Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Brand: Garmin
Model: Nuvi 255W

  • 4.3 Inch Auto Navigator with Anti Theft Feature
  • Voice Prompted Turn by Turn Directions
  • With HotFix, It Calculates Your Position Faster to Get You There Quicker
  • Compatible with Optional Enhanced MSN Direct Content
  • JPEG Picture Viewer, World Travel Clock, Currency Converter, Calculator and More

Buy Amazon Garmin nuvi 255W

Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
Binding: Electronics
Manufacturer: Garmin
Product Description:
For peace of mind on the go, nvi 255 leads the way with voice-prompted turn-by-turn and optional MSN Direct to get you there on time and keep you informed. It's packed with millions of destinations and maps for North America or Europe. Like the rest of the compact nvi 2x5-series, this portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use.nvi 255 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and and smooth map updates as you navigate. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, nvi 255 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. With HotFix satellite prediction, nvi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker.Like the rest of the nvi 2x5-series, nvi 255 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. With its "Where Am I? " emergency locator, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations.eft feature. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in microSD cards such as Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions.
Amazon.com Product Description----June 3, 2008:
Garmin's nüvi 255W improvesupon its 200-series predecessors by adding top-of-the-line features such as FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content to an entry-level line. But Garmin is also introducing some significant improvements with this new series, like a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature. The 255W adds complete maps for North America and Text-to-Speech, so you get turn by turn spoken directions with the real names of streets (e.g. "turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way", rather than merely "turn left in 50 feet"). The 255W also offers a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen that displays 70% more of the road around you.

The nüvi 2x5 models all sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

Key Features/Benefits for all 2x5 Series Navigators

  • New -- HotFix (Long Term Ephemeris Prediction) finds satellites faster (Learn more)
  • New -- Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features (Learn more)
  • New -- Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns
  • New -- Redesigned user interface offers more information (Learn more)
  • New -- Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
  • New -- Add Enhanced MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger (Learn more)
  • New -- Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest (Learn more)
  • New -- Automatic Time Zone Transition
  • Text-to-Speech gives directions with real street names
  • 4.3-inch Widescreen shows you more of what's around you as you drive (Learn more)
  • Memory Card Slots so you can add maps and travel guides, or store photos (MicroSD card slot on 3.5-inch units; SD card slot on 4.3-inch units)
  • Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of North America + Hawaii + Puerto Rico, including 6.5 million searchable points of interest (Learn more)
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for easy portability (up to 4 hours per charge)
  • Custom Vehicle Icons let you personalize your navigator (Learn more)
  • Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
  • Where Am I? -- instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)

What's in the Box
nüvi 255W, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America or Europe (full coverage), Vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual

Which nüvi is Best for You?:
Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators


Learn More

New -- Improved Interface

One of Garmin's key product philosophies is to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box, and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin's portable navigation devices.

Garmin's interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate.

This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information.

Old Interface

200 series ui

New Interface

2x5 Series UI

New -- HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction

hotfix
 Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position. Until the device gets a "lock" on three satellites, it can't effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get "satellite lock" is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin's new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and dramatically decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.

New -- Navigate by Photo


 Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
  • Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
  • Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
  • Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
  • Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
  • View photos in Google Earth.
  • Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

New -- 3D Terrain Maps

Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view.


New -- Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest

tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
  1. Hook up your Garmin to the computer via it's USB port
  2. Search for the location you want
  3. Click the Send link in the info window for the address. That will bring up a popup "Send to" form.
  4. Pick GPS, then pick Garmin and hit the "Send" button.
The address will instantly transfer to your Garmin device, The point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you can navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite.

The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin's website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
Search for the location you want.


 Pick "Send to GPS".


 Go!

Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content

MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content

traffic reports With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi.

Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services.

A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are .95 per year, or 9.95 for a lifetime subscription.

FM Traffic
TMC traffic service coverage map
 With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous — there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website.

Widescreen -- See More of What's Around

The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen
3-inch screen


 and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen
4.3-inch screen

Where Am I?

On any nüvi (including this one), you can just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.

First-Rate Map Data


nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.
 The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs

Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

Garmin Lock

Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

Beyond Navigation

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.


Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units.

Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

Trick Your GPS Ride

custom vehicle icons
Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
See more icon option		 All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map.

Notes

  • Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
  • Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

Which nüvi is Best for You?

Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.




