Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I'll address what was my biggest apprehension in going for an ad based, free traffic program.No issue!The ads are small and not at all intrusive. My eyes never were pulled in a way that was a distraction.I can even envision the few occasions that it might even benefit both the advertiser and the user.If you think about it ... newspaper, radio, internet, TV ... advertising is very much a part of our culture and in this case very tastefully done.
Before further review, good grief ... now I sound like a sports caster; I should say that I've owned GPS units forever.Started with laptop programs then I started buying all of my vehicles with factory GPS. Acura, Toyota's (two of em) over the years have all been GPS equipped.I travel a lot for work and it was just more convenient to own stand alone portable units when I rent auto's.Magellan and Garmin were my last two portable units.I'm not a nerd or engineer so I'll give this my best shot and hope the average Jill and Joe will get something out of this.
Next, I'll talk about routing and traffic.Garmin (in my opinion) has always been rock solid in terms of routing.With this unit they have taken the art to a new level.I looked at the new TomTom with its smart routing and almost pulled the trigger on that unit but, with what happened today I am not one bit sorry with my choice.This morning I had to make deliveries to a number of Lowe's Home Improvement stores in the Metro Phoenix, AZ market.I went to the "Points of interest" icon typed in Lowe's and after a short wait was rewarded with all of the Lowes stores in the area.I touch on each one and saved it to a sub category I made (Lowes Metro Phoenix), gave each their appropriate store number (the search came complete with address and phone) and then scheduled my day.From home to the factory first, then to four stores, then back to the factory.During the day I had to insert another unscheduled stop.Fantastic!If I could have asked for any improvement here it would have been that each way point was somehow shown as I progressed.It did announce my arrival at each location complete with what side of the street it would be on; in the long run I am so happy with the result that I couldn't bring myself to diminish the 5 star rating.Also, at each stop when I turned the car off the unit powered down.When I got back in the car I needed to go to the "custom routes" icon, where I built my route, and touch the button to activate my named route.Garmin, if that could be automatic I would love it ... and maybe down the road I'll learn something that I don't yet know and this unit is capable.Honestly, it was so quick and easy and the routing picked up right where it left off so not a big deal to me.Traffic probably should have its own paragraph except it ties into the routing.I understand that this is dependent on how your town is covered.Even here in Phoenix only the major highways are covered.I submit that if you need to travel inner belts and outer belts as well as the highways in and out of your towns you will be very pleased.I watched the traffic icon turn from green to yellow to red and back again as road conditions changed.The icon showed how long the delay would be and if you touch it, it shows where and how far away!Garmin gave me the option to bypass each delay but when I answered yes with the touch of the button it reminded me that my route had been optimized including all other options ... with the delay it still had me on the quickest route.Because I had multiple destinations it kept me posted to the delays even in the opposite directions when my routing would require back tracking.
There was slow downs along the way and one accident and I was notified well in advance.With the accident, I passed the location about 15 minutes after notification.It was minor and had already been moved to the side of the highway yet I could see the remnants of broken head-lights in the lane it happened.I was prepared to be disappointed with the traffic because not all the traffic reviews are complimentary.Again, I tend to feel where you live and the roads you travel could affect your opinion.For me, I would add extra stars here if I could.It amazed me when it routed me a different way from the factory to my house (different from the one I took in the morning) because the road conditions were different.It was right on based on years of living and driving these roads.
The Voice and the timeliness of prompts were strong.I tried all the voices and ended up with Australian Karen.She is very understandable in "text to speech" and very pleasant.Even my wife likes her ... I'd like to meet Australian Karen someday but she wouldn't give me her phone number ... like my wife would like her if she did!With my Magellan I liked the way it would ding just before the turn.This Garmin announces the turn and the timing was very comparable to the Magellan and that is a good thing.Some of the previous Garmin models had problems in this area if you read the posts.Also, loudness with the unit on external speaker was OK to Good, I'd like to see it a touch louder for times when road noise or blasting AC is an issue.I have not tried piping it with FM to my radio and probably won't.
On my wish list to Garmin (you think they read these?), I'd like to see a little more information around the edges of the screen.You can program the "arrival time" button for things like altitude, time of day, direction of travel and many more, but you can't program the "speed button" for anything. I'd like to see my altitude ... just for giggles, and my ETA.Who needs the time with clocks in the car & on every cell phone?Who needs to know how fast you are going with a speedometer in every car?I would also like to know the street I'm currently on.Sometimes you can see it depending on how you are zoomed to the map but sometimes not. I'd also like to know what direction I'm traveling in without hitting another button or giving up my ETA or 3d view.The speed limit of each street is a fantastic thing to have especially when your in areas you don't know or rural roads that go for miles without a sign.I can tell you that when the speed limit changed as I entered different zones the changes were very accurate in their timing.
