seller for me. Keep in mind that I don't really have much experience to compare it to, but it's obvious they've put some thought into it. The icons are a bit garish and cartoony, though... it's no iPhone.
  The cons: The documentation sucks. Not that you really need it... the directions didn't tell me anything I didn't already know after fiddling with it for 10 minutes.
  It doesn't ALWAYS speak the street names... most of the time, though.
  Some of the voices are annoying. The British accent seems to talk in slow motion, but I think it's the easiest to understand.
  I think they could work a little harder on the interface from a design standpoint. Nothing major, just a few tweaks here and there could really make it shine.
  The Mac support is little lacking.
  
  All in all, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. It truly is a great value, and I have no regrets. My only advice to Garmin is to reduce the number of different models by more than half. It's a nightmare to try and make a confident decision with the sheer amount of choices and features that seem to make little sense as to why some are more expensive than others.

• 6) Near Perfect.

  by N. Miller on September 15 2008
    60+ helpful votes

  The 255W does everything advertised, and does it well. My only gripes are the lack of certain features that could have been implemented easily at virtually no cost, like MP3/Audiobook capability. That, and that the documentation is barely adequate.
  
  But as far as the primary GPS functionality is concerned, this is one excellent piece of hardware. The revised chipset allows the GPS to make satellite connections quickly. The speech synthesis is more than satisfactory.
  
  I would strongly urge those considering this product to purchase the "Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount." This will not only make it trivial to move the unit between two or more cars, but the lack of a window-mounted suction cup means no tell-tale ring-shaped mark to alert potential thieves to the fact you may have a rather nice piece of electronics in the car.
  
  If I could give this unit 4.5 stars, I would.

• 7) Great unit with significant bugs

  by Prao on September 05 2008
    60+ helpful votes

  Overall the Nuvi 255W is a great GPS unit. The unit takes very quickly locks on to satellite signals, tracks very well and when you miss a turn or do something unexpected, recalculates a new route very quickly. I recently took it on a trip from Michigan to Washington, DC and it proved to be extremely useful. There are some quirks that I elaborate on below.
  
  Good points: Hotfix (TM) to lock on to satellite signals works well. Tracking is excellent and without noticable lag. Likewise, it quickly notices that you're off track and recalculates a route quickly. Display is excellent - the layout of information on the screen is very good showing upcoming turns at the top, your speed, the local speed limit and the estimated time of arrival at the bottom. The automatic zoom in and out of the map works well too. I never came across a situation where I felt that the map showed too little (zoomed in too close). On I-76 in PA, I travelled through a mile long tunnel and it tracked me perfectly even though it obviously could not get satellite signals inside the tunnel. There is a sharp turn left just out of the tunnel (going east) and it had no trouble locating me at the turn so soon after I got out. Very commendable.
  
  Not so good points: The quality of the voice (for announcing street names) leaves a bit to be desired. It is robotic as many people have commented and the pronunciation isn't great. It took me a while to recognize the word "ramp". I first assumed it was some Australian term! (I used the Aussie gal to do the announcements - I found her voice the least annoying). But as I got used to it, it ceased to bother me and I could recognize all she said.
  
  I noticed several mistakes in the POI list - for example it did not list the Mobil station nearest my house but listed a party store as being a gas station (about 1/2 mile from the Mobil). I could not locate any of the Smithsonian Institution Museums in the list - a very glaring omission. In fact when I tried to locate museums near Washington, DC, it would not identify Washington, DC at all. It listed several Washingtons all around the country but not in the District of Columbia. I could not even locate the District of Columbia when doing this. It was annoying. Strangely it found a Smithsonian Institution somewhere in Virginia (No, not the Udvar- Hazy center though it located that as well) - I did not follow up.
  It would not let me locate a commuter store in Herndon/Reston, Virginia that was closest to my hotel. When I tried to use the street adress it would not accept the Building # (12530 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA 20171 ). It was listed in the POI database but at the wrong address.
  When I tried to go to Safeway located at 413 Elden Street, Herndon from the Vienna station parking lot, it chose a route that while direct had me make a U-turn to get into the store parking lot. That would have been OK except that the road did not have a left-turn lane at that point and so making a U-turn would have been dangerous. Even stranger, when it asked me to make a U-turn, the symbol indicated a U-turn to the right! but the store was on the left side (as it knew). That confused the heck out of me the first time. I traveled the route again the next day just to make sure that I wasn't reading it wrong and it did it again. However on other occasions, it did correctly show a U-turn as being a turn to the left (all those were legal U-turns). All of this was a little disconcerting.
  
  The 255w does feature a compass - but not a good one. In the map view, if you touch the display button to the left of the "Menu" button (bottom center), it brings up a display that features some stats about your trip and includes a compass of sorts. It gives your heading not in terms of degres but only in terms of one of eight directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). This is not as useful as the heading in degrees.So it you're into Geocacheing as I am, this might be a bit irritating but it is usable.

