4/26/2011

Garmin nuvi 1350 Series 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Review

Garmin nuvi 1350 Series 4.3 inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Overall, I am very satisfied with the Garmin nuvi 1350 but I do have a couple of minor complaints.

First of all, I do recommend that owners/potential buyers visit the Garmin web site to read through all of the product information and to review the FAQs.Some folks have made an issue of Garmin not including the USB cable with the device but this did not matter to me.The required cable is a standard type "A" to mini "B" USB cable.Many other devices use this same cable and I already own a couple of them.(I also heard that if you contact Garmin customer service, they may send you a cable at no charge.)Other reasons to visit the Garmin site:to register the product, to download the full PDF manual and to install the "my Garmin Agent Plugin" for web updates.

Next, my quibbles:
When the 1350 is plugged into a charging device (PC or vehicle), there is no way to determine when the unit is fully charged.This is very inconvenient.To view the charge level, you have to unplug the device and turn it on.Only then can you see the battery level.According to the Garmin FAQs, charge time is about 4 hours using the vehicle cable and 8 hours using the PC cable.
One of the features of the 1350 is the speed limit display.However, I find this to be of limited value.The speed display is frequently 5 to 10 mph too high compared with the actual posted speeds on the roads being traveled.As a result, this throws off the estimated destination arrival time.

Finally, why I am impressed:
When driving with the 1350, I never had any doubt where I was at any given time and I never had any doubt what my next maneuver would be (and isn't this the bottom line of any GPS?).The voice commands have plenty of volume, are easy to understand and they also give you adequate lead time for upcoming turns.The commands will also repeat but the voice is not annoying.Several times, I deliberately missed a turn to test how the 1350 would respond.It quickly calculated a revised route based on my current location.
I also found the screen to be clear and easy to see while driving (in bright sun, shade and at night).
The full manual states that a PDA type stylus can be used for the touch screen.I found this to be convenient (I'm actually using a stylus from a Nintendo DS.)While you can certainly use your finger on the screen, this will leave fingerprints and smudges on the screen.

Other notes:
I have the 1350 sitting on my dash with the Garmin "Portable Friction Mount" - highly recommended.
My 1350 came with a free case - the Caselogic MGPS-2.This case adequately protects the 1350 when it's not being used.

Overall, this has been a great purchase for my business travels and I would rate the unit as four and a half stars.

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Product Description:
Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe Garmin 1350 GPS navigator features a widescreen, ultra-slim design (approximately 25% thinner than previous models), enhanced user interface, ecoRoute, public transit mode, and text-to-speech on all models. The nuvi 1300 series are the first nuvi devices to offer pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps, which are available for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe and can easily be downloaded directly to the nuvi. The nuvi's enhanced user interface features improved graphics and a new slide control for menu operation, while ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel. Also, Garmin's new public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems. Pre-loaded with City Navigator North America NT.
An ultra-thin GPS navigator with great Garmin features like CityXplorer and ecoRoute. Click to enlarge.


Just over a half-inch thick with a 4.3-inch widescreen display. Click to enlarge.


Easy-to-use touchscreen interface. Click to enlarge.


Garmin greets you with two simple questions: "Where to?" and "View Map." This screen is central to every navigation function and route-planning tool. Simply plug and play. Click to enlarge.


The device announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Click to enlarge.


Lane assist guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. Click to enlarge.


Thin New Design
The nuvi units are just over a half-inch thick and weigh only 5.7 ounces, which means they'll fit easily into your pocket and can be taken just about anywhere.


See More
With nuvi 1300's widescreen display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos, and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is easy to read--from any direction.


Easy-to-Use Touchscreen Interface
One of Garmin's core beliefs is to continually enhance the simplicity of the user experience. The nuvi on-screen menus are logically arranged, with clearly labeled, colorful icons, making it easy to enter data and get to the information you need quickly.


Navigate with Ease
nuvi 1350 comes ready to go right out of the box, with pre-loaded City Navigator North America NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs), such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs, and more, with map data provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. Enter a destination on the touchscreen, and nuvi takes you there with 2-D or 3-D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Text to speech enhances standard sat-nav voice guidance by speaking the names of places and roads. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, nuvi 1350 accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.


Travel North America
With nearly 6 million points of interest and detailed road coverage for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, City Navigator North America NT delivers all the data you need to navigate North America.


