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 Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
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Product Description
Protect your iQue 3600/3200 with this stylish leather case.
Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
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Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
305 A Winner, 16 Nov 2008
Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)Took my new toy for Its first run today did not lose the signal even in a deep wood covered valley .It does every thing I wanted it to Plus a lot more .
useful tool, 08 Nov 2008
I purchased one for my brother who was impressed with my Garmin Forerunner 301. The unit is nicer to wear, though with a smaller screen size and acquires and retains the signal better than the Forerunner 301. The Garmin supplied software works okay, but as others have said you're better off using Sporttracks which has more features. Although the updated Garmin software exports to Google Earth, it isn't done in a tidy way, and Garmin software still has poor mapping for the UK, and both France and Australia where I've used it. Again, as others have pointed out, only the latest versions of Memory Map will work with it, even a previous build of version 5 with Garmin USB support needed to be updated. This could be costly if you've invested a lot in maps for previous versions of memory map.
I don't like the plastic strap. Although it's thick, it's of a type that I've had on watches before that have always broken after a couple of years. I recommend getting a Forerunner 301 replacement strap and fitting that instead.
The battery life is less than the 301, but only marginally. It's not enough for a long-distance walk or run over an entire weekend or longer.
Great little device!!, 06 Nov 2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of months ago and am loving it! Really great for motivation as it tells you distance, time, calories burnt etc. Can also set up an alarm that will go off if you're running too slow or your heart rate is too high. Brilliant!!! Feel lost going training without it now and would definitely recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because I sometimes have problems uploading the data to my computer (but when I delete the courses, everything seems OK) so don't know if this is a problem with the device or me doing something wrong! All in all, a well worthwhile buy.
Fantastic - Can't Fault, 02 Nov 2008
I started running about six months ago. Because of persistent injury problems it's important that I can very accurately track my pace. My iPod with Nike+ is pretty inaccurate (even after calibration) and doesn't provide constant data output. I therefore purchased a Forerunner 101 as my first GPS device. Alongside this I wore a Polar heart rate monitor. With my iPod as well, I almost clanked as I ran!
I have just upgraded to the 305 and what an absolute delight.
Advantages over the 101:
Much faster GPS locating. I live in London and sometimes with the 101 obtaining a fix was slow. It's near instantaneous with the 305.
Integrated heart rate monitor. Bye-bye Polar. One less gadget on my arm. (Now, if only it could play music).
Customisable display. I could have one custom screen with the 101. I have three with this. The unit captures a vast array of data and this allows you to have exactly what you need whilst you are running.
Re-chargeable Battery. Cheerio AAAs of the 101. Plus, don't even have to use the AC adapter. The USB cable supplies power.
Mac Support. I'm a Mac user. The upload facilities and included software (a) work! and (b) are great.
In short, I am totally loving this device. Be aware however that:
(a) You really should take time to read the full manual to get the best of it--the quick start guide will get you going, the manual really lets you tailor the forerunner and understand its capabilities.
(b) It doesn't make your legs move faster or further :-(
Good but room for improvement, 01 Nov 2008
I've used the Forerunner for a couple of weeks now and am just about getting the hang of it. Once you've got used to it it is a superb training aid. However, to really get the most out of it you need to hook it up to a PC. The supplied software is OK but there is better (free) software available (have a look at SportTracks).
On the positive side the GPS is very good at maintaining a signal in woods, this is offset by the start up time which can only be described as slow. Switching on in exactly the same location as it was turned off 24 hours ago leads to a start up time of between 90 and 120 seconds, far longer than Garmin claim and slower than an ETrex GPS or a TomTom satnav. Furthermore, you can't use the device until its got a fix.
My only other gripe is the steep learning curve you have to go through to use it properly, and this isn't helped by the unintuitive menus. For example, the menu to set heart rate alarms on or off is not the same as the one where you set the levels for the heart rate alarm.
Although the unit records data automatically, it all ended up being recorded under the same date, regardless of what the day was when you were training. Nowhere in the documentation does it tell you that you have to press the reset button to stop this happening. That said, once you've figured it all out it works brilliantly and although there's no indication of how much memory space is left, the unit recoded a whole week's intensive training without filling up.
The heart rate belt is not as comfortable as Polar belts and Polar belts don't work with the Forerunner. The battery in the belt is user replaceable and the belts are coded.
Bottom line is its very good but keep the manual handy for the first week or so.
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Product Description
Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget, eTrex H comes with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that locks onto satellite signals quickly and maintains accuracy even in the toughest conditions. And just like the popular eTrex, this little yellow wonder combines an intuitive interface and a rugged exterior into a lightweight handheld that fits in the palm of your hand. Enjoy Clear Reception With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, eTrex H locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear whether youre in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on eTrex H to help you find your way when you need it the most. Built for Adventure You can operate your eTrex H with just one hand using five buttons, which are located on either side of eTrex H within easy reach of your fingers. Thanks to its bright yellow case, eTrex H is easy to find in your boat or backpack. And, eTrex H is IPX7 waterproof, so it can take an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform. Find It and Go With eTrex H, your adventure can last and last up to 17 hours on just 2 AA batteries. While you roam, you can store up to 500 waypoints in memory for easy retrieval. Just enter the point you want to go to, and eTrex H points you to your destination (no street or terrain maps). To get home, use Garmin's exclusive TrackBack® feature to reverse your track log and help you navigate back to your starting point. eTrex H: Lock onto the great outdoors.
Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
305 A Winner, 16 Nov 2008
Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)Took my new toy for Its first run today did not lose the signal even in a deep wood covered valley .It does every thing I wanted it to Plus a lot more .
useful tool, 08 Nov 2008
I purchased one for my brother who was impressed with my Garmin Forerunner 301. The unit is nicer to wear, though with a smaller screen size and acquires and retains the signal better than the Forerunner 301. The Garmin supplied software works okay, but as others have said you're better off using Sporttracks which has more features. Although the updated Garmin software exports to Google Earth, it isn't done in a tidy way, and Garmin software still has poor mapping for the UK, and both France and Australia where I've used it. Again, as others have pointed out, only the latest versions of Memory Map will work with it, even a previous build of version 5 with Garmin USB support needed to be updated. This could be costly if you've invested a lot in maps for previous versions of memory map.
