17. Garmin Nuvi 350

Like the Asus A696, the Garmin Nuvi 350 is a compact mobile GPS unit. It can even handle various forms of media for listening or display, including digital photos (jpg), music files (MP3 and more) and Audible Book files. Unlike the Asus 696, it’s not a PDA and can’t help you with e-mail, Web surfing or Mobile Office application access. Those drawbacks notwithstanding, this is still one heck of a cool mobile unit.

The GPS functionality is great, and the unit also plays music and audio books, and shows digital photos.

And of course, Garmin’s GPS capabilities are second to none. You get a huge collection of maps and directions information as part of the standard package with the unit, which features 2 GB of built-in Flash memory to handle this load. As delivered, however, there is still about 1 GB of memory space left over for your own files and information, and the unit does include an SD memory card slot that can accommodate up to 2 GB modules for extra, removable storage space.

The unit’s dimensions are 3.8" x 2.0" x 0.8" or about the size of a deck of playing cards and it weighs a mere 5.1 ounces. A 320x240 3.5" color touch LCD screen is the focus for the front panel, and the unit is bright enough to remain readable in direct sunlight. The only button on this unit is a power switch on its top edge; all other settings and controls use the touch screen. You might be wondering how you handle volume and brightness without buttons. Quickly pressing the power button brings up the volume and brightness configuration screen. Another quick press of the power button returns you to the screen you were on.

When attached to a PC through its USB port, the Nuvi 350 functions like a removable flash drive, which makes it easy to drag and drop files into its various folders for media and other information. The unit ships with a suction cup mount so you can attach it to your car’s windshield, or a disc designed to let you mount it on the dashboard if that’s your preference. There is even a 12-volt adapter for car use, and a USB cable for PC hookups, all of which fits into a compact carrying case. The Nuvi 350 battery may be recharged through the USB connection, or by plugging it into the 12-volt adapter while in your car.

Like the Asus A696, the Garmin Nuvi 350 also includes a SiRF Start III GPS chip, with its quick satellite acquisition and enhanced GPS signal reception in partially occluded areas. GPS functions are truly great, and include automatic routing, favorite location saver, detour functions that factor in wrong turns or missed directions, plus two and three dimensional map views. Text-to-speech functions enable it to read you street names so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road while you’re driving in tricky situations.

Garmin even offers an optional FM traffic receiver (for a hefty $200-plus for the device, and an annual $60 subscription fee) to pick up real-time traffic alerts. The units View Map, Where To and Travel Kit functions make it easy and fun to use. It also provides all kinds of trip information that lets you track distance traveled, travel time, maximum, current, average travel speeds and more.

To take full advantage of the Travel Kits, though, you must be prepared to purchase the $75 Language Guide SD card, after which you can translate words and phrases among nine languages (American and British English, Brazilian and standard Portuguese, Castilian and Latin American Spanish, French, German and Italian). There is a $160 Marco Polo Travel Guide SD card that offers information on tourist attractions, including hotels, shopping, restaurants and more. The company even offers electronic discount coupons you can use when visiting such places.

Other cool features include an MP3 player (a good set of headphones is highly recommended), a world clock, currency and units conversions and more. At prices from $370 to $450, this unit will cost you, but any student or educator who can benefit from such a device will remember receiving this gift with great pleasure for years to come. For more information on the Garmin Nuvi 350, please visit the vendor’s