• 8) Excellent product for the money

  by Kelly Cardona on October 10 2008
    50+ helpful votes

  I want to start out by saying that I spend about 2 weeks going back and forth between products, the manufacturers make it so hard to make a choice with so many products on the market. I was leaning more towards the Nuvi 650 that my boss has, I was 100% sure this was the right one for me. This all changed when I saw the Nuvi 255W and well I changed my mind real quick. I saw it had newer software than the 650 and with the Where am I? feature I was sold on it. I was buying this for my wife as she travels a lot for her job. Enough of why I bought it, let's get into the features.
  
  The device works as advertised and gets you from point A to point B, yeah there might be times that it won't recognize the road you are on this happens on rural roads, and and newer roads though once you get on the highlighted route it works like a champ.
  
  The text to speech is great for not having to look down at the screen endangering yourself and others on the road and after the voice updates the Garmin put out for the 255W the scratchiness and robotic sounding voice became crisp and very audible.
  
  The widescreen is a plus and I highly recommend it, even though it has the wide screen you can stick it in your back pocket which can be conveniently used for walking directions. The screen is very bright and easy to see with direct sunlight and at night time. It is very user friendly and for the basic features it does not require the manual. I also like the option of going from a qwerty keyboard to a standard keyboard. Acquiring satellites is very fast though if you are moving while the acquisition is taking place it will take a little longer to acquire a satellite and of course on a overcast day you may experience difficulty acquiring a signal though understandable. I would say that 90% of the time it acquires a satellite within the first 2 minutes or less, the other 10% is due to the above events.
  
  The points of interest feature is great and on top of already uploaded points of interest there are thousands more that can be downloaded making the 255W a great tool for traveling in unknown territories, there are some great websites for points of interest on the Garmin website or by doing a Google search. The POI loader software is great for loading the custom POIs you get and or create.
  
  In conclusion, I am very pleased with my purchase and so far very happy with direction our Nuvi is taking us on the road. If you are looking for a simple wide screen GPS the Nuvi 255W is the right choice.

• 9) This gave me more that I was expecting...

  by sassytexasgirl on July 16 2009
    50+ helpful votes

  I expected this unit to be able to help me find the best routes, points of interest, etc. It's relatively intuitive to use, and, unlike a competing brand (which I sent back) was able to find it's initial location immediately, with great ease. I'm having a lot of fun with it as I'm learning how to use it. Some of the reviews I had read thought the voice on the text-speech feature irritating. I LIKE it. The tone and pitch are right on for my ears. Also, it's able to pronounce what I consider to be difficult street names with ease and precision. The nicest surprise about it is that this little navigator is able to tell you the speed limit for EVERY street or highway you're on, as well as show you how fast you are going relative to the speed limit. That's more valuable to me than a radar detector would be. It also tells you your anticipated arrival time, which it adjusts for traffic slow downs. The 255W has a 4.3 inch screen, which is quite easy to see from my dashboard as I'm driving. Don't try to change menus or find points of interest while you are driving!! This is more distracting than texting while driving. You will need to pull over to find these things, unless you have a passenger who can help you with this. This limitation would disappear if it could accept voice commands. All things considered, this unit is perfect for my needs at this time. It's also portable and can slip into my purse with ease when I am walking in an unfamiliar area. My only wish would be that it had bluetooth connectivity, but that's an easy work-around with a bluetooth earpiece.

• 10) Works great

  by John Elliott on March 30 2009
    40+ helpful votes

  Arrived as advertised. refurbished unit like new with new unit warranty. Unit had old firmware and maps, but Garmin provided downloadable updates at no charge. Works great and great Garmin Customer Service

• 11) Great 1st GPS

  by wdw_rob_b on July 07 2008
    40+ helpful votes

  First time GPS owner.
  
  Pros
  - Easy to use.
  - Fast satellite pickup. Hotfix works.
  - Included POI list is great.
  - Speed of map updates is awesome. Very smooth.
  - Search for POI and streets are fast.
  - Fast recalculation of routes.
  
  Cons
  - No easy way to delete images.
  - No easy way to organize custom POI's. You have to use POI-Loader.
  - Documentation is poor.
  
  Bottom Line: I would recommend this GPS to anyone. Simple yet powerful.

• 12) No longer 500 miles from nowhere....

  by C. Coleman on June 23 2009
    40+ helpful votes

  Garmin's nuvi 255W (widescreen) is a handy little device that provides excellent value, but more importantly spot on directions.
  
  First thing's first: Why the widescreen over the standard size? Well, for starters, it is larger and perhaps a bit easier to see. But let me expand just a bit...when it comes to gadgets and technology, I'm a design freak. For example, I don't want the smallest, most compact mobile telephone on the market becase they simply aren't user friendly. I have no need for a cute phone. I have a need for a phone that I can locate in my pocket with buttons large enough to accomodate my fingers and an ear piece and microphone that are spaced in a way that makes me feel like I'm on a telephone, not talking to air through a straw.
  
