Garmin StreetPilot c320 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin StreetPilot c320 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Digital camera Review: Custom POI software capability misleading
Summary: 2 Stars
A big reason I purchased the c320 was to load addresses into it using the available POI software, which advertises the ability to create custom points of interest. I planned on using .csv files of business addresses which I had compiled previously for other uses. The catch is that the .csv file has to already have the latitude and longitude for each address entered as a value, or the Garmin POI software won't work. If I had been sophisticated enough to have entered the latitude and longitude of hundreds of customer and prospective customer locations when I was creating the .csv file, I probably wouldn't be buying an entry level GPS unit. You can load address lists into Google Earth or MS Street and Trips, and they will plot the locations for you. Why the Garmin POI software won't, I don't know. With it you have to have the lat/long info already, which is pretty much the reason I bought the Garmin, to calculate that info for me once I provide an address.
All I wanted was to be able to transfer addresses into My Locations. I'd then pull them up when needed, and the unit should build the route just as if I had manually entered the address keystroke by keystoke. But it doesn't work that way. I can do this, but it will have to be entered one at a time, manually.
Not everone would plan on using the unit this way, and if you are only looking for an entry-level GPS unit and you don't mind typing in a lot of info to get to your route, and you don't mind having no browsing capability, and scrolling through several screens to get to the info you are looking for is okay with you, then this unit would probably be acceptable for the price.
Digital camera Review: Disappointing so far
Summary: 3 Stars
Bought this GPS as it seemed to have good write ups. I have had a few problems with this. First getting the maps installed was a problem and the small storage only allows 4 or 5 states. I tried to load in all the states I95 went through and it could not be done. I read where other GPS have all the states already loaded and ready to go. Second problem I had was when I tried to go to a gas station. Following the GPS and I ended up in a field where the gas station was supposed to be. The gas stationed turned out to be about 4 miles in the other direction. Another road was labeled County Road 200. This road is listed everywhere and marked as Pages Dairy road. Garmin customer service has a lot to be desired. Tried calling and you get the taped message that it will be 30-35 minutes. They suggest email your question for faster response. Did that and you get a message that they will get back to you in 7-10 days. Now exactly quick customer service. I bought the dash mount and that works pretty good.Digital camera Review: Does everything more expensive systems can do (except live traffic routing), for so much less!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are a first time GPS buyer and want an easy to use unit with intuitive touch screen controls and the best unit you can get for under $300, I recommend the C320 (or C330 which comes with pre-loaded maps). I bought this unit for much more a little over a year ago and so far I am quite happy. It has saved me many miles of extra driving! It also makes me a braver night time driver as I have difficulty spotting a sudden turn in the road at night time. But with my GPS I know exactly when to turn and it even tells me 'stay right' etc. This was confusing at first but now that I know what it means I find it very helpful to not have to change lanes at the last minute. It makes me feel safer on the road at night in unknown places! I can easily type in addresses on the touch screen with it's large display or look for a place of interest (a restaurant, library etc.) if I change my mind while at an intersection and then continue on the specified route. I often type in store names like "Target" or "Borders" on a whim and it takes me to the nearest one in the area. It just made a couple of mistakes so far once for a Kroger and once for a Walmart as the store had moved to another location about half a year ago but even Google maps had shown me the wrong location for that Walmart. It is also convenient to be able to specify the cuisine and locate the nearest restaurant to your current location or near your destination. However the restaurant choices are by no means exhaustive, it may miss a couple of good ones here and there but may show you ones you never knew existed.
I chose the C320 as you can load whatever maps you need by just getting a larger SD card, especially as SD cards have come down in price.
Before using this unit, I had used the Magellan Roadmate 300 for a few days, and Garmin's routing is a definite improvement over Magellan in terms of speed of route calculation and accurate routing. The Magellan locked up a couple of times although it was a new unit and I had to pull off on an exit and power it down for several minutes before it started reading the correct route. The Garmin C320 has never frozen on me. If I do not take the prescribed route or miss a turn it takes just about 2-3 seconds to figure that out and recalculates my route, this is way faster than Magellan or any other GPS system I've encountered so far. This is great feature as the next turn might be just 5 seconds away and you may miss it again if the unit takes too much time to recalculate!
