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Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Text-To-Speech
By: Garmin Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 1137
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 On: 2008-12-03
You can see all of the extensive, hyperdetailed reviews. I wont write another one of those.
What I will say is that I received my Nuvi 360 yesterday, and I love it already. The design is excellent and the UI is terrific, even (especially?) for someone like yours truly who has very little patience for user manuals.
My initial hesitation about buying a GPS unit was something along the lines of "I know where Im going around here. And I have a road atlas when I dont." What I wasnt anticipating was how much my love of maps and topology and points of interest in the world around me would be fed by a GPS unit. I have always loved staring at maps and following roads and learning names of mountains, parks, wilderness areas, and so on. My grandfather apparently had the same fascination. For example, I have driven by one particular section of Seattle hundreds if not thousands of times. I had no idea that little neighborhood/area was named. Was knowing the name crucial to my ability to get around? Nope. Is it interesting nonetheless to know the name? Absolutely.
I can also see how the Nuvi will make me more likely to strike out into the countryside, exploring new areas that arent well documented on even the Thomas Guide. Hooray!
I will add that my nine-year-old daughter is positively enamored with the Nuvi already. Shes selecting the vehicle to use, changing its colors, looking at the splash screen choices, fascinated by being able to tell the direction our car is pointed at any given moment, and so on. Weve been discussing how the Nuvi works in relation to satellites, what satellites are, and so on. A great teaching tool and excellent for those who are visually oriented!
Im not one to order one of every gadget released. However, I will say that this will most likely end up on a list one day of my best technology purchases ever. Its practical, fun, portable, affordable, and tremendously useful.
 On: 2008-12-02
Upgraded from the 350 to the 360 solely for the BT functionality in June 2008. Sorry to say the BT did not work well and many times Id switch off the BT because the speaker would distort and or there were frequent drop outs. In addition I have trouble hearing the directions with the window open or even the stereo on at a low volume. My speaker isnt loud enough for directions, but distorts when all the way up during a BT call. I have the 360 mounted to the top of my dash. Ive used the 360 with a Sony W300i phone and a BB curve. Same issues with both. Callers had a lot of difficulty understanding me. I also noticed subsequent to the latest firm/software upgrade that the unit is slower and not as accurate. In retrospect I should have stayed with the 350. The BT call quality was so poor that I ended up buying a new BT stereo with separate mic. Should have stayed with the 350.
On: 2008-12-01
I just bought the Nuvi 360 for $3 more than the 260 on Amazon. With the addition of bluetooth handsfree and MP3 support, it was a no brainer. My question is why was this model discontinued, and not the 260? Does anyone know?
 On: 2008-12-01
First, when I went to the Garmin website to check for upgrade, it said that I had to register to see if I was eligible for a free upgrade. So I registered and guess what, I wasnt eligible for any free upgrades. It seems to me, little more than a trick to get people to register.
Second, the high price of upgrades. After paying $170, I now find out that I have to pay another $70 to upgrade the maps. They are charging me for the same information that Google gives away for free.
If I had realized the high price to to keep the Garmin current, I would have done more research and possibly made a different purchase,
On: 2008-11-29
Great value for the price. I needed text-to-speech so I would not have to take my eyes off the road. This gps works great. I only wish that the volume could be made to go louder than it does as I dont think it can be heard clearly over the car radio.
On: 2008-11-26
Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Text-To-Speech
This GPS is so easy to use and makes traveling so stress free. We should have bought one long ago. We liked ours so much, we bought a second one for our son for Christmas. The only thing is that the price went down $25 since we bought the second GPS one month ago. I guess we should have waited...
 On: 2008-11-25
The Garmin nüvi 360 is an excellent product. I used to have a StreetPilot C330 and upgraded to this one, so im not new when it comes to Garmin GPS navigator.
Pros:
Excellent software and features, usability and design.
Cons:
Low speaker volume on Text-to-speech voices.
On: 2008-11-25
I purchased the Garmin nuvi 360 last year for my mom and stepdad for Christmas. They absolutely love it. In the past year, it has not given them bogus directions once. It connects to the satellite quickly (a lot fast than my nuvi 260W). It also came with the a/c charger and a case, so I didnt have to buy them separately. I did buy the Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators (C530, C550, and C580) for them so they wouldnt have to attach the Garmin to the window or dash and it would be easy to move from one car to the other.
The price has also dropped dramatically in the last year so I decided to buy one for my son for Christmas this year.
On: 2008-11-24
This is my second purchase of a Nuvi 360. Its a great unit for the money. Besides giving great directions with text-to-speech, the bluetooth handsfree feature is better than most accessories you can buy from ATT or Verizon. The handsfree feature works so well, I couldnt tell that it was being used. Its just as clear as if you have the phone to your ear (no echo or speakerphone tunnel sounds) .
On: 2008-11-24
This product is for the most part just like all the other GPSs on the market. They work just fine for the most park but tend to have some quirks. For instance, sometimes there is a delay with the voice prompt of when to turn - but usually only a few seconds behind - and sometimes it gives screwball directions to a destination. But other then that I am very happy with the product and I doubt that I, or anyone else, could do better.
On: 2008-11-23
The brand is great and I trust it a lot. This model has lower volume than a lot others. Not sure what that flab at the back is for. There is no volume scorll along the side like the ol school ones. I gave my girl this one because it calls the street names, but it whispers even at max volume.
On: 2008-11-23
This model is a great combination of good price and user friendliness. It comes in handy more than I would have expected, and I love having it around. The quality is very good-no need to buy a really expensive model. It tells you where you need to go. The first time I used it, though, I was on some new streets that it didnt have programmed on it, yet. That has been the only problem with it so far, but I love it.
On: 2008-11-22
We are satisfied with the GPS. Good deal for the price!
But could not mount yet, with the parts got in package.
The ball of suction cup unit does not fit in the circular slot at all.
I dont know if we are missing anything?
If anybody could mount this unit, please help.
On: 2008-11-19
This is the second Nuvi 360 that Ive bought in one year; and, despite the time difference, I couldnt find more bang for my buck than this model.
1. Price on Amazon had dropped from $320.00 to $199.99.
2. Only Garmin at this price with Bluetooth Connectivity.
3. Speaks Street names and warns you of an upcoming turn twice.
4. Finds many retail stores; and, with a BT enabled phone allows you to find not only the location, but also call the store directly from the unit.
5. Screen real estate is large enough to see details, yet still the unit fits in your pocket.
With so many navigators out there, its hard to figure out which one is best. For my money, this Garmin Nuvi has all the features one needs to be safe (and on time) when driving both familiar and unfamiliar roads.
On: 2008-11-17
Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech
This GPS navigator is a wonderful product and a value for money buy. Even though most new cars come equipped with a GPS navigator, this one is still worth having. Its handy, with all necessary GPS navigator functions like Favorite Locations, Text-to-speech and wide array of search points.
It comes with all peripherals needed like the 12/24 volt car charger, USB charger and a nice case.
All in all highly recommended for anyone looking for a quality product in ecomomical price range. Amazon is the place to buy your new Garmin nuvi!
On: 2008-11-16
This thing is really something, I really didnt need it, I just wanted it! It doesnt always map out the shortest way, but either does Mapquest. I would have given it "5 stars", but the bluetooth sometimes forgets to pair with my phone
On: 2008-11-14
This is a great GPS system. It comes with everything you could possible want. Text to Speach, Bluetoth capable, carry case so you dont leave it in the car. If you do leave it it has an anti theft password you can use and then stickers for your window telling would be thefts to pass this one by. You get the A/C addapter, the car adapter, USB cable, Dash mount window mount, CD Rom and even a free coupon for an audio book to listen to in the car.
Some more expensive units dont come with everything you need. You find out when you get it home that it can only be on when the car is running and you have no other way to charge it. The screen is quite clear and easy to read. No need to get a 4.3 size this is really quite perfect, infact larger would be more of a distraction.
You get screen savers also, how cool. There are different voices to choose to talk to you. Some have complained about the volume but you can adjust it easliy. The touch screen programing is so simple and the letters are big enough if you have larger hands you are not pressing two letters at the same time.
I tried it just coming home from church and it wanted me to take another route than I had planed I just went on my wany and she said reaculating and in 1 sec she had my way planed. You can zoom in and out what type of view you want.
This is fine unit and I cannot wait to take it on a trip. Oh you can also get chips to update it for vacations like europe and the like.
On: 2008-11-13
My cousin gave this to me as a gift, and I love it. Tells me where to go and even which side of the road. Colors are bright and clear, volume is great. Ive even used the bluetooth and it uploads all the contacts from my iPhone. I also use it for geocaching and can upload cache pages with all the details. Im buying one for my daughter next.
On: 2008-11-12
I have had the Nuvi 360 for over 3 years and I love it more now than when I first purchased it. I normally do not write reviews, but when a company gets something right, you want to let people know. I do not want to rehash everything that has already been said. I just purchased the 2009 Garmin map update for North America. Some people may not need the map update, the older maps seem to do the trick most of the time. The old roads are normally still going to be their. But I travel a lot for my company, so I need to find newer business addresses. Anyway the update was flawless and the update also includes a updated POI list. When I use to go out of town on a business trip, I would always dread looking on mapquest or a regular map to find something. Finding a business is half the battle for me. When I arrive in another city, I set the Hotel I am staying in as a favorite place. I know I can just take off in any direction and have confidence it can get me back to where I need to be. A lot of times, I will just ride around with no address inputted in my Garmin. So, when I get tired of looking around, the hotel if just a couple of pushes away on the Garmin. It is now closing in on 2009, I see alot of cars now having other GPS units that are not Garmins. I guess they do not know how easy a Garmin is to use. The Garmin 360 had trouble with the bluetooth conecting to my phone when I first purchaed it. But they quickly came out with a firmware update that fixed the problem.
On: 2008-11-11
I am not a tech person. When it comes to computers Im old school and prefer the old ways. Yet I see the advantages modern technology has to offer. I borrowed a Garmin nuvi from my friend when I went to drop off my daughter at UF in Gainesville. It was so user friendly and convenient to track stores and restaurants that I was hooked for life. I came back from the trip and bought three of them. Now my married son has one and my older daughter. I even asked my UF daughter if she would like one when she goes bike riding around the city. She said it wouldnt be practical. How would she hook it up? Was it weather resistant? I think were unto something here. If your company would offer one for bikers/walkers at an affordable college price, Im game to buy it.