I don't like the plastic strap. Although it's thick, it's of a type that I've had on watches before that have always broken after a couple of years. I recommend getting a Forerunner 301 replacement strap and fitting that instead.
The battery life is less than the 301, but only marginally. It's not enough for a long-distance walk or run over an entire weekend or longer.
Great little device!!, 06 Nov 2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of months ago and am loving it! Really great for motivation as it tells you distance, time, calories burnt etc. Can also set up an alarm that will go off if you're running too slow or your heart rate is too high. Brilliant!!! Feel lost going training without it now and would definitely recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because I sometimes have problems uploading the data to my computer (but when I delete the courses, everything seems OK) so don't know if this is a problem with the device or me doing something wrong! All in all, a well worthwhile buy.
Fantastic - Can't Fault, 02 Nov 2008
I started running about six months ago. Because of persistent injury problems it's important that I can very accurately track my pace. My iPod with Nike+ is pretty inaccurate (even after calibration) and doesn't provide constant data output. I therefore purchased a Forerunner 101 as my first GPS device. Alongside this I wore a Polar heart rate monitor. With my iPod as well, I almost clanked as I ran!
I have just upgraded to the 305 and what an absolute delight.
Advantages over the 101:
Much faster GPS locating. I live in London and sometimes with the 101 obtaining a fix was slow. It's near instantaneous with the 305.
Integrated heart rate monitor. Bye-bye Polar. One less gadget on my arm. (Now, if only it could play music).
Customisable display. I could have one custom screen with the 101. I have three with this. The unit captures a vast array of data and this allows you to have exactly what you need whilst you are running.
Re-chargeable Battery. Cheerio AAAs of the 101. Plus, don't even have to use the AC adapter. The USB cable supplies power.
Mac Support. I'm a Mac user. The upload facilities and included software (a) work! and (b) are great.
In short, I am totally loving this device. Be aware however that:
(a) You really should take time to read the full manual to get the best of it--the quick start guide will get you going, the manual really lets you tailor the forerunner and understand its capabilities.
(b) It doesn't make your legs move faster or further :-(
Good but room for improvement, 01 Nov 2008
I've used the Forerunner for a couple of weeks now and am just about getting the hang of it. Once you've got used to it it is a superb training aid. However, to really get the most out of it you need to hook it up to a PC. The supplied software is OK but there is better (free) software available (have a look at SportTracks).
On the positive side the GPS is very good at maintaining a signal in woods, this is offset by the start up time which can only be described as slow. Switching on in exactly the same location as it was turned off 24 hours ago leads to a start up time of between 90 and 120 seconds, far longer than Garmin claim and slower than an ETrex GPS or a TomTom satnav. Furthermore, you can't use the device until its got a fix.
My only other gripe is the steep learning curve you have to go through to use it properly, and this isn't helped by the unintuitive menus. For example, the menu to set heart rate alarms on or off is not the same as the one where you set the levels for the heart rate alarm.
Although the unit records data automatically, it all ended up being recorded under the same date, regardless of what the day was when you were training. Nowhere in the documentation does it tell you that you have to press the reset button to stop this happening. That said, once you've figured it all out it works brilliantly and although there's no indication of how much memory space is left, the unit recoded a whole week's intensive training without filling up.
The heart rate belt is not as comfortable as Polar belts and Polar belts don't work with the Forerunner. The battery in the belt is user replaceable and the belts are coded.
Bottom line is its very good but keep the manual handy for the first week or so.
Indispensible accessory, 14 Oct 2008
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
I bought one of the original eTrex devices about five years ago but the current model (eTrex H)is a completely different animal. The appearance is identical to the original, but that is where the similarities end.
Garmin have done a great job of removing all the problems with the original eTrex. It's now very responsive and usually takes less than a minute to find satellites from when you press the power switch. Accuracy is usually well within 10 metres even in normal mode (ie without WAAS). The signal is retained under tree canopies though I have not yet tested it in deep forests. Battery life is fine for a day on the hills though the claimed 17 hours seems optimistic. I plan to switch to NiMH 2500mAh batteries, this might give me a longer range.
Given the modest price this superb product is now selling for, nobody should be without one.
Cracking Bit of Kit, 06 Oct 2008
A few mates in the Army had eTrex units and always spoke very highly of them (rugged, idiot proof, accurate) so decided I'd give it a go. Looked on Amazon and realised that the eTrex was being sold by someone else so with the P&P it came out more expensive than the eTrex H from Amaxon with free delivery. Bit of a no brainer! I ordered the eTrex H in a bit of a rush before I went gadding around the Transylvanian Alps. Unit arrived in 3 days (thanks Amazon!) and off I trotted.
The unit is extremely easy to figure out. I did the usual bloke thing and binned the instructions almost straight away and only referred to the quick start guide a few times which was ample.
The unit performed brilliantly and even coped with the extremes of altitude (up around 5000 feet) followed by sitting in a gorge surrounded by trees the next. Very accurate, I followed the advice on this page about leaving the unit for 10-15 mins after turning it on in plain sight of the sky whilst it sorted its life out and this seemed to work a treat. The time I didn't, it took 20 mins to acquire a signal to tell me my location and even then took another 5 mins to get down to a 10m accuracy. Leaving it for 10-15 mins at start up got me to within 3m almost every time and seemed to maintain a Sat lock better as well. Battery life was around 25 hours (consistantly, and that was with rubbish Army batteries not posh ones).
In all, what a cracking bit of kit. No frills just a grid, altitude, bearing and a few other niceties on a unit that's gotten me out of the poo on a couple of occasions already. Go on, buy it. I'm glad I did!
