out4thecount's Full Review: Garmin nuvi 660 Car GPS Receiver
I bought the Garmin Nuvi 660 in the fall of 2006.
I chose the 660 over the other models because my middle-aged eyes deserve a big screen to look at, and also because I couldn't afford the Mercedes that was wrapped around the GPS system that I used in Europe.
If you're ready to make the move - and all you have to do is use a GPS once - then you can't do much better than this one right here. (sorry Mercedes).
The Garmin Nuvi 660 is one of the most intuitive electronic devices I have ever seen. Be assured that you will be able to use this right out of the box, even to find your way home from the store's parking lot. If there is one caveat, it's here. Get used to your travel buddy gradually... in other words, don't forget to drive.
Once the honeymoon's over, you'll wonder why this Garmin wasn't sitting on your dashboard sooner. The little box has a ton of features available, in addition to just getting you somewhere with turn by turn instructions.
First, there are several voices and accents to choose from for the spoken directions. I chose "Jill" with the American English accent. I still laugh when I make a wrong turn and Jill speaks up, "recalculating...", with a b*tchy attitude.
The Garmin Nuvi 660 has an on-demand ability to point out nearby restaurants (sorted out by cuisine), lodging, entertainment, banking, fuel, PARKING and other attractions enroute. VERY nice feature! And if you're Bluetoothed to your cell phone, it's possible to place a phone call to an establishment by just touching their name on the 660's screen. Of course, you can also receive phone calls via the same Bluetooth arrangement.
A Travel Kit comes with the 660. This is an integrated set of screens that can play mp3's - yes, through your car's radio and with Jill jumping in when she needs to, an audible book player, a language guide where you can practice ordering a Quarter Pounder in several languages.
There's also a picture viewer, a calculator, a world clock, a currency converter, a unit converter (mph / km/h only - nothing to convert the weight of a quarter pounder), an optional Saver's Guide, and a Travel Guide. You can use the Travel Guide to tell you about and guide you to attractions anywhere in North America. You could probably pop a bag of popcorn with it, too!
Also, there are plenty of help screens available if you don't know how to use most of the features.
One of the most important things to consider with the purchase a GPS is how easy it will be to update, and how often it can be done. Garmin falls a little short here. Their website is slow and a bit cluttered. Since you must register your device with them before you can access updated op system and database files on the internet, I can't see the need for an additional password requirements and the gyrations that you must do for access.
The slow speed of the page and the "check here and we'll send you an email when we update the program or database" that never comes are my two main complaints. I just wish Garmin would understand that they look like they're doing internet via dialup from a phone booth.
Having said that, I must also say that this shouldn't keep you from buying Garmin.
You will need updates. Since they don't email me, I've learned to check the website at the change of the season or prior to any long trip. This is how your device learns about traffic obstructions. When I first got the 660, I made a right, left, left, and a right back to the same road that I was on because Jill thought the highway was still under repair.
I believe that the quality of an electronic device is in its similarity to its successor. I think that if you compare the 660 with the 680 now available you'll see exactly what I mean.
These are the components in the Garmin nuvi 660 Personal Travel Assistant - "Total Peace of Mind Kit w/ Nav-Mat": Three Year Extended Warranty Certifi...More at Beach Camera.com
This portable GPS receiver lets you hit the road with a host of helpful features at your fingertips. Voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, Bluetooth c...More at Best Buy®
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