  We've become a society that seems to prefer the widescreen format for lots of things, mainly televisions and computer monitors. Well then, the Widescreen of the Garmin255 seems to fit the bill, so to speak. It just seems to make sense to have widescreen technology on a mapping device. It's a more comfortable view. And after all, think about this: is your rearview mirror not the original "widescreen" accessory in the automotive world?
  
  Windshield mounting is easy, although I note that lots of cars now have these interestingly angled windshields that are further away from the driver than is sometimes comfortable for GPS operation. While I recommend that you refrain from entering a directions request while driving your car, I note that some of the more impressive features of this GPS are literally one touch away, and so mounting the device close enough to you to activite a one touch feature would seem to be relatively important. No one has perfected a system for what to do with the cords hanging from everywhere, but it's not really that much of a bother. Garmin's have batteries that charge, but I prefer to operate mine on corded power.
  
  With it's text to speech delivery, mounting is unnecessary. But leaving it on the seat next to you is likely to cause a few double takes because as comfortable as you think you're going to be just listening for directions, the fact remains that the graphics will attract your eyeballs like a moth to a flame. So be careful about such operation.
  
  SECURITY: I recommend that each and every time you get out of your car, you disconnect not JUST the Garmin BUT ALSO the mounting device. GPS are one of the most stolen items on the planet. A thief passing by is more likely to smash and grab if he can see the GPS still hanging there on your windshield, or suspects that it's right there on the seat or under that jacket because you left the mounting bracket up there. Yes, this is a pain, but with a little carrying case, this Garmin will fit in your purse, a backpack, briefcase, coat pocket, etc. It's a little big for the back pocket a la the George Costanza wallet (for your Seinfeld fans). But the name of the game for thieves is speed. If they don't see it readily available, they tend to just move on to the next car.
  
  Accuracy: I've found the directions in major metropolitan areas to be excellent. We've had a few issues in more remote locations. I'm not sure I understand exactly how to correct such things as Garmin is not Wikipedia, per se... but for the most part, we find that the Garmin software provides accurate directions, whereever we intend to go.
  
  I also find that the Garmin gives more than ample warning about upcoming turns. Likewise the top navigation bar indicates whether the next move will be right or left, and this helps you determine whether you might need to switch lanes.
  
  I do want to point out that Garmins, like Tom Toms and every other GPS sometimes have the propensity to announce something obvious to you.... for instance, in Florida, we were told of an upcoming "turn" on I-4. There was no "turn" on I-4, it just stays I-4... but there was a major exit and the Garmin appeared to want to make sure we didn't drift off the interstate onto a road to goodness knows where. This isn't really a flaw, but something you may experience with the Garmin, or frankly any other GPS.
  
  I like have multiple speaker dialect options. I frequently use Australian female because she sounds somewhat like Nicole Kidman, and what better way to be told where to go than by a pleasant looking Academy Award winning actress. But to each his or her own. I note that a competitor is coming out with a Homer Simpson version of the GPS voices. This, folks, is where we're headed. While I doubt Homer will read every street name, etc... it's going to lead to multiple versions of these things.... Looney Tunes, Disney, etc.
  
  I, for one, would love to see additional dialects, perhaps even regional ones for the GPS, just for the entertainment value. Can you imagine being told to turn left down yonder by a Larry the Cable Guy GPS accent? At the risk of offending - I see a world of opportunity for more fun dialects. But, then again, I enjoy the slapstick aspects of life. I'm certain that eventually, my wife would insist I put it on something normal. But, a man can dream.
  
  One of my favorite features on the Garmin 255W is the odometer screen that will allow you to track all sorts of data about your long car trip. With a reset button, you can track your max speed, moving time, stopped time, average speed total for the trip, average moving speed, etc. It tells you on the main screen your estimated time of arrival which will change depending upon your stops and speed. This function is not accurate if you don't leave it in battery mode say, when you stop at the Cracker Barrell for lunch and to play one of those trangle games with the tees.
  
  We have found the estimated arrival function to be absolutely spot on. Additionally, I find the data in the odometer screen to be fasscinating. Remember when your dad used to announce upon arrival at your grandmother's house at Thanksgiving that you all made it in 7 hours and 21 minutes? Well, you can one up him now by not only announcing the time, but the average speed as well, and you have documented proof of the reason you were delayed for precisely 7.3 minutes (because you know how had to stop AGAIN to use the restroom).
  
  Another screen at the touch of the button will show you the turn by turn directions coming up so that you can plan even better, especially in areas that you have just enough familiarity to be considered dangerous.
  
