The widescreen version of Garmin's Nuvi 250 offers a large,
easy-to-read screen (4.3 inches diagonally to the n�vi 250s 3.5
inches) at an attractive price point. Like its smaller sibling, the
250W comes with preloaded maps for the continental U.S., Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, Canada and Alaska. If all you don't need Canada and
Alaska, you can get the Nuvi 200W at a lower pirce. If you
want maps for Europe, you'll need to go with the smaller Nuvi
270 or you can purchase a set of European maps on SD
Card or CD-ROM. While it doesn't have some of the more
sophisticated features of higher-end n�vis, it does, like all n�vi
200-series members, offer a rock-solid navigation experience with
an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen, 6 million points of interest
(POI)s, and an ultra-slim design.
See More of What's Around
The widescreen format gives
you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily
this translates into a better view of the area through which you
are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks,
restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you
know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is
larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and
somewhat easier to push.
Smart, Powerful Design
The n�vi 250W is built with a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS
receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for
storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB
interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package
that measures 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just
6.6 ounces. The n�vi display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a
cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable
lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life
depending on use.
Navigate with Ease
n�vi 250W comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded
City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with
hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color
screen to enter a destination, and n�vi takes you there with 2D or
3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, n�vi 250W
accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and
safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of
upcoming POIs.
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the
things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple
controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for
destinations and get data about your trip.