Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
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| Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Product Description |
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HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction
Navigate by Photo |
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![]() | 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.
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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. | |
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Traffic-Capable FM Traffic
![]() | 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. |
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![]() | and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen![]() |
Where Am I?
On any nüvi, 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 the continental United States, 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 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.
| Device | Screen Size inches (W x H) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | 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 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 205w | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 255w | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 265T | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 265WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 275T | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 285WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 465T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 755T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 |
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 855 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 885T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | ![]() | Photos, MP3s | ![]() | ![]() | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 1200 | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1260T | 2.8 x 2.1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1300 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1350 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1350T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1370T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1390T | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1490T | 4.4 x 2.5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | ![]() | Photos | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1690 | 3.81 x 2.25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service) | ![]() | Photos | ![]() | up to 4 | ||
Product Details
- 4.3 in Touch Screen Navigator with 2D/3D Maps
- Turn by Turn Voice Directions and Optional MSN Direct Services
- Where Am I Emergency Locator / You Always Know Your Location
- With HotFix, It Calculates Your Position Faster to Get You There Quicker
- JPEG Picture Viewer, World Travel Clock, Currency Converter, Calculator and More
Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.
Customer Reviews
Handy and easy to use |
| Review Date: September 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jennifer Rademacher, The Netherlands |
| I bought this for a camping trip around lake Michigan and it was a great purchase. I always had a signal even in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is compact but the screen is large enough to read. The touch screen works very well.
The only cons is sometimes it searches for a Point of Interest I have typed the name in for a very long time. It also doesn't have all businesses in there but of course that would be nearly impossible. It does have the phone numbers which has come in handy. All in all I am very satisfied with this purchase. |
Poor quility GPS |
| Review Date: September 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: hattrick, |
| This unit Garmin's nuvi 205W was a Christmas gift 2009 and work ok the first couple of trips. But by spring the problems started - when touching letters on the screen the wrong letter or number would come up. Say I pressed the letter s the number 2 might come up. From there it went to having to press the keys several times before it would respond. When it wouldn't respond I would press a littler harder then one time I must have pressed a little to hard the screen cracked. Very depressing. No pun intended.
Garmin said tuff luck. And that there is no way that the screen will crack by pressing it too hard. So they want $79 for a rebuilt one, well this one only cost $89. Also this is my second Garmin and I have had trouble with both of them. The first one didn't even turn on right out of the box. I will be replacing it with a different brand, but before I do I'll be checking warrantys and reviews carefully. |
Not the best one out there |
| Review Date: August 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Michael Hamblin, |
| I think it is time to buy a new unit. I Connected unit to satellites OK. Changed home and voice settings OK. Screen menus very intuitive. My most significant probolem came when I registered the thing. Had to download software. OK. Then they suggested a map update (good for 60-90 days from purchase). My mistake was when I went for the upgrade. Since then I've spent about seven hours on the computer, all downloads "successful", mymaps says all's OK, but my little garmin says "No detailed maps found that can support routing". Thank you, that's why I bought it. I've tried everything, it doesn't work any more. When I try to send Garmin an email inquiry, it won't send it because my "browser is not supported." I bought this computer in Feb of 98. What's for Safari not being "supported"? I have to wait for the service M-F in the morning.- so I have to lose work to get support? Thanks I've been using computers for 8 years. Can't recommend this model. And Garmin gets a big F for support. I thought it was sweet as the voice accompanied me to work. |
Bad luck? |
| Review Date: August 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Alison Shih, SF |
| I purchased my Nuvi 205w on May 12, 2010 from Amazon. Everything was great, price, shipping, etc, however, this review is not about the service, but the product.
I knew this was a super basic product, but all I was looking for was simply a moving map that let me know how and where I'm going. Sadly, after 1 week of excitement putting my tomtom in the drawer, Nuvi had failed me with a common problem that many customers had addressed: Freezing at start up. This Nuvi 205W had frozen at "load map" at least 15 times over the past 3 months of usage. What it means is, usually when you turn it on, the system requires the GPS to load the maps on the device, and after the maps are loaded, the GPS will show the menu and start looking for a signal. However, on this Nuvi, it's either loading the map forever, or it just turns itself off after the map is loaded(after the loading bar is full). And that wasn't the end of it. According to the support, I should be able to back-up my GPS if this happens, so after I do a hard-reset, I can import the back-up back to the device. So I tried and tried with my Mac and my PC, but evidently it didn't like my computers. Not only it was dead silence, it stayed on the "load map" section and never went on. So I decided to just do hard reset every time and erase all the data on it since connecting it to my mac/pc did not help at all. Last but not least, starting a month ago it wouldn't even allow me to do a hard reset anymore, so now I have a GPS that won't even turn on. And since I had to go out of country for a while, I didn't bother to have to deal with it. I definitely didn't expect to pay about 100+ dollars to have a nice looking black screen suck to my windshield. I realized it has passed the return date on Amazon, so I contacted Garmin's support agents, and hopefully I'll hear from them soon. Maybe it was just my bad luck. After all this is an item I've been looking at for a few months before finally decided to get it, which has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon... I guess for now I'll stick to my Tomtom which saved my life the first time that Nuvi backed on me. |
Garmin 205W |
| Review Date: August 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Fish hook, Vancouver, Wa. |
| Easy to use for basic directions. However, it can be rather annoying if you decide to take your own route. The nuvi will attempt, many times, to turn you around so you can follow it's chosen route. |
Tagged with: 205w • 4.3inch • Garmin • navigator • nüvi • portable • widescreen
Filed under: GPS Vehicle • Garmin
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The nüvi 2x5 models 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. 













Handy and easy to use