Garmin nüvi 760
Manufacturer: Garmin Part number: 0100065710
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Bottom Line:
- The Garmin Nuvi 760 delivers beautifully on almost every front, but the portable navigation system hits a speed bump with its sluggish performance.
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CNET editors' review
Garmin nüvi 760 price range: $389.00
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Edited by: Antuan Goodwin
- Reviewed on: 07/30/2009
- Released on: 01/01/2008
The good: The Garmin Nuvi 760 portable navigation system features text-to-speech functionality and useful location features that help you find nearby services. The system also has a wide screen, a built-in transmitter, and other travel tools. Bluetooth hands-free calling and FM traffic reception increase the usefulness of the device.
The bad: The Nuvi 760 was occasionally sluggish to alert us to turns and to calculate routes. It's also a bit pricey.
The bottom line: The Garmin Nuvi 760 delivers beautifully on almost every front, but the portable navigation system hits a speed bump with its sluggish performance.
Editors' note: The following review is of the Garmin Nuvi 750. The Nuvi 760 is identical to the 750 in nearly every way, except that the 760 adds Bluetooth hands-free calling and an FM Traffic data receiver to its feature set. As a result, the 760 gets extra points in the features rating category and an adjusted final score.
The Garmin Nuvi series has earned a reputation as a solid line of portable navigation systems, offering accurate routing, good design, and ease of use. We've seen it in the entry-level Garmin Nuvi 200 and the more advanced Garmin Nuvi 660. So we expected much of the same from the Garmin Nuvi 750, and for the most part, it delivered, but it also disappointed us in some ways. The simple design and interface are still there, and we were happy with the text-to-speech directions and accuracy of the routes. We also really like the added "Where Am I?" location feature, which helps you pinpoint your position and nearby services in case of emergencies. That said, we weren't expecting the sluggish route recalculations and upcoming turn alerts. It didn't happen on every instance, but enough to make us take notice. And at a pricey $535.70, we expect a bit more. As such, we think we'll stick with the Garmin Nuvi 660 for now.
The Garmin Nuvi 700 series also includes the Nuvi 760 ($749.99) with integrated Bluetooth, the Nuvi 770 ($964.27) with added European maps, and the Nuvi 780 ($857.13) with MSN Direct services.
Design
The Garmin Nuvi 750 has the signature look of the Nuvi line of portable navigation systems. The silver, rectangular device is slim and lightweight at 4.8 inches wide by 3 inches high by 0.8 inch deep and 6.2 ounces. It's just slightly bigger than a deck of cards, so it's easy to travel with and transport between vehicles.
Like the newer models, the Nuvi 750 features a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) touch screen with a 480x272-pixel resolution and white backlight. Maps, text, and images looked sharp on the display, and we were able to see the screen in various lighting conditions. The touch screen itself is responsive, and the menu icons are big enough that most people should be able to use them without mistakes. Some may find the onscreen keyboard to be slightly cramped, but we like that you can choose between a QWERTY and ABC format. The overall interface and menu system are simple enough that you should be able to use the Nuvi 750 right out of the box, though you may want to check out the owner's manual for more specific settings.
While you handle most of the device's operations via the touch screen, there are a few other controls and design elements on the Nuvi 750. The left side holds a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and an SD expansion slot for loading additional maps or media files. There's a power/lock switch on top and a Mini-USB port on the bottom. Finally, the speaker and external antenna jack are located on the back.
The Garmin Nuvi 750 comes packaged with a car charger, a USB cable, a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), and reference material. The car mount is simple and easy to install, and the cradle securely held the unit in place during our road tests.
Features
The Garmin Nuvi 750 comes preloaded with City Navigator NT maps of North America and about 6 million points of interest (POI). Trip preparation can begin in a number of ways. You can enter a specific address, choose a POI, or select a location from the Recently Found or Favorites list. We're also happy to see that the Nuvi 750 now supports multi-destination routes, which was lacking in the Nuvi 660. Once you have your destination set, the system can generate directions by fastest time, shortest distance, or off road, and you can instruct it to avoid certain road types, such as toll roads and highways. There is also a detour function if you want to avoid a certain part of the given route and if you happen to get off track, don't panic, as the Nuvi 750 does automatic route recalculation. Finally, there are bicycle and pedestrian modes, so you're not restricted to using the device just in the car.
The POI database contains all the major categories (gas stations, lodging, ATMs, restaurants by cuisine type, and so forth) and more specific ones, including golf courses, gyms, and night clubs. On top of the preloaded entries, you can add custom POIs, such as safety cameras and school zones. We did a scan of the business listings around the city and found the database to be mostly accurate, though it missed some recently opened establishments.
