Thread: Garmin Nuvi owner? Are you satisfied? What is its worst and its best?

Nuvi 2699

Good:

New style interface which is clearer and easer to use
Faster lot faster on start up and only one nag screen (agree to terms and conditions screen) which will clear automatically after around 30 sec
Gets gps sats quicker calculates routes much quicker and no more "calculating new route" its been muted
Digital Traffic receiver (built into the unit) thin light power cable
I've had it a little while now using the voice command which is surprisingly good and easy to use once you know how.
My old unit is an nuvi 1490 and this is a big step up and I'm very happy with it there are some negative points which I've put below

The bad:

Screen, the new screens are glass and reflect everything at its worst you cant see anything on the unit only the reflection (like a mirror) this changes as you change direction
so a MUST is an antiglare screen protector which has made a huge difference and cut down the reflection by around 60% to 70% and at worst is still viewable
so order these up at the same time you buy the unit.

Lastly is the Garmin unit to window mount quick release whoever designed this should be sacked absolutely rubbish its been designed with someone holding the unit in their hand and looking at the back,
in real life you cant see what you are suppose to be push or which way to push it and adding to that the cack handed way it slots into the unit just adds more disappointment,
what was wrong with the old 1490 style mount ?

but don't let this put you off buying all said and done its a great unit I got mine for 164 euros delivered (about 170 dollars) and that's a whole lot of Satnav for that price
there is loads more goodies inside which have been updated or totally new, like the added foursquare POI,
there are 3 models available 2599 5 inch screen, 2699 6 inch screen, 2799 6 inch screen for more info go to Garmin and look up Nuvi 2*99.

FYI.
Voice control on the on the Nuvi's

There is a bit of a fly in the ointment here with the voice control which effects cross boarder (country to country), I'll try to explain.
Someone in England (with the default language set to English) can say an English an address or poi and the Nuvi will navigate to that address / poi which is normal, but if he decides to travel to France and says "Paris" or other French address it will not work, unless you change the machines default language to French, so the voice will only except Addresses or poi in the country of the default language.
which isn't too much of a problem for folks living on a large continent like the USA or Australia but pretty awkward considering millions of Europeans head off driving to different country's each year,
the only workaround I have found is to make my destinations as Favourites and call up the favourites as and when needed, or when in a different country call up categories and then "supermarkets" or "Restaurants" etc. then pick from the list but this is only local stuff.
I would gather in the states if you travelled to Mexico the country / language problem would kick in but not sure what happens in Canada being English / French speaking,
Just thought it was worth pointing out Just in case it’s a deal breaker with anyone, I can only confirm this with the new Nuvi’s 2*99 but gather it across the Garmin brand cant comment on Tom Tom or others but would think there are a number of factors in play here, one being your ability to speak the given language good enough to pronounce the place names
i.e. Eiffel tower = La tour Eiffel. but to me it’s not a deal breaker as you can still use the old fashion way by manually enter your destination.