Review: The Garmin Nuvi 200
The Garmin Nuvi 200 is one of the best navigation systems of its class. Though it is more affordable that some of the other Nuvi series GPS systems, it still offers some great features, such as the ability to not only serve as a navigational aid, but also offers the user travel-friendly features, such as travel guides and foreign language dictionaries. You get all this, along with great performance and ease of use.
The Nuvi 200 is the entry-level model of the Garmin 200 series, all of which are suppose to be less costly than other Nuvi models. The 200 GPS system comes preloaded with maps of the United States and Puerto Rico, and though the device comes in a sleek, compact size, it still manages to give the user an, easy to use interface, and accurate directions.
Some of the physical features of the Garmin Nuvi 200 include a 3.5-inch QVGA touch screen, with a 320x240 pixel resolution, and features an antiglare coating. The screen is bright enough that you should have no problems viewing it in various lighting conditions. Also included is an SD card expansion slot on the left side, and the speaker and power connector - mini USB port are on the back.
Because of its lower price, the Nuvi 200 only comes with some of the more basic features, but they include turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions, but it doesn't support text-to-speech functionality. There is also an automatic route recalculation that includes a detour function, which is useful if you want to avoid certain parts of the given route.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 offers maps in both 2D and 3D view, with day and night colors. You also have the option of viewing a trip information page that displays your speed, direction, trip time, etc. Included with the Nuvi 200 is a POI database with all the major categories, such as gas stations, lodging, ATMs, as well as more specific ones; you can even search for restaurants by type of cuisine.
This GPS device has the ability to pickup your location very quickly, and will provide instantaneous location thereafter; in addition, the system is also very quick to recalculate your route if you should miss a turn, or get off track.
Some extras with the Garmin Nuvi 200 include a world clock, currency and measurement converters, as well as a calculator. You can also choose to purchase additional travel guides preloaded on an SD card that are available from Garmin.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 is more affordable than the high-end Nuvi systems, but you do get fewer features. Despite this drawback, the Nuvi 200 is compact and easy to use, and offers drivers an affordable alternative to the more expensive Garmin Nuvi models.