If you don't need guidance, you can just have the Nuvi track your movements by tapping View Map. The Nuvi 750 also has the recently added "Where am I?" feature, which gives you the coordinates of your location, the nearest address and intersection. It will also list the closest hospitals, police stations, and gas stations to your position, giving you a bit of peace of mind if you're in unfamiliar territory and need access to any of these services, or if you need to give your location to a tow truck. There's also a feature that will record your last location when you remove the Nuvi 750 from the in-car mount--think of it as a marker. It's useful for situations such as remembering where you parked. When you are ready to return to the spot, just go to Where To? > Recently Found > Last Position.
Maps are available in 2D and 3D view, with day and night colors, and you can change it so north is always at the top of your screen or the direction in which you are driving is. A plus and minus icon on the map screen allows you to zoom in and out, and there's also a trip information page that displays your speed, direction, trip time, and so forth. In addition to the visual aids, you, of course, get voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions with text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi 750 also has a built-in FM transmitter so you can pipe the audio through your car's stereo for better volume.
Beyond navigation, the Garmin Nuvi 750 includes a Travel Kit like the other Nuvi models have that consists of an MP3 player, an Audible book player, a JPEG picture viewer with a slideshow function, a world clock, currency and measurement converters, and a calculator. You can expand the device's capabilities with one of Garmin's three optional software packages (available on SD cards): Language Guide ($74.99), Travel Guide (price varies depending on what region you want), and SaversGuide ($49.99). The former includes a multilingual word and phrase bank with support for nine languages and dialects and five bilingual dictionaries.
Performance
We tested the Garmin Nuvi 750 in San Francisco and from a cold start, it took the unit about 3 minutes to get a fix on our location under clear skies, while subsequent starts were much faster. The receiver was strong as it held onto the GPS fix even as we drove through the skyscraper-lined streets of the Financial District. We did notice, however, that the Nuvi 750 was occasionally off a block or so with our position.
We also entered our standard test trip from the Marina District of San Francisco to CNET's downtown headquarters. The Nuvi 750 came back with a calculated route within a few seconds and a quick scan of the directions showed that they were accurate. We were pleased with the voice directions, as they were loud and clear, and the text-to-speech functionality was impressive, as it pronounced street names with good accuracy. However, there were a couple of instances when the system was late in telling us when to turn. Fortunately, there's automatic route recalculation, and though the Nuvi 750 always got us back on track, we also experienced some sluggishness here, too. This was all a bit disappointing and unexpected, as we've generally gotten good performance from previous Garmin GPS devices.
User reviews
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Works very well; accurate; lots of POI; great interface
by PB G4 on October 9, 2007
Pros: Very accurate, easy to use - 6 million Points of Interest
Cons: None at this point
Summary: I purchased this unit after a very disappointing experience with the TomTom 720, which couldn't even locate my 1978-vintage house and suggested some odd routes (see my TomTom 720 ...
Summary: I purchased this unit after a very disappointing experience with the TomTom 720, which couldn't even locate my 1978-vintage house and suggested some odd routes (see my TomTom 720 review). The Garmin Nuvi 760 found my house, suggested eactly the routes I usually take on my test trips and does SO much more very, very well.
The interface in general is very easy - the go to interface has 6 million points of interest. It had every restaurant that came to mind for my look-up test. Some rather new. Wow.
The screen is very crisp and clear. The bluetooth was no problem to set up with my Blackberry 8703e (Sprint) and now all the points of interest are that much more useful with phone numbers / call options for each.
It has great setting features - like being able to go from an "ABC" key layout to QWERTY, or selecting from an "automobile", "bicycle", or "pedestrian" mode - very handy.
It also adds a great direct "where am I" feature that gives your position at the touch of a button and then lists all the emergency service links (police, fire, hospital) on the side (you can also see those through the POI list).
It had multi-segment trip ability AND simulated GPS run through of a route - so it takes you through a route as if you were driving it, when you're really just at the kitchen table.
Okay, so great features that so far seem to be executed well, but I don't want those to take away from what really impressed me about the unit the most: very accurate and great routing - which after all are the key GPS functions and ones which at least the other company I tried seemed to miss on.37 out of 37 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great GPS Best I have hAD
by OrlandoRealtor on December 1, 2007
Pros: Availability to sort routes ,Brighter Screen, Bluetooth is great.
Cons: None So Far
Summary: Had my 760 a few weeks and first observations
1. My screen is really bright and I like it.No problem seeing it even at night. Seems brighter than the ...Summary: Had my 760 a few weeks and first observations
1. My screen is really bright and I like it.No problem seeing it even at night. Seems brighter than the 680.
2.The mount seems improved also.Locks the Nuvi on better and has a quick release button.Easy to use.
3.Signal is great! Mine picks in 15-20 seconds after I turn it on.It is between 11-17 feet accuracy.
4.Love to be able to sort routes, That is what I bought it for and it works great so far.
