Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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Model Of Item : Nuvi 260
Product Brand : Garmin
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Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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GARMIN NUVI 260 GPS 3.5" SCREEN.../ Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator / find used vehicleGarmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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Garmin's nüvi 260 combines the thinprofile and attractive price point of other nüvi 200-series GPS with directions in real street names. As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of a high-sensitivity integrated receiver, a slim, pocket-sized navigator with a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that lets you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface. The nüvi 260 comes preloaded with maps for U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and features an ultra-slim design. |
The text-to-speech feature of the nüvi 260 means that device automatically calls out street names (saying "turn right on Main Street" instead of "turn right in 200 feet."). This feature lets drivers keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic and tricky roadways.
Smart, Powerful Design
The nüvi 260W is built with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 6.6 ounces. The nüvi display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.
Garmin Lock
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location
Navigate with Ease
The nüvi 260 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, the nüvi 260 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.
Easy To Use Interface
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.
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Beyond Navigation
Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 260 features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras. |  Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. |  nüvi 260W accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. |
Trick Your GPS Ride
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option | Like all nüvis, the 260 supports configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. |
What's in the Box
nüvi 260, preloaded City Navigator NT for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Canada, vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and set up and go guide.
Note: Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Device | Screen Size inches (W x H) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi-Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | ||
Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | |||||||||
| nüvi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1 |  | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 205w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 255w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 265T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 265WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 275T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 285WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 465T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 755T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 855 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 885T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 1200 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1260T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1300 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1350 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1350T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1370T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1390T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1490T | 4.4 x 2.5 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1690 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
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Customer Review :
This is a light and excellent unit for GPS : Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
UPDATE: This review is now over one-year old, so a couple of my main gripes (map update policy) have been fixed. Plus, when one considers the price of the unit today (01/25/09), I consider it one of the better bangs-for-the-buck units around. If I were rating it today, it would get a marginal 4 stars (instead of the marginal 3 stars).
Things that were fixed:
1. Garmin now has a 60-day map policy instead of a 0-day map policy,
2. Garmin has now implemented quarterly updates for as long as you own your unit for a one-time charge,
3. It seems Garmin is giving the 2x0 series a face-lift by incorporating various features from their new 2x5 series,
4. I've now replaced this unit for a 765t, but can honestly say that my new unit doesn't route any better than my 260.
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Like many, I've done a bit of research, only to find I'm just as confused as ever, so I decided to go basic. This is my third GPS (two I bought as gifts, and finally, and just recently, one for myself), and all were Garmin units. Why? Ignorance and word-of-mouth, but Garmin units do have an easy interface, and the company has pretty good customer support and a solid reputation. So I must be a happy camper, right? Not really. I ended up liking the features on the Magellan units quite a bit better (here is a partial list):
1. QuickSpell (darkens/disables unneeded keys as you type -- a real time saver).
2. Automatic maneuver list (pops on screen when satellite signal is lost).
3. AAA guide book (roadside assistance for AAA members) -- a great feature exclusive to Magellan.
4. Road exclusion/avoidance (so basic, I'm surprised Garmin refuses to adopt it (or put it back in). They had this in some older models, no?
5. Exit POI (very handy, it can show services for each upcoming highway exit).
6. Multiple-routing capability (self-explanatory).
7. A detour function whose mileage is user-specified to limit the length of detour.
Unfortunately, Magellan's customer support is (and I quote from GPS magazine): "Horrible, atrocious customer support." Atrocious? Wow. But atrocious support or not, the 260 does not have those features. And there are a few other items I question:
1. No physical volume control like on the c300 series (yes, most are going the software route, that doesn't make it better), and it has a "tinny" sounding speaker, but certainly loud enough -- cost cutting (you'll quickly see a pattern here).
2. ABC keyboard (tedious, but perhaps qwerty wouldn't fit well on this screen -- too bad Garmin can't come up with a "QuickSpell" equivalent.
3. No AC power adapter -- cost cutting.
4. No USB cable -- cost cutting.
5. No carrying case ... talk about cheap -- cost cutting.
6. This is a manual? Go to gpsmagazine.com if you really want to see how this thing works -- read their comprehensive, but too pro-Garmin reviews.
7. Removed the ability to plug power into the mount (a big Garmin plus suddenly gone!) -- cost cutting (I'm pretty angry about this one -- see #8).
8. Power plugs into the back on the left (driver's side) of the Nüvi. Awkward (unless you live in England) and makes it more difficult to hide or route the cable.
9. Removed the ability to add an external antenna -- not good! -- cost cutting.
10. Draconian update policies (and updates may be of marginal value) -- price gouging at its finest. If you buy a Garmin today and they release an update tomorrow, you pay full price. More than one Garmin unit? You pay full price for each one you own -- no discount -- and thank you for shopping Garmin...
11. No multiple-routing capability and only one "via" point -- very limiting.
12. Weak detour function - can't input miles around detour -- limiting.
13. No road exclusion -- very basic and critical feature ridiculously MIA. Not even Garmin's top unit gives you this, while everyone else does. Hard to believe.
14. Scrolling through the POI can get tedious (listed nearest POI first, which makes sense, but I also wish you could search alphabetically with a keystroke).
15. Box came shipped with the Nüvi rattling around inside and not secured. I've heard this same story many times, so it didn't surprise me. Luckily, my Nüvi was undamaged, but it's an example of more ridiculous cost-cutting by Garmin. They can't even spend the money necessary to package their products properly.
