SMOKING HOT! Garmin c320 for $200 shipped

[kenbuzz]

Garmin c320 GPS for $199.99 from w/free shipping Fry's
http://image.ak.outpost.com/art/product/box_shots/4579507.box.GIF
http://www.frys.com/product/4579507
Limit 5 per customer - While supplies last

Detailed Description:
- WAAS-enabled 12 parallel channel GPS
- Built-in patch antenna; MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection
- Removable 128 MB SD memory card
- Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings
- Display: 2.8" W x 2.1" H (3.5" diag.), 320 x 240 pixels; QVGA transflective TFT with 16-bit color; 64K colors; bright white LED backlight and touch screen
- Unit dimensions: 4.4" W x 3.2" H x 2.8" D
- Weight: 9.45 ounces
- Built-in lithium ion battery for trip planning
- Integrated suction cup mounting system provides easy adjustment and quick release
- USB interface

Included in Package
- SreetPilot c320
- City Navigator NT North America or Europe DVD with full unlock
- 128 MB SD memory card
- SD memory card slot
- Vehicle suction cup mount with 12-volt adapter*
- Setup guide

This is the same exact model I got myself for Xmas from WalMart.com for $236. It was a steal then. It's a smoking hot steal now! The 128 MB SD Card gives you enough storage for your regions, but if you swap it out for a 2 GB card, you can put all of North America on it.

[johnglass]

I'll second that this is a great unit, especially at this price. I paid $280 for it about 2-3 months ago.

[D.Pham00]

good deal and a great unit...i bought the c330 for $200 used a few months back and really love it. the c320 is the same, except that it doesn't come with preloaded maps.

[djmont]

How well does this install in your car?

[Sonicflood]

How well does this install in your car? :hscratch:

It installs just like a radar detector would... Mount suction cup cradle to windshield, snap in GPS unit & plug 12v plug into cigarette/12v accessory plug. A small child could install it.

[dtcarson]

:hscratch:

It installs just like a radar detector would... Mount suction cup cradle to windshield, snap in GPS unit & plug 12v plug into cigarette/12v accessory plug. A small child could install it.

Is the small child included, or sold separately?

I've just started looking for one of these, and this price is indeed attractive. I don't know much about what specs to look for though.

[greg9x]

Probably could have made due with this unit but just got the Garmin NUVI 370, paid $630 on ebay... one thing that put me off the streetpilot series is alot of reviews that the screen is not bright enough for viewing in direct sunlight.. not sure if they have changed that recently or not.

[D.Pham00]

:hscratch:

It installs just like a radar detector would... Mount suction cup cradle to windshield, snap in GPS unit & plug 12v plug into cigarette/12v accessory plug. A small child could install it.

if it's like the c330 i got, then it also comes with an adhesive mount that you can put on your dashboard. you can also buy a bean bag mount for it, though that wasn't included in the package.

[runner001]

so this unit comes with everything necessary right out of the box to install and use, giving directions from anywhere in the USA to anywhere else in the USA?

is it a touch screen interface?

[Sonicflood]

so this unit comes with everything necessary right out of the box to install and use, giving directions from anywhere in the USA to anywhere else in the USA?

is it a touch screen interface?

Yes and Yes.

I've owned this very unit for over a year and have really enjoyed it. I use it daily in my real estate practice and have used it on several vacations.

I prefered the SD memory card (C320) to built in memory (C330) as I am able to buy a larger SD memory card for my unit if needed.

It's easy to use & has a touchscreen interface. The feature I'd most like to have is bluetooth cell phone integration so I could see who's calling on the unit. The second feature I'd like to see is autofill when entering a street name. For example, I've grown accustomed to knowing how to find a county road but it can be difficult if its in the unit as County Road or Co Rd. I just enter Co and scroll to the number that I want.

The only real negative is that the screen can be tough to read if you have on polarized sunglasses. You kinda have to tilt your head a bit to read it. I rarely look at it though, once I've set my destination as the verbal commands work good enough for me! Others have mentioned that they wish that it announced the street names, but it's not that big of a deal for me.

[D.Pham00]

so this unit comes with everything necessary right out of the box to install and use, giving directions from anywhere in the USA to anywhere else in the USA?

is it a touch screen interface?


it will do the whole US...i also have a garmin 2610 and upgraded to a 2gb card, and with that, i was able to put the whole US (and canada too, i believe). so, to answer your question, if you want full USA maps, then the supplied memory card is too small, but if you buy a 2gb card, then you will have the entire us map. i've seen 2gb sd cards go for around $20, mostly non-name brand though at that price. personally, i'd pay a few more bucks for a namebrand one though.