 Screen
Size
inches
(w x h)
 Included Maps
 Text-to-Speech
(Directions in
Real Street
Names)
 Traffic
 Bluetooth
 Media

 3D Terrain
Maps
 Photo
Navigation
 FM Transmitter
(audio through
car stereo
system)		 Multi-
Point
Routing
 Battery
life
(hours)
Cont. U.S.,
Hawaii, and
Puerto Rico
 AK and
Canada
 Europe
nüvi 200 2.8 x 2.1
 check




Photos



up to 5
nüvi 200w 3.81 x 2.25
 check




Photos



up to 5
nüvi 250 2.8 x 2.1
 check check



Photos



up to 5
nüvi 250w 3.81 x 2.25
 check check



Photos



up to 5
nüvi 260 2.8 x 2.1
 check check
check

Photos



up to 5
nüvi 260w 3.81 x 2.25 check check
check

Photos



up to 5
nüvi 270 2.8 x 2.1
 check check check


Photos



up to 5
nüvi 205 2.8 x 2.1 check


MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos check check

up to 4
nüvi 205W 3.81 x 2.25 check


MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos check check

up to 4
nüvi 255 2.8 x 2.1 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos check check

up to 4
nüvi 255W
 3.81 x 2.25 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos check check

up to 4
nüvi 350 2.8 x 2.1
 check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos, MP3s



up to 8
nüvi 360 2.8 x 2.1
 check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)		 check Photos, MP3s



up to 8
nüvi 370 2.8 x 2.1 check check check check FM (receiver
included)
 check Photos, MP3s



up to 8
nüvi 650 3.81 x 2.25
 check check
check FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos, MP3s



up to 7
nüvi 660
 3.81 x 2.25
 check check
check FM (receiver
included)
 check Photos, MP3s

check
up to 7
nüvi 670
 3.81 x 2.25
 check check check check FM (receiver
included)		 check Photos, MP3s

check
up to 7
nüvi 680 3.81 x 2.25
 check check
check MSN (receiver
included;
1-year free);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
 check Photos, MP3s

check
up to 7
nüvi 750
 3.81 x 2.25
 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos, MP3s

check check up to 5
nüvi 760 3.81 x 2.25
 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)		 check Photos, MP3s

check check up to 5
nüvi 770 3.81 x 2.25
 check check check check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)		 check Photos, MP3s

check check up to 5
nüvi 780 3.81 x 2.25 check check

MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free)
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)		 check Photos, MP3s

check check up to 5
nüvi 850
 3.81 x 2.25 check check

MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
Photos, MP3s

check check up to 4
nüvi 880
 3.81 x 2.25 check check check
MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free);
FM (with opt.
receiver)		 check Photos, MP3s

check check up to 4
nüvi 5000
 4.5 x 2.7 check check
check MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)



check check external
battery
only
Basic MSN Direct Content Features
traffic reports Traffic Reports
  • Find the best route through traffic. Your GPS device uses MSN Direct traffic data to select the best route for you to avoid traffic congestion.
  • Check traffic flow. Know at a glance where to expect slowdowns in traffic.
  • Get accident warnings. Receive warnings about accidents, road closures, and construction in the area that may affect you.
Gas Prices Gas Prices
  • Compare local gas prices. See a list of recent gas prices in your area and an indication of how recently the prices were reported.
  • Find your way to the savings. Once you find the best price in your area, use your navigation system to guide you to the gas station.
Weather Reports Weather Reports
  • Stay on top of current conditions. View the current weather conditions in your area, including today's high and low temperatures, chances of precipitation, and more.
  • View the three-day forecast, Plan ahead by checking the three-day weather forecast for your area.
  • Check weather in other cities. See current weather conditions in major cities across the country.
movie times Movie Times
  • Search for a movie. Find the theaters in your coverage area that are showing the movie you want to see.
  • See which movies are playing. View which movies are playing in your coverage area or at your favorite theater.
  • See show times and get directions. Once you find a show you want to see, check the show times and use your GPS device to guide you to the theater.
Enhanced MSN Direct Content
Web Favorites Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
  • Powerful trip planning: Use Live Search Maps on your computer to look up an address, search for a business, or plan a trip
  • Choose your favorite location, and then MSN Direct delivers the address, phone number, and more straight to your navigation system.
  • Visit Live Search Maps at http://maps.live.com.
Local Events Local Events
  • See what's happening near you. Find nearby events to see what's happening in your area.
  • Find the events that interest you. Browse events sorted by category.
  • Search for an event. Get details about a particular event.
Stock Quotes Stock Quotes
  • Watch the stocks that interest you. Select stocks that you want to keep an eye on, and then see regularly updated stock prices and daily changes.
  • Get a little more detail. Touch a stock in your list to see daily highs, lows, and trading volume.
News Headlines News Headlines
  • Browse the headlines at a glance. See breaking news and other major news stories of the day.
  • Read more details. Select a headline to read all the details about the news story on your navigation system.