Safely back from Exmoor, 23 Sep 2008
I have just returned from Exmoor where I used my Garmin for the first time. I used it in conjunction with Memory Map software - allowing me to create OS Explorer 1:25000 scale mapping routes which I then downloaded to the Garmin as listed waypoints (routes). I did try using it manually - typing in given waypoints from guide books but this is a tad time consuming and tedious and doesn't help battery life. Although the digital mapping is easier to use, it does come at a price (Dartmoor/Exmoor £80-00), but I was so impressed I purchased the Lake District too.
However used, manually or with software, one thing's for sure - it's a great asset; used with a map, you can't go wrong - or if you do it will show you!
The Garmin really showed its potential in wooded areas where it coped brilliantly under thick canopy and especially where footpaths became indistinct and hard to follow.
My only gripe (and a small one it is too) with the Garmin is that to automatically follow a route (being guided from waypoint to waypoint) you do need to be at waypoint 1 to start. This is slightly annoying when you park up near the start of your route and you find that your first waypoint is down the hill from the car park and the second waypoint is up the hill from the car park. You must go down hill to waypoint 1 first to activate the route before you can come back up the hill to waypoint 2 and automatically continue. Other than that, this is a great bit of kit - highly reccomended.
Fantastic, 31 Jul 2008
A great basic GPS unit, the main feature is the fact its so good at picking up satellites. This new H version is more sensative than the older model. Far better than my old Garmin Forerunner 101. I can even get a fix indoors.
High build quality, unit feels solid and chunky in the hand. An intuitive menu system, adding waypoints and routes is easy. The screen is clear and easy to read.
Do not expect to be able to upload maps etc. This GPS is a basic unit perfect for a location fix and using out hikes and monitoring distance traveled and average speed etc.
Battery life is excellent, 17 hours on good quality alkalines. I shall try lithiums and see what the difference is.
To sum up, a great value basic GPS that suits my requirements perfectly.
Good for starting with GPS, 27 Jun 2008
After a short period sorting out how the Etrex H works, I look forward to using it regularly on holidays. It is quite slow to do this but by editing (Mark) waypoints you can input the exact map co-ordinates, Latitude and Longitude, found from Google Earth and so mark and find hotels, railway stations, restaurants etc with confidence. While on holiday, mark your position with a waypoint and then wander around foreign parts knowing that you cannot get lost - simply use Goto the waypoint and use the direction arrow to find your way back, knowing how long it will take you. There is no need to buy any more leads or expensive mapping software unless you really want to. The GPS didn't seem to work on TGV trains but on the English ones you can see how fast the train is going, although the compass arrow gets a bit confused when you are travelling in a seat going backwards!
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Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
305 A Winner, 16 Nov 2008
Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)Took my new toy for Its first run today did not lose the signal even in a deep wood covered valley .It does every thing I wanted it to Plus a lot more .
useful tool, 08 Nov 2008
I purchased one for my brother who was impressed with my Garmin Forerunner 301. The unit is nicer to wear, though with a smaller screen size and acquires and retains the signal better than the Forerunner 301. The Garmin supplied software works okay, but as others have said you're better off using Sporttracks which has more features. Although the updated Garmin software exports to Google Earth, it isn't done in a tidy way, and Garmin software still has poor mapping for the UK, and both France and Australia where I've used it. Again, as others have pointed out, only the latest versions of Memory Map will work with it, even a previous build of version 5 with Garmin USB support needed to be updated. This could be costly if you've invested a lot in maps for previous versions of memory map.
I don't like the plastic strap. Although it's thick, it's of a type that I've had on watches before that have always broken after a couple of years. I recommend getting a Forerunner 301 replacement strap and fitting that instead.
The battery life is less than the 301, but only marginally. It's not enough for a long-distance walk or run over an entire weekend or longer.
Great little device!!, 06 Nov 2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of months ago and am loving it! Really great for motivation as it tells you distance, time, calories burnt etc. Can also set up an alarm that will go off if you're running too slow or your heart rate is too high. Brilliant!!! Feel lost going training without it now and would definitely recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because I sometimes have problems uploading the data to my computer (but when I delete the courses, everything seems OK) so don't know if this is a problem with the device or me doing something wrong! All in all, a well worthwhile buy.
Fantastic - Can't Fault, 02 Nov 2008
I started running about six months ago. Because of persistent injury problems it's important that I can very accurately track my pace. My iPod with Nike+ is pretty inaccurate (even after calibration) and doesn't provide constant data output. I therefore purchased a Forerunner 101 as my first GPS device. Alongside this I wore a Polar heart rate monitor. With my iPod as well, I almost clanked as I ran!
I have just upgraded to the 305 and what an absolute delight.
Advantages over the 101:
Much faster GPS locating. I live in London and sometimes with the 101 obtaining a fix was slow. It's near instantaneous with the 305.
Integrated heart rate monitor. Bye-bye Polar. One less gadget on my arm. (Now, if only it could play music).
Customisable display. I could have one custom screen with the 101. I have three with this. The unit captures a vast array of data and this allows you to have exactly what you need whilst you are running.
Re-chargeable Battery. Cheerio AAAs of the 101. Plus, don't even have to use the AC adapter. The USB cable supplies power.
Mac Support. I'm a Mac user. The upload facilities and included software (a) work! and (b) are great.
In short, I am totally loving this device. Be aware however that:
(a) You really should take time to read the full manual to get the best of it--the quick start guide will get you going, the manual really lets you tailor the forerunner and understand its capabilities.
(b) It doesn't make your legs move faster or further :-(
Good but room for improvement, 01 Nov 2008
I've used the Forerunner for a couple of weeks now and am just about getting the hang of it. Once you've got used to it it is a superb training aid. However, to really get the most out of it you need to hook it up to a PC. The supplied software is OK but there is better (free) software available (have a look at SportTracks).
On the positive side the GPS is very good at maintaining a signal in woods, this is offset by the start up time which can only be described as slow. Switching on in exactly the same location as it was turned off 24 hours ago leads to a start up time of between 90 and 120 seconds, far longer than Garmin claim and slower than an ETrex GPS or a TomTom satnav. Furthermore, you can't use the device until its got a fix.