  I like how the Garmin 255W doesn't make you type in complete directions when it isn't necessary. If you know the house number is 455 and you start typing Peachtree.... it knows that there is only a 455 on Peachtree Way, and it automatically rules out Road, Street, Boulevard, etc. Or, it gives you a touchscreen choice of the only possibilities that there are.
  
  I wish that the GPS had a remote control that allowed you to change screens without having to lean forward while driving, or better yet, responded to voice commands. Until then, the single touch works fine, but be careful.
  
  The only other annoyance of any time is that if you deviate from your route and don't indicate that you are detouring, you get to hear the Garmin repeatedly chastize you because it has to recalulate your directions. On the positive side, once you tell it where you want to go, it's tries it's darndest to make sure you get there and it doesn't really want you to get off the beaten path. Nevertheless, it can be annoying to need gas and be told 16 times, "RECALCULATING." Some dialects sound more harsh than others. My only solace is that I doubt I'll tire of Nicole Kidman telling me she's recalculating. On second thought, even that would be annoying.
  
  So, why get a GPS at all? I know, I know, I too used to tell people that with Mapquest and Google Maps, I didn't need a GPS. And truth be told, I can't think of too many people that NEED GPS. But...
  
  
  1. It saves time. No more firing up the computer, going to the site, printing the directions.
  
  2. It saves paper.
  
  3. It provides immediate alternatives if the route from the online map program was inaccurate or blocked by an obstacle.
  
  4. It speaks the directions so that you don't have to keep looking down at a piece of paper.
  
  5. It allows for detours with directions on how to get back.
  
  6. You can save favorites in it so that you can immediately navigate to places you frequent, no matter what direction you're coming from.
  
  7. Saves mobile phone minutes, because you don't have to call and ask for directions.
  
  At a more reasonable $179.00 the Garmin 255W offers excellent value and truly makes driving around a little bit easier. I highly recommend.

• 13) I have not read the instrutions yet I've travelled 2,000 miles with it!

  by Caonabo Javier Peguero on August 17 2008
    40+ helpful votes

  So I finally got the Nuvi 255w after months of analizing and comparing wit other brands, adding 3 days of looking arownd in Circuit City and Best Buy stores displays.
  
  I have not read the instructions that came with this unit, yet I and my 11 years old son were able to operate the unit like pros out of the box.
  
  I just arrived from a trip that took me from New York to New Jersey, then Bostn, then MAine, then Niagara Falls, then Corning (upstate NY), then to Harrisburg, PA, Hershey Park PA, Washington DC, Philladelphia and back to New Jersey (We live actually in the Dominican Republic, but were on a two week family trip).
  
  Of course,and being our native language, we programmed the GPS in Latin American Spanish, and of course, the pronunciation of some street names was a little akward, but nothing you can't manage. One of the main bugs is that when it mentioned a south route or high way it said, for example, to take I-95 seconds instead of south, since S is the abreviation of seconds in spanish and not south. We overcame that and the rest was easy.
  
  Maps issue: this unit is not up to date on actual maps in the DC and Alexandria VA area. We were trough streets that seem to have been there for a while and it showed that we were travelling trough grass, of course recalculating, but we got used to this fast and as soon as we arrived to the part of the road it had on the map it recalculated again.
  
  Crazy Issue: in NY city or if surrounded by tall buildings, it went a little crazy. I guess it was because during the traffic jams we encountered I guess it loss contact with the satellites due to interferrence by the tall buildings arroung. I recomend that if travelling in a city, try to remenber the first route it displyed and follow it even when it redirects you because after a while it realculates and send you on the right track again.
  
  Overall, I give this unit a 4.75, because of:
  1- Ease of use
  2- Fast satellite adquisition
  3- Fast perfonmance
  4- 96% relliability
  5- Excellent form factor
  6- Good battery life
  7- Excellent for pedestrian use (It even guides you through internal walking roads like in the National Mall, Arlington Cementery, Central Park, Niagara Falls Park, Manhattan, etc.
  8- It took me and my familly in a two week 2000 mile trip with exellent ease of use and only very minor gltches
  
  Finally, be carefull around Washington DC, because this unit has not updated the actual and latest detours arownd monuments and buildings, therefore taking you to dead ends. Don't trust it to take you to the White House, Capitol, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, because it will guide you to direct streets that are now blocked. Also beware with the sides when you are arriving somewhere.. it sometimes says the finish will be on the opposite side of the street to where it really is.

• 14) awesome GPS!!-little pricy

  by Sun Meng on July 08 2008
    30+ helpful votes

  So now is my turn to share my thoughts with you guys.
  
  I upgraded from a Garmin C320 so this is a huge leap for me, I did some intensive research before purchasing this unit, [...] are two great websites...
  
  First I want to address the "potential problem" on 255w which is the robotic sound, I personally think it is absolutely understandable, the female sound is a little vauge at some point, however the man's (Jack) voice is very clear to me, so this is not a problem for me.
  
