Better than Nuvi 350?

Hello,

Complete newbie here and about to receive as a gift via Amazon a Nuvi 350
and discovered it appears to be an older model.

I can refuse the shipment and get the $200 credit from Amazon and so I would
not mind throwing in another $100 or so if I can get features. I do not want
last years model with old maps and old features if there is something newer
for a few bucks more.

Suggestions? I like the "big" screen but I want to slip it into a pocket so
do not want too large.

Do none of these have card readers so I can view photos, etc?

Thanks!

"just bob" wrote


I have a 350 and I'd guess it works just as well, as a navigator, as any of
the newer models. (You're buying one to use as a navigator, right?) If you
buy one now you get the latest maps (2009), so that's not an issue. I did a
lot of research of the other Garmin models and found the 350 to be my best
choice for my money. It has a high-sensitivity receiver that works great,
and gives better battery life than whatever other similarly priced model I
was considering. It comes with a case and ac charger, too, unlike some
others. Its only "disadvantage" is you have to flip open the antenna to make
it work, and it doesn't have the wide screen you desire. I think you'll find
the wide screen is no advantage for navigating unless you're using it to
view photos. But you're buying a navigator to use as a.... navigator, right?
;-)

Hi, I did a quick review of the features and here is what the 350 will be
missing I woudl ike to have, though it seems at a minimum I need the 760:

Auto sort multiple destinations:Yes
Routes: 10
FM transmitter: Yes

Just to get these features it $200 more? Sure it includes bigger screen and
a couple other thing (I don't care about).

Maybe I should be looking at a differnet manufacturer. Nearly $400 for a 760
just to have some routing features is too much.

"just bob" wrote


It never fails - it makes choosing for features a difficult process. I
*think* the 350 offers an FM transmitter as an accessory. (I don't want it
so I never investigated it.) The multiple destinations is a nice feature
that others have complained is often lacking in Garmins. But Garmin has had
a reputation of offering better navigators than the other manufacturers. At
least that's what the Garmin proponents say. ;-) (None are perfect.)

I disagree that the 350 screen is a bit small. Mine's plenty big and shows
everything I need to see. It's apparently a matter of taste and comfort. You
can of course buy whatever you like; I'm just trying to let you know that
the 350 may do the job for you and not cost you any more.

Hi Howard,

Yes, features, features and more features.

I went over to Best Buy and the 350 is not as small as I had feared, for me,
but my wife does have a bit more trouble seeing small things. So the 350
size is borderline.

As for features I'm interested to see what Nextar, Magellan and TomTom can
do, even though, like you said, most people believe Garmin is the best.