My only other gripe is the steep learning curve you have to go through to use it properly, and this isn't helped by the unintuitive menus. For example, the menu to set heart rate alarms on or off is not the same as the one where you set the levels for the heart rate alarm.
Although the unit records data automatically, it all ended up being recorded under the same date, regardless of what the day was when you were training. Nowhere in the documentation does it tell you that you have to press the reset button to stop this happening. That said, once you've figured it all out it works brilliantly and although there's no indication of how much memory space is left, the unit recoded a whole week's intensive training without filling up.
The heart rate belt is not as comfortable as Polar belts and Polar belts don't work with the Forerunner. The battery in the belt is user replaceable and the belts are coded.
Bottom line is its very good but keep the manual handy for the first week or so.
Indispensible accessory, 14 Oct 2008
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
I bought one of the original eTrex devices about five years ago but the current model (eTrex H)is a completely different animal. The appearance is identical to the original, but that is where the similarities end.
Garmin have done a great job of removing all the problems with the original eTrex. It's now very responsive and usually takes less than a minute to find satellites from when you press the power switch. Accuracy is usually well within 10 metres even in normal mode (ie without WAAS). The signal is retained under tree canopies though I have not yet tested it in deep forests. Battery life is fine for a day on the hills though the claimed 17 hours seems optimistic. I plan to switch to NiMH 2500mAh batteries, this might give me a longer range.
Given the modest price this superb product is now selling for, nobody should be without one.
Cracking Bit of Kit, 06 Oct 2008
A few mates in the Army had eTrex units and always spoke very highly of them (rugged, idiot proof, accurate) so decided I'd give it a go. Looked on Amazon and realised that the eTrex was being sold by someone else so with the P&P it came out more expensive than the eTrex H from Amaxon with free delivery. Bit of a no brainer! I ordered the eTrex H in a bit of a rush before I went gadding around the Transylvanian Alps. Unit arrived in 3 days (thanks Amazon!) and off I trotted.
The unit is extremely easy to figure out. I did the usual bloke thing and binned the instructions almost straight away and only referred to the quick start guide a few times which was ample.
The unit performed brilliantly and even coped with the extremes of altitude (up around 5000 feet) followed by sitting in a gorge surrounded by trees the next. Very accurate, I followed the advice on this page about leaving the unit for 10-15 mins after turning it on in plain sight of the sky whilst it sorted its life out and this seemed to work a treat. The time I didn't, it took 20 mins to acquire a signal to tell me my location and even then took another 5 mins to get down to a 10m accuracy. Leaving it for 10-15 mins at start up got me to within 3m almost every time and seemed to maintain a Sat lock better as well. Battery life was around 25 hours (consistantly, and that was with rubbish Army batteries not posh ones).
In all, what a cracking bit of kit. No frills just a grid, altitude, bearing and a few other niceties on a unit that's gotten me out of the poo on a couple of occasions already. Go on, buy it. I'm glad I did!
Safely back from Exmoor, 23 Sep 2008
I have just returned from Exmoor where I used my Garmin for the first time. I used it in conjunction with Memory Map software - allowing me to create OS Explorer 1:25000 scale mapping routes which I then downloaded to the Garmin as listed waypoints (routes). I did try using it manually - typing in given waypoints from guide books but this is a tad time consuming and tedious and doesn't help battery life. Although the digital mapping is easier to use, it does come at a price (Dartmoor/Exmoor £80-00), but I was so impressed I purchased the Lake District too.
However used, manually or with software, one thing's for sure - it's a great asset; used with a map, you can't go wrong - or if you do it will show you!
The Garmin really showed its potential in wooded areas where it coped brilliantly under thick canopy and especially where footpaths became indistinct and hard to follow.
My only gripe (and a small one it is too) with the Garmin is that to automatically follow a route (being guided from waypoint to waypoint) you do need to be at waypoint 1 to start. This is slightly annoying when you park up near the start of your route and you find that your first waypoint is down the hill from the car park and the second waypoint is up the hill from the car park. You must go down hill to waypoint 1 first to activate the route before you can come back up the hill to waypoint 2 and automatically continue. Other than that, this is a great bit of kit - highly reccomended.
Fantastic, 31 Jul 2008
A great basic GPS unit, the main feature is the fact its so good at picking up satellites. This new H version is more sensative than the older model. Far better than my old Garmin Forerunner 101. I can even get a fix indoors.
High build quality, unit feels solid and chunky in the hand. An intuitive menu system, adding waypoints and routes is easy. The screen is clear and easy to read.
Do not expect to be able to upload maps etc. This GPS is a basic unit perfect for a location fix and using out hikes and monitoring distance traveled and average speed etc.
Battery life is excellent, 17 hours on good quality alkalines. I shall try lithiums and see what the difference is.
To sum up, a great value basic GPS that suits my requirements perfectly.
Good for starting with GPS, 27 Jun 2008
After a short period sorting out how the Etrex H works, I look forward to using it regularly on holidays. It is quite slow to do this but by editing (Mark) waypoints you can input the exact map co-ordinates, Latitude and Longitude, found from Google Earth and so mark and find hotels, railway stations, restaurants etc with confidence. While on holiday, mark your position with a waypoint and then wander around foreign parts knowing that you cannot get lost - simply use Goto the waypoint and use the direction arrow to find your way back, knowing how long it will take you. There is no need to buy any more leads or expensive mapping software unless you really want to. The GPS didn't seem to work on TGV trains but on the English ones you can see how fast the train is going, although the compass arrow gets a bit confused when you are travelling in a seat going backwards!
