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10
stars
ABSOLUTE BEST GPS, download the latest firmware knuckleheads!
by cool8man
on
March 3, 2006
Pros: Text to speech reads street names & exits thus making this device one of the best on the market. Lighter than TomTom. Tells you the actual address and phone number of searches.
Cons: Old database listings can't be removed, new locations are difficult to add. Preloaded firmware is buggy, but once you update it is flawless.
Summary: Before you use this device you must download the latest firmware from Garmin's website. I have extensively tested out the Tom Tom Go series, Garmin i series, and Garmin ...
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Summary: Before you use this device you must download the latest firmware from Garmin's website. I have extensively tested out the Tom Tom Go series, Garmin i series, and Garmin c series and it is my opinion that the Garmin c340 is by far the best GPS device you can get for your money. The touch screen Garmin c340 is very similar to the TomTom Go 300 except it is slimmer, lighter, can be charged through USB port on computer or through cigarette lighter, the dock is far better than the Tom Tom and easily snaps in & out without removing the power cord. Often it is hard to tell if the Tom Tom is sending you to the correct location because it doesn't tell you the address, city or phone number before it starts navigating. In comparing both the Garmin i and c series to the Tom Tom GO I found that the Garmin navigation was far more accurate. Tom Tom was designed for Europe. The feature that puts the Garmin c340 over the top for GPS devices is it's ability to read out loud street names, route names, highways, exit numbers. Instead of being told turn in 400 yards like you are with the Tom Tom and lesser Garmin GPS devices, the c340 with it's text to speech software will tell you to take exit 4 west. With the TomTom I had to constantly look at the screen to make sure I knew what my next turn or exit was called, with the c340 I rarely have to look at the screen because it audibly tells me everything I need to know. I have not had one single lockup or bug with the c340 because I updated the devices firmware immediately. This is one of the best products I have ever purchased in my life. This device has changed my life and made the whole country accessible to me.
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35 out
of 35 users found this user opinion helpful.
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10
stars
Nothing Short of Awesome!!! Ignore earlier posts of 3's and 4's
by david7467
on
December 5, 2005
Pros: Great size...not too small and not too large. Touch screen makes for fast data entry. Lithium battery keeps a charge for at least 6 hours, which means you don't need to have a cord attached.
Cons: Sometimes voice announces street with not enough indication of when you should make the next turn; especially if you are driving quickly
Summary: OK, I've used the Garmin I5 and just upgraded to the C340. Those posts that gave this unit below a 7 were correct at the time. Notice I said ...
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Summary: OK, I've used the Garmin I5 and just upgraded to the C340. Those posts that gave this unit below a 7 were correct at the time. Notice I said at the time. Garmin was alerted to lock-ups caused by poor software. The have updated the software and all new units are shipped with the upgraded software that completely elimiates the lock-up malfunction. Those units that have the issue simply need to download the update from Garmin's website to rid the unit of the same problem. It takes no more than 3 minutes. I did it from the Website and was impressed at how seamless it all works. The I5 is also a good unit, but it uses a wheel to enter data. This will drive you nuts over time, as entering a street address can take awhile. For the money, this unit is a ten!!! Remember, to update the software. I would like those who posted the lower scores to repost with an update after updating their software. My guess is that they will significantly increase their scores.
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28 out
of 28 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
Good, but QC needs to be better
by hongcho
on
November 11, 2005
Pros: Compact, Simple, Text-to-speech
Cons: Map not perfect, voice direction a bit late
Summary: I have not used any other in-car navigation product before this product.
I wanted a GPS in-car navigation for my wife. I wanted it to be affordable and my wife ...
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Summary: I have not used any other in-car navigation product before this product.
I wanted a GPS in-car navigation for my wife. I wanted it to be affordable and my wife wanted "text-to-speech". So, we settled with Garmin StreetPilot C340 because Garmin seemed to have a pretty good reputation in this market and because I got the impression that TomTom seemed to have some issues with the U.S. maps.
This is my second C340. The first one I got initially had a difficulty acquiring the satellite. The arrow showed that I was at Long. 0 and Lat. 0. However, this wasn't that big of a deal because I finally realized that I had to tell it that I had "moved more than 100 km". After that it did acquire the satellites.
However, the problem that prompted me to exchange the unit is that the software was giving me choices of states only between "Alabama" and "Alaska" (I am in California, btw). The maps were showing all the streets and all, but I just could not choose a location with an address.
So, I called Garmin's Support (the email doesn't seem to get answered quickly). After following the instruction to reset and everything, I was told that the unit was bad. It seemed this wasn't an isolated case either (the curteous support person seemed to be checking their support database). From my own experience and from other user comments on this site, I really think that Garmin has a serious Quality Control issue.
Anyway, my second C340 worked fine from the start. No problem finding satellites, so problem selecting California! If we only realized sooner that my wife's power outlet was broken! (Well, my wife thinks somehow I intentionally sabotaged her car so that I can play with this thing longer. 