I went to Sea World this past summer on vacation and they have their own GPS for inside the park. I told my UF daughter to tell UF about designing one for their campus. I dont think she mentioned it to them. Think how handy for parent orientations/workshops/seminars/conferences, that are always going on there or anywhere. If you patent my idea, please let me in on the interest.
To say the least I am very pleased with my purchase.
On: 2008-11-11
I had a Garmin 200 and it worked very well. I bought the 360 as a upgrade. Once again Garmin makes a great product. The only down side of the 360 is the speaker. Quite hard to hear. The other downside is the 360 has a tendency to "lockup" and you have to reset it. Not a big deal but a little annoying
On: 2008-11-09
I have a Tom Tom in one car and a Sanyo in another. By far this Garmin is the best of the three.
On: 2008-11-08
Ive been "kicking tires" when it comes to GPS units for a couple years. In the last few months Ive seen the prices dropping to where even the casual user such as myself couldnt resist finally taking the plunge. Although new models from Garmin have recently arrived and this NUVI 360 is listed as "discontinued" on Garmins site, you will find that for the money that just made this the smart choice. With its text-to-speech, bluetooth, MP3 capability, plus the fact that ALL the essential cables are in the box ,what else do you need? Unless you decide you cant live without the widescreen (your supposed to be watching the road not the Garmin anyway), keep the $100.00 upcharge in your pocket. The unit performs flawlessly and even when I purposely take a wrong turn,it quickly replots the route and gets you back on course. If I were to "nitpick" my only complaint would be that it only has 1 speaker instead of 2 like its higher priced cousins. This is only a bother when someone calls me and I use its Bluetooth capabilities to talk hands free. Although everyone says I sound fine on their end, its a bit muffled to listen to when I try and hear their words coming through. If it werent for that , I would have given it 5 stars. Considering this unit was bringing close to $900.00 retail when first released in 2006 , this is a steal! Compare this model to Garmins comparible new releases and youll be pulling the trigger on this one like I did. The only other suggestion would be to buy the Beanbag mount, it keeps the unit securely on the dash and within reach while at the same time keeping that "break in to my car" circle off the windshield that alert thieves there is something in your car theyd want..lol.Unless time is all you have, dont use Amazons free super saver shipping. It takes 7-10 days and you can walk to their warehouse and pick it up faster. Grab this unit before its sold out!!
On: 2008-11-05
I got this for my husband as he travels a lot for his work. He loves it. We found it was the last model and it wasnt been produced any longer, but that doesnt bother him. He uses it every day and thinks it is the greatest. No problems with anything about it. I would recommend it to anyone.
On: 2008-11-05
I bought this 1 month before. So far it didnt give me any issues. It works excellent. Also its blue tooth and text to speech feature is very nice.
On: 2008-11-04
I purchased Garmin Nuvi 360 3.5" GPS from Amazon a month back. This GPS is really small sleek and good. All the features are good like Navigation, Bluetooth and MP3 player.
The only thing i didnt like is that when you Power ON the GPS it will take couple of minutes to accquire satelite signals. Rest is all ok.
On: 2008-11-04
It arrived earlier then I expected which was great! Now comes time to use it - There are times the Garmin will tell you to turn at the last minute and by then its too late to turn. Another instance was it kept telling me a certain place was on the right side of the road, I kept driving by the area until I realized its not on the right but on the left. It doesnt give detour unless youre completely off the original road so it can recalculate where you are.
My advise - learn to read map or take a print out of the direction to use as a back up
On: 2008-11-04
There is plenty to like about this model. The text-to-speech alone is enough recommend it. Adding customer POIs was relatively easy. I also liked the customizable vehicle icon and voices. My main complaint involves the quality of the bluetooth feature. People on the other end of my call were often unable to understand me and said they heard a lot of static. Plugging it into the cars aux port helped on my end, but the mic leaves something to be desired.
All in all, I would highly recommend this model, especially given its price.
On: 2008-11-03
I was very disappointed with this product for 3 specific reasons. I had a Garmin device prior to this one that I loved.
First, this device worked *once*, after which it would only simulate routes. I turned it off and on, reset the device, and still couldnt get it to navigate for me.
Secondly, the text entry input is not qwerty, its alphabetical, which makes it extremely difficult to type in Anything.
Third, Im used to being able to see the history of what Ive searched for, which is very useful.
Overall, I didnt use the device very much because I got too frustrated with it. What I recommend is to make SURE you test a device in store before ordering one.
On: 2008-11-03
The map was just flat wrong!!! And it would repeat the same thing over and over. I would suggest for the money you get a cheaper one. I now have the Garmin 270 and its working fabulous!
On: 2008-11-03
This nuvi 360 is a "discontinued" GPS unit, but has all of the good features. Garmin will, after registering online, allow a free download of the 2009 map version....making this a great bargain.
The wide screen GPS units are impressive, but I do not need the wide width to show roads way off to the left or right. I need to see where I am going........UP. The wider screen units seem to be rather useless to me.
I have used it in town and on some very remote National Forest Service 4X4 roads and have been amazed. The map has the roads numbered (the forest road number signs are sorely missing out in the National Forests).
Great little unit. Like all GPS units, it does not always "know" of the best or latest routes, but will get you there.
On: 2008-11-02
I dont know what took me so long to buy a GPS. This is the most terrific device on the planet. (OK, a slight exageration.) I read a lot of reviews for the different brands and finally settled on a Garmin. And then I had to decide on which model! For me, the 3.5 screen is sufficiently large enough. It is easy to use, although I suspect it does a lot more than I realize, as Ive only had it less than a month. Having this GPS is just like having a person sitting next to me reading a map and constantly giving me directions. For people like me, with no sense of direction, this is the most wonderful device imaginable. No more wrestling with maps, or trying to figure out which way is north or east, or how far it is to my destination. And you dont have to panic if you hit an unexpected roadblock or you take a wrong turn - because it instantly recalculates your route immediately!!! I love the feature that lets you find gas stations and restaurants nearby at whatever point you are in your travel. I have tried the GPS on several trips varying from 1 1/2 to 3 hours, in preparation to a longer trip in a few weeks. I am constantly amazed at how well it works, even though there were a few glitches. For instance, it directed me to take a left hand turn on a one-way street going the wrong way! I elected to keep going straight and my garmin instantly recalculated my route, and got me to my destination go. This model has a bluetooth feature which will come in handy when I upgrade my phone. One of my friends just bought a Garmin and as she travels for a living she would have liked the Garmin that responds to speech. Also, the Nuvi 360 will allow one programmable detour which works fine for my needs. Anyone who travels alot would probably appreciate the models that allow for multiple programmable stops. If you dont have one, buy a GPS! They are amazing!
On: 2008-11-02
I bought the Garmin 360 GPS as the endless road map, getting sick of buying folding maps all the time. After reading several reviews, I decided this unit is right for my intended use. It is simple to operate, logical in operational setup, and most of all, fast on re-calculation of routes.
My opinion, for first time users and folks that dont want to spend a small fortune on devices of this kind, I would suggest the Garmin 360 is a very good place to start.
On: 2008-11-02
The Garmin nuvi 360 would be a good product except the speaker volume is extremely weak. The only way the speaker can be heard is stopped and no other noise nearby. This is with the speaker volume turned to maximum. Adding an external speaker does not help unless the external speaker is amplified.
On: 2008-11-02
Excellent and extremely portable device. Ive used it several times on short and long trips and it works very well. The device is bright and easy to read, the speech to text is clear and precise. The bluetooth sync up with your wireless phone is a bit flaky out of the box, however it works flawlessly after you get the latest update from Garmins website.
The POIs are extensive and I often use my Garmin to find restaurants on the weekends. All in all a great portable device I plan on using for a long time.
On: 2008-11-02
The 360 is perfect for me. The Bluetooth capabilities make it nice and easy to make handsfree phone calls. Also love the option of plugging up the MP3 player to the vehicles audio system. I thought the 3.5 screen would be too small but its very easy to see. I would have liked to have had the arm that holds the GPS longer to be able to keep the GPS out of the sun. The sun can make it hard to view the screen and I think if the arm was longer I could have it lower to remedy that. For the price, its a great buy.
On: 2008-11-01
recently i purchased Garmin nuvi360 GPS with blue-tooth and text to speach facility and it works great.I was looking for a GPS which comes in the price range of $180 to $250 with text to speach lane by lane direction and blue-tooth and even it has MP3 player as well.
So i strongly recommend people to go for it if they want a GPS within medium price and great features.
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Dilip
On: 2008-11-01
This product was worth every penny. Great deal and I love the product.
Only thing that this product could improve is in the area of picking up satellites faster when you start up the system. Other than that, this is a MUST BUY!
On: 2008-10-30
We are low-to-medium users of GPS and wanted a basic device which was user-friendly and robust (at the cost of advanced options like multi-point routing etc).
I bought the nuvi primarily for three things : a) longer battery life compared to the tomtom, b) its text-to-speech and c) bluetooth connectivity.
I have been very satisfied with the first two, especially the text-to-speech. Driving around in downtown, we have found calling out streetnames (rather than take next turn etc.) to be extremely useful since I never have to look at the screen.
Often since we share two cars, we forget to take the charging cable from one of the cars but the long battery life (6 hours) has been a life saver in this regard.
The bluetooth connectivity has been a bit flaky but that is primarily due to the Palm Centro which seems to have an incredibly bad Bluetooth stack which freezes the phone often. However, when it does connect, it works like a charm and the voice etc. are very clear.
All in all, very satisfied with this product.
On: 2008-10-30
It is good and accurate and price that no one can beat. I recommand to everyone.
On: 2008-10-28
OK, so I live in Alaska, and Im not used to traffic or lots of highways. The NUVI saved time, headaches and gasoline! Wow...it is great and Im going to order another one for my other car. I have a Prius with full navigation; yeh, right....Toyota claims that they do not have the software for Alaska yet, so after spending $600 on the upgrade NAV package, I had to buy a Garmin. If you dont have some sort of GPS and you travel, these days, you are a fool not to have one. GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! Very easy to operate...I never read the book on it, as it is very user friendly. Highly recommend.