  And it is very fast locating satellites, the new interface needs some time to get used to, it is very cool now you can drag the map with your fingers!
  
  Definitely better POIs, it has 1000 POI which is the highest among all models, use this to find AMC cinemas, state parks and restaruants is absolustely a blast! (my previous C320 sucks...) It also has multiple language support (however only english voice has the TTS function, other languages will simply say "turn left at 200ft").
  
  Also you can view your pictures on this unit which I think is fine but almost useless, (other useless functions in my opinions are bluetooth and MP3 which this 255w doesn't have).
  
  I haven't tested the battery life so I don't know about that yet, other cons is this unit is a little pricy I paid $[...]...(sold my C320 for 80).
  
  All in all this is a very nice GPS and I highly recommend it!
  
  
  
  

• 15) Don't leave home without it

  by Darrell Wolfe on November 23 2008
    30+ helpful votes

  I purchased this model and brand after extensive research both here and on several different sites. I'm the type that loves to study anything before I buy it :) This is my first GPS so maybe I am not as particular as others may be.
  
  I decided on it because it was rated very highly as a basic model that did everything I wanted but was simple to operate. During my research I read both positive and negative comments. The positives were correct and very few of the negatives were present. It is extremly easy to operate. If you have any problems you can go to the Garmin site and download a detailed operating manual or you can call Garmin customer service and they are very helpful and knowledgable and they speak English. If you would like additional tips on operating it just type the model number and Garmin in Google and you will find thousands of forums and sites that can tell you how to get the unit to do many things that Garmin doesn't mention.
  
  Some of the negatives that were mentioned that I did not find to be true were that you can't understand the voice (not true); it doesn't tell you of an upcoming turn soon enough(not true, it tells you at least two tenths of a mile before your turn and then again when you are at the turn); it doesn't respond guickly if you get off route (not true it usually tells you immediately even if you pull of into a gas station just off the road); the volume level isn't load enough (not true I have it set at 80% and can hear it fine); it wants to route you off the route (not true, I have used it out in the country and in big cities and it never has); it doesn't tell you which side of the road your destination is on (not true it has told me every time) The possible list could go on and on but I think you get the idea. It is my opinion that many reviewers are way to critical and try to find something that is wrong or not as good as another manufacturers unit.
  
  It is true that it doesn't have blue tooth and doesn't tell you of traffic backups. However, there are very few cities that have the system set up to be able to do this and for this function to work you have to have your radio set to a station that isn't in use which means you can't listen to the radio. It is also true that you can't preprogram multiple stops before you depart. However, you can create them and save them in your favorites section and them just click on them as you need them.
  
  I have used it several times and it hasn't failed me yet. As an example I own some property down in Kentucky in the mountains that is way off the main road on a dead in gravel road. The unit took me to it without a hitch. I also used it to find a state park down there is also way off the main road and it never missed a beat (This place was so hard to find that the park sold tee shirts that said I servived the drive to Breaks State Park)
  
  If you decide to buy this unit or another one I would recommend that you buy it either from Amazon or a local store. I first bought it from another site that was cheaper by $25 and they told me that I needed to buy a memory card to download map updates... not true. They took my order and said they had them in stock but the next day I received an email telling me that the unit was backordered. Another big name site did the same thing and told me that I would have to pay Garmin to update to the latest maps... not true, Garmin gives you the latest maps download for free.
  
  So, the bottom line is that if you are looking for a basic unit that does almost everything that the other unis do that will get to where you want to go then I would recommend this unit.

• 16) Great GPS unit

  by sfvp on September 09 2008
    20+ helpful votes

  I have never owned any GPS prior to this unit, so my opinion is more about owning a GPS than owning a Garmin 255w.
  
  I did some research and finally decided to buy this unit, and after using it for a couple of weeks, I am really happy with my purchase. Although sometimes it gives weird instruction, (Like it always wants me to go all the way around at the beginning of the trip even if there is a shorter route when I leave from my house.) but it always takes me to the right place eventually.
  
  It is such a relief that I don't need to think about how to get to places anymore.
  
  Garmin 255W is fast, and I haven't had situation where I lost signal. I also love that it speaks the street names. It also can display and speak many languages. I am thinking about buying another one of these for my parents because their native language is Chinese and Garmin 255W speaks and display it!
  
  Note: It doesn't come with wall power outlet. The only way you can charge it is by using the car charger. If you plan on using it outside of the car a lot, you might want to consider getting the optional wall power charger.
  