5.The voices are good but the speaker is smaller than the 680 so they are not quite as loud but still very good.
6.Re-routes quickly when you go offtrack.
7 Road lock does not seem to be a problem, have not run in to that scenario yet.
8.Really like it being thinner than the 680. Put them side-by-side in Best Buy tonight and you could really tell. Fits in my pocket better.Best Buys 760 unit was Solid Glossy Black, Mine I like better it is Matt Black nice finish with a silver stripe in the middle
9. My cellphone works better and people and understand what I am saying clearly. Had a problem with this on the 680.
Really glad so far that I updated from the 680. Traffic works fine with the cable provided but I bought an MSN cable as I prefer the MSN. Also I emailed Garmin about a Mapsource CD and they emailed back “it’s on the way to you free”.14 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wonderful GPS
by bigd1967 on December 2, 2007
Pros: Easy Interface, nice screen. Fully loaded with many options including msn direct
Cons: Speaker could be louder. Sometimes hickups when calling out streets.
Summary: All in all, I'm very impressed with this unit. I have been looking out for it for several months now and was on the fence between this model and ...
Summary: All in all, I'm very impressed with this unit. I have been looking out for it for several months now and was on the fence between this model and the nuvi 680 which is also an excellent piece of equipment. I like how the antenna was integrated into the design of the unit. I have noticed no downside to this as I have always had quick connects to gps signals. The screen is bright and easy to see in sunlight. This unit along with other garmin units, has as easy learning curve when it comes to figuring out it's many options and settings. I live in the Houston area and the MSN Direct features work GREAT! I had some reservations about it, but after kicking the tires on the program for awhile, it has givin me correct gas prices and for the most part has beem very accurate to traffic updates. Now, I live just outside the Houston area and it still shows full bars on msn's own meter for reception. Now, this unit didn't come with the MSN Direct Receiver/power cord rather then it came with the FM Traffic alone version instead which also seem to gather information with ease. I was able to attain the MSN direct power cord/antenna for a reasonable cost although these things are expensive accessories. I found it a very worthwhile expense. I just wish they had one power cord that had both FM Traffic/Msn Direct in one. Having to bring 2 cords around is a hassle, but what can you do. Now the style of the unit in my opinion is improved over the ever ageing style of the former 300/600 series nuvis. They have 2 case styles of this unit. It comes in a standard matte black front and back and sides in matalic gray at most locations you will find on the internet or local area vendors. Now, Best Buy carries the unit in a full Black High Gloss version that I got. I just prefer the look and in no way takes away from the other style or performance of the other unit. On the Road the device has been very accurate and has an option to offer a great amount of details as you pan out on the screen to maintain maximum amount of data with area streets etc. I love details and the only drawback to that settings is the redraw of the maps as it moves is slowed down sligtly but hardly noticeable unless you are looking for it. I like driving on the main highways and it shows the current speed limits posted on the unit. There is so much good I could say about this unit, but others have all ready made their comments so I won't repeat. I will say that for an all in one unit it contains many features, some I will use and some I may never not. But, it's nice to have all those features there regardless for those moments when you just never know. I rank this unit on personal usage and open mindeness when scoring it so others out there wanting fair minded reviews can make their own judgement. It's just an incredible piece of hardware.
10 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great GPS in a Small Package
by dentalrep on February 8, 2008
Pros: Small size, Bluetooth, MSN Direct Enhanced, Bright Screen
Cons: No Custom Avoidances, No categories under Favorites, No Attention tone while on the phone and a turn is coming up, Bluetooth issues with some Blackberries, no remote
Summary: I have been a Garmin supporter for along time. I am coming from a feature packed 2820 and I have had to sacrifice a lot of features going to the ...
Summary: I have been a Garmin supporter for along time. I am coming from a feature packed 2820 and I have had to sacrifice a lot of features going to the Nuvi.I am going to start off with the negative first:
I had a lot of issues with the Bluetooth version 3.0 with my Blackberry with disconnects. I called Garmin and they had me downgrade the Bluetooth software and now it works great.
I also live in Houston and I used custom avoidances on my 2820. What was nice about that feature is a could tell the unit to NEVER take me a certain way. This was useful because certain roads look great on a map but are a pain to drive.
I am also getting used to not having a remote. If I was on a call I used to be able to just push volume up on my remote. Now I have to reach over and go into the menu.
I use my GPS for work and personal. Having categories in your favorite folder was useful for me. I had a work folder and a personal folder. So when I want to go somewhere with the wife I don't have to sort through 100's of doctors.
My last gripe has to do with the handsfree operation. While on a call and you are following a route there is no longer a ding to let you know that a turn is coming up. I have already missed a ton of turns because I am in sles and live on the phone between going to Doctors' offices. Also the speaker is weak and tinny when you bump up the volume. If you are on a highway you have to be at 80% or above for it to be a comfortable conversation. I will be hardwireing my audio out to my car radio as a result of the poor performance.
