Garmin is the leading manufacturer of the GPS equipments for cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes. Their portable vehicle GPS units are becoming quite popular these days. A good example is the nuvi 255w. This model is accurate, reliable, and affordable.

Garmin has made significant improvements on the nuvi 255w over the previous 200 series. For example, the real-time traffic information from Navteq is included free of charge. The Bluetooth capability allows the GPS unit to function as a hands-free device for your mobile phone. The display was redesigned to show a lot more information such as the terrain maps. Another nice addition is the HotFix feature which shortens the time needed to acquire satellite signals.

Many people also like the map view layout on the Garmin nuvi 255w. There are indicators at the lower right corner to show the speed limit of the road and the speed you are driving. The turn indicator is now located at the corner to give you a better view of the map.

Despite its 4.3-inch widescreen display, the nuvi 255w is quite compact and will not block your view as you drive. The touch screen works perfectly with quick response time. The SD card slot allows you to expand its applications. It also includes a full QWERTY keyboard so you can enter any text with ease.

As with other 2×5 series, the nuvi 255w has a stylish trim design with a dark bezel around it. It is designed to fit in your pocket or purse so you can carry it with you when you are out of the car. The rechargeable battery lasts for several hours so you can still use it while on foot.

Being portable means it’s easy to grab the GPS every time you go out either by car or by foot. With its help you will never have to worry about getting lost.

Garmin even includes several features that go beyond navigation. It has a JPEG photo viewer, currency converters, a calculator, a measurement converter, and a world travel clock with time zones.

It is obvious that Garmin wants to make the nuvi 255w a necessary tool for travel. Using a GPS in your car will make driving safer and less confusing in unknown areas.

Of course the nuvi 255w is not without its shortcomings.

First, the package does not include an USB cable. You will need to buy one if you want to connect the nuvi to a computer.

Second, if the unit is not in the navigation mode then the name of the street is not shown on the screen. It would be nice to still have the GPS displays the street name without having to enter an active route.

Third, the sound on the nuvi 255w is not very good compared to other nuvi models. In addition, the voice guidance sounds robotic and often mispronounces.

Overall, the Garmin nuvi 255w is great for navigating in metropolitan areas with complex road systems. It is also wonderful to use it on a long road trip. UPS drivers and commercial truck drivers have been using GPS for years. Having a GPS system in a passenger car used to cost several thousand dollars. Now you can get one of these portable devices for around $100.

Author Bio: Check out author\’s web site for more information on other GPS models such as Garmin nuvi 1490LMT, Garmin nuvi 1450LMT, and TomTom XXL 540TM.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: Garmin nuvi 255w, 255w, GPS