[kenbuzz]

In direct sunlight the screen does wash out. I just turn it slightly to one side whenever glare is an issue. The windshield mount is rock-solid, and I've got a beanbag mount for when we move it to my wife's minivan... haven't used it yet to report anything.

The screen is plenty big, the voice prompts are loud and clear, and well, it's a Garmin. What more can I say - this is a really good price for a really good system.

[runner001]

Thanks for all the replies and recommendations. I went ahead and ordered one. Since my camera uses SD cards too, I have plenty of 2gb memory cards.

I agree about the auto fill feature. It would be very helpful and can speed up the process. What do people usually do for security? Do you usually remove the device and take it with you? Is there a special carrying case?

Oops! One question I should have asked is: Are the maps current? Can they be updated? Is it free?

[kenbuzz]

Are the maps current? Can they be updated? Is it free?The most recent version of City Navigator NT North America is ver 8, which was released 4/5/06. Your c320 will likely ship with that one. If you purchase a map product ON or AFTER the release date of an update, you are entitled to an unlock on the newer version of that product for free. You can always purchase updates when they're released.... the current upgrade price is $75.

[Tarantino]

Spend a bit more and get a Garmin Nuvi 350. It's the best GPS unit I've ever used, hands down, and it's not that much more.

= J

[Sonicflood]

Spend a bit more and get a Garmin Nuvi 350. It's the best GPS unit I've ever used, hands down, and it's not that much more.

= J

Only twice the price & then some!

[Sonicflood]

What do people usually do for security? Do you usually remove the device and take it with you? Is there a special carrying case?


I remove mine when parking anywhere other than my office or home.

For a carrying case, I bought an inexpensive, padded camera bag for mine and it works great.

[D.Pham00]

I remove mine when parking anywhere other than my office or home.

For a carrying case, I bought an inexpensive, padded camera bag for mine and it works great.


and even parking at home, i'd remove it if you don't park it in the garage.

basically, anything of value should never be in plain sight inside the car...gps, laptop, ipod, etc.

just put it in the trunk or in the glove box.

[greg9x]

But you should remove the mount and wires too.... hear thieves look for those knowing you probably have the unit in the glove box or under the seat...even if you don't sucks to have your car broken into.

And yeah the NUVI's are more pricey..... if someone just wants a low cost unit (not bad or cheap) those probably aren't for them.

[Sonicflood]

and even parking at home, i'd remove it if you don't park it in the garage.

basically, anything of value should never be in plain sight inside the car...gps, laptop, ipod, etc.

just put it in the trunk or in the glove box.

I have a garage at home. At work, I park right in front of my office as it's pretty much all glass (three 4'x5' windows)

I do put it (along with the mount) in the trunk when parking out in the open

[The Bus]

As someone who drove the wrong way on the Grand Central Parkway this weekend, I am intrigued by this offering.

Do any GPS units currently give traffic status? Something along the line of the RDS-powered "TA" or "TP" options on German cars? (Works only in Germany natch).

[pdutta2000]

I don't think this particular unit has the traffic updates. I think those only come with XM Satellite radio enabled systems.

Thanks for the heads up on this unit. I had a chance to test one a month or so back when I rented a car and loved it. This price is too good to pass up.

[runner001]

I just checked my order status. It now says its on backorder. I called the 877 number and the lady said they expect another shipment by the end of the month.

I tried to request a free upgrade on shipping but she refused. I see that they're not trying to make a waiting customer happy. Their loss.

[kantonburg]

I just checked my order status. It now says its on backorder. I called the 877 number and the lady said they expect another shipment by the end of the month.

I tried to request a free upgrade on shipping but she refused. I see that they're not trying to make a waiting customer happy. Their loss.

I had to wait on the last batch. Just sit tight. They'll ship when the next batch comes in.

[kenbuzz]

Spend a bit more and get a Garmin Nuvi 350. It's the best GPS unit I've ever used, hands down, and it's not that much more.

= JSome price comparisons:

$242.99 StreetPilot c320
$279.99 StreetPilot c330 (= c320 + preloaded maps)
$388.95 StreetPilot c340 (= c330 + traffic-ready + speaks street names)
$520.22 Nuvi 350 (= c340 + MP3 Player + multilingual translator)*
$533.95 Nuvi 360 (= Nuvi 360 + Bluetooth)
$705.48 Nuvi 660 (= Nuvo 360 + integrated traffic + FM transmitter)

These prices are from Amazon. They are not necessarily the least-expensive prices available on the web, but give you a general feel as to the price and feature differences between the various models.