Now for the good, traffic alerts work well. The screen is bright and very readable. The vehicle icons are cool and you can download more. You can run a mic to the cradle base for better sound while on a call. The size of the unit is great.8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Garmin's best yet
by wmoss7 on November 7, 2007
Pros: Larger screen, Bluetooth, FM transmitter
Cons: Shorter battery life, due to larger screen...but OK
Summary: I travel a lot and having a navigation unit mounted in the middle of my dashboard doesn't do me a lot of good when my car is parked at ...
Summary: I travel a lot and having a navigation unit mounted in the middle of my dashboard doesn't do me a lot of good when my car is parked at the airport. This Nuvi 760 is replacing my Nuvi 350, as I wanted Bluetooth...I've had it about a week now and no complaints. The Bluetooth was a snap to set up with my Motorola Razor, it even downloade all the telephone numbers automatically. The FM transmitter is great and easy to operate and the sound of your cellphone or audio through you car speakers is really great. The lack if an antenna sticking out the back is a nice improvement.
They have also improved the suction cup window mount, much better that the one that came with my Nuvi 350, this one stay put. Start-up seems much faster and the wide screen is nice other than the larger screen reduces battery life...my will run about 4.5 hrs with the brightness at 50%, but since it's usually used in the car and hooked up to the 12v battery life is not an issue. Lots of new and easy to use features. I continue to look at other Mfg's to find a better GPS unit but you just can't beat Garmin quality and support. this is my 7th GPS of one sort or another and it's so far the best yet...but nothing rate a 108 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Will buy when it becomes available
by Jon Austin on September 12, 2007
Pros: Fixes some nuvi 660 shortcomings
Cons: Not yet available for purchase
Summary: I went shopping for portable/mobile GPS systems today (birthday gift for my wife), and came home with a nuvi 660. Then I started reading specs, reviews, etc.
I've ...Summary: I went shopping for portable/mobile GPS systems today (birthday gift for my wife), and came home with a nuvi 660. Then I started reading specs, reviews, etc.
I've decided to take the 660 back and wait for the 760 to become available for purchase. It seems to fix some of the shortcomings of the nuvi 660; for example, it will save up to 10 routes (the 660 will save none), allow you to specify 'via' points, etc.
I'm presuming that performance otherwise will be on-par with the 660. I couldn't find anywhere, but hope that the in-car charger plugs directly into the GPS device itself, and not into the suction-cup mount, as with the 660. Either way, it won't be a deal-breaker for me.
I also presume that the map data out of the box will be more current that the 660.6 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An excellent portable GPS system.
by ca_mustang on December 9, 2007
Pros: Easy to use, very accurate, well supported.
Cons: Pricey, non user replaceable battery,
Summary: I tried to do my homework on portable GPS systems before I bought my new system, the Garmin Nuvi 760. My previous system is the Navman 4420. I bought the ...
Summary: I tried to do my homework on portable GPS systems before I bought my new system, the Garmin Nuvi 760. My previous system is the Navman 4420. I bought the 4420 for 2 main reasons - 1. it is a Bluetooth enabled GPS receiver; and 2. it works with my HP iPAQ RX3715. Navman no longer sells or supports the separate 4420 GPS receiver and software so I cannot get map updates; time to change systems. My experience with the Navman/iPAQ combination system was “okay”.
I have owned the Nuvi 760 for 2 weeks and have used it in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Detroit locations.
I narrowed my search for a new GPS using web reviews. The top products I considered were the TomTom 920 and the Garmin Nuvi 760. My selection of the Nuvi 760 was heavily influenced from friends who raved about the Nuvi 660. The Nuvi 760 is mostly an updated version of the 660. Nothing in this review is specific to my use of the TomTom since I do not have it and have not used it. There are several sites where you can compare features between the Garmin and the TomTom such as http://www.gpsreview.net/compare-gps/?gps=1214-1197.
On the positive side:
Ease of use: The Nuvi 760 is very easy to use. My old Navman required me to start the 4420, connect the 4420 with the iPAQ via Bluetooth, configure and use the SmartST software for the iPAQ. The Nuvi760 . . . well, just turn on the system. My first destination was to my home from the location where I bought the unit. I did not read the instructions to set up or to enter my destination. I just turned the unit on and used the “Where to” function of the Nuvi. (Real men do not need instructions [or travel directions]; or at least they do not admit it.) Getting back home was easy, intuitive and accurate. I found this to be true of all of the locations I have used the unit to find.
