Amazon Deal of day - Garmin nüvi 660 $329.99

[WatchAMovie]

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-4-3-Inch-Widescreen-Bluetooth-Navigator/dp/B000H49LXQ/ref=xs_gb_20_center-2_rw_uk_18380?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=305207801&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&tag=380-20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FY9RWZRH6MF3QCR03GD

[SunMonkey]

If anyone was wanting this, but found it was sold out earlier, it is back in stock at the Gold Box price as of 10:30 am (EST).

[Chad]

Thank you! Just requested a $20 refund after purchasing this as the DOD in late January for $349. Great little unit.


The 660 recently received The Best in GPS honor from CNN and Fortune magazine:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fsb/0702/gallery.GPS_devices.fsb/2.html

[DeltaSigChi4]

How does the refunding work? I looked around to no avail. Can you provide a link?

E

[Chad]

I just emailed (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?ie=UTF8&browse%5Fnode%5Fid=508510&jsEnabled=enabled) them requesting a price adjustment and received a reply in less than an hour:

Since your purchase shipped within the past 30 days, I've requested a refund of $20.00 to your credit card. This amount reflects the difference between the price you were charged for the item and the current price offered by Amazon.com, $329.99. This refund should be processed in the next few days and will appear as a credit on your next billing statement.

[DeltaSigChi4]

Oh. It's got to be within thirty days. Cool. Good to know nonethless. Sucks that I paid over 500$ for a 300series. It was late last year though. It still is listed for more today than this 600series. *shrugs*

E

[kenbuzz]

Thanks, OP, but I'm holding out for a GPS system with live traffic updates, bluetooth for my phone, an MP3 player, a camera, a bottle opener, a microwave oven (with tiny portable fridge to keep road burritos ready for any emergency), automatically-deploying roadside hazard flares, a teleporter, and a short range cell phone jammer to get the idiot in front of me to hang up their phone and resume paying attention to the road in front of them.

If Garmin is going to go for technology convergence with their Nüvi's, then why stop half-way? I'm happy with my StreetPilot GPS-only thingy, but apparently there's a market for Swiss-army-GPS units. Good for them! :)

[m0vi3fan]

You can also call Amazon.com for the price adjustment: 1.800.201.7575

[kenbuzz]

Thanks, OP, but I'm holding out for a GPS system with live traffic updates, bluetooth for my phone, an MP3 player, a camera, a bottle opener, a microwave oven (with tiny portable fridge to keep road burritos ready for any emergency), automatically-deploying roadside hazard flares, a teleporter, and a short range cell phone jammer to get the idiot in front of me to hang up their phone and resume paying attention to the road in front of them.

If Garmin is going to go for technology convergence with their Nüvi's, then why stop half-way? I'm happy with my StreetPilot GPS-only thingy, but apparently there's a market for Swiss-army-GPS units. Good for them! :)Speaking of which, Buy.com currently has Garmin StreetPilot c330 refurbs for $119 (after $20 rebate) and free shipping. This is an EXCELLENT unit that does exactly what it's designed to do - be a GPS unit. You can't go wrong with a Garmin.
http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_lrg_images/800/205583800.jpg
Linky: http://www.buy.com/prod/garmin-streetpilot-c330-portable-gps-system-w-preloaded-maps/q/loc/111/205583800.html

[fujishig]

Is 350 the new retail price for this unit? It seems to retail for that everywhere, and that's actually a great deal... have a 650 (no bluetooth or fm traffic transmitter) and I love it.

[fbara]

I just picked up 660 from Best Buy. It was $349 plus they offered a free $50 gift card for select gps units.

You'll start seeing the 650 and 660 prices drop. These units were officially discontinued by Garmin in January with the release of the new 750 and 760 units.

The 660 is one of the best units out there and if you can pick up a new one for $350, go for it. I've had mine for almost a week and I love it.

[bhome83]

Ive always been curious how well these GPS devices work. So what happens if i miss my turn? Does the unit turn you back around, or do you have to do that yourself? Also, what about road closures, massive traffic, etc. If there is a sudden road closure and you are solely relying on GPS, idiots like me wont know what route to take :)

ps- never used one of these things but am curious as to how accurate they are when they map directions out. It would almost seem like audio directions would be a necessity unless you like to have to look at your GPS unit every time you need to know where and when to turn.

[Deftones]

Ive always been curious how well these GPS devices work. So what happens if i miss my turn? Does the unit turn you back around, or do you have to do that yourself? Also, what about road closures, massive traffic, etc. If there is a sudden road closure and you are solely relying on GPS, idiots like me wont know what route to take :)

ps- never used one of these things but am curious as to how accurate they are when they map directions out. It would almost seem like audio directions would be a necessity unless you like to have to look at your GPS unit every time you need to know where and when to turn.