*The Nuvi line add a few more features to the c340 than those listed and it comes in a different form factor. Visit Garmin's website for a full rundown on the differences between the StreetPilot (c3xx) and Nuvi lines, which seem to be mostly bells and whistles -- as far as basic navigation and routing go, the units are all very similar. Is the Nuvi worth double the price of the StreetPilot?? That's up to you.

Added:
Nuvi vs StreetPilot:
Like the nüvi 350, the nüvi 360 also includes many entertainment and travel tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters.

[D.Pham00]

I have a garage at home. At work, I park right in front of my office as it's pretty much all glass (three 4'x5' windows)

I do put it (along with the mount) in the trunk when parking out in the open

well, it's up to you, but there are some pretty brazen theives out there.

[greg9x]

The 6x0 series is a larger, widescreen version in the NUVI lineup...although similar functionaly to the 3x0 series. 'Integrated Traffic' is also a bit misleading (even if it says on their website)...'included' would be better term, as these units come with external traffic recievers, which could also be bought seperatly for the lower model #'s (although only certain models work with certain traffic recievers)

As said, just bought a NUVI 370 which is funtionaly the same as a 360 but includes European maps and comes with a traffic reciever.
I paid $630 on ebay.. but prices are dropping on these units... $350's were getting down to around $350-$400 now.

Some price comparisons:

$242.99 StreetPilot c320
$279.99 StreetPilot c330 (= c320 + preloaded maps)
$388.95 StreetPilot c340 (= c330 + traffic-ready + speaks street names)
$520.22 Nuvi 350 (= c340 + MP3 Player + multilingual translator)*
$533.95 Nuvi 360 (= Nuvi 360 + Bluetooth)
$705.48 Nuvi 660 (= Nuvo 360 + integrated traffic + FM transmitter)

These prices are from Amazon. They are not necessarily the least-expensive prices available on the web, but give you a general feel as to the price and feature differences between the various models.

*The Nuvi line add a few more features to the c340 than those listed and it comes in a different form factor. Visit Garmin's website for a full rundown on the differences between the StreetPilot (c3xx) and Nuvi lines, which seem to be mostly bells and whistles -- as far as basic navigation and routing go, the units are all very similar. Is the Nuvi worth double the price of the StreetPilot?? That's up to you.

Added:

[D.Pham00]

nuvi 350 is 350+s+t @ costco


http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11159739&whse=&topnav=&cat=4947&b=1

[Sonicflood]

well, it's up to you, but there are some pretty brazen theives out there.

I sit, facing my car all day. With a wall of windows & my car is only 5 feet away! Plus, I have a car alarm.

As an added security measure for the building.. I give free WiFi to the local police and sheriffs departments, so they frequently park in my lot all hours of the day & night. They guys get bored & like to surf. Some of them upload reports. Most probably look at porn! ;)

[illini420]

Just got mine today. Came with the DVD with the V8 Map of North America. Took about 10 minutes to load (I was able to fit all of CA, AZ, NV and OR) on the 128mb SD card it came with). Was going to load all of North America on an extra 2GB card I have laying around, but I'm not going on a long road trip anytime soon.

I didn't register mine as i've heard not to register until the next map version comes out, then I'll be able to get the one after that for free?? I don't really know.

This was a very hot deal!

[lxl]

Just came back from Fry's at San Jose, they still have many c320s for $200. The sales guy I talked to told me the model is 2-year-old and apparently he was not a big fan of this model.

[dtcarson]

Yeah, I found a CNet review of the C320 from 7/13/05, so it's not new hardware. Have there been many technological advances in the GPS realm in the past 1.5 years, that would make getting a newer unit more attractive (I care not for mp3 playback, I have an ipod).

[runner001]

Just came back from Fry's at San Jose, they still have many c320s for $200. The sales guy I talked to told me the model is 2-year-old and apparently he was not a big fan of this model.


that's crap! why the hell is mine backordered??

I'd also like to know if what illini420 said is true about not registering and getting the next update for free. anybody?

[pdutta2000]

Runner...I would doublecheck your order. Mine said backordered and I just checked and it says shipped. Hopefully I'll get mine on Monday.

[runner001]

yeah, it does say shipped.

I'm not happy that their website never once indicated that the item was not in stock and not ready to be shipped. I contacted their CS but they didn't really care that I wasn't happy about it. I tried to get them to give me an upgrade on shipping service but they wouldn't.

[D.Pham00]

Just came back from Fry's at San Jose, they still have many c320s for $200. The sales guy I talked to told me the model is 2-year-old and apparently he was not a big fan of this model.

it definately isn't the latest model, but honestly, for most people it's fine. if you want traffic or one that says the street names, then sure, go ahead and upgrade to a better model, other than that, personally i think this model is just fine.