On: 2008-10-28
Love this Garmin! Has everything I want and need in a GPS. The only feature it doesnt have is the inability to listen to the instructions through my stereo but that wasnt important to me. Love the ability to use the Garmin as a hands free cell phone. This is the best $219.99 I ever spent!!!
Brad B
MA
On: 2008-10-28
I am so glad I purchased this GPS, I dont know how I ever went anywhere without one. Saves time printing maps before my trip. Bright, easy to read screen. Loud (adjustable) voice, easy to understand. I have had problems finding a location...it just wasnt on the map. I guess if you have the exact address and not the business name you wouldnt have a problem. Overall, very happy with this purchase. Great price, too. I did some research before the purchase.
 On: 2008-10-27
Drove on some CA roads that I know have been around for over 3 years. But GPS showed me driving on "dirt".
Main reason for picking this unit was for the Bluetooth. But was volume was very choppy.
Returned it right away
On: 2008-10-27
I ordered the Garmin 360. It is great. I can load my audio books and listen as I drive.
On: 2008-10-24
working good so far. the only problem i have had is that the blue tooth will not pair with my current cell phone. Check the garmin site for compatible cell phones.
On: 2008-10-24
I love the Garmin Nuvi 360 and so does my girlfriend. Thats why I bought another for her as a Christmas gift.
On: 2008-10-20
As a GPS if works fine, like any other Garmin GPS. But if you are buying it because it has bluetooth you might find incompatibilities with some phones. It is not compatible with IPHONE and it also blocked my Sony phone.
On: 2008-10-20
I liked the way the product worked. Ive heard from others that have purchased this product and they said it is getting slower. I purchased this product a month away and I returned it to the Garmin company for a replacement.
On: 2008-10-18
When I ordered the nuvi didnt know what to expect. Pleasantly surprised,it works wonderfully out of the box. Only complaint I have is the backroads function is not as accurate as I expected it to be. If it is to be used for freeway and quickest route a wonderful tool to have.
On: 2008-10-17
I was really pumped when I read all the specs and features about this item. I was excited when it came.there are not any real bad things that I can say about this except for it keeps making me re-pair my bluetooth.thats annoying when your ready to make calls. other than that it works just fine.
On: 2008-10-16
This is a great device for portable navigation. The menu system is easy to use with an easy to read display. The size of the device makes it very portable.
On: 2008-10-13
Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech
Ok, Im ready to talk about it now!!! Im being a little dramatic, only to try and grab your attention, but I was so excited when I first got this unit, I could hardly wait to write a review, but I decided to wait till Id read the entire owners manual, and really used this little guy for a few weeks. I think I can talk fairly intellegently about it now that I have some "real world" experience under my belt.
Before I get into some detail and pros and cons about the unit, I realize that many of you, like me, are reading these reviews in order to try and make a decision on which one to buy. I really felt I did my homework on this one, and after reading many reviews about some Magellan products, Tom tom, and especially the Garmin 760 and other Garmin units, I finally decided to get this baby. The "decision maker" for me on this unit was partly the price, partly the scary things I read about the blue tooth issues, in relation to noise, radio reception, etc. but probably the most important aspect of all this review thing for me was all the GOOD REVIEWS, I seemed to read about the 360, and how well the bare bones features like GPS NAVIGATION, seemed to be touted in a positive sense. You know, I like bells and whistles too, but when it comes right down to it, for me the "main deal" for me about a GPS unit is: How well does it find my location, without a bunch of problems, and Im happy to say, that Im about 98% satisfied with this unit. (Ill tell you about the other 2% in a minute).
Id say that Im a pretty "techey", kind of guy, but I think Im still keeping a perspective when I say that "right out of the box", I was able to just about set it to a destination, and go for it. After saying that, (for all you "instruction manual", haters, Id still have to say, read them anyway. Youll be glad you did. I learned a lot of other info that helps me tremendously from the owners manual. Might I add, that another part of the "deal maker" for me was that they actually included a CD rom with the owners manual on it, a lether carring case, a "real" car charger, "real" AC charger, (for home), and a USB cable to charge it from my computer or download the latest version of maps from Garmin FOR FREE, within the first 30 days of ownership, and a suction cup. Try that with some of the other units!!!!!!!! Ok, that being said, I fired this sucker up, and low and belhold,,, it actually led me to my destination in style.
Ok, now lets get down to brass tacks. Im not gonna say much more about the picture download feature, the MP3 stuff, or any of that stuff, because to me, I mainly bought this unit to find a location, but I did listen to a few of the "pre-loaded" music clips and like one of the other reviewers said: Make no mistake, this isnt a "stereo system", unless you run it into an amplifier and bigger speakers, where it might do a decent job, which, by the way, is one possible way to eleviate, that "small speaker syndrom" that every one of these units that Ive ever used seems to have. Hey, folks, lets face it. Your not gonna have a boom box sound with a teeny, tiny speaker on a small GPS unit, HOWEVER, the real blessing here for all of you is there is a headphone output, that could possibly be sent to some kind of amplifier and bigger speakers to enhance the sound. Ill leave it at that on this issue.
In the real world, I cranked up the volume to the top end and if you roll up your windows, you can hear that "sexy", Australian lady, tell you directions, but even if its a hot day, theres still the "printed word" on the unit, telling you to "turn left on Main St." or where ever, and by the way, this feature of telling you the street where to turn, as far as Im concerned is a "must have feature". Shes not gonna always tell you 3 blocks ahead of time, but if you pay attention, she or the text does a pretty good job of directing you when and where to turn.
As far as "typing in" the City, Street, number, etc. I had a little issue on part of this but I think I found a way around the problem. Heres the problem: When you type in the city or street name, sometimes the "computer" as it were, puts the names in front of you, that are possiblilities, but sometimes the possiblilities arent your city or street, your looking for. The way I found "around this", and listen closely here: Before you type in the "full name" of the street or city and hit the "done" button, just type in part of the name, and hit done. By doing that, the unit gives you more choices to choose from and so far every time Ive done this, I could find the street or city I was looking for. I think this is poor engineering on Garmins part, but at least this is kind of a "work around on this problem".
I went to a parking lot down the steet and programed in a "point of interest" or something to that respect (sorry, Im not precise on this, but read the manual, and youll find how to do it). Once I did this, I was able to find the little "flag" they give you to find where I parked my car, probably within 20 feet. Not to bad, considering, they dont even "tout" this in the "ad" on this unit.
Kind of "wrapping this thing up", here, Id like to see a little more "robust" POI list, but you might be able to download a bigger POI list from Garmin. One more negative for me was that they dont seem to include a "zip code" feature on this unit, (where you can find the city and area by zip code, but another work around on this is that you can find a map of the area you want, and literally with your finger slide the map to exactly where your looking to go and zoom in on that area too. On e last feature that I like is that it can save a pretty big list (maybe 500) of addresses and/or destinations that youve previously been to, and with the "spell feature", you can narrow that down to what your looking for.
All in all, Id have to say that this "bad boy" really kicks butt, and does what it says it will do and then some. Im very pleased with the clear consice visual readout, the audio information to back all that up, and the fact that 98% of the time it takes me right to the house Im trying to deliver too. (Oh, by the way, Im a delivery driver, by trade).
On: 2008-10-13
I love it, easy to use, can fit in my pocket when walking around, makes getting yhere much less stressfull.
On: 2008-10-12
I bought it for my road trip from California to Washington and it worked like a charm. Its boot time is relatively fast and the software is very intuitive and easy to use.
The only downside was that it doesnt have good reception in high building area; the processing became slow and a teeny bit inaccurate when I used it in Seattle downtown (hence minus 1 star, although it should be just 1/2 or maybe 1/8). However, in the end I managed to arrive at my destination without much difficulty.
The package came with all equipment needed to use in a car, so I dont need to buy more. For $199, I dont think it can get better than Garmin nüvi 360. Its not an overstatement to say that it exceeded my expectation.
On: 2008-10-12
This product is easy to use and is very user friendly. The display is large enough to see while driving and the voice commands are usually far enough in advance to not miss turns.
On: 2008-10-10
Easy to configure.
Routing / re-routing features are great. Voice prompts help a lot when you are driving.
Update to get latest maps: Its free! Nice thing is Garmin provides 2009 maps update for free. You will need to create a free login on their website and follow directions to register product. Takes two hours to download and update your nuvi 360, but its all automatic, all you need to do is plugin the nuvi with USB cord and connect it to your computer. Download itself takes the longest time.
Syncs with bluetooth phone with ease: i have a samsung phone, can see last dialed calls / phonebook immedly after pairing up the phone. Was able to make / receive phone calls with ease.
SD Card feature is nice.
Cons:
Dont order by USPS delivery which is free (Super saving). They are crappy, its worth spending a little more money and get one of the other shipping options. My box was mis-routed by USPS, then got delivered with no notification, was opened and stuff was moved around with Garmin box open. USPS has no regrets for poor customer service. They just dont care.
On: 2008-10-10
Ive owned 3 portable GPS units and this is by far the best.
My first GPS was an older model of the Garmin 360 which can only be likened to a CRT monitor. At the time, this was standard. It was an excellent device and I loved the different voice settings as well as ease of use.
I made the mistake of selling this GPS for a Navigon 5100. While it was much more portable, had free traffic reports, and a slew of "goodies" so to speak, I had a lot of problems with the unit. It took an extremely long time to load, the touch screen was virtually unusuable (a huge problem of course) as I would almost have to use my pinky in order to enter addresses, and the user interface was horrible to say the least. While it did provide good directions and the routes were easy to read, the disadvantages listed above outweighed the few advantages.
Several models later, I decided to sell the 5100 and return to Garmin. I have never been happier. The unit is small, light, loads fast, I can get my beloved british accent back and it also includes a bluetooth feature which allows me to link it to my phone for hands free calls. A HUGE plus in areas that have illegalized the use of cell phones while driving. Take this into account that I drive a stick shift, and need the use of both my hands especially while driving through traffic and the maze of DC.
If this is your first unit, buy it. Its simple, straight forward, easy to use and I could not recommend a better GPS!
On: 2008-10-09
Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech this product could be easier to use if explanations were clearer. Performance is made difficult because of too many steps necessary to use properly.