Start up: A GPS receiver determines your position by collecting signals from geosynchronous satellites and triangulating your position from their signals. Satellite acquisition time is about the same for the Nuvi 760 compared to the Navman 4420; roughly 5 seconds (“warm” start) to 45 seconds (“cold start” from a new area). I prefer the Navman satellite acquisition display, I can see the number of satellites (up to 12) I am receiving and their relative strength - green, yellow or red - good, fair, poor. The Nuvi shows 6 bars for satellite reception; also red, yellow, green, but as an overall indicator, not by individual satellite. Not a big deal but different. Actual satellite acquisition time is about the same for the two systems. NOTE: Acquisition time is much faster when standing still. If you are moving it seems to confuse the GPS receiver.
Finding locations: The Nuvi clearly excels over Navman here. The Navman requires satellite acquisition before selecting a destination, the Nuvi does not. This is a significant improvement if you are trying to set up a route inside your starting point before you leave. (NOTE: The Nuvi 760 has all of the North America maps; the Navman requires you have to have loaded the appropriate maps to ROM memory - internal, or external SD cards). SmartST breaks many cities into subsections which the Nuvi does not. The SmartST system can be a very confusing method when trying to pick a destination location where you are not familiar with the location of the destination. The Nuvi can readily find streets, POI (Points Of Interest - like store names) and intersections from user input. You can also enter a few characters and have a list of possible candidates displayed for you to select. You can type location data using a user configurable ABCDEF or QWERTY virtual keyboard. I have noticed that POIs are not complete; I do not know if this is because Garmin requires a royalty to be included in their POI listings. I have a UPS store near me that does not display when using “UPS” as a search criterion and it has been there at least 6 years. Not a major problem but a relevant observation. Route calculation is quick and accurate.
Map coverage: The Nuvi 760 includes all North American maps - Canada, US and Mexico. The SmartST software included only the US and Canada and specific maps had to be loaded to my iPAQ by state or province (or parts of states/provinces). The TomTom boasts North America and Europe. I do travel in Europe on business so the Nuvi 770 may have been a better choice since it includes North America and Europe. I may have to buy the European maps. Here the TomTom 920 may have an advantage since it includes the North America and European maps. I have used the Garmin 760 North American maps in the SF Bay area, Chicago and Detroit and found the maps to be quite good.
Bluetooth: I wanted Bluetooth connectivity to use my Samsung Blackjack cell phone with the unit. It works very well except transmitting voice from the Nuvi. Voice pickup of the Nuvi is poor. This has been pointed out in several reviews. I cannot say if the TomTom works better. Receiving and hearing calls is good enough. I may need to buy a voice receiver so the party I am calling can hear me better. This is a clear negative for the capabilities of the Nuvi 760. Still, adding the cell phone via Bluetooth was easy. Cell phone integration does not exist for the Navman 4420.
Traffic problem reporting: The Nuvi 760 includes a 90 day FM traffic information subscription. I have not found this not to be particularly useful except for reporting the travel time delay to be expected versus open road travel times. It does offer the ability to “avoid” road segments but only if the software can calculate an alternate route near where you are. This alternate route did not exist for my commute home from the SF Bay area or on the trip to Chicago O’Hare’s airport. I did get a delay estimate because of the heavy traffic which was marginally useful. This feature is only “okay” for me so I may or may not renew the subscription to the optional service ($60 per year).
Data Storage: The Nuvi 760 includes 2GB of ROM storage and about 512MB is free out of the box. The storage can be used for additional maps. MP3 files, audio books, and other add-ons (like additional vehicle icons or commercial and user created POI files). The TomTom 720 boasts 4GB of ROM but I do not know how much is useable; one review says 170MB is available on the TomTom. The Navman SmartST software allows SD card expansion for additional maps only.
Not so positive:
Price: The Nuvi 760 is more expensive than a lot of GPS systems, including the TomTom 920. My best advice is to surf the internet for best pricing. I paid $599 for my unit ($20 more expensive than the cheapest web site but I got it same day from a local distributor). The TomTom 920 tends to be less expensive.
Turn navigation: One of the negatives of the Nuvi is the distance from your turn when the voice directions tell you to turn. This is a valid issue; however, I found the Nuvi warns you several times as you approach a turn. I found that if you pay attention to the early warnings you are well prepared to take a turn even if you are right on the turn before the final turn notification.
Carrying case: For $600 you would think Garmin could include a protective carrying case; it does not. While this is not a major issue it is an irritant to pay another $20 to get a cover to protect the unit when removing it from the car.
AC adapter: The Nuvi does not include an AC charger. The unit has a built in lithium ion battery, a DC charger/adapter for the car (with FM traffic information receiver), and a USB cable to attach the unit to your PC/laptop for data transfer and charging. (I am charging my Nuvi using the USB cable as I prepare this review.) One thing I really like about the Navman is the user replaceable AAA batteries. I know that sooner or later the non-replaceable battery in my Nuvi will no longer hold a charge; I will have to send the unit in for service and/or buy a new system. To me, user replaceable batteries should be standard.