[Three]

Fry's friday ad has the Garmin C320 and The Magellan Roadmate 2000 for 199.99 both instore and on Outpost.com Also a Mio C310X for 198.00. Seems the entrypoint for portable car GPS is decreasing nicely.

[illini420]

I'd also like to know if what illini420 said is true about not registering and getting the next update for free. anybody?

They way I heard it, we already get the next update v9 for free if we register. But if we don't register until v9 is already out, we skip the v9 update and will be able to get v10 for free when that comes out. Can anyone with garmin experience verify?? I'd rather wait until v10 and just have v8 of the software for an extra year or so, don't see them building that many new roads in only a year anyway.

[greg9x]

They way I heard it, we already get the next update v9 for free if we register. But if we don't register until v9 is already out, we skip the v9 update and will be able to get v10 for free when that comes out. Can anyone with garmin experience verify?? I'd rather wait until v10 and just have v8 of the software for an extra year or so, don't see them building that many new roads in only a year anyway.

No.... the idea is if you buy a unit with older maps on it you get updated to the current ones for free. But they don't know when you bought your unit until you register, so if you wait until after an update is released then you can get it for free....you don't get the 'next' update free. However I wasn't thinking and registered mine !! :grunt: Oh, well !

And it's not only 'new' roads on the maps, they make alot of corrections to old ones etc

[kenbuzz]

I can confirm what greg9x said about registration. You're entitled to the CURRENT map version when you register your unit. If you buy and get v8, but register after v9 is available, you get a free unlock code for v9.

My unit had a bad window mount - would leave rubber on the windshield whenever it was moved, making it impossible to reseal on the new window. Garmin shipped me a replacement mount kit (which included an extra power cord) via overnight Fed Ex! Of course, I had to give them my serial number at the time, so I'm pretty sure my unit (v8) has been "registered", but when v9 comes out, I'll try the registration upgrade path anyway. No hurt to try.

[runner001]

I'm having issues installing the maps onto the GPS unit. Can anyone help? After following the instructions and getting to the stage where you plug the unit to the computer via USB, I get a MapInstall screen that doesn't go anywhere or do anything. The screen says "Welcome to the MapInstall Wizard. This program will guide you through the process of installing maps to your GPS" but there are no buttons to click and it doesn't appear to be doing anything at all.

[illini420]

No.... the idea is if you buy a unit with older maps on it you get updated to the current ones for free. But they don't know when you bought your unit until you register, so if you wait until after an update is released then you can get it for free....you don't get the 'next' update free. However I wasn't thinking and registered mine !! :grunt: Oh, well !

And it's not only 'new' roads on the maps, they make alot of corrections to old ones etc


Thanks for the info, will wait until v9 to register then. Already noticed they've redone one interchange I take everyday since v8 was made. Not too big of a deal though, great unit for $200

[jasondaub]

In my first day of using this, it is awesome. 2 days from purchase date to arrival at my PA house, so no complaints with frys.com either.

Anyone find any good places to download some (preferably free) POI's?
I have used http://www.poi-factory.com/poifiles to download some free ones, but they obviously don't have all things.

This place https://shop.gps-poi-us.com/splashPage.hg seems to have alot more categories, but they are pay ones.

I wonder if any places have their own files someplace to download, for example if target.com would ever have all of their stores listed out to download someplace on their website, instead of having to get them from an outside place. Anyone know of any companies, etc. that have one of these on it's website?

[runner001]

how do these POI files work?

[jasondaub]

how do these POI files work?

From Garmin's page:
As an added benefit, you can now import customized points of interest with the help of Garmin's free POI Loader software. The possibilities are endless — upload safety cameras or school zones, and you will receive a warning if you are traveling too fast. In addition, an optional proximity-alert feature notifies you of upcoming custom POIs.

Their POI loader is here: http://www.garmin.com/products/poiloader/

[GuessWho]

n00b question:

Do gps devices need to be installed to one car or can I just carry it from one car to another, laying it in the seat next to me/ What's more, does it work outside of a car? Like, can I throw it in my backpack when walking/biking and pull it out when lost?

[greg9x]

n00b question:

Do gps devices need to be installed to one car or can I just carry it from one car to another, laying it in the seat next to me/ What's more, does it work outside of a car? Like, can I throw it in my backpack when walking/biking and pull it out when lost?