On: 2008-10-09
What can I say about this all-rounder? Sold my Nuvi 310 for this set with TTS, Bluetooth and built-in U.S./Canada maps. Coupled this with a free MY/SG maps - it has been my trusty tool to navigate to places I have never been before. It works seamlessly with my Sony Ericsson phone with its Bluetooth, even callers are not aware Im using GPS to talk to them. Choosing faster time routing, it brings me to my destination in quickest time and most of time, shorter routes. Fast start-up (remember to remove lock-password and do not choose destination first before getting signals), Easy to use and best of all, the maps are available for most of countries, unlike some cheap GPS where need to use proprietry maps. Durable and mounting it into car is easy. Will be using it for tour in HK soon. :) Next will be to purchase Europe map, then Ill have most of the worlds maps in my 3.5" pocket size GPS!!
On: 2008-10-08
The cons:
The mount is absolutely horrible. It doesnt stay in place. The unit actually fell off as I was driving. Why do I need to get the beanbag mount? I have a sirius sat radio and its mount is perfect.
The POI search is noticeably slower than my Mio. It took a long time to search "national zoo" and the wait cursor didnt go away.
The pros:
The GPS is fantastic. I powered the unit on and it locked on to the sat signal inside my house. Drove up to the national zoo on the weekend and the directions from Connecticut Ave to Ashburn were pretty good(Although, it did make me take 10 inner streets).
The bluetooth paired up with my HTC mogul as soon as I enabled the bluetooth option. The menu is misleading. When you get to the bluetooth setting for the first time, the enabled option is selected by default. This may lead you to believe that its already enabled. You need to save the settings to enable it. Either that or I did something wrong.
If you have the mini-USB cable plugged in, as soon as you switch off your car, the unit will power down after a 30 second "switch to battery?" option. For people who have owned a lot of GPS units, this may not seem like a big deal. Ive only owned a Mio before and this feature was lacking.
p.s. I got it for 217$ last week and its already 199$!! Amazon, how about a refund?
p.p.s Who the heck listens to MP3 music on their GPS?
On: 2008-10-07
I consider this as a good deal since the cost of the same device in our country is much higher, in addition it is very user friendly and easy to use.
On: 2008-10-06
This unit is awesome, its packed with features and with the Traffic module we purchased separately its a real time saver. The Bluetooth is way better than the one I was using and I dont have to have anything in my ear while I drive. If you are looking for a good mid priced GPS I would highly recommend this one.
On: 2008-10-05
I was dissapointed in the 360. I couldnt connect to it with bluetooth. It wasnt able to get us to all the houses we were looking for during house hunting, although I think some of that is related to new neighborhoods not on the map yet. Not intuitive enough. I tried the Tomtom Go 720 it wasnt any better although I liked the screen graphics better and the options.
On: 2008-10-05
I purchased this device in 2007 for $399.00. I am so disappointed that it is already down to $199.00. Anyway, before purchasing this device, taking a trip was very stressful. I would have to memorize the directions and hope I would get there safely. With this device, getting somewhere wasnt a problem UNTIL last weekend.
Last weekend, I tried to input a street and the Garmin refused to let me do it. When I arrived at the address, I saved it and the Garmin refused to reference the address when I tried to go back to the address.
When I called Garmin, they said that they couldnt pull up the address either. This wouldnt be so upsetting if the lady, who was with me, did not have problems finding the address because she was using a Tom-Tom.
At first, when Tom-Tom people raved about their unit--I blew them off. I am starting to hear more and more that the Tom-Tom people dont have the issues that Garmin refuses to correct.
Overall, I love my unit though for IN CITY driving - for cities on the edge or new subdivisions, the units reliability is unpredictable.
PROS: Serves as a great car stereo due to the MP3 player
Great directions INSIDE a major city
PORTABLE
Great REDIRECTION!
CONS: Many subdivisions from the last 5 years are missing from the unit
Will tell you something is on the wrong side of the road
Will have you turning into peoples houses instead of a street
Great buy if you want a basic GPS and MP3 player!
On: 2008-10-04
Returned the unit because I assumed text-to-speech meant the street names would be spoken. I was wrong or the term is misleading. Also, the window attachment did not stay in place.
On: 2008-10-04
First, a caveat. This is my first GPS of this type (I have a Garvin hand-held for hiking.) That said, I love this unit. I just completed a 4500 mile three week trip from Kentucky to Colorado and Utah and back, and then from Kentucky to Washington DC and back. The unit worked flawlessly. Very accurate and very convenient. I used the "bean bag" mount which I find very suitable. Unlike some reviews Ive read I had no trouble with it sliding on the dash. But then I usually dont take curves at 90 mph.
I was amazed at the accuracy and completeness of the information. The unit works hard to keep you on track. If you leave the route for any reason--even to get gas or a sandwich, it immediately recalculates and provides directions to get you back on track. Its library of data is extensive, accurate and useful. At times I was not sure my Nuvi was giving me good information, but in all 4500 miles it did not fail me once. The turn by turn directions with accurate street names and accompanying printed directions are great
When I ordered it I was concerned that the screen size might be too small. I did not find that a problem at all, and very much like the smaller size because I can just clip it off the mount and slip it in my pocket when I leave the car. The screen is big enough and "Miss Nuvis" voice is pleasant and clear.
One message I have for Garvin, though. The software was obviously written by a golf fanatic. At one point in the middle of Kansas the screen showed four golf courses within ten miles. There was seldom a time when at least one golf course was not on the screen. But they do not show rest stops or medical facilities. Now I like to play a round of golf occasionally, but when Im driving down the Interstate I typically need rest areas with a whole lot more urgency than I need golf courses. I see no need to have golf courses scrolling down the screen almost constantly at the expense of more practical and universaly sought sites. Rest areas and medical facilities are not listed in the "places" library either, but golf courses are. I find that strange and annoying. Surely in Nuvis six million attractions library theres room for something as universally appreciated as rest areas.
But the convenience and accuracy of the Nuvi outweighs the inconveniences of too many golf courses and not enough pit stops. I highly recommend it. It will get you there.
On: 2008-10-02
I have it for over an year now and its an absolutly wonderful product. Super sleek and easy to take away from one car to another. excellent reception, can even catch signal in Manhatten. On the down side, though finding location from address is most accurate, the POI database not. Although i do not use POI much, but whenever i tried to use it never took me to the right place.
On: 2008-10-01
i have bought nuvi 360 from amazon!i higly recommend this unit to anyone.i am very happy wiht my choice in the nuvi 360/ hope this helps. it is a great value for the maney. vitaly new york!
On: 2008-09-30
I purchased this GPS unit mainly to use on a trip that we are planning out west. However, I have found that it is extremely user friendly and I have used it frequently to find things like the closest gas station or a particular store to shop in. I also found my way around stuck traffic with ease. Just type in your destination and viola, you are there. I am not a techno queen and have found this unit to be very easy to use. It has many features, but i have not tried them yet. would recommend
On: 2008-09-30
This is an excellent all around GPS with many fine features for an affordable price.
The only thing I would (and did) change about this device is the volume of the voices used to give you directions. It was very difficult to hear the voices even at the units highest volume level. After doing some research online I was able to find instructions on how to edit the voice files and thereby increase the volume. Ive done this for all the voices on the GPS I use and they sound much louder now. I recommend that everyone make such changes if they feel moderately comfortable with computers.
All in all, the voice issue was relatively small and I managed to fix it so I will enthusiastically give this unit 5 stars!
On: 2008-09-26
Purchased refurbished from DigitechDeals--I was very impressed with the quality of the product. Arrived quickly. Looks new. Came with last years maps but was able to download new 2009 maps for free automatically. My only complaint is that I bought this particular model for the text-to-speech capability, and there is only one voice option for "American English." Other than that, I am very pleased. It seems to direct me in logical ways--no unnecessary U-turns, etc.
On: 2008-09-26
I got the 360 based on experience with my wifes 660. I was going away on a stateside assignment in the military and quickly got tired of not knowing where I was going in the new state.
The 360 is basically the 660 but without widescreen or the traffic receiver, the latter of which you have to pay a subscription for and is only useful if you commute on major roadways. The 360 screen is the same height as the 660 screen, just narrower. I really dont find there to be any big advantage with the extra width and I kind of like that the unit is smaller when carrying it or shoving it in the glovebox. For the record my wife prefers the widescreen, but thats all shes ever used.
Enough glowing words have been written about both units that I wont heap on more, but I have to say that the Nuvi mounting system leaves a lot to be desired.
On my wifes 660 the mount broke at the cup part of the cup/ball attachment point within a few short weeks. In its defense, my wife is not terribly mechanically inclined and for a while thought that you had to detach the unit at this mechanism. (Actually there is a quite ingenious little tab you can see in the picture of the unit where your thumb pushes in the tab on the bottom while your other four fingers sit on the top and the unit slides right out of the mount, easy as pie.) Still, I dont think the ball joint should have broken so easily.
We chalked it up to her misunderstanding, but now Ive had the 360 for barely a month and the mount (pretty much identical to the 660 mount as far as I can tell) broke in a spot where it definitely should not have. You can see in the picture that the suction cup and mounting arm articulate around a silver metal tab on either side of the suction cup. The part of the suction cup that the metal tab rides in cracked on both sides simultaneously from no more than average swiveling of the unit up and down to achieve the proper viewing angle as I installed it each time getting into the car.
Now I am researching buying a new mount. Disturbingly, I am finding numerous postings saying that the suction cup (of the replacement mounts, at least) has a bad tendency to weld to the glass in hot sun, never to come off without destroying the suction cup beyond any future use and leaving a good amount of rubber stuck to the window that requires extensive razor scraping to remove.
Not sure what I am going to do; go with a Garmin replacement suction mount, a Garmin beanbag mount, or an aftermarket version.
To recap, I am very happy with the 360 (and my wifes 660 for that matter) but I am very UNhappy with the mounts on either one.
On: 2008-09-26
This Garmin Nuvi is really a very helpful tool.There is lot more than just navigation.Found it accurate.
I highly recomend this product with such a low price.
On: 2008-09-23
I received my Garmin 360 GPS today. I had ordered it on Thursday so it turns out a four day wait on shipping, including the weekend. I am always amazed by Amazons speeding shipping logistics.
On to the GPS unit....
