nüvi 295W offers a new take on an old favorite with Wi-Fi® connectivity, a 3 MP camera with auto-focus, dual orientation capability and much more.
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Dual-orientation with 1-touch navigation |
Get Connected
Wi-Fi connectivity on the nuvi 295W provides a full desktop web experience with an HTML browser so you can surf the web whenever and wherever you choose. Check your e-mail, including Hotmail, G-mail, AOL mail, POP3 and IMAP, and view email attachments in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and JPG. You can also search an abundance of customer-rated points of interest (POIs), such as restaurants, hotels and more, using Google™ Local Search.
Get Going
With a single tap on the dual-oriented screen, you can avoid writing down addresses and go straight to your destination. nüvi 295W offers 1-touch navigation from your e-mail, address book (with up to 5,000 contacts) and local search results. Additionally, the unique 3 MP camera geotags pictures so you can create routes to them. You can also send the picture to a friend to route to or upload to the web to auto-locate on a map.
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The slim, sleek design is
ultra-portable
| Get Turn-by-Turn Directions
With an intuitive interface that greets you with simple, familiar icons and a scrollable menu, nüvi 295W is the perfect travel companion for getting around town. With a quick tap on an icon or flick of the menu, you can easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator® NT street maps for the U.S. and Canada with nearly 6 million points of interest (POIs) such as stores, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, gas stations, ATMs and more, and speed limits for most major roads. cityXplorer maps are also available for your nüvi 295W. cityXplorer™ maps provide the latest detailed roads and points of interest for metropolitan areas.
Go Beyond Navigation
nüvi 295W isn't just for navigation. A quick tap provides access to the lengthy feature set, including a calculator, stop watch, calendar, check lists and more. Also included are travel tools such as a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter and current and 5-day weather forecasts. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect™ Photos and navigate to them. Garmin Locate™ automatically marks your position when you remove nüvi from your car so you'll never forget where you parked again, and nüvi 295W is compatible with the free Garmin Garage where you can download custom voices and vehicles. Enhance your travel experience with optional microSD™ cards.
Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Amazon.com is happy to offer this item in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging, a recyclable, easy-to-open alternative to traditional packaging. Products in Frustration-Free Packaging are exactly the same--we've just streamlined the packaging. A Frustration-Free Package comes without wire ties, hard plastic "clamshell" casings, and plastic bindings. It's designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging. This item ships in its own box, without the need for an additional shipping box. Learn more about Frustration-Free Packaging.
What's in the Box
nüvi 295W, preloaded City Navigator® NT for North America, vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, USB cable, dashboard disc, and quick start manual
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Certified Frustration-Free Packaging | 
Certified Frustration-Free Packaging | 
Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
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 Excellent Little Device! |
| Review Date: June 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Harkius, Laramie, WY |
Overview:
The GPS is really good. It connects fast, redirects nimbly, and is Garmin, so it is reliable. The battery life seems really good, and the other apps are also very nice to have. It plays music, checks your email, and has a calendar. Basically, it is akin to a smart phone without the phone aspect (and without data charges!). If this sounds like something that you might be intrigued by, I suggest you check one of these out. I very much enjoy mine.
Detailed Review:
I have really enjoyed having this little guy around. My previous experience with GPS was a laptop purchased from Dell with a GPS card and CoPilot 11 software. As such, my expectations were pretty low. That system takes five minutes outside of any enclosure to find a signal, and loses it if you sit in your car (it's perfect if you want to carry around your laptop on foot, open, and get directions to a coffeeshop that you could REMEMBER the way to).
As a comparison, this Garmin Nuvi is awesomely excellent. This thing usually finds satellites in less than a minute, it has good playback quality for sounds (I can hear it over my car radio), the screen is big enough to be functional, but no so large that it is distracting, and it redirects in less than a minute as well. The GPS system is fantastic.
I have had some difficulties in getting it to check my email using the WiFi capabilities, but I think that is user error, so don't be too worried. The receiver for WiFi seems a bit less powerful than what is in my non-GPS laptop, but that reciever is pretty good, so I expect that this will work well in any urban areas. You should be able to (if you set it up right), get your email at the Starbucks while waiting for your Latte Mocha Frappacino Blast (or whatever).
The fact that it can display Microsoft documents and PDFs natively is particularly nice, along with the calendar functions, as well. I think that if you want to avoid the data charges of a smart phone, this is probably the best thing that you could buy for yourself.
The battery life is pretty good. I ran mine for at least eight hours without a recharge, which is nice if you have a long drive ahead of you. The dash mounter and the car adapter are nice touches for those extended trips, although an included AC adapter would have been a useful as well. In the box, you can charge via vehicle or PC.
I am not sure if the transmissions are encrypted from this device's web browser or not, so I would have a little precaution about what passwords you enter into it. Nevertheless, it is darned useful.