If you miss your turn, it recalculates where you need to go by either telling you to turn around, or if not possible, by recalculating the route. Only the ones with the pay services will give you instant updates about traffic, road closures, etc..

Most GPS units do provide audio tones. The mid to higher range ones will actually tell you street names and such.

[bhome83]

interesting. thanks!

[Bill Geiger]

I recently purchased the Magellan 4040 for 168.xx shipped from Ritz Camera and love it! Mind you, it isn't perfect, but it does what I want it to do.

Regarding the Garmin, you can't go wrong either.

[Chew]

There's a Lightning Deal going on right now (03/17) for the Magellan Maestro 3140 at $149.99. 18% claimed and 3 hours left, jump on it quick if you want one.

[Chad]

Thanks, OP, but I'm holding out for a GPS system with live traffic updates, bluetooth for my phone, an MP3 player, a camera, a bottle opener, a microwave oven (with tiny portable fridge to keep road burritos ready for any emergency), automatically-deploying roadside hazard flares, a teleporter, and a short range cell phone jammer to get the idiot in front of me to hang up their phone and resume paying attention to the road in front of them.

You must be referring to the upcoming Garmin nüvifone:

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qy9NCr_n0wE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qy9NCr_n0wE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

Unfortunately I don't believe the cell phone jammer will be included in the U.S. release because of FCC regulations. :(


Speaking of which, Buy.com currently has Garmin StreetPilot c330 refurbs for $119 (after $20 rebate) and free shipping. This is an EXCELLENT unit that does exactly what it's designed to do - be a GPS unit. You can't go wrong with a Garmin.
http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_lrg_images/800/205583800.jpg
Linky: http://www.buy.com/prod/garmin-streetpilot-c330-portable-gps-system-w-preloaded-maps/q/loc/111/205583800.html

My god, put that bloated whale on a treadmill! How in good conscious can you promote a non W-I-D-E-S-C-R-E-E-N unit here at DVDTalk?!

And how exactly do you propose I go geocaching with that monstrosity?? Some of us prefer a portable unit that we can take with us out of the car that also keeps us entertained while listening to our favorite MP3s on that long, arduous journey.

How am I supposed to hear my favorite Stephen King and Dean Koontz novels read aloud to me or learn phrases in foreign languages? Should I bring the actual books and read them while driving ...endangering myself and possibly others? I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?

I've also found myself really using the hands-free bluetooth functionality for taking/making calls because I believe in a safe driving environment unlike some people around here.

Sir, the audacity!

[C-Mart]

That Nuvifone looks sweet! I hope Verizon carries it.

[Dave99]

That nuvifone isn't much different than my cell now. (sprint ppc6800/mogul). Phone, high speed internet (rev A evdo), and GPS.

[C-Mart]

Does the Sprint phone integrate everything as seamlessly as the Nuvifone seems to? I can get GPS on my Samsung through Verizon too, but I use digital time doing it, and I have to buy the software, and my screen goes "dark" after 10 seconds or so of "non-use" and you have to re-log into the software if you get or make a call. This thing looks like it can take a call in the background while keeping the nav going. Not much different than the other portable GPS available now, except it has the phone built in rather than the bluetooth connection.

[Dave99]

I guess it's as seamless as just opening an app. I have the garmin software on it, although it's a memory hog so I don't use it much. I stick with google maps & live search, both are free and work well. They use airtime to download maps or aerials as you go, so if you don't have an unlimited data plan that would kill you (the garmin maps are loaded on an SD card, so no airtime needed for that one). You can also configure the backlight to stay on.

[SunMonkey]

The price on this unit has dropped to $309.74. If you had slow shipping, you might still be eligible for a refund since it is based on 30 days from its ship date.

[big whoppa]

If you have an Amazon CC, you can get an additional $20 off with a $20 off $200 coupon. I don't have the code handle, so if anyone wants one, I can look it up.

[Chad]

It's now dropped to <strike>$304.33</strike> $303.61.

[SunMonkey]

It's now dropped to <strike>$304.33</strike> $303.61.
Down to <strike>$302.89</strike> <strike>$301.50</strike> <strike>$296.21</strike> <strike>$295.58</strike> $294.75 now. ;)

[SunMonkey]

Bump. If you bought this, Garmin at first was not offering a free update to the newest map set that was released shortly after this sale. I just checked my device on their site, though, and found that it was now eligible for the free 2009 update.

[Chad]

^I'm still getting the $69.99 nonsense.

Probably should get around to finally contacting them as I've been meaning to do it for months now.