GPS Outlet & Clearance Review • Best Price

I purchased this unit about two months ago. This is my first GPS system. Initially, I noticed the long satellite acquisition time. This was usually confined to the first boot-up of the day or after a long lay off. I continued to use the unit hoping it would improve. During that time, I really enjoyed the ease of use and accuracy. The POI database is great.

I contacted Garmin regarding the slow acquisition time at which point they directed me to perform a master reset. That did not help. After another week or two I obtained an RMA from Garmin and returned the unit. After a week, I received the fixed/replaced unit and now it acquires satellites in less than a minute and typically before it is finished booting up. The reception is better as well. Before, it would pick up 4 or 5 satellites. Now it typically recognizes 10-12 satellites.

As far as the SiRF chip…the 750 does not come universally equipped with the SiRF chip. It does have SiRF technology which means it uses the same software and same type of chip, just not the name brand SiRF. That is as explained from Garmin tech support.

Overall, I have been very pleased with the unit. Now that the satellite issue is behind me, I could not ask for more.

This is in response to some posts I’ve seen. To get back to main menu from several menus deep, hold the back button down for 1 or 2 seconds and it will return you to the main menu.

I have owned this unit for about 3 weeks now and thought it was time I shared my two cents worth.

After reading the reviews before purchasing my 750 I was greatly concerned with some of the comments I had read regarding long satellite acquisition times, tinny sound from the speakers and poor navigation at times. Over the years I have bought several other Garmin devices (60C and Forerunner 305) and absolutely love their products. In 3 1/2 years of using their products I have never been disappointed so thought I would take a chance based on past experience and give it a try.

WOW, what a device! Once again Garmin has come through big time. With my biggest concern being long satellite acquisition times I was very please when I first powered the unit on and walked outside that it acquired my position in less than 60 seconds. Thinking maybe I had gotten lucky I decided to put it to the test. By traveling to other areas with the unit turned off I would then turn it on to see if I could duplicate the problems others are claiming but have had no success in doing so. It has never taken more than a minute to acquire a position and show me my exact location, in fact most times I would say it is closer to 40 – 45 seconds.

Speaker quality I find is excellent. This is my first GPS navigator of any kind that speaks turn by turn directions so maybe I’m speaking from ignorance because I have nothing to compare against. That being said, text to speech on this device is very clear, understandable and volume is good. Volume level is currently set at 80%.

Navigation is bang on. There have been times when I have thought that it was going to miss the mark but it has always performed as expected and location has always been accurate.

The one thing negative that I do have to say has to do with the POI’s. Although current with relatively new restaurants in our area, it also list several that have been out of business for more than a year. One has been gone for almost 5 years. I would think they could do a better job of keeping things current and I assume this would be typical for other places as well.

Screen is bright and clear and easy to read in almost any lighting condition. At sunset the screen automatically back lites to make it easy to see. The 750 of course only comes in silver but looks great. Additional vehical icons can be downloaded from Garmin’s website.

I give this baby a two tumbs up!!!

Jan 03/08 Update

We have been traveling for the past two weeks using our Nuvi quite extensively and continue to be impressed with the operation of this unit. I finally experienced the long satellite acquisition but it only happened on one occasion and has not occurred a second time. This is something I assume all devices experience at one point or another. As I mentioned above, I have three devices all made by Garmin and every now and again for some reason satellite acquisition takes a long time.

I Geo Cache with friends using my 60C hand held unit while my friends use devices other than Garmin and theirs GPS periodically have long satellite acquisition as well. I don’t know of any device that is perfect all the time however 99% is pretty close.

I previously had a nuvi 660 and left the unit in a rental car in Iowa. I waited to replace it until the 750 shipped at the end of last month. While I was waiting, I tried a Tom Tom and Magellon. The 750 far exceeds all of the other units. The earlier reviews give a pretty good run down on what is good about it. There are a couple of things that were not mentioned that I really like over the 660.
1. I like the feel of it better than the 660. It doesn’t have the flip up antenna and seems more streamline and fits into my shirt pocket better. 2. The mounting unit is FAR superior than the one on the 660. I have rented cars 140 times so far this year, and the different windshield slants caused problems at times with the 660. The 750 mount allows greater rotation of the GPS for better viewing.

I didn’t use the bluetooth on the 660, so I opted to not get it and purchased the 750 instead of the 760. I do disagree with an earlier review in that I greatly appreciate the traffic antenna and traffic routing. I travel mostly in major metro areas and it has helped me considerably. Fortunately when I lost my 660 I did not loose the traffic antenna or the electrical charger, both of which work on the 750. Is it worth $200? Probably not. But it has steered me around traffic jams and bridges that are out.

Also, one other neat feature that I haven’t figured any usefull purpose for yet but that I like is that it lays down a pink line showing where you have been. Kind of like laying down bread crumbs.

There is NOTHING out there that is as good as the nuvi 700 series!