Conclusions:
If you are an early adopter, or a tech junkie, this may be the upgrade or update you are looking for. If you are a technopeasant, like me, this is a nice, intuitive device that can get you where you are going with a minimum of trouble, and a good battery life. Someone who understands technology can set up the Internet and email for you on here and then you can just have fun.
Harkius |
Good for automobile navigation and Geocaching...
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| Review Date: June 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: T. Bux, Barnesville, PA United States |
The Garmin Nuvi 295W is a mid-range navigator with built-in wireless. It features the well-known and reliable Garmin navigation with the added benefit of a slightly updated UI. The icons for navigation within the UI are easier to see and access and are accessed through a touch screen scroll screen on the main screen.
Fit/finish
The unit feels very sturdy in the hand. It's solid feel makes it feel like a useful instrument instead of a toy that many other units feel like. The touch screen has a slightly matted appearance that resists smudges and scratches and glare. When in the cradle there is a on/off/sleep button on the side and the volume buttons are on the top.
Navigation
Navigation is typical of Garmin GPS units. The default setting is driving mode, in which you can choose different route settings such as faster, more direct, avoiding tools, etc. If you know where you are going it may send you a way that you question, but it will defiantly get you there. If you are going someplace you've never been, you can be rest assured that it will get you there. If you need to deviate from the route it suggests the units improved OS offers lightening fast recalculations. Often times the recalculation will take under 5 seconds.
You can enter waypoints or places to go either from the built-in Google search (for places of interest), restaurants, gas stations, police, hospitals, and other places along your route. You can also enter an address and save that as a favorite and give it a name of your choosing.
You can also choose a pedestrian mode. You go to pedestrian mode when you remove the unit from the cradle.
This is useful for geocaching. It also works well with the myGarmin portion of their website where you can download additions, including up to five geocaches in your area at a time.
In either mode you can also enter GPS coordinates. If in pedestrian mode it will show you how to walk to that coordinate. If it is farther away it will switch to driving mode, drive you to a point near the GPS coordinates and then allow you to walk.
Wifi
The unit has built in WiFi. Setup is quick and easy, though the range is somewhat less than that of say what a laptop computer would be able to pick up, but the signal is strong and reliable. The browser is typical of small units like this and can be improved upon. The e-mail application is great and adding a gmail account is quick and painless because the unit already knows the server settings. Just enter your address and password and you are checking your e-mail.
The built-in Google Search also looks for places of interest near you or your route and you can add that to your favorites or waypoints and be off.
Extras
With all Garmins you can go to myGarmin from their website. You can download customizable maps, geocaches, voices, and new vehicles. Connecting is a snap (hint, choose USB Drive Mode) via the included USB cable which also acts as a charger. You can download map updates, software updates, and lots of fun tools.
Final Verdit
As someone who has only used an older GPS unit, I was impressed the this units functionality, build quality, and interface. As with any GPS there are some limitations. These are overshadowed, however, by the extras on this unit and its lightning fast response, interface, and navigation.
A fun tool for any driver, or any geocacher.
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So nice I wonder how I lived without one!
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| Review Date: June 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Kristine Hale, Utah |
WARNING! I am not technologically advanced and I am not normally a GPS user. There are already some fantastic reviews from people that know what they are talking about on this product, so if you are an advanced user, check those out first.
I have never used GPS - I live in a city that is built on a grid system and I have lived here for 30 years, so I have never really had a need. When I travel I use the Google Maps on my Blackberry Pearl and now my iPhone. GPS has long seemed like one of those lazy gadgets that are nice to have but totally not essential.
Boy was I wrong.
I took my new Garmin 295W out for a spin the day I got it and I was instantly hooked. The touch screen is crisp and super responsive. The directions have been accurate every single time. The Garmin fit nicely in its holder and was easy to use while driving with both touch and voice. The screen was a little dim but as long as the sun wasn't shining into my car, it was fine. I found the voice a little hard to hear until I plugged the unit into my car stereo system and the screen was a little small to see well while driving, which leads me to feel that this unit would be better used as a hand held, so I tried that out.
Walking around my town I found the camera to be a great addition and finding restaurants and things to do a breeze! It is a feature I would have never thought to use but I found it absolutely indispensable. I would probably never use any of the other features unless I forgot my phone at home(like email or the web browser), but the 295W is well worth the price just for the GPS and the Points of Interest. I did find the Points of Interest to be a little out of date, though. When I was done, I used the Garmin Locate to get me back to my car and I loved it! No more wandering around looking for my car when I forget where I parked.
Where this unit really came in handy was when riding my motorcycle. I put in my destination, looped the earpiece into my helmet and I was off. Using the spoken directions I easily and quickly found my way. The unit is so small and portable that I really can't ever imagine being without it, but it will certainly be essential on motorcycle trips - no more stopping the bike, taking off my gloves, opening my pack, taking out a map or my phone and then doing it all in reverse to get going again.
I didn't mind the packaging on this product - I like that there was so little to throw away and the unit felt very secure and safe. I don't need a package to make me feel like I got my money's worth out of a product, so I would personally prefer more of this type of packaging.
