Garmin Nüvi 500 Does Double Navigation Duty

By Nino Marchetti, published on July 23, 2008 at 5:30 AM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , | Themes: Business
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Los Angeles (CA) - Do you own multiple GPS systems, depending upon whether you need road maps or topographic details at any given moment? Garmin’s got a new GPS unit you’ll want to check out if you want to cut that GPS clutter down - the Garmin nüvi 500.

The Garmin nüvi 500, priced at around $500, is reportedly a rugged GPS unit which is equally comfortable on the trail or in your car. It functions as a multi-mode device, flipping between outdoors or driving modes by touching a "usage mode indicator" located at the top of the 3.5" display’s home screen. This marks perhaps the most unique feature of this product.

The nüvi 500 comes preloaded, according to Garmin, with detailed street and topographic mapping for the lower 48 U.S. states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. You can navigate standard ways, or make use of the GPS unit’s Garmin Connect Photos feature to choose from geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community to provide photo navigation by land or water.

In what may be an added bonus, the 500 also "comes preloaded with the Historic Route 66 map guide developed by MAD MAPS. This route spans from Chicago to Los Angeles, while highlighting specific points of interest associated with Route 66 along the way." I suppose if I have time to kill I might do that someday.

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Hitokage 07/23/2008 4:53 AM
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Hitokage

That is downright extortion for the price. I can buy the Cowon Q5W with the included GPS cradle for $500 from JetMall. Not only do I get a 5" GPS with text-to-speech, but also, a very versatile PMP, with Windows CE 5.0 Professional...

GPSs with tiny screens are damn near impossible to fiddle with.

gm0n3y 07/23/2008 8:36 AM
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gm0n3y

I would consider this, but only because I am an avid hiker and the topographical feature is vital. That being said, I'd also consider just buying 2 separate devices since I'd never really need both at the same time.

TrainRekS 07/23/2008 11:10 AM
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TrainRekS

hmm is its batterylife was as good as a handheld , then it would be worth it.

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