The last thing for today's review is lane guidance.I went thru some pretty major interchanges today and not once did I see the Navagon style or Garmin advertised type of full screen preview.Again, I'll see if there is a setting I missed or I will just have to live with what I've got for awhile.I understand that Garmin will be adding to their data base as they go along.What I did see though was plenty good.The "distance to turn" indicator in the upper left corner of the screen listed with arrows how many lanes to the interchange and which lanes you should be in.It also listed the lanes not to be in as you transitioned from one highway ramp onto another highway.It was good to have advance notice that the right lane would not continue and you needed to move left before it got crowded.
I'd say buy this unit and help me find Karen!
I have had no reset issues and use the unit 6 to 8 hours per day.This is not to say it hasn't been an issue with others though.
10/18/08
I found the neatest thing on this unit today.I tapped the car on the screen while I was driving and noticed every few seconds the screen updated with the exact address I was located.I could see the street I was on, the numerical location, and I could see the addresses going up or down as I traveled.Also it showed the elevation changing up or down.I have used this exact screen many times when stopped to mark locations I wanted to save to favorites but never on the go.I'm not sure exactly how one would use this information but I thought it interesting.
I have had much more experience with the traffic option now.I have found it very useful during rush hour.Only once... so far, has a delay been so severe that it changed my routing automatically.But, during that occasion I felt gratified in that I was guided off the freeway before other drivers.from my detour route I ended up with a view of a bumper to bumper full stop on the highway that was backed up for miles.To be honest, after a while you take the traffic icon for granted until it turns yellow or red.Even the yellow icon doesn't change things in terms of routing, just information about how many minutes the delay will be.
I can say that sometimes the information is not exactly timely.A yellow indicator may show and when I reach the location the traffic may be moving more normal or a little slower than indicated.The minutes of delay indicated seems not too far off though and arrival times are pretty accurate.
Other that no Junction view's in the Phoenix area at this time I'm still thrilled with the 755t.Garmin support is working on a free update (I spoke with them) for the Junction view.Additional questions have been ask and answered in the comments section if you would like to read more.
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Product Description:
Navigation takes a high-tech turn with nuvi 755T, featuring lane assist. This feature guides you to the proper lane for navigation. nuvi 755T also includes preloaded maps, turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name and lifetime traffic. Like the rest of the nuvi 705-series, this advanced navigator comes with premium features including 3-D building view, photo navigation, faster screen redraws, route planning, emergency and car locators and much more.
Navigation takes a high-tech turn.
Turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name and lifetime traffic.
Steer clear of traffic with n�vi 755T's integrated FM traffic receiver.
Know where you are, and where you're going.
Know the Lane Before It's Too Late
nuvi 755T takes navigation to the next level with lane assist. No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation. Lane assist is available in select metropolitan cities.
Get Turn-by-Turn Directions
nuvi 755T's intuitive interface greets you with two simple questions: "Where to?" and "View Map." Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator NT street maps, nearly 6 million points of interest (POIs) and features digital elevation maps and 3-D building view in some areas to help you orient yourself with your surroundings. You can also upload custom points of interest (POIs). With HotFix satellite prediction, nuvi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker, and its ultra-fast map redraw ensures a smooth user interface.
Avoid Traffic Tie-ups
Steer clear of traffic with nuvi 755T's integrated FM traffic receiver. Receive alerts about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your route. Next, simply touch nuvi's screen to view traffic details or detour around the problem area.
Find Yourself, Your Car
Keep track of yourself and your car with nuvi 755T. Just tap the "Where Am I?" emergency locator to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. nuvi 755T even remembers where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you can navigate with nuvi on foot and find your way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots such as amusement parks, stadiums and malls.
Plan Ahead
nuvi 755T includes advanced navigation features to take the worry out of traveling. With route planning you can save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on the 755T's wide screen. In addition, nuvi 755T automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide an efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. It also displays speed limits for highways and Interstates. A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.
See More
With nuvi 755T's widescreen display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is easy to read--from any direction.
Take It With You
Like the rest of the nuvi 705-series, nuvi 755T sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.
Go Beyond Navigation
Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 755T includes many "must have" entertainment and travel tools including MP3 player, audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), world travel clock, automatic time zone transition, currency converter, unit converter, calculator and more. With nuvi 755T's wireless FM transmitter you can hear audio, including voice prompts, MP3s and audio books, through your vehicle's stereo. Show off photos of your travels with nuvi's picture viewer. Download pictures from Garmin Connect Photos and navigate to them. The 755T is compatible with our free Garmin Garage where you can download fun icons that show your location on the map. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in SD cards such as Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions.
What's in the Box
nuvi 755 Preloaded with City Navigator NT North America (U.S. and Canada), Lifetime Traffic, FM traffic Receiver with Vehicle Power Cable (does not plug directly into device, plugs into mount), Vehicle Suction Cup Mount, USB Cable, Dashboard Disc, Quick Start Manual
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