Overall: I would recommend the Nuvi 760 to friends and family looking for a portable GPS unit. I would say it is about an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. If price is a major consideration, look at the Garmin 660 as an alternative.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works as advertised
by rc_allen on November 27, 2007
Pros: Everything is intuitive
Cons: Likes freeways instead of back roads
Summary: After a disasterous experience with the MIO C520 (returned), the Garmin 760 is welcome relief. It is EASY to use and it works! My only complaint is that it likes ...
Summary: After a disasterous experience with the MIO C520 (returned), the Garmin 760 is welcome relief. It is EASY to use and it works! My only complaint is that it likes to send me on major highways when I know they are not the best route. The returned MIO 520 was good at the back roads, but had some "show stopper" deficiencies. The Garmin 760 wants me to return to the preferred route a bit too long after I take the back roads. But it figures it out after a while. The configuration choices for the 760 are "fastest" and "Shortest", but the freeways are NOT the fastest as one might expect. For areas where the user is clueless, the Garmin would be a great tool. I have no major complaints.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This top of the line GPS is a must have.
by markjrenna on July 6, 2008
Pros: Beautiful and bright 4.3" screen with “Text To Speech”, Traffic, and Bluetooth.
Cons: No carry case or house AC adapter are far from show stoppers.
Summary: My wife and I have been using Garmin C320 GPS in each of our cars since 2005. It was time for an upgrade. I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 760 and ...
Summary: My wife and I have been using Garmin C320 GPS in each of our cars since 2005. It was time for an upgrade. I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 760 and we love it. Here is a little overview about how I decided what to get and some of the key features we had to have.
My “must haves” in the new GPS were “Text To Speech”, Traffic, Bluetooth, no flip out antenna, and a 4.3” screen.
I did a lot of research on Magellan, TomTom and Garmin models meeting my “must haves”. My conclusions were as follows: The Magellan incorporates AAA and that I feel is a really nice touch. The TomTom’s come pretty loaded but seem a bit more complex. The Garmin’s interface hasn’t changed form the C320 but Garmin has added a slew of additional features in comparison to my C320.
Since the new GPS wasn’t only for me but for my wife, I decided to keep the learning curve to a minimum and decided I would choose another Garmin model since we are both experienced with them. Now, which one? I looked at all Nuvi units. I narrowed my choices down to the 255W, 760, and 780. Each of these include 4.3” screens, “Text To Speech”, Bluetooth, no flip out antenna, and are Traffic ready. The 255W does not include either the FM TMC Traffic or the MSN Direct power adapter. The 760 includes the FM TMC Traffic power adapter while the 780 includes the MSN Direct power adapter.
When I started to check pricing I was noticing that the 255W is the same price as the 760 but did not include any Traffic power adapter. I also noticed the 255W power is connected directly to the unit. More on this in a moment. I decided it was off my short list and my choice was now between the 760 and the 780. I decided on the 760 since the price was more that 100 dollars cheaper then the 780. I can always ad the MSN Direct power adapter later and I will have the FM TMC Traffic power adapter as well.
Another reason I decided against the 255W is that the power is connected directly into the unit and not the mount. It is so much easier to remove the unit from the mount and not have to worry about disconnecting the power cord as well. Convenience is another key factor I should have mentioned.
The first thing I did once I got the 760 was register it at the Garmin web site. Once I did I was able to update the unit’s software and Maps. Garmin has a “Web Updater” software download on their web site. Connect the 760 via the supplied USB cable and run the Web Updater Software. The software will check for the latest version of system firmware/software and update the 760. That worked very well I might add.
The 760 came with 2008 Maps but the 2009 Map update is available via Garmin’s web site. If you buy the 760 now you can call to get the 2009 Maps free if it does not come with them. Garmin uses NAVTEQ Maps and from what I have read, are more accurate for the USA. The web site was telling me to buy them but I made a quick phone call to Garmin and verified my purchase via email with one of their support staff. A few minutes later I was able to either download or get a DVD with the 2009 Maps. The DVD is $10 and that is for shipping. I opted for the download. The 2009 Map file is large, around 2 Gigabytes so it took about 20 minutes to download via my cable modem. Once downloaded I ran the setup and it updated my 760 to the 2009 Maps. It was pretty easy but including the download it took about an hour. I also created a DVD with the 2009 Map file for safe keeping. The map is the Complete North America Maps. On the C320 the maps had to be uploaded and not all of the USA would fit. The 760 is fully loaded with the USA and Canada. Very nice!
While I was online I looked at the Garmin “Extras” available for download and decided to add a few new Vehicles. Pretty cool.
