This is the newest Garmin Entry model, NUVI 205 (3.5" with less map), NUVI 255 (3.5") and NUVI 255W (4.3") to replace the older NUVI 200, NUVI 250 and NUVI 250W respectively.

The new feature is text to speech... It speaks the street name instead of just left or right turn. It is only a software feature. They have to wait so long to "switch it on" for the lower models.

It is also darker, with an "improved" interface. I heard that the newer models are a little sluggish but I haven't tested it myself, so I'm not sure about the rumor. There is also a new elevation map feature. So it will display maps in 3D with elevation? I am not sure if that's sure. I will update this blog when I get more information.

No, this is not your perfect GPS. But with a price tag of $249, this can be the perfect GPS in the price range. Although the navigation and routing is lagging behind Garmin, Magellan does have a better POI database, and the hard to beat AAA tour book. Yes, the AAA tour book is not linked to the POI, but it can become rather handy in your next road trip.

The 4050 also has a innovative but useless voice command. It pick up most of the voices, but most of the time is not good enough. The experience is as annoying as dealing with a touch screen that works only 90% of the time. Even with a 10% failure, the feature will still be useless to most people. It may be a good selling point, but hardly a practical useful feature.

The route exclusion feature in 4050 (or 4040) is pretty lame. And the unit feels less responsive than the Garmin models. Hourglass, how the hell they dare to put hourglass in a GPS units. All the clumsiness of the Windows CE platform is inherited in this Magellan GPS unit.

This is one of the items in my "wish list". I like it for a very peculiar feature, the one that is not even advertised. This is the only unit on the market that is good for long term geocoding for my photos. Many other units can write tracklogs but this one can write the track logs on to the mini sd card, so I have infinite space to store my tracklogs. I have used other units, the track logs were full after one or two weeks. But usually my vacation is 5 to 6 weeks, so none of them can store that much in their track logs.

Another reason I like this unit is because it have very good GPS reception. The reception for walking unit is more important than the automobile GPS which usually have unblocked views to the sky. This walking unit need to stay tuned even under heavy trees.

I have an eTrex Venture back in 2002, but it was broken in about a year. I hope this unit is more solid. The weakest point is the joystick, it's so fragile. And it's true for all electronic units using joystick. They sim...

Of all the GPS in the same price range, Garmin has the least feature to offer but also cause you the least headache. If all you want is a navigation system that gets you from point A to point B, Garmin is your best choice. It consistently choose the best route (save you a couple miles/minutes compare to other GPS), and usually has the best map coverage. Magellan sometimes has better POI coverage and more easily accessible. Magellan also has a more feature rich user interface (e.g. volume adjusted according to speed, an innovative way of selecting address by highlighting only the available keys, exit POI and the extremely helpful AAA tour book etc). Garmin has none of those but has the no nonsense, dirt easy GUI even your mom can use.

If you have made up your mind to choose a Garmin GPS, which one should you buy?
Nuvi 200? Nuvi 250w? Nuvi350? Nuvi660? Nuvi780?
Here is a list of all the available features:
Nuvi 200 - 3.5" screen, Cheapest, Map Cover USA or Canada, but not both.<...