* * After updating FW4 that followed. 0 units upgrade would load the maps. . . . Turn the unit on Amazon RMA for a test on a replacement. Crossing fingers, when I returned a Garmin previously happy customer.

* Update * 9/10/08 and received 780 from the Amazon, almost no Hastle. Very good return / replacement process. A new device is functional – but not start a couple of times with 4 0 Firmware, which is now owned by Garmin. Overall – I like the look of the new entity – but functional – I give my old 680 thumbs up on the touch screen experience some buttons for MSN, a faster response when using menus . Big plus for the 780 is the treatment of multi-dest-routing. 3 star rating comes after the exchange, 4 stars, when the device first, which was not locked.
Rating: 1 / 5

The 780 is much thinner and lighter than the 550 and therefore probably less likely to be guided by the windshield covered only when you need it most. Tip: If you have any problems with your Sucker fall after a few days, a pop-candy in her mouth, she licks suck a little, then cut and paste it. This may seem a little unsanitary, but the sugar is mixed with saliva is a great attachment to the glass.

Market pressures have prompted manufacturers to charge Route Finders GPS with all sorts of things that I suspect very little used. For example, in a time when almost all new cars with relatively good sound system, how many people in their GPS as an MP3 player, or come to the image viewer? Or rely on them as a currency converter or calculator? I do not know, maybe people use all the time. In any case, these and all are available.

To my surprise, the engine seems routefinding slower than the 780 the 550, the new card, even with low complexity settings. Not slow enough to annoy, but noticeable in comparison. Unlike other critics, I do not find them inadequate roads, although no system is smart enough to accurately predict traffic conditions and can attract an intergovernmental recommend as the fastest “route and let you stuck in slow traffic for longer periods of time.

Speaking of traffic, I’m from MSN Direct in terms of either the timeliness or accuracy of the traffic situation in the reports underwhelmed. Too often, a grunt or an accident has happened, and MSN has not reported a problem report that MSN has already been deleted. The other MSN features work well enough as far as I can judge.

I am not to blame for the Garmin map and traffic problems, I believe, simply by providing limited prior art.

In 2009, the card NavTech is fairly complete, even in an urban area with rapid growth like me. However, I found some bugs. For example, it keeps my house is four houses from its current location, a problem that I never noticed with previous units.

As the physical properties, the build quality is outstanding and the owner is a real improvement compared to the 6xx series. There were some comments about a lack of volume but it was not a problem for me, although I have a hearing loss and driving a performance car with a fair bit of engine noise.

As always with Garmin, the interface is clear, direct, clear and intuitive. I still have a look at a unique user screen brightness manual is higher than the 2xx series.

The SiRF Star III chipset and implementation of the antenna is excellent. Measurement time is much faster than the 550 and I have never faded together, even if only temporarily, in the canyons of Manhattan.

For. . .

PROS:
big screen is definitely worth the money when situational awareness is important to you.
The maps are highly detailed and -.
screen resolution, color, intensity and visibility is excellent.
menus are simple and clear.
Build quality for both the unit and all is very good.
routing correctly and appropriately within the limits of technology.
Satellite acquisition is quick and the reception is excellent.
“Where am I” is comfortable and can save your life.
pairs Bluetooth works perfectly without effort, and has an excellent sound in both directions.
device is equipped with little extras (this may be a con, depending on POV)

CONS:
Routefinding and redraws are slower than previous models.
Navtec maps contain some errors of localization does not appear in earlier versions.
equipment is scrapped up with extras (this may be a professional, depending on POV)
MSN Direct is hardly useful to the movement, but has other properties which may be of interest to some.
FM Transmitter is essentially useless in an urban environment.
Rarely, voice calls slow.

In short, an excellent product that would be a few changes, great. Well worth a purchase fund, if at a deep discount.
Rating: 4 / 5

The Sony [unity. . . ] If Costco and a 4th Screen 8 “(1 / 2″ bigger!). It is one of the best user interfaces on the market, particularly on a number of things: 1) You can always return to the map by pressing a button, wherever you are, 2) you can always go main menu by pressing a button, regardless of where you are in the menus, 3) has a feature split screen that allows Fahrspurassistent visually, so you know, fit the, in, well before the collapse, 4), shortcuts, for example, GO HOME, a V shape on the screen and you take home. . . Does not require navigating menus

On the bottom side, Sony has taken an eternity to calculate or re-routes to be calculated, and in many cases, I missed the new re-shoot because it took too long to know. It also took longer routes than the Garmin, commonly used to avoid the roads for no apparent reason, and I would not be on roads that are shown on the map and clear the shortest path. Last of all, the Sony still has a satellite fix when turned on to win. And the Sony mount was soooo cool and very useful! For $ 249, you receive free installation and a nice bag. I have no option was to use the service to TMC traffic information.

The Garmin 680 ($ 349 at Costco), a beautiful device with a very quick delivery and accurate. She noted points of interest quickly and accurately (Sony often they could not find). However, I liked the slim size of 780 and the fact that the antenna has been installed, so I kept the 780, despite the additional costs.

What I like about the 780 (and 680):

1 MSN Direct is very practical and I use every day for weather, news, fuel costs and cinema.

2 Course calculations very fast.

3 I’ve never watched a POI that was not present.

4 tour routes that you can download (for about $ 12 each are) cool. You can self-tours of a few hours, are designed to do for you, tell you where to visit along the route.

