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Garmin nuvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Factory Refurbished specifications:

Garmin nvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Description:
This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished usually means that the unit was returned to the maker, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions. Many GPS may contain cosmetic blemishes.

Garmin’s n&uuml,vi 255W improvesupon its 200 series predecessors by adding top of the line features like FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content to an entry level line. But Garmin is introducing many important enhancements with this new series, like a predictive technology that gives faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more info, terrain maps, and an thrilling new photo navigation feature. The 255W adds complete maps for North America and Text to Speech, so you get turn by turn spoken directions with the real names of streets e.G. “turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way”, rather than just “turn left in 50 feet”. The 255W also offers a large 4.3 inch diagonal screen that displays 70 more of the road around you.The n&uuml,vi 2×5 models all sport the thin design that Garmin presented with the 200 series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.
Vital Product Information: This device features a “screen lock” feature. This is a regular feature on all n&uuml,vi 2×5 and 7×5 Garmin units. If you slide the “Power” key to the right, it’ll lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the “Power” key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for “Pedestrian” mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more info, see page five of the product manual.
Key Features/Benefits for all 2×5 Series Navigators
New HotFix Long Term Ephemeris Prediction finds satellites faster Learn more New Digital Elevation Model DEM Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features Learn more
New Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and car icon motion through turns
New Redesigned user interface offers more info Learn more New Photo Navigation allows you to upload geo coded photos from a phone, geo coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. Learn more New Add improved MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger Learn more New Send addresses straight to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest Learn more New auto Time Zone Transition Text to Speech gives directions with real street names 4.3 inch Widescreen shows you more of what is around you as you drive Learn more Memory Card Slots so you may be able to add maps and travel guides, or store photos MicroSD card slot on 3.5 inch units, SD card slot on 4.3 inch units Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of North America + Hawaii + Puerto Rico, as well as 6.5 million searchable points of interest Learn more
Rechargeable lithium ion battery for easy portability up to four hours per charge Custom car Icons let you personalize your navigator Learn more Integrated Antenna for a thin form factor Where Am I? Instantly shows you all of the emergency services close Learn More What’s in the Box
N&uuml,vi 255W, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America or Europe full coverage, car suction cup mount, car power cable, Dashboard disc, fast start manual
Which n&uuml,vi is Best for You?:
Click here to see a fast, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators
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New Improved Interface
One of Garmin’s key product philosophies is to make very complex technology easy to use for anybody right out of the box, and possibly nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin’s movable navigation devices.

Garmin’s interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub screens make it simple to enter or search for places and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and n&uuml,vi takes you there with turn by turn voice directions, 2 D or 3 D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate.

This year, Garmin redesigned its interface to include more useful info.
Old Interface New Interface
New HotFix&trade, &ndash, aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction
Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites to find out its position. Till the device gets a “lock” on three satellites, it can not effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get “satellite lock” is generally a objective of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin’s new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it’s tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and considerably decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to three days after the device was last turned off.

Using Garmin&rsquo,s distinctive website &mdash, Garmin Connect Photos &mdash, users can decide from millions of geo located photos offered by Google&rsquo,s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the n&uuml,vi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
New Navigate by Photo

Using Garmin&rsquo,s distinctive website &mdash, Garmin Connect Photos &mdash, users can decide from millions of geo located photos offered by Google&rsquo,s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the n&uuml,vi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
Decide from Panoramio’s group of photos from around the globe. Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps. Search for photos by place name or map area boundary. Move photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator. View photos in Google Earth. Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

New 3D Terrain Maps
Shaded break terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D “birds eye” view.

New Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest
Tching to attempt out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to find the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it is easy to search for places on Google Maps or Mapquest, then move the addresses straight to your Garmin GPS navigator.
Hook up your Garmin to the computer via it is USB port Search for the place you want Click the Send link in the information window for the address. That will bring up a popup “Send to” form.
Pick GPS, then pick Garmin and hit the “Send” button. The address will instantly move to your Garmin device, The point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you may be able to navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite. The procedure does require a small plugin, which you may be able to get at Garmin’s web site at www8.Garmin.Com/support/download_details.Jsp?Id=3739. You may be able to send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Search for the place you want.

Pick “Send to GPS”.

Go!

Traffic Capable for Either FM Traffic or improved MSN Direct Content MSN Direct improved Traffic and Content

With an optional receiver, you may be able to access improved dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get improved movie listings, stock info, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your n&uuml,vi.

Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services.

A 3 month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.
FM Traffic

With an optional receiver, you may be able to get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie ups and road construction that may lie ahead on your path. All you must do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you will be prepared to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you are forced into a detour that isn’t relayed through the traffic receiver, the n&uuml,vi’s sophisticated auto routing will get you back on track in no time.
In most regions, TMC Clear Channel traffic transmits are uninterrupted &mdash, there is no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic transmits are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you may be able to still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.
A 3 month subscription to TMC Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more info on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin web site.
Widescreen See More of what is Around The super bright, 4.3 inch diagonal touchscreen display gives is anti glare for easy looking at throughout the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy looking at at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

The widescreen format gives you 70 more real screen area than a 3.5 inch screen. Mainly this translates into a better view of the area through which you’re driving. This is particularly useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. Are close, or in letting you know if a detour is a smart idea. As well, the device itself is bigger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push. Wider screen allows you to see more of what is around. Compare these real size views of a 3 inch diagonal screen

Garmin nvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Reviews:

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99 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
Great widescreen, street naming unit at a budget price,
May 16, 2009

By&nbsp,Derek See all my reviews

Was exactly what I looked for. Widescreen unit that spoke the real street name at a budget price. Was first shopping on auction websites but Garmin’s one year warranty does not support refurbished units sold on auction websites. Was afraid about it being a refurbished unit, but so far no issues. I have updated the software and downloaded the new maps, all without issue. Does not come in a cool retail box, but does include the mount and suction cup. Depending on my experience, I could recommend the unit to a friend.

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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
This gave me more that I expected.,
July 16, 2009

By&nbsp,sassytexasgirl See all my reviews

I projected this unit to be able to help me find the best routes, points of interest, etc. It is comparatively intuitive to use, and, unlike a competing brand which I sent back was able to find it is initial place now, with great ease. I am having many of fun with it as I am learning how to use it. Many of the reviews I had read thought the voice on the text speech feature irritating. I LIKE it. The tone and pitch are right on for my ears. As well, it is able to pronounce what I think about to be hard street names with ease and precision. The nicest surprise about it’s that this little navigator can tell you the speed bound for each street or highway you are on, also as show you how fast you’re going relative to the speed bound. That is more valuable to me than a radar detector could be. It also tells you your anticipated arrival time, which it changes for traffic slow downs. The 255W has a 4.3 inch screen, which is quite easy to see from my dashboard as I am driving. Do not attempt to change menus or find points of interest while you’re driving!! This is more diverting than texting while driving. You’ll have to pull over to find these things, unless you have a passenger who may help you with this. This limitation could disappear if it may accept voice commands. All things considered, this unit is perfect for my needs now. It is also movable and can slip into my purse with ease when I’m walking in an unfamiliar area. My only wish could be that it had bluetooth connectivity, but that is an easy work around with a bluetooth earpiece.

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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of five stars
Works great,
March 30, 2009

By&nbsp,John Elliott Panama City Beach FL See all my reviews
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