Delighted with it!!, 18 Oct 2008
I don't normally do reviews of products I've bought on t'Internet, but felt compelled to do so on this occasion, because I had slight reservations owing to some of the slightly discouraging reviews, especially the piece from someone about it being yank-centric. Have no fear though friends, this is an excellent bit of kit. I fully support the comments of the other 5* ratings - it's just hoofing! Switches from mode to mode at the touch of a button, and enables you to research the word/subject you're working on and retains it for each different mode. Easy to use as well - I haven't needed to consult the instructions yet...OK, I'm a bloke, so I shouldn't need to, but it is so straight forward, anyone could use it. It's so diverse and comprehensive too; I wonder whether I'll ever use it to its full capacity. I was going to ask for a hard copy Thesaurus and Crossword Solver for Christmas - I'll have to think of something else now. I would recommend this item to anyone, whether using it for crosswords, reference or amusement - It's just great. By the way, thanks to KK Electronics; fast delivery and best price. Hoofing!
bit of a con, 10 Sep 2008
I purchased this because it was called Britannica concise encylopedia and assumed the references would be more of a english /european nature but I was mislead it has more references towards US history their sportsman,filmstars etc and was very dissapointed,The ER8000 is made for the american market so beware
best one out there, 02 Aug 2008
My partner spent a lot of time looking at the spec of this and other similar products before buying this one for me a year or so ago. I am an avid crossword solver and have found this to be the best route to cheating yet. I am also a primary teacher, and allow the children to use it when they are writing. They find it easy to use and regard it as a special treat! A colleague of mine became interested in buying one when I solved a dispute about the meaning of a word within seconds. She went out and bought the Sharp equivalent, which has proved to be not nearly as efficient and she regrets the decision.
ER 8000, 30 Dec 2007
I found this to be an excellent bit of kit. Being able to jump from one function to another is a very useful feature and the content seems very thorough. The learn function, allowing you to store words, has proved to be very useful as has the solve function which has been great for helping with all sorts of word puzzles. The product is a convenient size and feels and handles very well. The screen is a good size but my only qualm is I would like the screen to have better visibility. You can vary the contrast and the size of the font, which is useful, but a light (of sorts) would be a real bonus. Nevertheless overall I have been very impressed.
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Product Description
(Franklin) CHAMBERS Concise Crossword Dictionary (CWR-206) The
Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
305 A Winner, 16 Nov 2008
Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)Took my new toy for Its first run today did not lose the signal even in a deep wood covered valley .It does every thing I wanted it to Plus a lot more .
useful tool, 08 Nov 2008
I purchased one for my brother who was impressed with my Garmin Forerunner 301. The unit is nicer to wear, though with a smaller screen size and acquires and retains the signal better than the Forerunner 301. The Garmin supplied software works okay, but as others have said you're better off using Sporttracks which has more features. Although the updated Garmin software exports to Google Earth, it isn't done in a tidy way, and Garmin software still has poor mapping for the UK, and both France and Australia where I've used it. Again, as others have pointed out, only the latest versions of Memory Map will work with it, even a previous build of version 5 with Garmin USB support needed to be updated. This could be costly if you've invested a lot in maps for previous versions of memory map.
I don't like the plastic strap. Although it's thick, it's of a type that I've had on watches before that have always broken after a couple of years. I recommend getting a Forerunner 301 replacement strap and fitting that instead.
The battery life is less than the 301, but only marginally. It's not enough for a long-distance walk or run over an entire weekend or longer.
Great little device!!, 06 Nov 2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of months ago and am loving it! Really great for motivation as it tells you distance, time, calories burnt etc. Can also set up an alarm that will go off if you're running too slow or your heart rate is too high. Brilliant!!! Feel lost going training without it now and would definitely recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because I sometimes have problems uploading the data to my computer (but when I delete the courses, everything seems OK) so don't know if this is a problem with the device or me doing something wrong! All in all, a well worthwhile buy.
Fantastic - Can't Fault, 02 Nov 2008
I started running about six months ago. Because of persistent injury problems it's important that I can very accurately track my pace. My iPod with Nike+ is pretty inaccurate (even after calibration) and doesn't provide constant data output. I therefore purchased a Forerunner 101 as my first GPS device. Alongside this I wore a Polar heart rate monitor. With my iPod as well, I almost clanked as I ran!
I have just upgraded to the 305 and what an absolute delight.
Advantages over the 101:
Much faster GPS locating. I live in London and sometimes with the 101 obtaining a fix was slow. It's near instantaneous with the 305.
Integrated heart rate monitor. Bye-bye Polar. One less gadget on my arm. (Now, if only it could play music).
Customisable display. I could have one custom screen with the 101. I have three with this. The unit captures a vast array of data and this allows you to have exactly what you need whilst you are running.
Re-chargeable Battery. Cheerio AAAs of the 101. Plus, don't even have to use the AC adapter. The USB cable supplies power.
Mac Support. I'm a Mac user. The upload facilities and included software (a) work! and (b) are great.
In short, I am totally loving this device. Be aware however that:
(a) You really should take time to read the full manual to get the best of it--the quick start guide will get you going, the manual really lets you tailor the forerunner and understand its capabilities.
(b) It doesn't make your legs move faster or further :-(
Good but room for improvement, 01 Nov 2008
I've used the Forerunner for a couple of weeks now and am just about getting the hang of it. Once you've got used to it it is a superb training aid. However, to really get the most out of it you need to hook it up to a PC. The supplied software is OK but there is better (free) software available (have a look at SportTracks).
On the positive side the GPS is very good at maintaining a signal in woods, this is offset by the start up time which can only be described as slow. Switching on in exactly the same location as it was turned off 24 hours ago leads to a start up time of between 90 and 120 seconds, far longer than Garmin claim and slower than an ETrex GPS or a TomTom satnav. Furthermore, you can't use the device until its got a fix.
My only other gripe is the steep learning curve you have to go through to use it properly, and this isn't helped by the unintuitive menus. For example, the menu to set heart rate alarms on or off is not the same as the one where you set the levels for the heart rate alarm.
Although the unit records data automatically, it all ended up being recorded under the same date, regardless of what the day was when you were training. Nowhere in the documentation does it tell you that you have to press the reset button to stop this happening. That said, once you've figured it all out it works brilliantly and although there's no indication of how much memory space is left, the unit recoded a whole week's intensive training without filling up.
The heart rate belt is not as comfortable as Polar belts and Polar belts don't work with the Forerunner. The battery in the belt is user replaceable and the belts are coded.
Bottom line is its very good but keep the manual handy for the first week or so.
