Get a FREE fully-working copy of Steganos Security Suite 7 (worth £49.99) when you sign up to the Practical PC Newsletter. Review: Garmin NÜVI 200
Iain Laskey dips his toe into the world of SatNav and is impressed by Garmin's budget buy.
| Product | NÜVI 200 |
|---|---|
| Company | Garmin |
| Web | www.garmin.com |
| Price | £160 |
| We like | Price, maps, points of interest, speed camera warnings |
| We don't like | Pricy updates |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements |
The Garmin NÜVI 200 is one of the more basic GPS SatNav devices out there but still offers a fair line up of features for anyone who just wants to get from A to B without paying out for extra functions they aren't likely to use. Like most similar units, it comes bundled with a car power adaptor and suction cup for attaching it to the windscreen plus another ring to help fix it to the dashboard but I can't imagine it would work with many unless they had the right shape. A short manual gets you up to speed (sic) nice and gently although some of the functions are barely explained but a bit of trial and error soon makes everything clear.
The NÜVI 200 is very compact and fairly thin and unlike many similar devices has no auxiliary aerial. That combined with a 3-5 hour battery life means you can carry it around in a pocket for navigating on foot or bike, if needed. Handy and not to be sniffed at. Installation took seconds, just attach the suction cup, plug it in to the power adaptor and fire it up. After a few seconds, it found our location and was ready to go.
You can enter a location by name or postcode. Everything is done via the touch screen, there are no buttons and Garmin's long heritage in the GPS field showed as the whole interface design is easy to follow even without consulting the manual. As this is the first GPS I've used for any period of time, it must be easy to use! It has a single female voice and a decent (adjustable) volume level. Various points on the screen such as the bottom left and right hand side bring up extra screens of information including average speeds, mileage and other trip information. You can also check when the next turn is. The update rate of the 3.5 inch (320 x 240 pixels ) screen is fine and you can zoom in and out easily. I no problems at all following the instructions but you do need to glance at it sometimes as it does have one odd foible, a road with no junctions but a slight kink often causes the device to say 'turn right' then 'turn left' which can be unnerving if this happens when there is a real right turn at the same point.
The map quality on Garmin's is generally thought to be better than most and I have no evidence to the contrary - everywhere I went was as it claimed (I did 1000+ miles during the test week).
Extras include points of interest so you can quickly see where the nearest food (choose your preferred type too), ATM, hotel, parks, civic facilities and so on are to be found. The hotel function was a godsend at the end of the day when I needed an overnight stay somewhere and was running out of options.
It has automatic rerouting so if you take a wrong turning it quickly works out what to do and issues the updated instructions. It also avoided taking us down one way streets but one rural road turned out to be closed to traffic due to an unsafe bridge but looking at the gate, this was a fairly recent event so the unit is forgiven for missing that.
Also useful is the downloadable speed camera list complete with 90 days free updates. After that they are available at a cost which I felt was too high so probably won't bother with once it's expired - after all, I never break the speed limits anyway. Probably. You can also download updated firmware (the operating software) and copy it over via a USB lead (not, alas, supplied but still a standard sort so easily sourced).
Extra Maps
The maps as tested are UK & Ireland only - if you want Europe, buy the next model up as that is far cheaper than buying extra maps afterwards. If you do want extra maps, they can be downloaded with it attached to your PC and other software/maps can be introduced via Secure Digital flash memory cards. Naturally, different territories such as the US will have their own maps preinstalled instead.
It also has a few additional functions like weight/temperature/currency conversion, a calculator and the ability to load and view jpg images if desired. If you want a larger screen, a widescreen version is available for a little more - the imaginatively titled Garmin NÜVI 200 Widescreen.
Conclusion
Overall, the Garmin NÜVI 200 very nice unit. Whilst it would have been nice to have traffic warnings, if you have no need for voice control, Bluetooth etc. it comes warmly recommended, does exactly what it says on the tin and more importantly, does it well. The screen is easy to read and the ability to carry the unit around in your pocket is great for anyone who likes walking in the great outdoors. There are cheaper units but not always with Garmin's quality.
