SEREvince
Adventurer
We finally ordered the Nuvi 670 for our shop to augment our iQue. I put off ordering it due to the rapid changes and new pruducts within the Nuvi line up. (about 8 new Nuvi models in the past 6 months!)
The Nuvi 670 basically offers everything from the Nuvi line up except web browsing and comes preloaded with all North American and European maps which was one of the main deciding factors. The second being world wide voltage/plug in capability.
Initial thoughts, Day 1
NOTE: I have not yet registered the device or downloaded any required updates from Garmin.
Set up
Nice wide easy to vey screen and excellent touch screen! Much better than fumbling with buttons or worse the stylus of the iQue.
Very easy to set up and blinding fast satellite aquisition.
Easy bluetooth operation for hands free phone calls, sound quality is as expected from a speakerphone hands free device in a somewhat loud Tacoma. That is, not annoying but not great.
The windshield mount is very sturdy, I had a hard time removing it even after disengaging the suction mount.
I would say the user interface is perfect for novice user or someone who is looking for simplicity. Veterans GPS users or tech geeks might be disappointed by the lack of extraneaous crap to wade through when going from point A to point B. It's so simple it's almost a little anti climatic
Driving Impressions
On the road the built in speaker was more than adequate. I am not able to use the FM transmitter in Italy. No fault of Garmin, the airwaves are simple so jammed here that generally FM transmitters are useless.
The 3D map projection was extremely easy to use and very clear. Plus cool points for being able to pick a 4x4 truck icon and match vehicle color! (colors must be downloaded from Garmin, haven't done mine yet)
The voice prompts were really my only big complaint. The pronouciation of the Italian street names were just about worthless. And no it's not my Italian . Luckily the screen is very easy to read and the turn directions are given with plenty of advance warning. This is not a Nuvi complaint but a Garmin European software complaint. I don't know if this might not even help in some countries where it sounds like what I might butcher a name into. If that makes any sense?
The software does cover all of North America and darn near all of Europe down to the smallest village with no extra software to buy, load or any memory storage issues! Awsome!
Did I mention you can plug it in anywhere?! It comes with all adapters!
It does still have some of the same software quirks that I have found on all Garmin software. Going to my house there was a intersection that is a very slight right. You and I would say continue straight and be easily understood. The sofware says turn right, which means you would miss the turn and go an extra block out of the way.
So far so good.. I'll keep you posted
Ciao
Vince
EDIT
Day 4
I put two trips on it this weekend. One to a party nearby and another to IKEA about 1 hr 40 min away.
No problems or complaints so far. The screen is awsome everything is working as advertised straight out of the box.
I tried changing the voice so it pronouced the street names so I could understand them, but my Italian is not nearly good enough to understand some of the important phrases like "keep to the right on the ramp". I finally just settled for English with no TTS = Text to Speech. Now it just says right, left etc.
It would be awsome if Garmin added a selection of "English-Native TTS" so I could here the directions in English but street names in the native language. This would be especially helpfull if you are getting directions from a local! Oh and if they could use Kate Beckinsales voice I would take more trips just to hear the directions!
I need to dig a little deeper and see if I can select "avoid secondary roads" or something to that effect. It's taken me on a couple scenic routes.
I'd also like to see a pause navigation feature, so I can take side trips without it annoying me the whole time.
I also used it at night and liked the fact that the display changed to a black background. It was still extremely easy to read but so bright as to be a distraction. Very important as the Italians believe that the traffic laws are merely suggestions!
Ciao
Vince
The Nuvi 670 basically offers everything from the Nuvi line up except web browsing and comes preloaded with all North American and European maps which was one of the main deciding factors. The second being world wide voltage/plug in capability.
Initial thoughts, Day 1
NOTE: I have not yet registered the device or downloaded any required updates from Garmin.
Set up
Nice wide easy to vey screen and excellent touch screen! Much better than fumbling with buttons or worse the stylus of the iQue.
Very easy to set up and blinding fast satellite aquisition.
Easy bluetooth operation for hands free phone calls, sound quality is as expected from a speakerphone hands free device in a somewhat loud Tacoma. That is, not annoying but not great.
The windshield mount is very sturdy, I had a hard time removing it even after disengaging the suction mount.
I would say the user interface is perfect for novice user or someone who is looking for simplicity. Veterans GPS users or tech geeks might be disappointed by the lack of extraneaous crap to wade through when going from point A to point B. It's so simple it's almost a little anti climatic
Driving Impressions
On the road the built in speaker was more than adequate. I am not able to use the FM transmitter in Italy. No fault of Garmin, the airwaves are simple so jammed here that generally FM transmitters are useless.
The 3D map projection was extremely easy to use and very clear. Plus cool points for being able to pick a 4x4 truck icon and match vehicle color! (colors must be downloaded from Garmin, haven't done mine yet)
The voice prompts were really my only big complaint. The pronouciation of the Italian street names were just about worthless. And no it's not my Italian
. Luckily the screen is very easy to read and the turn directions are given with plenty of advance warning. This is not a Nuvi complaint but a Garmin European software complaint. I don't know if this might not even help in some countries where it sounds like what I might butcher a name into. If that makes any sense?The software does cover all of North America and darn near all of Europe down to the smallest village with no extra software to buy, load or any memory storage issues! Awsome!
Did I mention you can plug it in anywhere?! It comes with all adapters!
It does still have some of the same software quirks that I have found on all Garmin software. Going to my house there was a intersection that is a very slight right. You and I would say continue straight and be easily understood. The sofware says turn right, which means you would miss the turn and go an extra block out of the way.
So far so good.. I'll keep you posted
Ciao
Vince
EDIT
Day 4
I put two trips on it this weekend. One to a party nearby and another to IKEA about 1 hr 40 min away.
No problems or complaints so far. The screen is awsome everything is working as advertised straight out of the box.
I tried changing the voice so it pronouced the street names so I could understand them, but my Italian is not nearly good enough to understand some of the important phrases like "keep to the right on the ramp". I finally just settled for English with no TTS = Text to Speech. Now it just says right, left etc.
It would be awsome if Garmin added a selection of "English-Native TTS" so I could here the directions in English but street names in the native language. This would be especially helpfull if you are getting directions from a local! Oh and if they could use Kate Beckinsales voice I would take more trips just to hear the directions!
I need to dig a little deeper and see if I can select "avoid secondary roads" or something to that effect. It's taken me on a couple scenic routes.
I'd also like to see a pause navigation feature, so I can take side trips without it annoying me the whole time.
I also used it at night and liked the fact that the display changed to a black background. It was still extremely easy to read but so bright as to be a distraction. Very important as the Italians believe that the traffic laws are merely suggestions!
Ciao
Vince
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