Indispensible accessory, 14 Oct 2008
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
I bought one of the original eTrex devices about five years ago but the current model (eTrex H)is a completely different animal. The appearance is identical to the original, but that is where the similarities end.
Garmin have done a great job of removing all the problems with the original eTrex. It's now very responsive and usually takes less than a minute to find satellites from when you press the power switch. Accuracy is usually well within 10 metres even in normal mode (ie without WAAS). The signal is retained under tree canopies though I have not yet tested it in deep forests. Battery life is fine for a day on the hills though the claimed 17 hours seems optimistic. I plan to switch to NiMH 2500mAh batteries, this might give me a longer range.
Given the modest price this superb product is now selling for, nobody should be without one.
Cracking Bit of Kit, 06 Oct 2008
A few mates in the Army had eTrex units and always spoke very highly of them (rugged, idiot proof, accurate) so decided I'd give it a go. Looked on Amazon and realised that the eTrex was being sold by someone else so with the P&P it came out more expensive than the eTrex H from Amaxon with free delivery. Bit of a no brainer! I ordered the eTrex H in a bit of a rush before I went gadding around the Transylvanian Alps. Unit arrived in 3 days (thanks Amazon!) and off I trotted.
The unit is extremely easy to figure out. I did the usual bloke thing and binned the instructions almost straight away and only referred to the quick start guide a few times which was ample.
The unit performed brilliantly and even coped with the extremes of altitude (up around 5000 feet) followed by sitting in a gorge surrounded by trees the next. Very accurate, I followed the advice on this page about leaving the unit for 10-15 mins after turning it on in plain sight of the sky whilst it sorted its life out and this seemed to work a treat. The time I didn't, it took 20 mins to acquire a signal to tell me my location and even then took another 5 mins to get down to a 10m accuracy. Leaving it for 10-15 mins at start up got me to within 3m almost every time and seemed to maintain a Sat lock better as well. Battery life was around 25 hours (consistantly, and that was with rubbish Army batteries not posh ones).
In all, what a cracking bit of kit. No frills just a grid, altitude, bearing and a few other niceties on a unit that's gotten me out of the poo on a couple of occasions already. Go on, buy it. I'm glad I did!
Safely back from Exmoor, 23 Sep 2008
I have just returned from Exmoor where I used my Garmin for the first time. I used it in conjunction with Memory Map software - allowing me to create OS Explorer 1:25000 scale mapping routes which I then downloaded to the Garmin as listed waypoints (routes). I did try using it manually - typing in given waypoints from guide books but this is a tad time consuming and tedious and doesn't help battery life. Although the digital mapping is easier to use, it does come at a price (Dartmoor/Exmoor £80-00), but I was so impressed I purchased the Lake District too.
However used, manually or with software, one thing's for sure - it's a great asset; used with a map, you can't go wrong - or if you do it will show you!
The Garmin really showed its potential in wooded areas where it coped brilliantly under thick canopy and especially where footpaths became indistinct and hard to follow.
My only gripe (and a small one it is too) with the Garmin is that to automatically follow a route (being guided from waypoint to waypoint) you do need to be at waypoint 1 to start. This is slightly annoying when you park up near the start of your route and you find that your first waypoint is down the hill from the car park and the second waypoint is up the hill from the car park. You must go down hill to waypoint 1 first to activate the route before you can come back up the hill to waypoint 2 and automatically continue. Other than that, this is a great bit of kit - highly reccomended.
Fantastic, 31 Jul 2008
A great basic GPS unit, the main feature is the fact its so good at picking up satellites. This new H version is more sensative than the older model. Far better than my old Garmin Forerunner 101. I can even get a fix indoors.
High build quality, unit feels solid and chunky in the hand. An intuitive menu system, adding waypoints and routes is easy. The screen is clear and easy to read.
Do not expect to be able to upload maps etc. This GPS is a basic unit perfect for a location fix and using out hikes and monitoring distance traveled and average speed etc.
Battery life is excellent, 17 hours on good quality alkalines. I shall try lithiums and see what the difference is.
To sum up, a great value basic GPS that suits my requirements perfectly.
Good for starting with GPS, 27 Jun 2008
After a short period sorting out how the Etrex H works, I look forward to using it regularly on holidays. It is quite slow to do this but by editing (Mark) waypoints you can input the exact map co-ordinates, Latitude and Longitude, found from Google Earth and so mark and find hotels, railway stations, restaurants etc with confidence. While on holiday, mark your position with a waypoint and then wander around foreign parts knowing that you cannot get lost - simply use Goto the waypoint and use the direction arrow to find your way back, knowing how long it will take you. There is no need to buy any more leads or expensive mapping software unless you really want to. The GPS didn't seem to work on TGV trains but on the English ones you can see how fast the train is going, although the compass arrow gets a bit confused when you are travelling in a seat going backwards!
Delighted with it!!, 18 Oct 2008
I don't normally do reviews of products I've bought on t'Internet, but felt compelled to do so on this occasion, because I had slight reservations owing to some of the slightly discouraging reviews, especially the piece from someone about it being yank-centric. Have no fear though friends, this is an excellent bit of kit. I fully support the comments of the other 5* ratings - it's just hoofing! Switches from mode to mode at the touch of a button, and enables you to research the word/subject you're working on and retains it for each different mode. Easy to use as well - I haven't needed to consult the instructions yet...OK, I'm a bloke, so I shouldn't need to, but it is so straight forward, anyone could use it. It's so diverse and comprehensive too; I wonder whether I'll ever use it to its full capacity. I was going to ask for a hard copy Thesaurus and Crossword Solver for Christmas - I'll have to think of something else now. I would recommend this item to anyone, whether using it for crosswords, reference or amusement - It's just great. By the way, thanks to KK Electronics; fast delivery and best price. Hoofing!
bit of a con, 10 Sep 2008
I purchased this because it was called Britannica concise encylopedia and assumed the references would be more of a english /european nature but I was mislead it has more references towards US history their sportsman,filmstars etc and was very dissapointed,The ER8000 is made for the american market so beware
best one out there, 02 Aug 2008
My partner spent a lot of time looking at the spec of this and other similar products before buying this one for me a year or so ago. I am an avid crossword solver and have found this to be the best route to cheating yet. I am also a primary teacher, and allow the children to use it when they are writing. They find it easy to use and regard it as a special treat! A colleague of mine became interested in buying one when I solved a dispute about the meaning of a word within seconds. She went out and bought the Sharp equivalent, which has proved to be not nearly as efficient and she regrets the decision.