MSN Direct Coverage Map

Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.

MSN Direct Coverage Map

List Price: USD 329.99
Lowest Used Price: USD 192.00
Lowest Refurbished Price: USD 162.26
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Average Rating:
Features:
  • 4.3 Inch Auto Navigator with Anti Theft Feature
  • Voice Prompted Turn by Turn Directions
  • With HotFix, It Calculates Your Position Faster to Get You There Quicker
  • Compatible with Optional Enhanced MSN Direct Content
  • JPEG Picture Viewer, World Travel Clock, Currency Converter, Calculator and More
Special Features: nv:Condition^New|Type^Automotive|Waypoints^1000|Display^Color|Display^TFT|Screen Size^4.3"|Touch Screen^Yes|Voice^Yes (Voice Prompt)|Expansion Slots^SD Card|Battery Type^Rechargeable lithium-ion|Battery Life^4 hours
Brand: Garmin
Model: Nuvi 255W
Languages:
Original Language: English
Customer Reviews


Gps
My Garmin gps model 255w is really good for the money.Simple to use.I love it.No complaints from ordering to receiving.If this is your first GPs Buy this one.


I like the features but...
This GPS is very easy to use. I like the features on the display. I do find it strange that many roads I drive past are not shown on the device and sometimes when I'm driving, the beginning of the road is there, the end of the road is there, but the road disappears from the device while I'm driving on it. At the top, it does still say 'driving on ___ road' with the correct name. It also does not always send me on the best or easiest route (I've tested it on my way to work, on routes that I know), but it did get me there. Around the city of Buffalo, NY, it wanted to send me a certain way and I knew there was a much easier way, so I went the way I wanted. It re-routed quite quickly. It also got me back home when I got lost in downtown Buffalo. I do wish there was a button that went back to the 'home' page rather than having to hit 'back' several times until I get there. Overall, I would buy this device again.


Everything I expected..
This product does everything I expected it to do...but does it better than I expected. It is really easy to use, and is much more helpful on the road than I expected.


Garmin Nuvi 255W
This is the first GPS Navigator I have used or owned. It was easy to start using right out of the box. It came fully charged and the battery is excellent. It has text to speech capability which I think is a necessity for something like this. My vehicle has a large dash so mounting on the dash or windshield did not appeal to me because it puts the unit to far to reach when driving. I made a small platform board of plexiglas and located it near the ash tray and the windshield mount with suction cup attaches to this nicely. This way it allows my passenger or myself to easily reach it. I made a 2200 mile trip immediately after I purchased the unit, so I had a good learning opportunity. The points of interest doesn't seem to allow searching more than a few miles radius. I would like to search at specific highway exits ahead, and have not figured out how this is possible. Some addresses in malls or complexes are not exactly pinpointed and the system seems to add to your confusion. If a business that you are searching for has moved recently, additional conflicts result. I believe these deficiencies are probably common to all GPS Navigators, but have not tried other units. Overall I am happy with this purchase.


New to GPS units
Bought the unit and had it sent overnight as we were leaving on a trip that weekend and wanted to have the unit for the trip.

After unpacking the unit I hooked it up to my PC to download the latest software for the unit and to update the maps, both of which were free to do. This was a mistake as after updating the software the unite locked up and then for the next 2 hours I had to research on the internet on various GPS forums on how to get the item unlock and reset the whole system back to the original starting point. The Garmin website was not very helpful with the error other than to call customer service.

After getting the unit back to the original configuration I attempted to update the maps which was a free download from Garmin. Again the unit locked up and I spent a good hour reading various GPS forums on how to revert the software..

After having learned my lesson I did not want to do anymore updates to the unit and just use the darn thing.

Since this is my first GPS unit I am quite please with it, As long as it gets me in the neighborhood of the address I can find where I am going. I have read where people think the speech is "tinny" but I really dont have a problem with it. If I had to do it again I would buy a unit that I can exclude some streets/highways that I do not want to take so that it routes me around those areas. Other than that I really enjoy the item and would purchase another Garmin again.

One accessory I did buy for the unit was the bean bag holder thingy that way we can move it between cars and not have to place the unit in the same location all the time.

Product Information and Prices stored: March 9, 2009, 3:24
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