Once I finished updating the 760 I took it to my car and mounted it. The mount is just a couple of pieces and the 760 mounts securely in seconds. The power cable connects to the mount and not the unit so that the unit can be removed from the mount easily with no wires to disconnect. The mounting is excellent. I also purchased the optional “Portable Friction Mount” which sits on the dash. I highly recommend this so that you can easily hide the 760, mount and all, on the cars floor. Very easy as compared to the supplied suction cup mount and doesn’t leave that suction cup ring on the windshield. Seems thieves love to smash and grab navigation units so the Friction Mount is great as it leaves no evidence visible you have a 760 in the car.
I am amazed at how quickly the 760 acquires Satellites. When I did the software/firmware update it installed SiRF Star III Quick Fix. This allows the 760 to acquire satellites very quickly. So far every time the unit has been off to powered on it has acquired satellites as soon as it is booted up. Total time from off to “Ready to Navigate” is about 30 seconds.
The Nuvi 760 has a beautiful, bright, and crisp looking 4.3” display. The fonts have been updated and the graphics are much better than my C320. I really like the new Automatic Zoom in and out based on distance to the next turn and destination. You can see the destination Checkered Flag and Via Point Flags are Orange. A nice touch is that your Personal Addresses display on the Map.
The 760 speaks street names “Text To Speech”. Nice feature instead of turn right in 200 feet. There is no maneuver Ding like on the C320 but I’m not sure it is needed with the additional spoken information.
The 760 includes Bluetooth so I was able to pair the wife’s phone in about a minute. Really simple. The Phone Book from the Phone transfers to the 760 along with Recently Dialed, Recently Received, and Recent Missed calls. Very cool. Once you start populating the 760 with your “Favorite” destination addresses you can manually add Phone Numbers to your Favorite addresses if needed. This is very nice since you can touch the Favorite you want and touch the little phone icon and dial that number. You can talk “Hands Free” via your 760 and I was pretty happy with the voice quality. I read a few instances where people say it doesn’t work well or sound good. This isn’t the case for us as I find it to work very well and sound really good. A valuable and convenient feature. On our first trip together we needed a certain item and we were able to pull up stores we thought would have it and simply touched the phone icon and called them to see if they carried what we needed. Once we found the store that had what we needed we were able to easily navigate to it. Very convenient and easy to use. I recommend the 760 with Bluetooth. Very nice.
Searching for any of the included 6 million Points of Interests is easy and the POI Search displays Names and Addresses in the results. The additional address is a nice touch to see just how far away a result is if you know the town and how far away it is from you. The keyboard can be set to QWERTY and that makes typing so much easier if you are familiar with a PC keyboard. And who isn’t now a days. Another nice feature is there is a drop down that will allow you to access and insert recent Searches without having to retype them since they are remembered by the 760. Another nice feature.
Another very nice feature is you can create multiple destinations and have them automatically sorted for the optimal route. You can keep adding stops or via points and you can even remove them. You can manually reorder them to your liking or let the 760 automatically reorder the best route for you. Great if you need to run some errands at two or three different stores. The 760 will get you to each in the most efficient way.
The 760 has a “Where Am I” feature that is very nice. It will show you Hospitals, Fuel, and Police stations that are near to where you are at. It will also indicate the nearest Address and nearest Intersection. This is great to see just where you are and can be provided to law enforcement in an emergency or to tell someone exactly where you are in an unknown area. Your Elevation is also indicated.
As you drive there is an icon that will display the Speed Limit for the road you are on. A little reminder to check your speed and keep it safe.
Maybe on of the best features are the Real Time Traffic updates. The 760 comes with the FM Traffic power adapter. The Traffic adapter is in place of a regular power adapter so the only thing different is it is it has some LED’s and it is a little larger where it gets plugged into the car’s power. Of course you need to be in an area that is covered by FM Traffic. If you are in a covered area than it can take about 10 minutes to get traffic data. Once data is in the 760 it will display on the map and on a separate Traffic screen. One bad thing is once power is lost so is the traffic data. It may take another 10 minutes or so the acquire traffic data again. Traffic issues are displayed on the main map screen with different colors and an appropriate traffic icon on your route as you approach them. An icon in the lower right will also show you how much time traffic is causing your delay. This time is automatically added to your current route. If the traffic is deemed too much then the 760 will recalculate a new route almost seamlessly to divert you around the traffic. There is plenty of traffic related detail on a separate screen if you want to access it. You can also touch the “Avoid” or “Detour” to force the 760 to reroute around traffic. The included FM Traffic comes with a 3 Months free Trial then it is $60.00 per year. Worth it if you are on the road a lot and your travels are within the covered areas.
I think I am going to get the MSN Direct (separate power adapter) after the 3 month trial expires. The MSN Direct includes Traffic, Gasoline prices, and Weather alerts. There is more to MSN Direct but these features make it more worth it to me. Another nice thing about the MSN Direct is that you can opt for a one time lifetime payment and you’re done.