)
o. Posivites
- All North American maps are preloaded.
- Navigation and direction works (Navtech so similar to Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps).
- Simple operations.
- Text-to-speech is mostly understandable.
- Suction mount holds well.
- Screen is bright enough (I leave it at 50%).
o. Negatives
- Some map info was not quite correct but the same inaccuracies seem to be in Google Maps and Yahoo! Maps as well.
- Maybe I am driving too fast, but I felt the turning direction was too close to the actual location. Instead of just relying on the distance only, they should also consider the time to the location using the current speed. Of course, you can also look at the screen, but if you are relying on the aural cue only, this could be an issue.
- Screen is mostly okay, but in direct sun-light (or light reflected off of the back of the steering wheel), the reflection makes it a bit difficult to see.
- Sound volume could be louder. If the windows are closed, I didn't have a problem understanding it, but if the windows are down (which I liked to do instead of the AC), the loudest setting is a bit difficult to hear in the wind noise on a freeway.
- Traffic antenna addition is a bit too expense. Also, it seems to require opening up the front dashboard panel of the car to connect the FM antenna wiring, which I thought was too much. Why can't it have an FM antenna by itself?
Overall, I am quite happy with the product. We will be using it in many rental cars for our future trips!
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17 out
of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
As of 1/16/2006, C340 v3.20, no lockups, but slow on the acquisition
by wumd2b
on
January 17, 2006
Pros: Unit synthesizes street names, easy to use when driving, uses City Navigator NT 7 rather than City Select, more compact than 2610/2720
Cons: Very slow Time-To-First-Satellite-Fix.
Summary: I have the Garmin 2720,2610,c340 and several other GPS units. Call me crazy, but I bought each and every one with a 6 months of each other. I ...
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Summary: I have the Garmin 2720,2610,c340 and several other GPS units. Call me crazy, but I bought each and every one with a 6 months of each other. I also have a high-powered SiRFStar III GlobalSat GPS device.
The C340 unit with firmware v3.20 works fine and Garmin has fixed the lockups. The only problem is slow satellite acquisition. The SiRFStar III units will literally lock onto a satellite in under a 2 seconds. The C340 takes roughly 5-6 minutes. The 2610/2720 are better in this respect.
However, once you get going, this device is one of the most useable devices I've ever used. The interface is slick and easy to use. Quite simply, the product works.
One problem I have is that in heavy traffic, you need extra time to change lanes and the device should give earlier notification of turns.
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9 out
of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Great product... easy to use
by chandra.nair
on
April 12, 2006
Pros: easy to use; compact
Cons: database missing local specialities
Summary: I bought this about two weeks ago and so far it has exceeded my high expectations. I was deciding between c330 and c340 after reading reviews and chose 340 for ...
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Summary: I bought this about two weeks ago and so far it has exceeded my high expectations. I was deciding between c330 and c340 after reading reviews and chose 340 for the reason that it pronounces road names and that it can be expanded (if needed) to give you traffic updates.
Maps: Before buying gps online, I went to nearby circuitcity to try out the maps of tomtom, garmin, magellan, etc. and I found the garmin maps to be the most extensive. Since my basic use is navigation I restricted my seach first based on map quality.
So far, I made a couple of long trips with this and this has really worked to perfection in guiding me from place to place.
The one hiccup I noticed was that the database for points of interest is not extensive. It has most of the chain restaurants marked but when I wanted to locate a reasonably big local restaurant in a remote place where we had decided to dine, this was not to be found in the database, though a lot of the smaller chains were there.
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6 out
of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
Don't leave home without it
by Lost Target
on
April 6, 2006
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Selecting travel destination via the unit map is slow
Summary: I purchased the unit in December 2005, upgraded the software, and than traveled to Florida and back, from upstate New York.
I used the optional weighted dash mount and liked ...
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Summary: I purchased the unit in December 2005, upgraded the software, and than traveled to Florida and back, from upstate New York.
I used the optional weighted dash mount and liked the ability to quickly remove the complete unit and hide it from view when making stops, and it also allowed for the passenger to quickly use the unit to browse the unit for rest stops and such.
The screen was always easy to read, day and night.
Screen size was not a problem when driving.
The voice prompt worked well and I learned to turn down the radio when coming into areas where I would be making a number of road changes. You can always press the screen to make it repeat.
It was very helpful that the voice gave you the name of the ramp or road you would be turning onto.
Driving down was not a problem, but one listed motel was off by half a block. I also received a few voice messages stating "a better route is available"
I could not find this voice message and how to handle it in the PDF owners manual. I also received this message while in Florida a few times and when driving back north. At one point towards the end of the trip but still several hundred miles from home, I pressed STOP on the GPS screen and then re-entered my destination, and it did change my route of travel...
Major highway constuction is on-going in many areas in and around Jacksonville, Florida and the map for this area is not current.