GPS's come in many different catagories...yes you can get ones that are permently installed in a vehicle, but the ones we are talking about here are portable. So yes, you can take these from one vehicle to another, they are independent units with thier own antenna's built in and internal batteries so yes, they have a pedestrian/bike mode and you can walk around with them (within the 2-4 hour battery life), but you could leave it off, throw in a backpack and turn it on when needed... but these are designed primarily for road use.. backpacking you would just see a big splotch of white or green as there are no roads and these units do not show elevation reliefs (like hills, mountains, etc. But they do show rivers, lakes and other bodies of water). It would give you your location and the direction you need to go but you'd have to decide you own best path to follow... there are units specifically designed for hiking use and you might be better off with one of those if that is what you primarily want it for.

[kenbuzz]

Anyone find any good places to download some (preferably free) POI's?Can't help you directly, but I would lurk the forums on gpspassion.com (link) (http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?group=2) to see what folks have to say about that.

As for me, I use the MapSource software on my laptop (comes bundled with the c320) and Google Maps to build my own custom POI files. For example, I wanted to preload all branches of a particular local Credit Union in case I need to hit an ATM while away from home. I use the Credit Union's website and Google Maps to get the street address, slap that into MapSource to get the lat/long. You can create a Point Of Interest at that location and export it to a file, or build a spreadsheet of lat/longs and save it as a .csv file that can be imported into the c320 as a POI database.

[illini420]

I'm new to GPS so maybe I'm just not understanding correctly. But, why are you all loading POI's?? I used the Garmin ver. 8 software that came with this, loaded it to the SD card and it has all the local businesses already in there. Met some friends at a restaurant I've never been to last night and all I did was type in the name and the GPS showed me the way. I guess I'm just not getting something...

[GuessWho]

thanks greg!!

[Tarantino]

I'm new to GPS so maybe I'm just not understanding correctly. But, why are you all loading POI's?? I used the Garmin ver. 8 software that came with this, loaded it to the SD card and it has all the local businesses already in there. Met some friends at a restaurant I've never been to last night and all I did was type in the name and the GPS showed me the way. I guess I'm just not getting something...

Because certain things aren't in there...like traffic cameras, school zones (with speed warnings), etc.

Sure, the internal one is good, but there are still some things missing.

= J

[runner001]

Does anyone know if the c320 supports a memory card of 4GB? woot.com has it on sale for 24.99 + 5.00 shipping. It'll be gone by the time anyone reads this but just in case it comes up again, I'd like to know if I should buy it or if the device won't even support it.

thanks!

also, how do you use the POI files? I have MapInstall on my computer and downloaded some POIs. Any idea how to go about that?

[illini420]

Because certain things aren't in there...like traffic cameras, school zones (with speed warnings), etc.

Sure, the internal one is good, but there are still some things missing.

= J


Ok, that's cool. Thanks for the info. :)

[kenbuzz]

Does anyone know if the c320 supports a memory card of 4GB? woot.com has it on sale for 24.99 + 5.00 shipping. It'll be gone by the time anyone reads this but just in case it comes up again, I'd like to know if I should buy it or if the device won't even support it.I don't know for certain, but I do know that my 2GB card is plenty big and additional POI files are miniscule. Unless someone else knows why, I can't fathom that anything larger than a 2GB card would ever be needed.

[greg9x]

I don't know for certain, but I do know that my 2GB card is plenty big and additional POI files are miniscule. Unless someone else knows why, I can't fathom that anything larger than a 2GB card would ever be needed.

I'm using mine as an MP3 player in the vehicle so have an 8gb SDHC card in it (need an SDHC reader for computer to load files...not just SD)... but again mine is the NUVI 370 don't know if the other models would accept that big of a card.

[runner001]

I'm actually using MapSource. I installed POI installer, it doesn't do anything (literally) just like MapInstall didn't do anything when I open it. So I opened MapSource and tried to use it to view/download the POI files. I have NO CLUE what to do.

[dtcarson]

They "found a few more" in stock.
Questions:
* Is the card that comes with it, big enough for a couple of states, say, NC, SC, and GA?
* Is it true that the plug doesn't disconnect from the device, so even if you make it 'portable' you've got the charging cable hanging from it?
* Does it let you find a location by lat/longitude (entering L/L instead of address or name, for instance)
* Is this still an issue: "One annoying aspect is that when I stop, the SteetPilot is powered down, but then when restarted, the destination is cleared, and must be reprogrammed in, and a route recalculated." http://www.technudgelive.com/reviews/?p=89

[nodoubt]

i was able to fit NC, GA, VA, and MD on the card. Didn't try SC.
the charger plugs into its base so no, the cable won't be hanging from the unit
i don't think it does. never tried tho.

