I am a well versed electronics user and consider this GPS a great product. Without getting into specifics, it extremely fast at calculating routes, rerouting, and determining where you are as soon as it is turned on. Other GPS’s take a few minutes to “warm up” and figure out where you are located upon turning them on, but not this one. My father is not very tech savvy and he is able to easily input addresses and use this GPS. He struggled with his previous unit but praises this one for its speed and user interface. Not much else to say. If you are on the edge, you will not be disappointed.

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I had a NUVI 680 with MSN, blue tooth and etc. All of that sort of thing was never used so the NUVI 205w was the perfect fit for me. Large enough screen for me to see it, faster software then the 680 and MUCH lower cost.

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I agree with others that mp3, bluetooth, fm, announcing street “names,” etc., is overboard and is NOT what makes a good GPS. Certainly Garmin has to make those for persons who want them; but for really just GOOD AND FAST navigation, the new series (205W etc) is all that’s necessary and is awesome at that. What is a good GPS … the Garmin handheld 60CSx … which I have! So I compared the two which isn’t really realistic since they both have different purposes, but both do navigation extremely well. Only the 60CSx will maintain its connection in extremely difficult areas (sky scraper buildings, overpasses, canyons, forest canopy, etc); but the 205W is not a slouch here either.

Satelite information … Speed: the 205W is every bit as fast as the 60CSx, if not just a tad faster, and that, in itself is amazing. It gathers satellites easily and once obtained, reconnects almost instantaneously after being turned back on. Get off Interstate 35E in Dallas and try to get back on … it’s a nightmare. But for the Nuvie 205W it was easy and very clearly described and stated … a great GPS.

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I have owned a Garmin c320 for a few years now and was looking for some new features, like coordinates and altitude. I first bought the TomTom 330 XL, which was a disaster. After lots of research, I bought this and kept it. Here is my long list of pros and cons:

PROS:

1. Best routes. (See my cons) This may be one of the main reasons Garmin dominates in the US — good routing. Of course, I wish it had more a brain and could think about traffic lights and general traffic in certain areas at certain times (not actual traffic reporting), but I guess needing brains is good.

2. Where Am I? (See my cons) This will list your nearest street address. In this screen it also shows altitude and your coordinates.

3. Easier broad map access. On my c320, you had to dig in the menus to find a broad map view, so you could touch areas on the map and go to it. On the 205w, you can just touch the map while driving and it will take you to the broad map. You can then touch an area that you want to make a Via Point and change your route that way.

4. Speed Limit sign. You can set it up to show the current speed limit on the screen. It has been super accurate to the instant of a speed limit change in real driving. If the sign is missing on the screen, you also then know that it doesn’t really know how to calculate arrival time from the road. You may want to use that information to take or avoid that road on your next trip.

5. Very compact. My c320 was much bigger, so this is super small.

To read the cons, click here