16. It's difficult to make a proper decision when you don't know what receiving technology the 200 series is using. Is it SiRF Star III, Bravo or MediaTek (MTK)? All Garmin says is "high-sensitivity receiver". Why the mystery? After much digging, I found that my unit came with MTK (what's in your wallet ... er ... Nüvi? -- it could be any one of the three).
17. A minor nit is that this unit doesn't allow you to get any satellite information detail (other than signal strength). Garmin took that ability away on the 260.
With all that said, I "am" reviewing a Garmin unit. That means I bought the Nüvi 260 over the others, even when I knew many (but not all) of the negatives going in. And there are things I actually do like about my Nüvi (in case you were wondering):
1. Supports Macs (barely -- must have OS 10.4 or higher).
2. Has a nice, rich display, good map layout, fairly bright (although it washes out quickly when tipping it up or down, but good viewing side to side), and a very nice, well-implemented night (dimming) feature on ALL menus (most manufacturers dim their units only at the map level). But it's time-implemented and not light-sensitive.
3. Ease of use -- a Garmin trademark. Logical, simple, easy to setup and execute (but really not all that much better than Magellan -- they are very similar in this aspect). If you want a lot of customization, you need a more expensive unit, or go to TomTom (amazing amount of customization, but obviously adds complexity). Because the 260 doesn't really give you a lot of adjustment choices, one can go through all the options and know everything about this unit in record time.
4. Generally good routing, but not the best according to GPS magazine -- the LG790 from ... who else? ... LG, is said to be superior to all they have tested.
5. Better customer support than the top two competitors (that may not be saying much -- Magellan's support is "atrocious" and TomTom's is very suspect). Still, Garmin is highly rated by many.
6. Want to stop a route? The stop function appears on the main map while driving to your destination (along with a detour function). Doesn't sound like much, and it isn't, but hey, it's right at your finger tips (you have to dig a bit on other units).
7. While Garmin changed chips from the highly regarded SiRF mid-stream to Bravo and MTK, this is not necessarily a bad thing. My unit picks up the satellite signals quickly and stays locked quite well. If you hear opposing statements, that could mean the chip they have is different from mine.
8. The TTS function, while it does butcher some names, is considered one of the better TTS programs in the industry (less mechanical sounding and more natural). This is one of the big reasons I opted for the 260 and I think "Jill" sounds fine (but I may think differently over time).
9. Tapping the car icon gives you your current location (which can be saved in your favorites folder). Not as complete as the 700 series, "Where am I? / Where did I park?" function, but it's still a nice feature to have.
There are a couple of features I wish the 260 had (not including those I already mentioned):
1. TomTom's Mapshare or something similar. It allows users to correct data on maps and POIs that others can download, and is a step in the right direction (but has a ways to go).
2. The ability to edit points of interest -- does anyone do this successfully (and easily), or is this just a pipe dream? Thank goodness we can save to favorites.
Simply put, there is no such animal as a "best" GPS receiver. They all are full of compromises, especially within Garmin's own ever-growing family. Even with all my moaning and groaning, I actually consider the Nüvi 260 to be a nice little unit (the sum being greater than its parts), and it's particularly nice for the first-time buyer. If it wasn't, I probably would have closed my eyes, said a prayer, and bought the Magellan. While it doesn't have the bells and whistles, the 260 does what it is suppose to do and does it very well. No muss. No fuss. At least most of the time.
So how do I rate it? Between 1 and 10, I give the Nüvi 260 a very marginal 6 (or barely a 3-star rating ... meaning just above average). Had Garmin not cheapened their mount on this series (nice mount, just not a powered one), not gone on a greedy cost-cutting frenzy (no external antenna capability leaves the consumer vulnerable), and if they had added just a couple of important (and basic) features and left out the "fluff", I would have gladly given the 260 a solid 8 (or a 4-star rating). But until Garmin changes their terrible update policies, I don't think I could ever give any Garmin product a 5-star rating. Greed doesn't deserve a star added to it, no matter how good their customer support (or their products) may be.
Sorry for the length, but if you're still here, I've got something to say about mounting hardware that may interest you. Everyone knows that windshield mounts are illegal in California and Minnesota, and most use a dash mount (usually a bean-bag type -- Semsons has a nice one) or a mount from ProClip (custom to each car and each GPS -- it's nice, but can cost over $60). Well, I found another (thanks to someone at GPS Passion). Handstands makes a small, flat jelly pad that actually works well (I was highly skeptical). It wasn't created (or promoted) as a mounting surface for a GPS. It was created to keep items on your dash without them being flung about (glasses, ipods, cell phones, etc.). Just clean your dash, place the pad where you want it (it grips your dash and won't slide), dampen the suction cup, push the mount onto the pad, flip the lever, and you're set to go. A totally unobtrusive and very inexpensive ($4-$7) alternative, and easy to remove (leaves no residue). For those interested, I bought mine here on Amazon.
Important note: I just found out that Handsprings has changed their design on the sticky jelly pad. It no longer can hold any GPS unit. Matter-of-fact, it's not nearly as sticky as the original and they changed the top surface design to a swirl pattern (use to have very tiny suction cups, which was critical for holding the Nuvi). This is really a shame because it was a very handy mounting surface. I use to have to peel it off my dash, now it just slides off (perhaps I can find an older "original" at a car wash...)