Some reviews complained about the maps saying the unit said that they had reached the destination even though they were 100-200 feet away and sometimes confused between left or right of the street. But if you have used other GPS systems you would know that no GPS navigation system is perfect and I generally prefer Garmin navigation over Magellan.
The C320 allows you to specify your preferences such as - Avoid highways, avoid U turns, avoid toll roads etc. And you can set it to "Shortest distance" or "Fastest time". I've found that the shortest distance can sometimes take you on backroads or unusual roads which you normally may not take. This option gave me a great new route between office and home which avoids traffic but when I used the same option on a longer drive it suddenly detoured off the highway ans took me through bumpy back roads, a most unpleasant experience! But with experience I have learned the best way to calculate my route using the options. There is a bit of a learning curve with all GPS systems and the more advanced GPS users have rated Garmin navigation very highly in the several comparisons I read on the web.
The C320 does get a bit confused in situations where -a) there is a small roundabout (like in apartment communities) and may keep missing the exit turn and b) when there are intersecting highways over and under the highway on which you are traveling, especially if it takes you more than 15-20 seconds to cross that area where the highways intersect c) In very long tunnels. But now that I know this I just stay on route and as soon as I've crossed that area it starts showing the earlier route.
Some reviewers complained that the unit does not show the complete route turn by turn text instructions - that is not correct- as it will show you the turn by turn text instructions if you touch the green text bar over the route map.
If you want to take a detour at any point in your route it will calculate an alternative route for you if you touch the detour button, but will try to get you back on the original route very quickly. You can create points of interest in the route through the software and you can also save your favorite locations or most used addresses on the unit.
I prefer having a portable GPS than an in-car GPS as the software update is cheaper than in car GPS and I can carry it with me to use in rental cars when I travel. I tried out the in car GPS system in my friend's Honda and Garmin had better routing and a better "voice". The Honda GPS's high-pitched "Chinese Schoolgirl" voice drove me to distraction....!
January 7, 2007 update: I've gotten so used to my GPS that I don't know how I lived without it. The only complaint I have about the unit is that it is very hard to read in bright sunlight and I have to depend on the voice instructions. Also, please don't leave it mounted in the car if it's above 90 degrees as my unit's battery died after it was out in the summer for a few days at 100 degree temperatures and now it takes time to read satellite signals when I start out as it starts from a "cold" state.
May 7, 2007 Update: I called Customer Service last week as my internal battery died and the unit started falling off my windshield as the heat exposure reduced its grip. Hold time was very short, 3-4 minutes each time I called. They offered to have the unit repaired for $150 which is more than half the cost of a new unit, so I refused as it wasn't a critical problem. However, they offered to send me a new mount (including the windshield mount piece and car adaptor) for free despite being out of warranty . It was FedExed and reached me in 3 business days. That's good customer service!
Overall I am satisfied with C320. Better GPS systems exist (some made by Garmin) but this one is the best bang for my buck by far!
Digital camera Review: Does exactly what its supposed to do
Summary: 5 Stars
A great basic GPS device that works exactly as advertised. Text to speech may be a nice perk, but you really don't need it, since a quick glance at the display gives you all the information you need.
There are limitations you don't get with a higher end model however. You can't customize your route on a PC and upload it to the C320. Sometimes, it takes you on a wierd routing. It *will* get you there however, and if you're unfamiliar with the place, it probably doesn't matter if the route's not the most intuitive.
Digital camera Review: Does not give you good routes
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been dissapointed & frustrated with the Garmin. The Garmin does get you to where you need to go, but often does not use a good route.
PROS
- User Friendly interface
- Updates arrival time
- Provides the option of looking at a small map (indicating just where you are and your immediate vicinity), step-by-step written directions, or a large map showing the entire route
- Can look up restaurants & other destinations just by typing in their name!
CONS
- The satellite reception is terrible if there are any trees around! Anytime we drive on a tree-lined street, we lose reception.
- It rarely gives you a good route (ie - the route which will take the shortest amount of time) to get from point-to-point...it just gives you a route
- Often takes several minutes to locate itself when you first turn it on.