[jeffrey r]

They "found a few more" in stock.
Questions:
* Is the card that comes with it, big enough for a couple of states, say, NC, SC, and GA?
* Is it true that the plug doesn't disconnect from the device, so even if you make it 'portable' you've got the charging cable hanging from it?
* Does it let you find a location by lat/longitude (entering L/L instead of address or name, for instance)
* Is this still an issue: "One annoying aspect is that when I stop, the SteetPilot is powered down, but then when restarted, the destination is cleared, and must be reprogrammed in, and a route recalculated." http://www.technudgelive.com/reviews/?p=89

I just received my C320 from Frys a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately, living in Manhattan, I don't drive that much so I haven't used it in real-world yet. But I already love the thing, and can't wait to add it to my car next weekend for a drive.

I am no expert, but I'll do my best to answer a couple of your questions. First of all, at $199, this thing is a steal. I was able to get the C320, the dash mount from Amazon (don't want to attach this to my windshield), and an anti-glare screen protector from boxwave for about $245 total. Considering what the C320 cost alone just a year or two ago, that is pretty great.

This comes with a relatively small SD card, but I am sure it holds at least a couple of states. But at best, like me, you may have an extra 1gb or 2gb card laying around, in which case you can use the bigger card with no extra cost. Or you can buy a new 1gb or 2gb card these days for like $10 or less all the time with rebates at places like buy.com, newegg, etc. The SD card should not be a concern.

The plug does disconnect from the device. You can charge it up, and use it without plugging it in. I believe the battery is rated around 8 hours or so before re-charging.

I don't believe you can enter lat/long instead of an address, and I am not sure why you'd need to??

Not sure about the last question yet as I haven't used it in practice yet. I've just run some test routes at home with the satellite off.

One other thing, if you wait too long for answers, you'll probably lose out on the units, as I am sure the re-stocking will make its way around pretty quickly. I'd jump on it--this thing is a very good GPS unit at a great price.

[dtcarson]

I don't believe you can enter lat/long instead of an address, and I am not sure why you'd need to??

My wife has expressed an interest in geocaching, and while this model is definitely not 'meant' for that, if it supported l/l, it could be used for that, or get that data in there somehow (loc files?). Although I definitely think the street/POI navigation would be much more useful/used.

One other thing, if you wait too long for answers, you'll probably lose out on the units, as I am sure the re-stocking will make its way around pretty quickly. I'd jump on it--this thing is a very good GPS unit at a great price.

that's what I'm thinking. I could have used it two weeks ago when on a trip, but I'm sure we'll go somewhere else soon : )
I think I've got a spare SD card somewhere, and if not, my boy's digital camera has a 2GB, I think, so I could swap (128 MB would be enough for him), and odds are, if it holds just the neighbouring states, that's enough for 96% of our traveling.

thanks for the responses, both you and nodoubt.

[runner001]

To answer the last question regarding whether or not it shuts off when the car is stopped, it doesn't. if the car charger disconnects, the unit will count down and give you 30 seconds to choose to continue on battery power or shut off.

it works great and I'm glad i spent the $199.

[kenbuzz]

You cannot enter locations by lat/long through the touchscreen interface, but you CAN enter the data in a POI file and upload it using Garmin's freeware. For geocaching, it would be an ideal solution, assuming you have the lat/long data BEFORE you head out to find the cache.

And to answer a different question - when the unit is powered down, it DOES remember your last position and where you were going. When you restore power, it reacquires the satellites to update your position, and recomputes the route to your destination. If you have a via point set, I *believe* it factors that into your routing, though I'll have to check to be certain. The only times I've powered down my unit while enroute to a location I was not heading toward a via point.

BTW - I just clicked on the original link and they STILL have some in stock at the $199 price.

http://www.frys.com/product/4579507
Limit 5 per customer - While supplies last

[D.Pham00]

This comes with a relatively small SD card, but I am sure it holds at least a couple of states. But at best, like me, you may have an extra 1gb or 2gb card laying around, in which case you can use the bigger card with no extra cost. Or you can buy a new 1gb or 2gb card these days for like $10 or less all the time with rebates at places like buy.com, newegg, etc. The SD card should not be a concern.


i was able to load all of the us and canada onto a 2gb card on my garmin 2610.

[Tarantino]

All this talk about loading maps...how many maps will fit, etc...that's the reason why the Nuvi is worth the extra duckets ;)

USA, Puerto Rico, and Canada...all preloaded.