• 17) Solid performance, should also consider other alternatives

  by HK on October 18 2008
    20+ helpful votes

  It is a very good GPS unit that will help you a lot on the road. However, tough competition from other Garmin units and other brands raises the standards, so 255w gets at most 4 starts (more like 3.5).
  I'll compare it to a couple of other units I used extensively:
  - Nuvi 200w
  - Nuvi 660
  - TomTom (PDA)
  
  Nuvi vs TomTom:
  TomTom software was used with PDA and external GPS receiver (not a TomTom stand-alone GPS unit).
  We tested the two units extensively on a 6000 mile drive across America. On the East Coast both units work very well and plot correct routes. In less populated area Garmin outperforms by a wide margin often giving much better routes. TomTom seems to underestimate speed limits on community highways and gives sub-optimal routes. For example, on the route from Rocky Mountain National park to Arches National Park Garmin's route is 40 mins shorter on a 7 hour drive because it chooses shorter route along minor highways instead of longer route along I-70 with higher speed limit. Garmin's estimated time was almost perfect, +/- 5 mins on a 7 hr drive.
  On the other hand, Garmin ignores traffic lights in it's time estimate. If you are driving in NYC or other major city, be prepared to add 1 minute for each red traffic light and beware that Garmin expects you to drive with a speed close to speed limit along NYC streets. There is no discount to NYC area compared to less populated areas. Maps are not perfect either, major mistakes still happen but are relatively rare. Overall, this is not as bad as it sounds. Garmin will most probably get you flawlessly to out-of-town locations and you don't really need a GPS unit to drive along familiar roots within the City.
  
  
  Garmin is very easy to use and has really cute slick design.
  TomTom offers much more options to alternate the route (detours, avoidances, via points, etc), those are rudimentary in Garmin. They are not critical features but something that is very nice to have. I'm consistently buying Garmin units for the quality of navigation but envy TomTom's extra functionality.
  
  Satellite lock-up and navigation precision was better for TomTom, e.g. it takes it less time to distinguish between a highway and a nearby service road. (It just compares external GPS receiver used with our PDA with Garmin's built-in antenna. I don't know anything about built-in antenna that comes with TomTom stand-alone GPS units).
  The above applies more or less to any Garmin unit and is a general Garmin vs TomTom comparison. Now a bit more about Garmin devices.
  
  255w vs 200w:
  Until the price of 255w falls below $200 I suggest you think seriously about 200w as a cheaper alternative with similar features.
  Some comparison:
  - 200w costs ~$100 less, it's something to think about
  - 255w has an arrow at the top of the screen that shows the direction of the next turn. It may be hard to believe but the lack of this feature is the most annoying thing is 200w
  - 255w shows speed limit on most highways and some streets. Nice thing to have.
  - 255w has text to speech. The voice is robotic. Personally, I don't care about it and turned it off but you may find it valuable.
  - 255 has Canada maps
  - 200w has a less fancy and simpler interface, touchscreen keyboard is easier to use than in 255w
  - hotfix in 255w does not seem to make things much better, so far looks more like an advertising feature to me.
  - 255w is often weird for the first couple of minutes of navigation. it can say "procede to Main st" which is a mile away. It will show you where the "Main st" is but will not tell you how to get there. To make things worse, in the the "Main st" may not be on the screen on the default scale. Not a problem if you only have a couple of streets but is a bit annoying in a big City. The easiest way to deal with it is to re-navigate Garmin to the same location. It will recalculate the route and start from your current position.
  My guess is that it is a hot-fix related issue, it initially uses approximate coordinates when calculates the route and does not recompute the route for some time after a more precise location is known.
  - "Where am I" in 255w is a surprisingly nice . Fast access to nearby gas stations, closest intersection and altitude (cool thing to look at if you are in the mountains).
  
  
  255 vs 660
  More expensive device (660) has it's benefits.
  - Seems to be faster
  - Antenna seems to be better
  - Traffic receiver included
  - MP3 capability
  - bluetooth
  
  About traffic - it's a shame 255w does not include the receiver. I think they could easily get their money back by arranging iphone-like deal with a traffic service provider.
  
  MP3 - I don't care about MP3 mpayer as such, but MP3 playback allows to use gps with audio guides. It's sad 2that 55w does not have it. Again, they would easily get the money back from by selling me a couple of audio guides, while I will not pay extra $100 for a feature that is fun but of secondary importance.
  
  To summarize, 255w faces a competition from 200w on the low-cost side and 660 and others on the higher-end side. The choice is not obvious at the moment. My feeling is that the fair price for 255w is below $200. And I hope it will be there in a short while. With that price it would be much closer to a 5-star ranking.
  
  P.S. And make sure that "Ferries" is selected in avoidances, or instead of driving along a highway you may find yourself waiting for 30 mins for a small ferry across Connecticut river, lol :)

• 18) A great mid-range GPS

  by HDN on October 18 2008
    20+ helpful votes

  I have had this GPS for about a week after previously using other brands. This is an excellent mid-range device at a good price from amazon, that has many of the features previously available only on higher-end units.
  
  There are a lot of little improvements over previous models that are not apparent until you start using it. It is quick in picking up satellite signals and very responsive with the user interface (for instance during menu changes or address search). The navigation display shows more information, such as next turn street and speed limit, and the picture update is smooth instead of jerky as I have seen in other models.
  