This product is perfect for my price range (at the time, it was $214, initially selling for $1000 MSRP in 2006). The GPS has everything I am looking for as far as an addition to my vehicle.
Pros:
1) Blue tooth support with my Blackberry 8330
2) Ability to connect the GPS with one single auxiliary cord to my auxiliary input in my car
3) Lots of customizable settings so that it works for me
4) Upgradeable maps
5) Point of interest additions (Garmin, along with a nice google search can produce several sites and uploads for free)
6) Aesthetically pleasing
7) Text to speech (states the street name, not just the distance)
Cons:
1) I had to buy the auxiliary cable separately, but I had no problem doing so
I was deciding back and forth between the 3.5" or the 4.3". Let me tell you that this unit is so perfect with 3.5" that it is not worth the extra $100 or so. It really incorporates a good viewing and I can zoom in or out to my liking. I was able to tweak the settings without the use of the manual, as it is extremely user friendly. The manual that comes with the unit is very summarized, however it comes with a CD that has the full manual with every option for your reading enjoyment.
I recommend this GPS to anyone that is looking for a cost effective, yet top of the line GPS. Honestly, I dont have any reason to buy a GPS for more than this price.
On: 2008-09-21
My Garmin Nuvi works very well -- when I dont make stupid mistakes. I feel I would KNOW what to do if I had a well-written manual in the glove compartment (as a writer, I would be happy to take this assignment on!). The small "cheat sheet" is not detailed enough and the online information is not useful when youre speeding down a highway with a massive construction project under way.
My only objection to the unit is that in a metropolitan area, you have to be VERY careful to input the correct subub. A generic "Atlanta, Chicago or NY" will not work. However, I understand the same is true for all GPS devices.
I like the size and weight and convenience of my Garmin. It is large enough to easily view and small enough for my purse. The precise voice gives me instructions when I am approaching an upcoming turn.
On: 2008-09-18
I got this after selling my couple year old PDA gpa that I never used. I had tried other garmin nuvis and found them easy to use and what I had expected from a GPS. I absolutely love that while youre out you can find the nearest target, sephora, grocery store. You can just look up a store by alphabetical order and most likely itll one in the system that will work for you. The text-to-speech was as expected and something specific I was looking for was that it said the actual street, not just "turn left if 50 feet". Now it says "turn left in 50 feet on Main Street". The only things I would change is certain things in needs to be more specific about. I sometimes find myself responding to it being like "well, it would have been nice if you had mentioned..." and right now I cant think of a specific incident, only that sometimes I could have used more of an "coming up!!" warning or detailed instruction. But heck, its a machine that gives you directions, so its pretty great. I also chose this model for the bluetooth feature. Id never used it before on anything else, but I find it super that when my cell rings, the GPS rings. I dont have to fumble for my phone, I just hit "answer" or "ignore" on the GPS. People say it sounds like Im in a tunnel when talking to them and that theres a bit of an echo, but for just quick hi, bye kinda things and no long conversations, its perfect. You shouldnt be talking while driving whether its hands free or not. Great little GPS, Id definitely buy it again. I think it has anything you could really need for mild-to-moderate use. Not every day but a couple times a week.
On: 2008-09-18
It is very intuitive to use. I love the text to speech function. It reads out the name of the street instead of just giving the distance before a turn. A very useful feature! My samsung A507 cell phone has no trouble syncing with this bluetooth device. It has a more than adequate volume level. The language translator is basic but good. I have not used the mp3 player function. Displaying jpegs via sd card slot was good as well if a touch slow (just nitpicking). I highly recommend this product!
On: 2008-09-16
overall itz a worth buy...bluetooth is good..no worries in picking up phone while driving...we liked it...
On: 2008-09-15
Not only is this product excellent, but the personal assistance at NUVI is outstanding. All products should be made like this and the technical assistance and support is professional, courteous and very, very helpful.
Hats off to NUVI!
On: 2008-09-15
Love it! Ordered another one for my father because he borrowed mine and loves it also!
On: 2008-09-15
I bought this as a higher end replacement for a 2xx series Garmin GPS that I had. I was it had BlueTooth for use as a speakerphone, TTS, etc. and jumped on it. It will sometimes add 30 minutes to my trip thinking one route is better than another when its significantly worse. The BT speakerphone, well, it sucks. It doesnt work very well, the speaker is too quiet and and callers could barely hear me.
On: 2008-09-15
Ive had this for about a month now and it works great. One problem I had is that the description wasnt clear about whether or not it comes with the car charger. I ended up buying one to go with it and it turned out I didnt need it, so I returned it to Amazon. The screen is very easy to read. It has a low profile and sits right on my car windshield where I can see it well. I love the lock out feature. It comes with little decals that say "Garmin Lock" on them and you put them in your window. Once you put in the pin#, no one can use your GPS except for you. If it gets stolen, its useless. All GPS devices should have this so the thieves know to stay away. I also like the little carry case that came with it. You can also choose female or male for your voice. My old GPS was female only. The only other problem I had with it is that it took me to an old location of a restaurant that had moved about a year ago. Luckily it only moved down the street. So after some asking around, we finally found our way there. I have not tried the bluetooth yet.
On: 2008-09-15
I absolutely love my Garmin. Easy to program and operate. I wouldnt leave home without it.
On: 2008-09-14
Over the years Ive had the opportunity to use GPS products from multiple manufacturers like Garmin, Magellan, Tom-Tom & Navigon....even though the Gamin NuVI 360 is a great GPS product, it was developed a couple of years back and in todays world the age shows.
Here what I like:
1) Great routing! - The NuVI definitely does the best job with routing from point A to B.
2) Bluetooth Phone integration - This is something that really comes handy, especially when you are traveling alone....this is better than bluetooth headsets since you get to see the name/number of the person calling you before you accept/reject the call. Making calls is also a piece of cake with Phonebook integration. Bluetooth was the primary reason why I selected this model.
3) Text to Speech - One of the most necessary things when you are out on the road!
4) Awesome POI database - Youll get just about any place of interest on this product....the database is waaaaay better than the other GPS products in the market. And with Bluetooth integration, you can directly call up a POI on-the-go.
5) Great Garmin Support - Garmin probably has the best support system, with the support site giving regular product updates & softwares.
What I DO NOT like:
1) Zip based address search not supported. This is available in almost all other modern products. At times you do not know the name of the city, you just have the address zip code....that wouldnt work here.
2) Context based text entry not supported. Once you have selected the city, other products like the Magellan will highlight just those characters on screen that would make up the next character of a valid street name in the selected city. Comes in really handy when you are trying to quickly enter an address. Not supported in the NuVI 360
3) Next turn direction indicator not shown on screen. Even though youll get the direction after a click, while driving, it makes a big difference to get to see this all the time
4) Speed Limit not shown - The Navigon always shows the speed limit on the current road on screen. The NuVI knows internally what the speed limit is (try using the "simulation" mode, the simulated car will always travel at, or near, the valid speed limit for that road). However, this DOES NOT come up on screen and theres no way youll get that information.
5) Navigons "Reality View" is an awesome help on highway bifurcations. Not available on any of the other products.
Overall the NuVI 360 is a great "old" product. Good to see that Garmin has withdrawn it from the market.
On: 2008-09-13
Awesome GPS!!! Garmin has the easiest to use and most accurate GPS systems, and this model is a great price for having the text to speech feature (announcing road names). My only complaint is the lack of a paper manual, because when you first get it you are so excited to use it and just go to your car with it to set up. However, setup and use are relatively easy and the accuracy and search features are right on.
On: 2008-09-12
This was the first GPS navigator that Ive owned, Ive had it for about 18 months now and Ill probably use it for another 4-5 years before I upgrade. I researched this a lot before I bought, comparing it to TomTom and Magellens offerings. At the time they just didnt seem to have the feature set or map capabilities that Nuvi 360 had. That may have changed.
I keep discovering more nice operational features every time I take it on a long trip. Mostly by accident, although Ive surfed some GPS forums and found a few nice bits of info.
Pros:
1. Very good display, but my next will be bigger. Still Id want the replacement to fit in my shirt pocket nearly as nicely as Nuvi does.
2. Works very well with BlueTooth on my Blackberry Curve AFTER Garmin released the bug fix for it. No distortion. I use this a lot more than I thought I would.
3. MP3 player is nice, but Ive only used it on one trip where I was trying to reduce the amount of individual devices I was taking.
4. Locking suction cup window mount works the best of any Ive ever used. Only fallen off the windshield twice in over 12,000 highway miles.
5. Touch screen works well, even with my "fat fingers".
6. I like that its smart enough to know what time the sun rises and sets and changes the display colors from day to night, although its not smart enough to know when its crossed timezones and reset the clock or arrival time.
7. I like being able to download free "points of interest" from POI-factory.com and install them using Garmins free downloadable software.
8. The ability to plug in an SD card to expand the memory has come in handy more than once. My SD card currently has a half dozen family photos and some MP3s.
9. Relatively inexpensive map updates. [...]for the very expensive Alpine OEM Navi that came in my 2005 Honda Pilot. Ill never update the Pilot!
Cons:
1. All text-to-speech navigators have this problem, it has no etiquette when it comes to announcing directions! :) She just blurts them out no matter what else is going on at the time and tries to talk over the human beings in the car. This is typically met with the rowdier passengers asking "Whats the b***** saying now???" And I havent found any quick way to get her to repeat what she just said.
2. Some maps are badly out of date. In 1983 a huge mudslide wiped out part of Highway 6 near Thistle, Utah. Twenty-five years later (!) Nuvi still thinks its there and recalculates over and over as you drive the "new" two mile stretch. Also, there was supposed to be an Arbys in a very empty field near Cheyenne, Wyoming.
3. No way to teach it a shortcut.
4. I think some speed limits have been changed on I-90 in New York since Nuvi got updated. This summer I was traveling 5-10 mph faster than the posted 65 Mph speed limit and Nuvi kept adding time to my final arrival time. This didnt happen anywhere else. Usually my arrival time decreased.
5. It would be nice to be able to select what 6 things are displayed on the page that shows Overall Avg, Moving Avg, Max Speed, etc. I flip back and forth between it and the map page to see how much distance I have left vs projected arrival time.
