Review of Garmin Nuvi 350

I won't bore you with the specifications of the device; you can read all about it here: http://www.garmin.com/products/nuvi/

This is just my impressions of the device and a couple of snap shots. I'll update this review as I use it and find the quirks. I've only had this since December 30, 2005 so I haven't had much use other than a 100 mile trip to my sister

Side view of the Nuvi 350. SD Card slot is at top, USB plug (also used for the optional external antenna or the traffic antenna), and the bottom is the head phone jack.

Mounted on the silver bezel below the hazard switch

Nuvi 350 with its leather case. The leather case has a pocket on the other side (good for holding SD cards).

Here is the shot of the MP3 screen.

Trip information screen:

The Map screen:

Satellite signal screen:

Nice unit.

So it gets and holds a signal well in each of the mounting locations you have shown? If so, that's pretty impressive.

Yup gets an awesome signal even in those locations. There is an optional antenna, but you don't even need it unless you are in an armored car...

If you look at the 1st picture where it is below the AC controls the signal is at 4 out of 5 bars. In the 3rd picture where it is mounted just under the Hazard button, it is at 5 out of 5 bars and also accuarate at approximately 23 feet.

Great review! I found all your detail very helpful, as I am looking at the same unit. How sturdy does it seem to be? It sounds like it isn't meant to be used off-road, but would I damage it if it was in the truck while off-roading? Can you hard wire the plug to a 12V connection in your truck? Does it have the 3D view too?

Karl,

The unit is very light but the plastic seems strong. The plastic doesn't deflect when you push against the case. The devices isn't meant for offroad (like on an ATV or dirt bike), but should be ok if it is in your truck. The suction cup mount is really strong. Even when I push the lever to take it off, I still have to stick my nail under the suction cup to break the seal. I kind of have it hard wired into a 12V conection. I installed a second 12V input under the buried it under the center console. Then I routed the power cable of the Nuvi underneath the center console to the new 12V connector. The speaker is on the back of the Nuvi so you don't have the problem like you would on the 2720. I didn't want to cut the power cable as it is about 30-40 dollars to replace and it was brand new

Yes it does have the 3-D view with Track Up. I was playing with the unit earlier and changed settings without remembering to change it back. I like this view. Be warned that the Nuvi does zoom in when you get to your turn. Some people have expressed their hatred for this "feature" but I don't mind. I'm not utilizing the screen to know what my turn is. I'm depending on the voice to tell me what street to turn into since this keeps my eye on the road and isn't that what a VOICE Navigation system is for? Who knows, this is my first Navi so I may not know the ins and outs just yet.

So let me know when you guys go offroading in your neck of the woods, I need an excuse to try this out on a long distance trip :

Sharp4runr-

Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate it. Another question- how quick and easy is it to type in a street address into the Nuvi? I am trying to justify getting one of these to the girlfriend by telling her that I can use it to find addresses for fire dept calls, but I want to know how quick it is to type in the address when I am trying to move quickly at times like that. Thanks!
PS- your inbox is full, I tried to PM you.

Oh it is very easy to type in address. Also it tries to guess what Street or City you are typing in. For example if you are trying to go on Alexander Ave, start typing in Alex and it'll give you a prompt for the closest matches.

It also is very fast when it calculates your route because it has the new SIRF receiver.

Garmin just put out 2.60 Software (http://www.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00455-00). It is also suppose to address the problem of notifiying you of your turn late (I never noticed it, but people at GPSPassion.com complained about it). I just upgraded it and I'll test it out tomorrow while running errands.

Changes made from version 2.40 to 2.60:

Fixed address search bug that caused lock up.
Corrected problem where elevation units of measure were not changing according to locale.
Fixed bug that would cause shutdown with long waypoints in .gpx file.
Fixed problem with audible player's play/pause button when reaching end of book.
Improved GPS SW updating process.
Fixed problem with Travel Guide review pages where last line was not getting displayed correctly.
Fixed map drawing problem on pan.
Fixed lock-up when pressing the traffic setup button in night mode.
Added maintenance mode.
Fixed display of three digit numbers on trip computer page.
Added another page in search procedure for searching multiple maps.
Improvements for potential problems with Language Guide installation.
Fixed address search problem in Canada.
Added support for Ferry Routing.
Improvements to backlight in charge mode.
Added SaversGuide(R) support.

Changes made from version 2.30 to 2.40:

Fixed USB detachment issue.

Changes made from version 2.20 to 2.30:

Added support for displaying topographic maps.
Picture Viewer recenters when pressing 'Back'.
Enabled the disabling of maps.
Added limit of 500 MP3s.
Fix failure of importing waypoints with long names.
Fix power-on bugs with MP3s.
UI Changes for Travel Guide.
Fixes for some German translation problems.
Fixed voice guidance still speaking when turned off.
Fixed problem with GPS mode getting off when antenna is opened/closed quickly.
Improvements to Traffic software (for use with GTM10).
Added decimal to currency converter update page.
Corrected shutdown due to address finds.
Added option to turn on international symbols for Traffic (for use with GTM10).

Can you plug in multiple addresses for a day and have it come up with a best route??

How many addresses can you store in the unit??

I'm a salesman and I'd like to be able to have my customers locked in the system. So I don't pss them by when I'm in the neighborhood! I can do this with a Portable Computer but this is a PITA.

TIA

Just ordered one! Hopefully I'll have it by Tuesday.

ksneubec said:

Just ordered one! Hopefully I'll have it by Tuesday.

Click to expand...

Funny - so did I!!

jharris2 said:

Funny - so did I!!

Click to expand...

Hehe, I ordered another one on 1/6/2006 for my brother-in-law. Should I get some discount or something??? Did you guys get it from Arnott's?

POS Racing - The Nuvi cannot do what you are asking. You're better off getting one of there other models like the 2720. With the Nuvi you can only enter one waypoint between your destination. I think you can have 500 POI added. I just ordered the DVD so I'll check on that in a few days.

July-

Yes, ordered from Arnott. He grilled me, thinking I was a rep from Garmin trying to find out how much he was undercutting the retail price . I have to pay a little more than you did, but still a great deal. I did mention your name a bunch of times though, so maybe you'll get some store credit Keep us updated on that DVD and any tricks you learn. When you say you can add 500 or so POI, do you mean personal addresses that the operator enters, or do you mean you can download POI's such as stores and such on line?