February 17, 2006

Ron Termen (Berkeley, VA)

Just purchased, only used on a few trips, but want to give you my first impressions, which are very positive.

First, the ads say that this is designed for larger vehicles. Not agreed. The impression from the on-line descriptions is that the screen size is HUGE, for example, the same as your office PC. Not true, it is a 7 inch diameter screen, so it is still relatively small, the same size as most current built in expensive auto GPS screens. Compared to the 2730 model, the 7200 has perfect size touch screen inputs while on the go. For the extra money, recommend the 7200 with the larger screen over 2730 which has the same features. So, the touch screen size of the model 7200 is great for viewing and input of addresses on any size vehicle.

I was very impressed with connectivity during heavy weather and recommend the external antenna option (sticks to the inside windshield by suction cups).

The voice commands are excellent with advance warnings of upcoming turns and then the next anticipated turn.

Screen is bright and automatically adjusts to light.

No need to change anything in the initial settings, they are great. Just plug in and go. User friendly screens.

Easy to upgrade to the latest software as shown on the garmin web site from your PC to the unit. No need to insert update chips.

The on/off switch. Should press and hold down. Just a light press does not do anything.

The PC software allows you to pre-plan your route on your PC and download this to your 7200 so you do not have to load addresses on the go. I tested this and it works great.

If you are in a traffic jam, press "Detour" and you will taken around the jam to your destination. Be prepared however to go through back roads and areas that you may not know.

I did not test the special features of sat. nav. traffic, audio, nor books yet.

Update: I have used this now on a dozen trips and the navigation is very trustworthy. My wife is a Realtor and she loves it.

April 14, 2006

Alan Rice (Boca Raton, FL)

About time someone made a proper size screen that makes sense for use in cars. I have a really small vehicle, Toyota Prius, and this 7200 Streetfinder gps is perfect size for the car. There are many useful functions on the touch screen or you can use the remote control. The screen is big, beautiful and bright, if you want bright, if not you can adjust it. I mainly like to just keep the unit on "map" function so I can see what streets are coming up, especially at night when I an not in my neighborhood. The name of the next street is there is big bold letters, but if you press the "speak" button on the remote, it will announce the upcoming street. This thing is great and I highly recommend it. The cigarette power supply and bracket (one piece) makes it a snap to remove the unit for safe keeping. One easy motion and its off the bracket. Garmin really put a lot of thought into this one. There are so many ways this thing works but I don't want to write a book here. The only thing I can recommend is that if you are not going to mount it directly on top of your dashboard, purchase the Garmin "Ga 25MCX Low Profile Gps" antenna that snaps into the back of the unit. It will give you great reception results, instead of "searching for satellite" you will get "ready for navigation" in just a few moments. The wire that it comes attached to it is not too big and allows for easy squeezing into small places for easy concealment. I didn't have to mount it outside my car for great reception, as a matter of fact, just plugging it into the back of the unit made a great difference. For true mobile use I am sure Garmin will be coming out with a suction mount also in the near future. JUST ORDER IT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!