6. I wish there was an option to show you just gas/food/lodging, etc. that are close to your projected forward path only, and not include the places you passed 2 miles back. Someday I might want to turn around and drive back 19 miles to a McDonalds, :) but mostly I want to know where the next one is coming up.
7. I wish the keyboard screen was QWERTY instead of ABCDE.
All in all its been a good little helper and better than 98% of the time it gets us where we want to go in the most efficient manner.
[...].
On: 2008-09-12
I have had this Garmin nuvi 360 since February of 08 and have used the device on several trips since. I live in Illinois and have used the unit on local trips and long trips to Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Tennessee. First, let me say that I researched GPS units prior to purchasing this one. I went to the local stores and read on line reviews to help with the decision. I decided what features and price range worked best for me and chose this model.
The 360 has the features I wanted in a GPS and the Amazon price saved me around $100 over Best Buy. The 3 1/2 inch screen is easily viewed in day and night modes and maneuvering from one menu to another is easy. I really like the way the unit announces directions and street names (Text-to-Speech) and appreciate being able to concentrate on driving, especially in city traffic, instead of on the map. The attention tone feature is also nice. This function sounds a chime immediately before an announcement so if youre visiting or listening to radio/stereo you can be ready to listen. The menu is packed full of locations organized in different categories. I like being able to look for gas stations, restaurants and stores while on the road. The built in Bluetooth was a main reason I got the 360. I particularly appreciate being able to make phone calls from the device. My wife and I used the Bluetooth several times on vacation to call hotels/stores while on the road. While I like the Bluetooth, I had complaints from several people on the receiving end of the conversation who said I sounded like I was in a tin can. They also complained of feed back. Perhaps the tin can affect is from cabin noise and distance from the unit. The feed back was probably a volume issue. I needed the volume set higher to hear directions but then the phone calls were really loud. I turned down the Garmins volume a couple of notches during calls. I have found the Garmins maps to be detailed and accurate for the most part. Although the screen of the Garmin cannot show a map like you see in a road atlas, you can scroll the map in order to look ahead on your route.
As I mentioned above I have used the Garmin on several trips over a period of several months. I wont detail all of those trips but will say that the nuvi generally did an outstanding job on the highway and in the city. There have been instances where the unit took me to a place or street that had changed or the GPS got confused and kept telling me to turn when common sense, experience and maps dictated differently. The latter happened once when driving through Atlanta on the way to FL and again when we were within a few miles of an Army base. The vast majority of the time, however, the unit has performed quite well and rare errors in navigating were my fault and not the 360s.
I do advise to keep map software updated. I updated the 360s map software prior to summer vacation driving and noticed a difference. I also want to include a warning: husbands beware. The first long trip on which I used the Garmin was to my mother-in-laws house in KY. Please note, I am directionally challenged, my wife is not. If you are traveling to your wifes childhood home and follow the GPS instead of your wifes directions you may encounter marital strife. Even though I keep the 360 set on "Fastest Route" most of the time and we went straight to her mothers house, my wife said there was a better, quicker way. I explained that I was following the Garmin for the sake of science but that didnt quite wash. Interestingly, on a return trip to the same place a few months later after I had updated the maps, the 360 used the route my wife suggested the first time.
I do like this product but there is a learning period and I like directions. Garmin doesnt include the full manual with this unit. Instead, they include a quick guide. The full manual can be read on the computer but if you want a hard copy youll have to print the 67 page manual yourself.
Finally, a comment which is not specific to this Garmin product. I purchased Fodors North America from Garmin for this nuvis Travel Kit and have been disappointed. While I have used the extra, I havent found the guide to be quite as helpful as I expected in locating and describing sites.
On: 2008-09-11
This was my first GPS, and I am pretty please with it. used it for about 4 weeks. Used it from Cedar Rapids,IA to Dallas,Tx and from Dallas,TX to Florida. worked pretty well and reliable. Good images & maps.
On: 2008-09-09
I really havent use it for long, but its great . the blue tooth is wonderful
On: 2008-09-09
Great product for the price...has everything you need pretty much in a gps...bluetooth, navigation...could use a traffic thing though and sometimes the directions arent always 100% correct
On: 2008-09-09
Really great product! Easy to use once you get the hang of it. Takes a minute for it to get a signal but overall highly recommended!
On: 2008-09-08
I purchased this Nuvi as a birthday present for my boyfriend. He could hardly find his way out of a paper bag, until I gave him this. It really is great. It is as accurate as can be expected. However, on about the third day of use, after being fully charged, we used it and it quit. We didnt know what was wrong because there was no warning for the battery, and it wasnt on low, it just stopped working. This was unfortunate because we really didnt know where we were going and didnt take the charger. We made it home and charged it, and it seems to be fine now. The mount that it comes with isnt the best, either. We live in Florida, so I realize the conditions are a bit more extreme than in other places.
Pros:
great screen size
loud volume
accurate directions
great features (including the bluetooth)
Cons:
random battery failure
faulty windshield attachment device
Overall, we would totally recommend the Nuvi 360 to others. Though, Garmins discontinued policy is a bit strange.
On: 2008-09-07
I bought the Nuvi 360 and immediately downloaded the 2009 maps on Garmin, which are free for 1 month. The unit has proven to be very solid, despite having a few hiccups. Moving from Florida to New Jersey has allowed me the time to see the unit in action.
The Nuvi 360 is a very solid GPS unit despite not always finding the quickest route to ones destination. The bluetooth has worked very well and the unit overall has served my needs......
For the money, the Nuvi 360 is a great buy and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a GPS unit.
On: 2008-09-06
Ive been using the nuvi360 for about 8 months now, and while its been a lifesaver, it hasnt done anything that any other GPS could do. My biggest problem is that the screen is polarized 90 degrees off axis. If youre using polarized glasses the screen is black. Ive driven about 3500 miles this summer and had to use the thing at a goofy 45 degree angle and tip my head just so I could see the screen. The only reason I didnt return it is because it was a gift.
This is a major engineering blunder in the screen fabrication. There are tons of alternatives out there. Get one of those instead.
On: 2008-09-05
Overall, very satisfied with this GPS and its features, well worth the relative price would have given 4.5 stars if available. I purchased this GPS just days before a roadtrip across the states. Using for more than 4200 miles along the trip I learned many of its uses and limitations. First though, setup is quite intuitive and easy to master, I spent just minutes configuring the setup without instructions. However, after registering online, I found that new firmware and software was available for my unit. I spent a few hours downloading everything to my computer and uploading it to the the unit. Garmins customer support is great but you have to wait for long periods on hold. The database is huge and takes a computer with significant harddrive space (about 10GB) to load. The database still isnt perfect (few misnamed fuel stations and out of business restaurants) but it worked quite well throughout the trip. The popup antenna quickly acquires satellites no matter the location. The Sirf technology is very accurate and will calculate if you are off route in just seconds. It will always put you on the fastest or shortest route. However, it will not allow you calculate a scenic route. Overall it was a very comforting item to have at night or when driving to an area where we didnt have a detailed map. The Bluetooth feature is great, not only to answer calls but to call numbers in the database automatically. The speaker is a bit tinny but overall works well. I have not used the MP3 player or the Book Reader. Ive tried other friends GPS navigators (Tom Tom One and Garmin 260) and just wasnt satisfied with the performance or the database features. This GPS navigator works very well and we are glad we got it.
On: 2008-09-05
This is one of the best things I have ever bought. I love it. Its very accurate. I love that it has bluetooth, I can call and receives call from the device. When I sync my phone with device it copied my phone book. The only thing about this (which is not a big deal) is that the semulated car never gets to the finish line. I like this GPS and its better than the other one I have tried.
On: 2008-09-04
This is a great product. The voice commands with street names is extremely helpful. Would recommend updating the maps right away. Highly recommend product and GARMIN company. GARMIN International technical support was great when I had trouble downloading on my 10 year old computer - they talked me through the process step by step.
On: 2008-09-03
I got a Garmin Nuvi 360 for my birthday from my husband. I needed a Bluetooth handsfree system for my car because of California Law. Instead of just getting the bluetooth, we looked at the Garmin to have both bluetooth and navigation.
Pros:
* easy to set up
* hooks up to my laptop PC and the internet, easy to upgrade map from the internet, but does take some time to download
* like the size of it, can keep in my purse
* like the directions and the maps
* gives voice directions
* touch screen interface
* Bluetooth - hooked up to my iPhone. When I first tried it, it kept on disconnecting repetitively for no reason. I finally went online and got an upgrade to the iPhone software and that fixed the problem! now it pairs and connects seamlessly as soon as the Nuvi is turned on.
* seems to have all the updated restaurants!
Cons:
* wish it had a QWERTY keyboard instead of alphabetical
* bluetooth speaker - I wish it can be a little louder because road noise drowns it out sometimes. On the other end, people say it has an echo quality.
* need to get another piece of hardware to use the traffic updates feature
On: 2008-09-03
Recently, I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 260 for my mother who is technologically challenged at best. She picked it right up and used it! I then started shopping for a GPS for myself. I knew that I wanted a Garmin, but I wanted bluetooth as well. I did some research and found the Nuvi 360 at the top of every list. How right the reviews are!!! I love mine... and get this...today I was talking via the bluetooth speaker to my dad and he said it sounded better than any headset and maybe better than the phone itself! The bluetooth is a very nice feature. I had no problems pairing it with my iPhone which I was worried about. The text-to-speech is great and the voice interface is very clear. All and all a great product for the money!
On: 2008-09-02
I like the Nuvi 360 very much. The only problem I had was the maps were old and I had to download the 2009 maps and that took awhile on my computer. People are not aware of what year is available. I just happened to look on the Garmin website and saw the new maps. Maybe your company can have the maps downloaded before you sell it.
On: 2008-09-02
Very Pleased. Working right out of the box--hardest part was updating the maps online, if I had to do it again I would buy the disk to do the updating, even with a high speed DSL it was very time consuming.
Like the ease of use, works well here in Texa. If I had it to do again, I might buy the larger screen size. All in All a very good product
On: 2008-09-02
So glad to order this Garmin product. Exactly meets our needs and performs beyond expectations. Would have paid more for more functions, but found they were not necessary. This product has already got me out of several situations of being lost in a nearby town and and also consistently and very accurately figured out the correct drive times to various destinations, despite road conditions. Wonderful functions, beautiful maps, lots of great functions and intuitively easy to use.