All told, I love my Garmin 295W. I don't know how I ever lived without it. |
No more worrying about getting lost
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| Review Date: July 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bookphile, USA |
The Garmin Nüvi has an impressive array of features, and I wanted to try a variety of them out before posting a review. For clarity's sake, I'll break this review down into categories that address the specific functions I tested.
First off, navigation: The screen is nice and clear and it's very easy to follow the directions. I really like how the screen will show posted speed limits. I'm sometimes confused even on my local roads because speed limits will change and posted signs are rare, making it difficult to remember what the speed limit is on that particular segment of the road.
The database isn't entirely complete. I've had several problems finding some points of interest that have been in my area for years. The Google Local Search can fill this gap, but that will only work if you're in an area with WiFi. Needless to say, when you're on the road and this isn't available, Google Local Search isn't going to do you much good. My suggestion is to find your destinations ahead of time as you can then either make them a favorite or pull them up in the previous searches.
I've used the unit both when traveling in areas with which I'm familiar and with which I'm unfamiliar. Naturally, I found that when I'm driving in an area I know well, I often know better routes than what the Nüvi recommends. Sometimes I'll take the suggested route just to see how it pans out and there have been times when it was really inefficient. Now, of course no one really needs a GPS device to get around places they already know, but I wanted to evaluate the product this way because it gives an overall sense of how good the routing is. I don't have any major quibbles with it, but it is worth noting that it doesn't always take you on the quickest route. However, it is great for providing you with some back roads directions, and it took me down side streets I wouldn't have otherwise known how to navigate.
We took the Garmin with us on a trip and found it to be completely invaluable. While running dangerously low on gas one day, we used it to help us locate the nearest gas station. We also used it to help us get to every one of our destinations, some of which were so off the beaten path we would surely have had a lot of trouble finding them without the aid of a GPS device.
I was formerly a big user of Google maps and, while that does work well, I've never been comfortable with having to try to juggle with a printout, trying to read in snatches at red lights or with quick glances while on a freeway. I love that the Nüvi eliminates this. It's so much easier to just glance at the screen and see what my next turn is.
E-mail: The e-mail feature is really handy for someone like me, who doesn't currently own an Internet-ready phone. Though I don't necessarily feel the need to be constantly connected, it is nice to know I can give my e-mail a quick check in case I'm waiting for anything important. However, because the touchpad keyboard can be really difficult to use (and this is true of when you're typing in the name of a destination you want to search for), I don't think the e-mail functionality is one I'm all that likely to use very often. It can be extremely frustrating to have to go back and try the same letter three times because you have to move your finger a fraction of an inch to get the unit to process the correct keystroke.
Camera: I like the camera on this device a great deal more than the camera on my cell phone, particularly because it works so nicely when taking a landscape-oriented photo. The image quality is pretty good. I think taking photos will require some practice as the camera sometimes immediately took the picture upon pressing the button but, at other times, required me to push the button several times before the picture was finally captured. I also like how the device allows for some slight editing of the photos when using them as wallpaper. It allows the user to change the photo's orientation and zoom in or out. When you edit a photo, it takes you through both the portrait and landscape versions of the photo.
Web Browser: The browser function is handy in a pinch, but not something for which you'd throw your computer over. Because the screen is so small (it is a GPS device, after all), it can be frustrating to try to tap the exact position on the screen that will open the link you're trying to open. Naturally, you also have to be somewhere with WiFi in order to be able to use this function, and I imagine that if you're in a WiFi hotspot with the intent of surfing the web, you're more likely to want to bring a more web-friendly device with you. Basically, the web browser is kind of nifty but not at all necessary.
Battery Life: I had thought that this device might be fun to use for some geocaching, but experience has shown me that it probably wouldn't prove all that reliable for this purpose. This is because the battery life is extremely short. I was amazed that simply running errands around town for an hour or two could pretty much drain the battery dead. You can eliminate this problem by using the dash mount and keeping the charger plugged in, but that's obviously not an option if you're using the device while walking or riding a bike. This was my one serious disappointment with the unit. It should also be noted that, once drained, it does take some time for the battery to be recharged, which I also found rather annoying.
On the whole, I've found that my Garmin has become one pretty indispensable piece of modern technology. It's not only convenient, it provides me with some peace of mind as I now know that, no matter where I go, I won't run the risk of being lost and I won't have the stress of having to pull over, take out a map, and trying to figure out where I am and how to get back to where I want to be. That alone makes the device pretty precious to me. |
Navigating in Hawaii
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| Review Date: July 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Flashman, |
| My new Garmin 295W GPS unit is wonderful. We tried it out the day we received it for the most awkward locations we could think of and it worked like a charm. The only problem we encountered was the pronunciation of Hawaiian street names (we simply had to laugh at some of them), but this was overcome by looking at the spelling on the unit. For such a small device I couldn't believe such a capability. I recommend it to anyone anywhere. Amazon has a true winner here. |
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