= J

[dtcarson]

Is this the Nuvi that's 250% the cost of the 320? I think I'll spring for a ten buck SD card for additional space. Plus, I have never been to Puerto Rico or Canada, and don't see it happening in the foreseeable future, so having maps preloaded that I'll never use is not really a feature. It seems like the lowest tier Nuvi costs 300$+ more for features I'll never use. Though the maps are all preloaded, that's an awful lot of pay for the convenience of saving eight minutes loading time.

[jeffrey r]

i was able to load all of the us and canada onto a 2gb card on my garmin 2610.

Frankly, with the V.8 maps, you can load all of US and Canada on a 1gb card. No need to use the 2gb, but obviously if that's what you have, no harm in using it.

As to the map loading issue, it was a very minor (and quick) inconvenience considering the savings.

And since this is still in stock, seems they found more than just a "few". Maybe a few hundred, or a few thousand. But still a great deal.

[kenbuzz]

Tarantino, I tell you what.... If saving your time is worth the extra ducats, then PayPal me for a Nuvi... I'll buy a 320 and a 2GB card and will load the maps for you myself. One hundred smackers for 15 minutes of my time is a bargain! :up:

[D.Pham00]

Frankly, with the V.8 maps, you can load all of US and Canada on a 1gb card. No need to use the 2gb, but obviously if that's what you have, no harm in using it.

As to the map loading issue, it was a very minor (and quick) inconvenience considering the savings.

And since this is still in stock, seems they found more than just a "few". Maybe a few hundred, or a few thousand. But still a great deal.

maybe future maps will get bigger, and considering that 2gb cards are so cheap these days, why not just get one anyways?

[runner001]

regarding the sizes of cards...anyone know where the POIs are stored, if its on the card or within the unit somewhere? Is it possible to choose where they are stored and if so, how do you go about doing that?

[phraseturner]

Mine arrived today (Wednesday). Just ordered on Monday. Love everything about it so far, except for the windshield mount. I have an '07 Toyota Yaris hatchback, so the huge sloping front windshield is not great for mounting an item I need to be able to reach (for the touchscreen).

Now I'm poking around in GPS forums looking for tips & tricks, custom POI (points of interest) files, etc. A new toy! If anyone has a third-party suggestion for a mount for this model, please share it.

Thanks!

[kenbuzz]

Mine arrived today (Wednesday). Just ordered on Monday. Love everything about it so far, except for the windshield mount. I have an '07 Toyota Yaris hatchback, so the huge sloping front windshield is not great for mounting an item I need to be able to reach (for the touchscreen).PT: There are two different mounting options I can think of that might help you -- both of them involve putting the unit on the top of your dash:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/images/products/010-10646-00/en/cf-md.jpg
a - The c320 shipped with a mounting disk. It's intended to be used in states where a windshield mount is illegal (CA and MN?). You peel the sticky backing off the disk, adhere it to your dashboard, then use the windshield suction mount to attach the mount to the disk. The disk provides a uniformly smooth surface for the suction cup to stick to. The entire assembly can be removed at any time by unsticking the suction cup, but the disk is more or less permanently attached to your dash. If you have more than one car, you'll need additional disks.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/images/products/010-10613-00/en/cf-md.jpg
b - Garmin also makes a removable "friction" mount that has a set of three "beanbag" weights that hold the unit in place on your dash. It's heavy, pretty sturdy, and the beanbags are textured to add extra friction to help keep your unit in place while driving. It's a pretty good solution, though if you're gonna play Speed Racer and take turns on two wheels the unit is unlikely to stay put. Hey, it's physics. The nice thing is that the mount comes with an extra power adapter, even though you don't absolutely need one. The part # is 010-10613-00 and it can be found on Amazon, eBay, and via Froogle for $30 or less.

[Edited to add] - If you don't mind spending the $30, I'd recommend the friction mount. Check out the reviews on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Dashboard-Mount-StreetPilot-010-10613-00/dp/B0007LJHVK/

[Chrisedge]

I ordered one yest...If there are any good places for info on the POI's and usage and stuff please post any links...

[D.Pham00]

PT: There are two different mounting options I can think of that might help you -- both of them involve putting the unit on the top of your dash:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/images/products/010-10646-00/en/cf-md.jpg
a - The c320 shipped with a mounting disk. It's intended to be used in states where a windshield mount is illegal (CA and MN?). You peel the sticky backing off the disk, adhere it to your dashboard, then use the windshield suction mount to attach the mount to the disk. The disk provides a uniformly smooth surface for the suction cup to stick to. The entire assembly can be removed at any time by unsticking the suction cup, but the disk is more or less permanently attached to your dash. If you have more than one car, you'll need additional disks.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/images/products/010-10613-00/en/cf-md.jpg
b - Garmin also makes a removable "friction" mount that has a set of three "beanbag" weights that hold the unit in place on your dash. It's heavy, pretty sturdy, and the beanbags are textured to add extra friction to help keep your unit in place while driving. It's a pretty good solution, though if you're gonna play Speed Racer and take turns on two wheels the unit is unlikely to stay put. Hey, it's physics. The nice thing is that the mount comes with an extra power adapter, even though you don't absolutely need one. The part # is 010-10613-00 and it can be found on Amazon, eBay, and via Froogle for $30 or less.