Wonderful product!
On: 2008-09-01
This GPS works great. The announcements by street name is a big plus over previous GPSs. I have used it on several trips now and found it to be quite reliable, easily recalculates routes when needed. It also does a good job of determining your new location (ex: use it to get to airport in point A, fly across country to point B, it will determine that you are in point B now in under 5 minutes). I have used other GPS units that take a very long time, 30 minutes or more to make this determination. I would like to volume to be a little louder or have the speaker in the front. But this is not a big enough problem from my recommending it to others. I would buy the unit again.
On: 2008-08-31
I can only say that the Garmin 360 exceeded my expectations. There are clearly other products out there and I took the time to review them and settled on the Garmin. The naming of the upcoming street is a real plus. The overall package of features on the 360 Nuvi was just right for my intended use. The smaller screen is offset by the turn-by-turn voice feature which names the streets and indicates L or R turn.
On: 2008-08-31
Awsome product. It took about 30 mins to really figure this thing out but once I did it really works great. I love that you can bypass construction and it recalculates your route automatically. The bluetooth is awesome for hands free mobile. The website is great for all of your questions like "how do you get the thing to say the street names instead of turn left in 100 ft". Just change the voice and it says the street names. The thing fits right in my front pocket when Im not in the car. I havent quite figured out how to navigate on foot that well. I tried it once and it was a little difficult to follow. Overall I am completely satisfied.
On: 2008-08-31
I took my new Garmin NUVI 360 on my trip from Salt Lake City, Utah to Yellowstone. It worked great for most of the time even in very remote areas. I also got a GPS on my rental car but Garmin NUVI 360 outperform all the time. One limitation on GPS in general is that you have to have the exact street address in order to search for the best route. Without the street address, it is very hard to use the GPS function between different states. For example, I could not ask the GPS to pick a route for me from SLC to Yellowstone since I did not have the a street address of Yellowstone in Wyoming. Yet, once I was in Wyoming, I could use the "Attraction" function to look for Yellowstone. So, for cross country or states trip and you dont really have the street address of your destination, it will be helpful to print out a route from the internet first.
On: 2008-08-31
Great! Love the text-to-speech feature. Compact; fits in my purse. Works unplugged long enough for most trips. I just sit it on the dash or console. Get one!
On: 2008-08-31
I own a Garmin Street Pilot C340 which has worked quite well for me in the past year and a half. I decided that I wanted a GPS that had a hands-free Bluetooth capability and because of the price, decided to get the Nuvi 360.
I found that the interface was very easy to use and similar to the Street Pilot. The directions worked great and initially I was very pleased with the purchase. Garmin really does a great job with their ease of use.
After connecting the Nuvi with my iPhone (which was easy) I was excited to put the Bluetooth to the test. Sadly, while talking through the Nuvi, the people on the other end sounded more like Charlie Browns teacher than a normal person. It was virtually impossible to hear as the voices on the other end were so distorted. I certainly did not expect it to be crystal clear (because of the speaker size) but did expect that I could understand the conversation.
Due to my reason for buying this, I am going to send this back and hang on to my StreetPilot for a while. I noticed that some more expensive Nuvi models have wireless FM receivers, allowing you to talk through your car speaker. Ill wait until those go down in price and then try one of those!
On: 2008-08-31
Had my Garmin 360 a couple weeks, and the suction cup keeps falling off the windshield, dumping the whole thing on the floor. So I decided to go to the Garmin web site to see if I can get a new suction cup. Somehow I end up downloading a new map.
Well, thats fine - Id like the latest map. So, about an hour later (totally tying up my PC) its downloaded and ready to install the update. Now the install window is asking for my product code that comes with the "Install disk". I dont know what they mean by the "install disk", there was no such disk - there is a CD with the owners manual - but it has no "product code" on it. What is the stupid "product code"? All I find in the plethora of paper that came with this unit is a serial number, a registration code, and an unlock code. None of these worked in the update install. This is very frustrating and I cant find a number for customer support.
Anyway, hence the 2 stars.
On: 2008-08-30
My Garmin Nuvi was working fine for an year and stopped acquiring the satellites whenever I want to use it. I upgraded the software to 4.7 and it started showing wrong time. It neither shows the maps nor does not show time. Waste of money.
On: 2008-08-30
I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 360 from Amazon in March 2007 and my wife and I have used it extensively for a year and a half. I have tried other GPS devices such as a Loox which I purchased for our second car. I would say that the Garmin is about the best unit out there in terms of its ease of use and functionality. Its easy to find addresses and points of interest, the speaking feature works pretty well (less a few mispronunciations here and there), and it has pretty good battery life.
As others have mentioned, the Bluetooth speakerphone feature is overrated and I would advise skipping it unless you have a compelling need. Its handy for dialing up a business such as a restaurant while youre navigating there (assuming you own a bluetooth phone), but honestly how often do you need to do that? Maybe its good for a restaurant reviewer who eats out seven days a week. Plus, I have found that my cell phones speaker is clearer than that of the Nuvi 360.
Now when it comes to updating the maps, you will need to pay Garmin $60. I consider this a rather steep price and I think they should charge more like $20. Furthermore, and more serious than that, is the infamous power switch problem. If you search on the web for "Garmin Nuvi power switch" you will discover a lot of irate Garmin owners with units that wont power on because of stiff power switches. Apparently its a design defect. When our power switch started getting hard to use, I emailed customer support and was told that it would cost $199 to repair it (no, Im not kidding) because it was out of warranty. When I wrote back and informed them that this appeared to be a common problem, and so maybe they could consider it a warranty repair, they wrote back and said no.
Now, for $199 you can buy a comparable GPS (we paid over $400 for this unit way back when). Obviously I wasnt about to send them this kind of money to fix a factory defect. Words to the wise--unless Garmin has fixed this problem, I would consider some of the alternatives.
On: 2008-08-29
it is small and easy to use. signal is always good no matter that you are under the gorge or on the top of the mountain
On: 2008-08-29
Great product, I had a Nuvi 350 before and it had issues. It was stolen so I replaced with this one, the 360. Much better and much faster at locating satellites. Also not as many issues with the keyboard. I would highly recommend this to anyone that travels often.
On: 2008-08-29
I purchase my Garmin 360 nuvi a few weeks ago and I took a trip to a small place in the mountains of Tennessee. I was surprised to witness all of the short cuts that I took and ended up at the address that I had selected. I have had the unit to come loose from the windshield a couple of times and luckly it did not break. I have since order a mount that sets on the dash. I have been very pleased with its performance. I looked a some other units that were older models but feel that I made the best choice.
On: 2008-08-28
I am not usually into toys, but I have forever taking off for a destination without really knowing where Im going. I borrowed my sons Garmin for a trip and just loved it. (I had previously purchased the Street Pilot which I found too bulky). This model is easy to walk around. I find the directions good 80% of time. I wish they would give you option to take route with mostly freeways or surface streets, They do allow detours so you can change the route. I love the bluetooth capability that pairs with my iPhone...no need for handsfree device, and the microphone has excellent volume (easy to hear as a receiver and sender). I also really love I can find restaurants in the area as well as other pertinent sites. I got a case, and 2 chargers (AC/DC outlet and auto), and dashboard mounting paraphrenalia with the device. This is a great GPS.
On: 2008-08-27
It is an excellent product. There is no need to buy expensive nuvi 760, it serves the purpose for going from point A to B. Screen is bright and big enough. I dont think one should be paying premium cost for big screen. Voice is loud and clear there is no need to sync with FM radio. It also has detour option for adding stop just as nuvi 760. Bluetooth is excellent.
Only thing I didnt like is that Garmin didnt supply proper attachment for dashboard. One has to stick the plate on dashboard.
I am happy with the product.
On: 2008-08-25
After much research I purchased teh Garmin 360, but I am sad to say that I am not as pleased as I had hoped. Even after the free update, the maps do not pick up many streets that have been existing for many years. On a recent trip from Indianpolis to Cincinnati, the unit sent me in the entirely wrong direction away from Cincinnati. Thank goodness I knew where I was going and made a correction.
The spoken name of the street works very well.
On: 2008-08-24
excellent product does everything I need it to and them some well worth the money. I recommend the garmin nuvi 360 to everyone.
On: 2008-08-22
From speech to navi this thing works very good i kid u not a must buy for those who likes to travel or just to explore the city,but i tell u one thing u will not get LOST so go out and travel without fear.
On: 2008-08-18
I did a lot of research before I bought my Garmin nuvi 360, and Im pretty sure that its the best portable, GPS-dedicated device on the market at this price point. I like it. Its small, light, bright, sufficiently loud, easy to learn, and its never gotten me stuck on the wrong end of a dark and dangerous blind alley at midnight. It even does fairly well in San Francisco, where streets are more like tiny, curvy capillaries than big veins or arteries. If youre determined to buy a portable GPS come heck or high water, stop reading, buy this one, and rest easy that youve made a sensible decision.
Having said that, I think that the reviews here are a smidge on the happy-happy side. Im really glad that people love their Garmins, but I have to wonder...compared to what? If the comparison is with being lost, I give it 5 stars. If the comparison is with with Rand McNally, a hastily-printed Mapquest map, or your friends distracted phone directions("Uh, youll see a red building on the corner...no, no...its white but it has a red ROOF, yeah...youll know it when you see it, really"), ditto. If the comparison is with other portable GPS devices, then I say four stars, three cheers, and happy driving.