ER 8000, 30 Dec 2007
I found this to be an excellent bit of kit. Being able to jump from one function to another is a very useful feature and the content seems very thorough. The learn function, allowing you to store words, has proved to be very useful as has the solve function which has been great for helping with all sorts of word puzzles. The product is a convenient size and feels and handles very well. The screen is a good size but my only qualm is I would like the screen to have better visibility. You can vary the contrast and the size of the font, which is useful, but a light (of sorts) would be a real bonus. Nevertheless overall I have been very impressed.
Bigger is Better, 09 Nov 2004
I purchased this from Amazon for my wife for Christmas, so cannot say I have actually used it. What I would like to say is that the larger screen, the size of the keys and the layout of the keys, makes this a far superior product to the pocket example, that I do own myself. The size of the product is still a handy size, but even though it is not a great deal larger than the pocket size it is much easier to operate, particulary for those people with larger hands, or perhaps slight difficulties with stiffness in their hands. The information the dictionary provides is as good as anything on the market.
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Product Description
This CLASSIC Case is custom designed to fit the exact specifications of your Acer Aspire One. The Acer Aspire One CLASSIC Case is easy on the wallet (not to mention the cows) and provides the same stylish protection as that of a leather case.
Customer Reviews
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System With European Mapping, 06 Nov 2008
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place with this. Overall I am pretty pleased with it. But sometimes it can't make a distinction between 'turn left' and 'keep left'. For example, on a jagged bend it will tell you to 'turn right', even though you are following the same road. And instead of 'turn left' onto a minor road it will tell you to 'keep left.' And sporadically tries to send you the wrong way up one way systems! But functional overall, as long as you acknowledge it doesn't know all there is to know.
The plus points:
Easy to use. Good value - compared to other UK & Europe options very reasonably priced. Easy navigation - on screen details is good and voice commands clear. Great built in info.
I'm pretty sure that as we use it more, we'll get used to it, but for something you can pick up out of the box, plug in, and use, pay the extra and get a Tom Tom. Or save your money and use streetmap.
Disappointing, 06 Nov 2008
Used it twice on long journeys and let down both times. Once it was over a quarter of a mile out on the address and the second time it navigated me on to a minor road and then kept saying recalculating before freezing. People I know with a tomtom seem to have less trouble. On shorter journeys it has been more accurate. This is my first sat nav and I am not impressed.
A quick comparison with TomTom, 05 Nov 2008
Firstly let me say that at the price Amazon are charging it's hard to fault the product. If you need Europe mapping I would buy now before the product is discontinued, which is imminent.
Now a quick comparison with a TomTom One, also owned by me. It's basically swings and roundabouts. The ideal product would be a combination of the two.
Pros for the TomTom One:
a) Graphics with a wow factor. The TomTom looks terrific with 'floaty' 3D graphics and totally wowed me when I first saw it. The Garmin 250 looks fine, but to be fair isn't as good.
b) The TomTom is more flexible and has more menus. Try calculating a route when you have no satellite signal because you are at home. I'm in Sheffield but let's assume I'm in Liverpool and want to go to Derby. Both sat navs can do it, but the TomTom is easier.
c) TomTom appears to update slightly faster when going round a roundabout, but this is a bit subjective. Both products could do a bit better!
Pros for the Garmin 250:
a) It's more solid and the windscreen mount is a lot more solid. Beautifully made.
b) Route generation seems to be better. On a 50 mile trip through the countryside that I have done many times over the years and have formed my own favourite route, the TomTom initially wants to use a difficult route, whereas the Garmin unbelievably used my exact favourite route. Lots of points for that.
c) The Garmin hasn't needed a reset yet. Another big issue with TomToms.
So which is best? I don't know. I wish I could combine the good features of both products. If you have never owned a sat nav before you will find either product totally awesome. Paper maps are useless by comparison. Both the Garmin and the TomTom will get you to your destination within just a few feet and are a joy to use. This particular Garmin is about to go obsolete so is cheap and is therefore a terrific buy. You should be offered 2009 maps when you register it, but be warned you are looking at a 2.5GB download. The whole installation process will take an evening, but is well thought out and reliable. Unfortunately the mapping world moves slowly, so even 2009 maps will not feature all new roads on new estates - I have tested this with a specific road. That comment applies to all sat navs.
In summary I would give both Garmin and TomTom 5 stars because the products are so much fun to use. I just wish they would each sort out their own shortcomings.
Great Sat Nav, 05 Nov 2008
After reading mostly 5 star and a few 2 star reviews I thought risk it. I'm glad I did. I agree the start up time is a little long, but so what, it isn't that bad. On it's first test I was deliberately ignoring it to see how quick it would re-route me, and it is pretty quick to be honest. Slightly confusing instructions where a two left turns were close together, but moving map clearly shows the route required. Tried to put in a friends post code and it found the next street over - a bit annoying but when entering the full address there was no problem. I like the fact you can also enter in map co-ordinates. I do a lot of MTB and very often the places I go don't have a street and number, so this is a great feature. Then there's the price coupled with full western Europe mapping. Buy one.
Essential in Europe, 05 Nov 2008
I have owned and used this for a while now, much better than my old Sat Nav. If you drive in Europe its a must! Can't fault it. I use it every month in Europe, it saves a lot of stress!!
Garmin Leather Case for Nuvi Widescreen, 15 Nov 2008
What can I say but simply the best item I have brought on on Amazon this year! ok I am a bit of an Amazon virgin, I have only brought six items off Amazon altogether.But, I am extremely fussy about anything I buy and believe me this case smells just like a new leather coat, fits my Garmin Nuvi 250W like a dream and is just quality all the way. If you need a leather case then don't waste your time looking else where!