    Displays nearly 6 million points of interest--hotels, restaurants, parking, entertainment, fuel, shopping, and more.
    Includes highways, interstates, business, and residential roads in metropolitan and rural areas.
    Includes such detailed information as turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed categories, and other navigation features.
    Gives turn-by-turn directions on your compatible Garmin device.
    Includes postal code support for Canada.
    Contains traffic data for compatible Garmin devices that use traffic receivers.
    Enhances pronunciation data for compatible Garmin devices that speak street names (example: "Turn right on Main Street").

Know the Lane Before It's Too Late
No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.


Pedestrian Navigation
With the Public Transit feature, you can navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems with optional CityXplorer content. Downloadable CityXplorer data and city guides are available for purchase and download from garmin.com for many cities.


Where Am I?
Keep track of yourself and your car with nuvi 1350. Just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address, and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. The nuvi 1350 even remembers where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you can navigate with nuvi on foot and find your way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots, such as amusement parks, stadiums, and malls.


HotFix Satellite Prediction
Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nuvi remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to three days after the device was last turned off.


ecoRoute
With this feature, drivers can view suggestions for fuel-efficient navigation, conserving both money and fuel:


    Save Gas and Money--Now more than ever, we're all looking for ways to conserve both money and fuel. Whether we're taking fewer trips or carpooling with family and friends, saving resources is a top priority. It was that thinking that led to the creation of ecoRoute--Garmin's free software update for compatible nuvi products that allows you to find more fuel-efficient routes when navigating and even track their fuel usage. With ecoRoute, you may be able to save gas and money by adopting smarter driving habits.

    Select Fuel-efficient Routes--With ecoRoute, you have a "less fuel" option as a routing preference. When selected, nuvi will determine if more fuel-efficient routes exist based upon road speed data and vehicle acceleration data for a given route.

    Get Fuel and Mileage Reports--Through ecoRoute's Fuel Report and Mileage Report, you can focus on your habits even when you're not behind the wheel. Fuel Report tracks fuel usage over time, and Mileage Report monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis. In addition, Mileage Report makes it easy for business travelers to keep track of distance traveled for company reimbursements. You'll have a detailed report for each trip and the miles driven. You also can customize your nuvi by entering your car's fuel economy and the current price of gas.

MSN Direct Compatible
Add the GDB 55 receiver for MSN Direct. With dynamic content from MSN Direct, you can avoid traffic backups when you travel with your compatible Garmin device. MSN Direct broadcasts traffic data to your GPS navigator so you can find the best route through traffic, check traffic flow, and receive accident warnings.


Avoid Traffic Tie-ups by Adding the GTM 25
The GTM 25 provides North America traffic information to compatible Garmin GPS navigators. Using this data, your device alerts you to local traffic tie-ups and displays current traffic levels. The receiver also acts as an in-vehicle power charger. Traffic provided by NAVTEQ Traffic.
Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos.


Search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.




Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos
Using Garmin's Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo-sharing community and download them to the nuvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.


    Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
    Easy-to-use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
    Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
    Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
    View photos in Google Earth.
    Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, and Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

Take It with You
The nuvi 1350 sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.


Additional Features

    Speed limit indicator--unit displays speed limits for most major roads
    DEM maps show you shaded terrain contours at zoom levels of five miles and above.
    Auto time zone automatically adjusts your time zone while navigating.
    Trip computer records mileage, max speed, total time, and more.
    Built-in travel kit includes such features as picture viewer, world clock, currency and measurement converters, and calculator.
    microSD memory card expansion slot allows for optional mapping and data storage.
    Includes Garmin Lock anti-theft feature.
    Configurable vehicle icons allows users to select fun, customized car-shaped icons; download additional choices from www.garmingarage.com.
    Offers a 3-D mapping perspective or 2-D overhead view.
    Unit dimensions: 4.8"W x 2.9"H x 0.6"D; Weight: 5.7 ounces
    Built-in lithium-ion battery lasts up to four hours, depending on usage.
    Includes sturdy suction cup mount that allows for easy adjustment and quick release.
    Simplified PC connectivity, using USB mass storage, access either the microSD card slot or the unit's internal memory directly from your PC desktop.
    POI loader program lets you set up proximity alerts for school zones, create custom POIs, and more.




What's in the Box
nuvi 1350 preloaded with City Navigator North America NT, Vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual


Visit Garmin.com to get the latest firmware updates for your nuvi to keep it current and performing at its best.

Which nuvi is Best for You?

Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
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