While in Florida some of the street addresses that I tried to use were incorrect (not the units fault) so I had to use the GPS map to mark the location that I wished to travel too. Not the quickest method and very time consuming. I found myself first finding the location on Google maps on my home computer to quickly locate major roads near the address, and then trying to find them on the GPS map and fine tuning the location. I just found this worked better for me as the map redraw rate on the GPS is not the quickest and to move in and out on the map took to much time.
Heading back north it showed a different route through the Washington DC area from when I headed south and also changed my route of travel through New Jersey.
In the future, I will be checking the route of travel prior to approaching major cites or traffic areas... because of traffic the GPS and you may not agree! Easy enough to change the route. A quick way is to select a motel or what have you along the way you want to travel.
I used the unit every day. It never failed to get me where I was going and it always got me back home. I might not always agree on the route chosen, but I was able to comfortable travel both day and night without worry.
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6 out
of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Accurate and Easy to Use Unit
by rcruz321
on
October 17, 2005
Pros: Easy to use, sharp screen, clear voice instructions
Cons: Needs more dynamic search capabilities for POI (its a little too simple)
Summary: The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit, I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans, but the Garmin was the hands down winner.
It has built ...
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Summary: The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit, I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans, but the Garmin was the hands down winner.
It has built in street level maps for both US and Canada - so there is no need to download detialed maps from your computer. In addition, the interface is a breeze to use - w/o even reading the manual I was able to get it up and running. The screen is razor sharp and the navigation controls are intuitive.
I read the other review re: lockups and problems acquiring satellite signals. I'm happy to report that I haven't had any problems with my unit.
I can't recommend this unit more highly - especially after reviewing the alternatives at this price point.
Updated
Another bonus is that it has a built in rechargable battery, so you can walk around with it for a while or even program your next destination while you're away from the car.
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6 out
of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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2
stars
VERY slow compared to c330
by Bit
on
March 3, 2006
Pros: none compared to the c330
Cons: after I pass the intersection it tells me to turn
Summary: I owned a c330 and absolutely loved it. I gave it away and bought myself the c340 so that I could have the traffic module. This machine is CONSIDERABLY slower ...
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Summary: I owned a c330 and absolutely loved it. I gave it away and bought myself the c340 so that I could have the traffic module. This machine is CONSIDERABLY slower than the c330 and does not alert you soon enough when it is time to turn. I ran it next to the c330 for a few days and the difference is huge. The written messages differ drastically as well and the directions are not good. The c340 will tell you to take "I95 to I95" while the c330 will tell you to take "I95 to exit Sunrise" which is obviously much more useful information.
Garmin were horrible to me, they insisted on getting a 15% restocking fee even though I was trying to exchange it for a c330. As much as I love the c330 I am considering other brands just because their director of sales was so unpleasant about it - he told me point blank that good will is not important to Garmin.
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8 out
of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Great Product; Worked perfectly the 1st time and every time
by joelmiller4
on
August 11, 2006
Pros: Announcing name of street to turn on before the actual turn.
Cons: Sometimes the display is a little hard to see in bright sunlight
Summary: I updated the software on my C340 right away. Have had zero problems with lockup. Steets are announced prior to the actual turn and plenty of warning before the turns....
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Summary: I updated the software on my C340 right away. Have had zero problems with lockup. Steets are announced prior to the actual turn and plenty of warning before the turns.
Maps are very clear and this device is very intuitive. I really like it.
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5 out
of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Good product, nice to have. Recommended for first time users like me
by lamcac
on
July 5, 2006
Pros: Nice navi features, easy set up and very user friendly,
Cons: Need more sticky dash disk. My home address is not accurate enough
Summary: This is my first GPS. I don't really want one so badly, but wife wanted one very much. I purched this one after discussing with the sales of Fry'...
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Summary: This is my first GPS. I don't really want one so badly, but wife wanted one very much. I purched this one after discussing with the sales of Fry's. it is nice with North America Map preloaded since I don't need to both load the maps later and change the maps except I want to use it to travel to Europe.
My wife likes the voice reminding very much since it reminds with the street name also besides the left or right turn.
The calcaulation speed is good, and take seconds to have the whole route listed, and the zoom in/out works fine and just fit your need in the car.
We don't want a fancy GPS with MP3...., this one just meet our requirements perfectly.
There are 2 points needed to be improved from my point of view:
1. Since California prohibit user to suck GPS on the windshield, you have to mount it on your dash board or other place. The dash disk included is not sticky enough, and it cannot stick on my dash board, I have to use glue to stick it.
2. My home address is not accurate enough, it show a block away when I am home. This might be the map problem. But I don't see the updated map coming out. But most of the other palces, it is very accurate.
I highly recommend this one if you don't want fancy features such as mp3, pda, ect. like me.
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4 out
of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
Garmin StreetPilot c340