These are all the features for us that make the 760 a really nice GPS unit. There are many pluses and only a few drawbacks. Two drawbacks are; no House AC Adapter and no Carry Case for storage. But, if you have a USB cell phone then you can probably use your AC charger for the phone as I do.
I recommend the Garmin Portable Friction mount for the dash. Easy to put in place and hide on the cars floor. I also recommend getting the Garmin Carry Case.
I was able to shop the web and find the 760 for about $350.00. The Portable Friction Mount and the Carry Case were another $50.00. So for about $400.00 I got a very nice Navigation unit. For us the 760 is a wonderful GPS. It is beautiful and sleek. The features it includes are a valuable addition and make traveling even short distances easier and more enjoyable. I highly recommend the 760 to anyone looking for a new personal GPS unit.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST OUT THERE, NO ROCKET SCIENTISTS NEEDED
by touareg1 on September 30, 2007
Pros: EASE OF USE....PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cons: PRICE WAS MY ONLY CONCERN .NEED TO GET MORE OF THESE OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
Summary: I TRIED THESE BRANDS, TOMTOM, MAGELLAN,LG, COBRA,ETC.GREAT EFFORT,BUT KNOW PRIZES.CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR THESE BRANDS WERE OK TO HORRIBLE.SOME TECH HELP DIDNT EVEN KNOW THEY ...
Summary: I TRIED THESE BRANDS, TOMTOM, MAGELLAN,LG, COBRA,ETC.GREAT EFFORT,BUT KNOW PRIZES.CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR THESE BRANDS WERE OK TO HORRIBLE.SOME TECH HELP DIDNT EVEN KNOW THEY SUPPORTED THE MODEL NUMBER I GAVE THEM.THEY WOULD PUT ME ON HOLD AND SAY THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOCATE A DEMO AND WORK WITH ME.WHEN THEY CAME BACK ON AFTER BEING ON HOLD FOR 20 MINUTES ,THEY WOULD SAY JUST GO THROUGH THE UNIT AND GIVE IT SOME TIME (TRIAL AND ERROR). GARMIN ON THE OTHER HAND WAS ALWAYS ON THE MONEY. VERY PROFESSIONAL AND TECH BRILLIANT.
4 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Garmin
- Part number: 0100065710
- Description: Loaded and wide, nüvi 760 has it all - advanced navigation features, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter, hands-free calling, traffic alerts and more. Like the rest of the wide nüvi 700-series, its premium navigation capabilities, like route planning and a handy locator, give you peace of mind on the go. With nüvi 760's widescreen display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is easy to read - from any direction. nüvi 760 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, nüvi 760 accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. The European version even includes a preloaded safety camera database containing locations of cameras for parts of Europe.
General
- Recommended Use Automotive
- Preloaded Maps North America
- Integrated Components Digital player
- Card Reader SD Memory Card
- Interface USB
- Functions & Services Automatic route navigation
- Traffic TMC (Traffic Message Channel)
- Voice Street name announcement,
Navigation instructions - Included Software MapSource City Navigator North America NT
- Features Built-in FM modulator,
Garmin Lock,
2D / 3D map perspective,
Built-in microphone ,
Hands-free calling via Bluetooth ,
Preinstalled POIs,
Custom POIs,
Built-in speaker Display
- Type TFT - Color - Yes
- Diagonal Size 4.3 in - Widescreen
- Resolution 480 x 272
- Display Illumination Yes
- Features Anti-glare
Navigation
- Waypoints 500
- Navigation routes 10
- Waypoints per route 10
- Trip computer Fast/short route,
Back-On-Track,
Avoid toll roads,
Avoid highways Media Player
- Supported Audio Formats MP3
- Supported Image Formats JPG
Connections
- Connector Type USB
Battery
- Type Lithium ion
- Run Time (Up To) 5 hour(s)
Miscellaneous
- Design Features FM,
MP3 player ,
Audio book player ,
Picture viewer ,
Clock ,
Currency converter ,
Measurement converter,
Calculator ,
Touchscreen - Included Accessories USB cable,
Automotive windshield mount Dimensions & Weight
- Width 4.8 in
- Depth 0.8 in
- Height 3 in
- Weight 6.7 oz
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Garmin
Specs: Automotive,
Street name announcement,
Navigation instructions,
Anti-glare,
North America,
5 hour(s),
6.7 oz -
Manufacturer: Garmin
Specs: Automotive,
Street name announcement,
Navigation instructions,
Anti-glare,
North America,
5 hour(s),
6.7 oz
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- Alpine PDX-1.600M - amplifier (32901980)249.95 - 599.99
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- Alpine X-Power MRX-F65 - amplifier (35187715)249.00 - 349.99