If the comparison is with what OUGHT to be, however (As in, if you visited Amazon review pages to see if its worth buying a Garmin GPS at all, not whether you should buy a Garmin GIVEN THAT youve already decided to buy a GPS device), I have to knock one big star down and point out some areas of improvement for the good, hardworking folks at Garmin:
First, it just shouldnt take a dedicated-GPS device 10 minutes to find a satellite. If my cell phone can pinpoint my location in 5 seconds, the Garmin should be able to compete within an order of magnitude....or even two. All too frequently, however, I have to "trick" the Garmin into finding my location by plugging it in (if its not already plugged in), unplugging it (if it is), or rebooting it entirely. Lame. Second, what on EARTH is going on with that ABCD alphabetic keyboard? Was the Garmin designed by 60 year old men who always had secretaries to do their typing? Seriously, the lack of a QWERTY keyboard is annoying and eats up my time. Its bad enough that I cant hook this baby up to my computer and download a bunch of Google maps...dont make me type slowly to rub it in. Third, the feature that allows one to type in the name of a shop or restaurant and be directed directly toward it without going through the intermediate step of entering the address has worked for me approximately 1 out of 10 times. Ten percent isnt a great hit rate, and when I got to 10 I just stopped trying. Im sure this is one of the more difficult features, as shop names change frequently and cities have a high density of urban retailers. But basically, unless my goal is to track down the nearest Big Mac or bucket o Colonels special recipe (infrequent, to say the least), then this baby isnt helping me get to my dinner any faster. Fifth (am I really up to 5 already?), I have to point out that the design of the Garmin is underwhelming, to say the least. Yeah sure, its small and light, but so what? Has anyone seen the iPhone lately? Im not suggesting that the Garmin match Apples gorgeous design standards or that they hire a designer from Herman Miller, a Koolhaus apprentice, a MOMA artist, or that guy who designs cool stuff for Target, but really. The Garmin is to what portable GPS devices could be as your mothers first home computer was to todays sleek designs. It could be a lot better. Lastly, the windshield mount that it comes with is pretty cheesy. Mine falls off a lot, and Ive had to order a new mounting to avoid holding this in my lap while I drive.
In all, not a bad product and Id buy it again, but it came out of the box feeling like Old Technology. I have this nagging feeling that its going to be obsolete in a couple of years, and its not going to age as well as an Edison. Its only really impressive if you dont have other options, and with iPhone and Google maps (and who knows what else) sighting down the personal navigation market, I have an uncomfortable feeling that my 250 dollar Garmin will get donated to Goodwill before too long.
On: 2008-08-18
I bought this for my husband and he absolutley loves it. I dont like to travel far and I found using this and going the distance I have no problem or fear of being to far away from home or getting lost. We showed this product to a couple of our freinds and they immediately put their orders in for one. We liked it so much we bought 3 more for our kids for Christmas!
On: 2008-08-17
I am still learning how to use my garmin nuvi 360, however, so far I am very pleased with it. It has been a life saver as I travel to unknown areas. My 82 years old mom is amazed by it! She loves it too!!
On: 2008-08-17
Slim and pocketabl, this GPS is not just for driving directions but also connected by bluetooth to my smartphone for hands free driving. The nice bright screen works well with maps, but also is handy as picture viewer for my jpg images. (The screen is certainly larger than my cameras. I used a 2 gb SD card I had lying around). I started an Audible acoount and the audiobook transferred smoothly to the device. I appreciate being able to bookmark the place that I stopped at for easy restarting. I also tranferred some podcasts to the Nuvi and it did fairly well as an MP3 player.
Pros: Bright screen, Smooth map movemnent while driving, reasonably accurate directions. Great for audible, podcasts and jpgs. Standard mini USB plug for power (same as my smartphone) Street names are pronounced in a recognizable fashion. Pocketable. Fairly reasonable battery life. Snappy rerouting when off course.
Cons: Pokey boot sequence. Needs to have units antenna(?) swiveled open in the back for GPS navigation. Didnt pair nicely with my wifes Treo
On: 2008-08-17
The Nuvi 360 is very easy to use, and very helpful. The bluetooth feature is a very helpful convenience, even tho the sound quality is not high quality, but good enough for telephone use. The maps are clear, and the menus are easy to follow.
On: 2008-08-16
I used to have a Garmin iquee3600, which served its purpose but took a really long time to receive the signal of our position. I switched to the Garmin 360 when the price dropped to just $212 on Amazon.
Pros:
1) The blue-tooth connection capability is great for using the GPS unit as a handsfree device instead of fiddling with earpieces when driving.
2) The unit can call out to restaurants and make reservations whilst youre driving on the road, which is so convenient if youre the sort who likes to make last minute decisions about where to go and still wanna call ahead to book a table where you eat.
3) The signal search is swift, no more than 2-3 seconds on any road. The only time it wasnt able to was when Im still in the carport, but once I pull out and am seconds on the road, the signal locks on and Im all set.
4) I love the touch sensitivity and the design of the interface. The tones made whenever you touch the screen is pretty cute and makes you feel like its all fun and games.
Cons:
1) Its not as fast as the iquee3600 to capture a new place you wanna go. The iquee3600 is a PDA, so it practically lists the entire 6 million places of interests/food places etc immediately and narrows it down as you key in the name of the place. That is a feature I miss on the Garmin 360. The Garmin 360 tries to pull out data really slow, between 3-10 seconds depending on how far the place is from where Im currently located. Most times, it wasnt able to pull our the data that I want in comparison to my iquee 3600, but I use both units side by side, so if Im looking for a new place, Ill find the address on the iquee3600 and then key it in to the Garmin 360.
2) It doesnt come with a bean-bag, so youll have to buy it separate if your state (Im in California) doesnt allow wind-shield mounts. I just use it on my iquee 3600s bean bag with a bit a sticky tac and clever wiring of the unit onto the bag.
Overall, its an awesome unit and totally deserving of the 5 stars rating. Anyone looking to get one should really consider the Garmin 360.
On: 2008-08-15
This is my first GPS unit and I am pleasantly surprised. After I received the Nuvi 360 I updated the software and maps to the current versions. The process (really the maps) took some time, but was completed without any problem.
I am just back from a visit to New York City and New Jersey, the unit worked flawlessly and performed beyond my expectations. I experienced no problems with the loss of satellites while driving between the tall buildings in Manhattan. The 360s navigation accuracy is surprising. I was impressed as it even continued to navigate and give directions while in the Holland and other tunnels (without satellites). It was great to be reminded of what to do when you get out at the other end of the tunnel. (I assume it is storing the information in memory before you enter into the tunnel)
As a novice I had my preconceived ideas of GPS, i.e. only useful to get to a destination. The other functions I considered unnecessary if not useless. Was I wrong? In addition to getting me to where I wanted to be very satisfactorily, I will share my experience with some of the other functions:
* Shortcuts - I am glad I have read the manual before the time. I used the suggested "shortcuts" all the time.
* The speaker volume was adequate and I had it for the most part at about ¾ of its capacity.
* The trip information page is interesting, but it is not essential. Nonetheless, as it is there, why not?
* Trip and preview page - Used it often to get a better understanding of what was ahead. It is an essential function.
* Next turn page - Used it often to get a better view of what is coming and to confirm instructions. It is an essential function.
* Text to speech - I under estimated its value. It is very helpful, especially in a city like NY, to have the street names spoken. That way I could listen and concentrate and keep my eyes on the road and traffic around me. Based on my experience it is essential and I will not consider a model without this capability.
* After using it I appreciate how well the "Go to" has been designed. The POI information is not only convenient, I found it very useful. For instance, to refill the rental before I dropped it at the airport I could locate a gas station near the airport, enter it as a "via point" and get to the drop off area in the least amount of time. The battle to look for a gas station near the airport is now of the past and I will always use this function in the future.
* Bluetooth - A function I considered unnecessary. Yet, I used it all the time.
* MP3, Audio Books, FM, etc. I have not used it and still consider it gimmicks. However, it may just be that I will change my mind again once I have.
As I am traveling often and, hence, am renting cars, it must be convenient to carry the Nuvi with me. Therefore, the "size of a set of cards" of the smaller screen Nuvi 360 is very convenient. I never found the screen uncomfortable or too small. I dont know what the bigger screen Nuvis are like; however, as I am going to have it with me ALL THE TIME in the future, I prefer the smaller format.
I also bought the Nuvi "Portable Friction Mount Part Number: 010-10908-00". What a useful and innovative product. It is an excellent accessory and I have no intention to ever install the suction cup mount that comes standard. If you travel in many different cars this is a must have.
In summary, I have no experience with other GPS systems (Magellan, TomTom, etc.) or Nuvi models, but am very satisfied with the 360. In fact, it will in the future always travel with me. The only question I have is: How did I in the past get along without one?
An update - after more experience
In the past few weeks I had the opportunity to test the Nuvi 360 in different locations. I flew to Nashville, TN to visit the Center Hill dam and looked at property around the Old Hickory Lake including Henderson. I then flew to Florida where I visited the Tampa/St Petersburg/Clearwater areas on the Gulf coast, Ocala, Orlando inland and the Merit Island/Cocoa Beach areas on the east coast. From Tampa I flew to San Francisco to visit Oakland and Concord.
In summary the Nuvi 360 performed spectacular at all locations. Having read many of the reviews I gave particular attention to some of the criticisms. Here are my experiences:
* I never had a problem with satellite reception, nor did I have to wait "long" for it to connect on startup. (Some reviews mentions 10 minutes. I dont know their locations, but it never happened to me.)
* The Nuvi was always accurate and took me straight to my destinations.
* The POI information was very handy, accurate and useful. I used it all the time to get to my hotel, find a gas station and to decide where to eat. The data base is really good.
* However, once you have a detour/"via point" programmed, it is not easy to change it. It happened a few times that I had a gas station in as a "via point" on my way to my hotel. Later I decided to go eat first and then go for gas, or to go directly to my destination to fill up later. I had to "stop"/cancel the whole trip, lose the destination, and reprogram it from the start. Garmin customer support says there is no other way. However, I would love to know if there is anyone who has a workaround for this limitation.
* I added a 4 GB SDHC memory card to use the Nuvi as a MP3 player. It works well and is a benefit. Although I am not a music fanatic it allows me to download interesting programs and discussions to listen to while driving. It makes the long trips more bearable. Having the Nuvi coordinating the interaction between my cell phone (blue tooth), MP3 and driving directions is very convenient. I have to confess that I changed my opinion and, although not essential, I am very glad that the MP3 feature is available on the Nuvi 360.
* I added a "dubbing" or MP3 stereo connection cable to my standard travelling accessories. Playing through the cars radio improves the sound significantly on long trips (and for use as a MP3 player). For short trips, in my opinion, the Nuvis sound is good enough and not worth the effort. I added to my car rental "profile" that my rental car should have a MP3 accessory connection on its radio.
* I tried to create a GPX waypoint and saved it on the SD memory card. Unfortunately, Garmins information on this topic is very | | |