305 A Winner, 16 Nov 2008
Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)Took my new toy for Its first run today did not lose the signal even in a deep wood covered valley .It does every thing I wanted it to Plus a lot more .
useful tool, 08 Nov 2008
I purchased one for my brother who was impressed with my Garmin Forerunner 301. The unit is nicer to wear, though with a smaller screen size and acquires and retains the signal better than the Forerunner 301. The Garmin supplied software works okay, but as others have said you're better off using Sporttracks which has more features. Although the updated Garmin software exports to Google Earth, it isn't done in a tidy way, and Garmin software still has poor mapping for the UK, and both France and Australia where I've used it. Again, as others have pointed out, only the latest versions of Memory Map will work with it, even a previous build of version 5 with Garmin USB support needed to be updated. This could be costly if you've invested a lot in maps for previous versions of memory map.
I don't like the plastic strap. Although it's thick, it's of a type that I've had on watches before that have always broken after a couple of years. I recommend getting a Forerunner 301 replacement strap and fitting that instead.
The battery life is less than the 301, but only marginally. It's not enough for a long-distance walk or run over an entire weekend or longer.
Great little device!!, 06 Nov 2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of months ago and am loving it! Really great for motivation as it tells you distance, time, calories burnt etc. Can also set up an alarm that will go off if you're running too slow or your heart rate is too high. Brilliant!!! Feel lost going training without it now and would definitely recommend it. The only reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because I sometimes have problems uploading the data to my computer (but when I delete the courses, everything seems OK) so don't know if this is a problem with the device or me doing something wrong! All in all, a well worthwhile buy.
Fantastic - Can't Fault, 02 Nov 2008
I started running about six months ago. Because of persistent injury problems it's important that I can very accurately track my pace. My iPod with Nike+ is pretty inaccurate (even after calibration) and doesn't provide constant data output. I therefore purchased a Forerunner 101 as my first GPS device. Alongside this I wore a Polar heart rate monitor. With my iPod as well, I almost clanked as I ran!
I have just upgraded to the 305 and what an absolute delight.
Advantages over the 101:
Much faster GPS locating. I live in London and sometimes with the 101 obtaining a fix was slow. It's near instantaneous with the 305.
Integrated heart rate monitor. Bye-bye Polar. One less gadget on my arm. (Now, if only it could play music).
Customisable display. I could have one custom screen with the 101. I have three with this. The unit captures a vast array of data and this allows you to have exactly what you need whilst you are running.
Re-chargeable Battery. Cheerio AAAs of the 101. Plus, don't even have to use the AC adapter. The USB cable supplies power.
Mac Support. I'm a Mac user. The upload facilities and included software (a) work! and (b) are great.
In short, I am totally loving this device. Be aware however that:
(a) You really should take time to read the full manual to get the best of it--the quick start guide will get you going, the manual really lets you tailor the forerunner and understand its capabilities.
(b) It doesn't make your legs move faster or further :-(
Good but room for improvement, 01 Nov 2008
I've used the Forerunner for a couple of weeks now and am just about getting the hang of it. Once you've got used to it it is a superb training aid. However, to really get the most out of it you need to hook it up to a PC. The supplied software is OK but there is better (free) software available (have a look at SportTracks).
On the positive side the GPS is very good at maintaining a signal in woods, this is offset by the start up time which can only be described as slow. Switching on in exactly the same location as it was turned off 24 hours ago leads to a start up time of between 90 and 120 seconds, far longer than Garmin claim and slower than an ETrex GPS or a TomTom satnav. Furthermore, you can't use the device until its got a fix.
My only other gripe is the steep learning curve you have to go through to use it properly, and this isn't helped by the unintuitive menus. For example, the menu to set heart rate alarms on or off is not the same as the one where you set the levels for the heart rate alarm.
Although the unit records data automatically, it all ended up being recorded under the same date, regardless of what the day was when you were training. Nowhere in the documentation does it tell you that you have to press the reset button to stop this happening. That said, once you've figured it all out it works brilliantly and although there's no indication of how much memory space is left, the unit recoded a whole week's intensive training without filling up.
The heart rate belt is not as comfortable as Polar belts and Polar belts don't work with the Forerunner. The battery in the belt is user replaceable and the belts are coded.
Bottom line is its very good but keep the manual handy for the first week or so.
Indispensible accessory, 14 Oct 2008
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
I bought one of the original eTrex devices about five years ago but the current model (eTrex H)is a completely different animal. The appearance is identical to the original, but that is where the similarities end.
Garmin have done a great job of removing all the problems with the original eTrex. It's now very responsive and usually takes less than a minute to find satellites from when you press the power switch. Accuracy is usually well within 10 metres even in normal mode (ie without WAAS). The signal is retained under tree canopies though I have not yet tested it in deep forests. Battery life is fine for a day on the hills though the claimed 17 hours seems optimistic. I plan to switch to NiMH 2500mAh batteries, this might give me a longer range.
Given the modest price this superb product is now selling for, nobody should be without one.
Cracking Bit of Kit, 06 Oct 2008
A few mates in the Army had eTrex units and always spoke very highly of them (rugged, idiot proof, accurate) so decided I'd give it a go. Looked on Amazon and realised that the eTrex was being sold by someone else so with the P&P it came out more expensive than the eTrex H from Amaxon with free delivery. Bit of a no brainer! I ordered the eTrex H in a bit of a rush before I went gadding around the Transylvanian Alps. Unit arrived in 3 days (thanks Amazon!) and off I trotted.
The unit is extremely easy to figure out. I did the usual bloke thing and binned the instructions almost straight away and only referred to the quick start guide a few times which was ample.
The unit performed brilliantly and even coped with the extremes of altitude (up around 5000 feet) followed by sitting in a gorge surrounded by trees the next. Very accurate, I followed the advice on this page about leaving the unit for 10-15 mins after turning it on in plain sight of the sky whilst it sorted its life out and this seemed to work a treat. The time I didn' | | |