  The text-to-speech function is more than good enough. The voice is somewhat robotic and some street names are mispronounced, but it's all understandable, I read comments in some reviews that the voice is not loud enough, but I have no problem (in fact I set the volume at 70%). I think that Magellan is probably the best in this department, but this Garmin is more than adequate.
  
  Traffic directions are as good and detailed as can be, as you would expect from a Garmin, and less intrusive than on some other brands. For example, turn instructions are given only twice, once when you are quite a distance away, and a second time when you are almost at the intersection. Some other units "nag" you several times as if you are not paying attention. For me, the visual display combined with this level of verbal instruction is just right.
  
  Two things I wish I had, but unfortunately you can find these features only on more expensive Garmin units: a) The mini-USB plug goes into the back of the unit instead of the mount, so you have to unplug each time you want to remove the GPS. b) This model does not support multi-destination route optimization, so you have to program yourself if you are going to several places. It also doesn't have Bluetooth and MP3, but that is not a problem for me.
  
  One accessory I would recommend that you get is a friction mount pad made by Garmin: http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-Dashboard-StreetPilot-Navigators/dp/B000LRMS66/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b . This allows you to securely place the GPS on the dashboard instead of attaching it to the windshield (which sometimes leaves a residue ring on the glass and is an invitation to theft). There are other brands for this type of pad, but I like the one made by Garmin for its smaller size and design (the bracket is included). amazon has one of the best prices I've found for it.
  
  Lastly, I purchased this Garmin at the start of October 2008, and it came pre-loaded with 2009 maps. One less upgrade hassle.
  

• 19) Great GPS for Cheap!

  by Aaron Friedman on October 18 2008
    10+ helpful votes

  I recently had my car broken into and had my old GPS stolen (Garmin 330) so I was in the market for a relatively cheap replacement. It had been a few years since I had ever looked at GPS prices or features, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found the 255W!
  
  This GPS blows my old one out of the water. It easily connects to the computer (a big deal for me) with USB 2.0 and acts as an external disk drive. You can easily upload your own images (JPG GIF) and set that as a startup image or just have them on there for your viewing pleasure. Updating maps is easy and quick when you are doing it last minute before a trip. It also can charge off any computer with a USB connection, so even if there isn't a power outlet around you can charge it off a laptop.
  
  The graphics are infinitely better than my previous GPS and other GPS models I have looked at. Even some of the higher-end models seemed to have very low framerates. The best way I tested this is I changed the icon for my car (there are about a dozen choices out of the box, and more can be downloaded) to hte 3D image of a bird flapping its wings (easily the coolest car icon). This clearly shows how often the map updates even when sitting still. The animation is smooth and turning the car has the map and bird turning to match with almost pin-point precision.
  
  Other cool features include settings way points (or points of interest) with custom icons and map flags, full-voice directions (reads road names and way point names with almost perfect accuracy, its based on Text-to-speech software so there are a few times it pronounces things wrong, but that is to be expected), multiple accents (my favorite is female British American, they also have others like Australian female/male, American female/male, etc, plus tones of other languages), MSN direct connection and FM traffic reports (requires you buy an additional antenna thing for it, but well worth it. Can pay like $200 or something and get the service for life), HotFix which allows it to get satellites much faster when booting up (this is a great feature and my only complaint about past Garmins that I used which was that it took too long to acquire satellites, this eliminates that problem...by the time the main menu comes up after turning the device on it generally already has a full 100% signal from the satellites and it's ready to navigate), a beautiful crystal clear LCD widescreen, and tons of other features.
  
  Also, it is a Garmin. Which means that it is VERY rare for the GPS to be wrong. I've used other GPS units, as well as GPS built into cars (high end cars like Acuras, Lexus, and Cadillac) and to this day NOTHING beats the accuracy of a Garmin GPS. My first GPS (the 330) was NEVER wrong. Not even once. It got me from point A to point B with 100% accuracy everytime. This GPS is no different. It has yet to disappoint, getting me everywhere with 100% accuracy. Even when detours are needed or routes change on the fly, it immediately corrects and shows you where to go.
  
  Overall, another very solid GPS from Garmin. I highly recommend this GPS to anyone in the market for one who doesn't want to go with one of the more expensive $350+ models. This will do everything you need and more, plus it looks awesome (widescreen and is THIN! Fits in a shirt pocket or pants pocket amazingly well).

• 20) Great Buy Refurbished Item

  by PJW on July 14 2009
    10+ helpful votes

  I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 255W Unit. It arrived in a factory box and packaging and showed no signs of being a refurbished unit. I have not had a chance to use it on a road trip however, I have had it out and tried it in my neighborhood and it works fine. It did have to be reset once I received. It took a bit more time figuring out how to reset because the owners manuel was for a different Garmin. It came with everything except a carrying case for those who are curious. I am so far very pleased with the furbished deal I made.