[Edited to add] - If you don't mind spending the $30, I'd recommend the friction mount. Check out the reviews on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Dashboard-Mount-StreetPilot-010-10613-00/dp/B0007LJHVK/

i have the friction mount...i think it's way better than the suction cup mount. only thing is, if you brake really hard, then it might slide off the dash.

[Premise]

It appears they're sold out.

[phraseturner]

Thanks for the mount options. Neither really appeals to me, so it looks like I'll come up with some "home brew" method...

[dtcarson]

This is pretty cool. I don't have a huge problem with the brightness, though if it's on the dash and it's a sunny day I could see it being a little difficult to see. It's not very loud though, if I have the windows open it has to be on 7 or 8 volume bars to even hear it.
What's the difference between "Normal" and "WAAS" GPS modes? It seems WAAS is a little faster to find a signal, but I could be imagining that.

[kantonburg]

I haven't read back but www.gpspassion.com is a great site for POI's.

[kantonburg]

Thread bump.

For those that aren't aware the new maps are available. They are now called 2008 and not V9 FYI.

[Rogue588]

And here I thought they were available again..

[dtcarson]

If you buy and get v8, but register after v9 is available, you get a free unlock code for v9.


I guess they changed this, they're wanting to charge me 70 bucks for v9 ("2008"), unless it's just very hidden. And since I just now registered, i missed any update of v.8.

[runner001]

I just got off the phone with CS. I saved everyone interested in doing this a long, long hold. According to the rep, the FREE map update will be available AFTER August 22nd. It will show up automatically on myGarmin.com after you've registered your product. Whether or not that actually happens, who knows.

[D.Pham00]

And here I thought they were available again..


amazon has them for around $200, but they're refurb'd tho. 90 day warranty.

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-StreetPilot-c330-Refurbished-GPS/dp/B000EM2OXA

i say about as amazon's price tends to fluctuate.

[kantonburg]

Looking at mygarmin.com I noticed a few weeks ago that the '2008' maps were listed for my C320. Is this map not available now for this model?

edit: Just read on gpspassion that it'll be 2-3 weeks from now till it's available. It was listed in my account awhile back though.

[kenbuzz]

BTW, folks still looking for an inexpensive, good GPS might want to pop on over to Woot today (Monday 8/27). They're selling refurbed TomTom GO 510's for $200.

http://s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/wootsaleimages/TomTom_GO_510_Portable_GPS_Vehicle_NavigatorQG6-standard.jpg
TomTom GO 510 Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator
$199.99 + $5 shipping
Linky: www.woot.com

CNet Review: http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/tomtom-go-510/4505-3430_7-31786430.html

Today only, while supplies last.

[runner001]

for those that didn't register their streetpilot c320, you might want to do so now to get the new 2008 maps.

i spent about 25 minutes on hold before a CSR came on. he saw that i registered my unit after the new maps came out and emailed me the unlock code and ordered the CD all for free.

[IdgIe49]

for those that didn't register their streetpilot c320, you might want to do so now to get the new 2008 maps.

i spent about 25 minutes on hold before a CSR came on. he saw that i registered my unit after the new maps came out and emailed me the unlock code and ordered the CD all for free.

After I registered, just now, there was a link I clicked that had the 2008 maps available. Do I just click that and it'll download or something?

[runner001]

that link will just bring you to another page where you PURCHASE it. you'll have to call the 1800 number and speak with a rep about it and ask them for the same thing I mentioned before.

[IdgIe49]

you know, after almost a year, I've yet to use this once. Ive never been able to acquire a satellite or figure out how to get the 2008 map. But I did update the software - about 15 minutes ago. heh

...

[dtcarson]

Really? I use the crap out of mine, it's made going on business trips to places I've never been a whole lot easier. I even use it locally.
I wasn't able to get the 2008 maps, however, and I really don't like the 75$ annual upgrade fee for maps. The website and upgrade options are confusing.

[abrg923]

Ugh...thought this was available again.

[The Cow]

Ugh...thought this was available again.
Well, it is cheaper now than it was when this thread was created.

It's $189 at amazon (and they still show the old retail of $799 :lol: )