Garmin nuvi 205W

After many years away from my native area, I returned to find that the entire area had changed. It's huge and I was lost. I was so lost, in fact, that I was extremely nervous to go drive around, try to… find stores, go out on the weekends, etc. Google maps are not the most reliable and I've gotten lost a few times when I did use them. I joked to my husband "I need a GPS system or else I'm going to become a shut-in". I didn't know squat about GPS systems. I somehow navigated my way over to Best Buy last week and right when I entered the store, there was a whole display for the Garmin GPS. I saw the price...it was about $160.00. I thought that was a pretty good deal until the salesperson told me that a wider screen version in the back of the store was actually cheaper by twenty bucks. Because I got a good price I opted to get the two year full protection plan from Best Buy. I never bother with them, but I was a bit intimidated by the device and I wanted that coverage. A Best Buy worker came out to my car and set it up for me within five minutes. He programmed my home address and said "Just follow the directions". Wow...so easy! The directions were spot on and I was SO comforted that it had voice commands as well as the visual display. I've had it for about a week now and I've used it MANY times...the hubby who never gets lost even loves it. He has discovered that 9 times out of 10 the route that Garmin gives us is shorter than the one we would normally take. I only have three negative things to say about it: 1. When you register the product at the garmin site, you are offered a free download of the most updated maps. Cool eh'? Well not if you're computer is a 64 bit. I could download it, but I couldn't install it. Luckily the hubby has a 32 bit system and we got it done eventually. So just be forewarned that if you have a 64 bit computer, the freebie updated maps might not happen. I actually don't think it would have been a big deal because the maps already loaded were VERY current. I live in a new complex and it had all the streets in it already. 2. When you download the maps from the Garmin site and you upload them to the GPS, you need a cord which is NOT included. Luckily I had the kind of cord needed to fit, but it was from my Cannon digital camera. Not a big deal, but if I didn't have that cord I would have had to go out and buy another one. The ones they sell on the Garmin site are absurdly expensive! 3. If you want the cute extras, you have to upgrade at the Garmin site. For example, if you want to be able to pick out a different vehicle that looks like the one your driving (so that it reflects that on the display screen) you have to pay extra. ARGG...I want the cute stuff! LOL. The standard car it shows is a little blue compact car. So if that is the kinda car you drive...you're in business lol. Also, you have to upgrade in order to get access to more photo's. The photo's can be used to assign to various locations. For instance, one of the stock photo's (there's only like eight I think) was a bunch of flowers. I chose that one for my mother in law because she's a gardener. The other pictures had no relevance to anything. It would have been cool to have like a grocery bag icon for the grocery stores, blah blah blah. See how nit picky I'm being? Well that's only because there's very little to complain about with this system. I love it and it truly is the best electronic item I've ever purchased that cost only $219.00 (that's with the Best Buy two year protection plan too). I now feel confident to leave the house, explore the area (big city) and not have to rely on when the hubby is going to be available to take me around town. So for me, this has DRAMATICALLY increased my sense of self reliance and thus, self esteem. Ooooh....another thing I love about it is this: Let's say you got to your destination and you have a sudden craving for Thai food. With just a few pushes of a button it locates several for you, let's you pick (I dunno..maybe based on distance or just how the name of the place sounds to you lol) and it takes ya there. If you somehow miss a turn (go off the route) it will immediately recognize that and accommodate your mistake and get you where you need to go! FIVE STARS!!!

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If you don't have a clue how to get to your destination, this is a wonderful tool. It may take you there by a slightly illogical route but it will get you there. The feature which displays the speed limit… in the area is outstanding. I live in Pensacola where the speed limit can change 3 times withjin a 10 mile section of highway and use that feature to keep me out of trouble. But beware, it is not 100% correct 100% of the time. Close though:)

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I have been accused of having the world's worst sense of direction, and this GPS is a godsend for me. I had never owned a GPS before and was a little nervous about whether I could figure out how to use it… or not, but my fears were completely unfounded. From the first time I used it, I have loved it. It is very user-friendly, and gets me where I need to go without getting lost. The time estimate is very accurate, and the routes are easy to follow. Every now and then the search function is a little slow, and I wish that it was easier to extend the search range, but other than that, this GPS has exceeded my expectations and kept me on time and on schedule on countless occasions.

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