Garmin's latest takes us there, as you'd
expect it to
We don't know about you, but when it comes
to GPS navigation devices, we like 'em big and we like 'em bright; which is why
we've very much enjoyed the Garmin nuvi 50LM's large 4.4-inch screen. But
screen-size aside, the GPS unit still has to get us there; something we'd
expect Garmin to deliver. And deliver us it did.
The nuvi 50LM's 4.4-inch screen is housed
in an honest-to-goodness bland chassis that doesn't try very hard to look
different. It's light, still, and slim enough to fit in a bag, though the built
does feel plasticky and less hardy. You really only need to worry about the
power button, and the device props up on a typical suction-pad stand. The screen,
most importantly, displays brightly and is actually very responsive to touch
and typing.
Delving into the user interface, you'll
find that the 50LM doesn't differ much from past Garmin experiences as well.
It's easy to get into the act of picking out your favourite POI or searching
for an address. The device is quick to pick up popular keywords and is capable
of finding most addresses. What we would've liked, though, is a way to tune the
volume without having to return to the main menu every time.
On the road, the 50LM a fantastic job of
getting you there. We noticed that the satellite lock is a notch faster now,
and the routes get recalculated fairly quickly. It's not a perfect navigation
system, still: the does, on occasions, confuse itself when we were driving
perpendicular to flyovers, but it otherwise gets us there as quickly as
possible. Features like lane assist and a well-implemented Junction View only
sweetens the experience.
The nuvi 50LM comes pre-loaded with
Malaysian and Singapore maps, the better deal here being that they can be
freely updated for an entire lifetime.
Garmin
Nuvi 50LM
Price $175
Info www.garmin.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Pre-loaded maps: Available
Memory: Built-in 2G NAND Flash
Lane Assist: Available
Display: 4.4-inch WQVGA TFT with white
backlight
Dimensions: 14.0 x 8.6 x 1.8cm
Weight: 177.2g
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Ratings
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Features
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Performance
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Design
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Overall
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Comment
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(+) Big, bright display
Good navigation and features
Lifetime free map updates
(-)Built feels rather plasticky
No dedicated volume control
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