• 21) Garmin nuvi 255W 4.3 Inch Widescreen Portable GPS

  by G. Hamel on July 09 2009
    10+ helpful votes

  Very nice product -- I'm not a techi -- but I found this extremely easy to use and it pronounces names of street very well and understandable. Gives warnings for turns just at the right time so you have time to move over a lane to make the turn. The one thing I didn't think about when purchasing it was that although I wanted a larger screen for easier viewing -- that also makes it a larger unit so its not quite as "portable" as a smaller Garmin. The display is wonderful and readable -- the machine is just a bit bigger than I had imagined.

• 22) Honest, accurate review--PLEASE READ!

  by Joel on December 07 2009
    10+ helpful votes

  I received my Nuvi 255w almost a week ago, and couldn't be happier. I want to break this GPS down, bit by bit for my review.
  
  First, to touch on some other things mentioned by other reviewers: One thing to realize with GPS devices, is they are not 100% full-proof. I've used a few GPS units in the past--they all have their quirks. For example, I was driving in unknown territory the other night and it told me the destination was on my right when it was really on my left. This is not a huge deal to me because it got me to where I was going. Aside from that, every destination I've thrown at has been 100% accurate. Furthermore, the purpose of a GPS is to 'get you there.' If you know your own area, and you're testing it, it may not take you the quickest, fastest route (that you would normally drive) even with 'fastest route' being selected for the routing option. However, it WILL get you there. A GPS does not take into account back, windy roads, red lights, and stop signs. I used it to go to a friends house the other night--a newly built house and fresh address I might add. It routed me a route I've never taken before because it was a shorter distance. It was not a faster route than they way I usually go, but it DID pinpoint the address right to their driveway. Remember, you don't need a GPS when you know where you're going, you need it when you don't--the Nuvi 255w will get you there.
  
  Next, the GPS: Satellite acquisition time is very fast, as is re-routing. I've intentionally missed turns, and it immediately re-routes. The text-to-speech is very good, with very clear voices. As others have mentioned, the map detail can be low at times when it comes to labeling 'side' streets while on your route. I don't really need to know every street name near me, as long as this GPS get me to where I need to go--and it does. The POI are quite nice, and in my opinion, very thorough. Again, as others have mentioned, the included user manual could be better. Honestly, though, you do not need a IT degree to figure this thing out. The device is very straight forward and easy to use. You have your choice of several languages and voices. The display is great, and is very clear.
  
  Next, the software: There is no huge software install, only a small web plug-in for your Internet browser. Upon plugging my Nuvi 255w in the PC for the first time, it immediately informed me of both a software update and a map update. The map update(s) are free for the first 60 days after registering. Be warned though: The map update was about 2GB in size. I have Comcast cable Internet and a quad-core PC with 4gb of ram and the map update took a little over an hour to download and install. The GPS is USB 2.0 so data transfer is faster than other models on the market. If you don't have a fast Internet connection the update will take some time. Also, for no extra charge, you are able to download several voices and vehicles from the Garmin site. I was surprised they were free, as this sounds like something that would be typically charged for. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT I AM RUNNING WINDOWS 7 32-BIT AND THE SOFTWARE AND GPS ARE FULLY COMPATIBLE.
  
  The battery and accessories: I've read some negative reviews for the battery life. It is very important that the battery fully discharge a few times, then charge fully without being interrupted for optimal performance. I've killed mine about three times, and then charged overnight. In my opinion, the battery life is fantastic. As you may know, this only comes with a windshield mount and a DC adapter for the car. In my opinion, it should come with at least a USB cable and a case. DO NOT BUY GARMIN ACCESSORIES! You can pick up a USB cable quite cheap--and far less expensive than what Garmin offers them for. Also, you can pick up a nice case from Amazon or eBay. I got one for around $6.00 and it's really nice.
  
  What to know about A/C adapters: Your iPod, your Zune, your GPS, your radar detector and your cell phone all run on direct current (DC) voltage. Do not buy the Garmin A/C adapter unless you plan on charging it somewhere other than the U.S. Any A/C adapter needs to convert your 110 house (alternating) current into direct current. That being said, almost any quality adapter (that you might already have) will charge your Garmin as long as the end plug is mini-USB. I use my old Motorola Razr charger and it works great! You will want something with overcharge protection built-in and something with a fuse built in. Pretty much any cell phone charger will do as long as the plug matches. $30 for the Garmin charger is insane! Alternatively, the Nuvi 255w will also charge when plugged into your PC via USB.
  
  In closing, this is a fantastic GPS with some very nice features and is very accurate in directions. I would highly recommend this to anyone (just don't pay $200 for it from Best Buy). The map detail could be a little better at times (not important to me) and it could come with more accessories. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS GPS WILL GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.