5 The possibility of points on a type of route is practical. If you exceed 10 pitches in a day, they all give in and put them in the order most effectively.

6 There are rest areas on motorways. The Sony does not and that’s annoying when you try to determine whether you should stop at a gas station or wait at a rest stop if you have three kids in the car on long journeys.

What I would change on the 780 too? Many things, and most of them would not cost money to implement Garmin. These are minor adjustments that they must respect points

Bad the Garmin 780:

1 When I go to the menu system, I can get 7 or 8 levels of depth that I want to do. To return to the map, I have to keep pressing the back button, up to 8 times to return to the map. Stupid!

2 When I go to a menu and decide I’m done, but do not want to “Back” button again and again, the unit will remain in the menu or screen submenu forever.

3. It seems that the device that you could Fahrspurassistent expensive. The Sony does. The Tom Tom does. Why the device can almost double the cost?

4 If you turn off the car, the device asks if they are on or off. If you do not respond, the locks in 30 seconds. For people who are with supplies or running errands, it’s a real pain. This would be set to give another opportunity to see how long it should wait before starting the device (such as options 1 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, for example). This would allow you to Kinkos and run again without waiting for the device to activate again, with a satellite, then finally say on his card, where to go next. Simple software change

5 It would be nice if the device run on the same screen where you left off. When you view the screen, then it should reappear on the map. If the weather on the screen, then again on the weather. I like to keep it on the weather, but I have about 6 different buttons every time I turn on the device to beat about the weather! Simple software change

6 Most GPS devices on half of these fees you will see your speed, direction and purpose of management’s report as shown on the main board. This feature requires that you go on a screen of the dashboard to give you this information. . . . You must select the card or the dashboard display. Because some people can not have this function because it could be configurable. Simple software change

7th I can not understand how to display signals from satellites / connectivity. All units have this, even just for fun.

8th for $ 500, the Garmin should include a carrying case for the device. They sell small, low weight and its “ability to know where you were when you do, from the cradle to help you and your car later,” and yet you give way to perform safely. Almost all units on the market, starting with $ 149 units include one case

9 The 780 has no manual. You have to go online for the manual, Garmin. com. Garmin will be surprised to know that not everyone has the internet (50% of households are not). Although not optimal, the Sony a fairly comprehensive guide from a CD and manual.

10 The screen looks like a cartoon, and that the absence of detailed causes. The Sony displayed a very clear plan of where you’ve actually been able to identify the road splits, acceleration lanes, etc.

11 There no way to display POI on the map. You can drive for one, but you can not just demonstrate. The Sony allows you to display POI pick, and in fact you have shown little BP, Shell, Cracker Barrel, logos, etc. on the card to you in advance, the POI nearby as you know could.

12 Many units to say how far the next turn and which direction you turn on the Garmin, you’ve learned so far to the next turn, but do not tell which way to turn until you get in about 2 / 10 of a mile. So, on most multi-lane roads, I find myself staying in the middle lane when I come so close that I can have two consequences. It should tell you which way you are rotating at least a few miles in advance! Once you are on the streets of Sony tells you that your next turn “LEFT 123 miles, and it is always displayed on the main board. Cell. Simple software change

I unit, but I’m only 3 stars because of price offers, the lack of common sense can, and lack of support in the box. There are strengths routing fast, accurate and MSN Live.
Rating: 3 / 5

The 780 acquired the necessary satellite in just a few minutes at the first activation in less than a minute for the following activations. I found the brightness of the screen to be in order for the day and night. I use the 780 with the Garmin Portable Friction Mount. Smashing windows and stealing GPS devices is the favorite sport in the metropolitan DC area, so I wanted to not show a current GPS receiver, if I’m out of the car. The friction mount works perfectly on my dashboard Honda Accord and fits easily in the center console, so that no trace of a GPS behind. Very cool. The 780 slips easily into a shirt pocket, it is not necessary to leave in the car.

I tested the 780 now going to peak at a residence on the river a maze of streets in the park of the box, and then again during the night. The Garmin had no trouble creating a very fast towards the goal that most of bypassing the heavy traffic at peak hours. Circumvented by my return, I turn to his preferred route. The recalculated a new route in less than a second, what exactly is the correct answer. The new line came not from the original route, which is not possible to recover the place, but an entirely new way. The routes they were collected for the corresponding periods of the day, a huge task here if you can not know which way to go the proper direction during peak hours. DC is a notoriously difficult area to navigate, but so far the Garmin seems to be the challenge.

I found the volume of internal speakers to be more than adequate, even with the radio, air conditioning, and windshield wipers going. Speech applications run next round of a reasonable amount, and voice calls always helped me to turn on the track in plenty of time to the next. During a particularly difficult section where several major roads run on a bridge, then diverge on the other side was almost constant at appropriate guidelines Garmin to ensure that I am the right fork and turn. I was very impressed.

The Bluetooth paired quickly with my Motorola RAZR V3. He even where a PIN at the appropriate time. The phone functions are good and it is easy to hear on the 780 speakers. The party was on the other side of the phone, as if I was in a tunnel, which is typical of remote devices for cars sounded. I still have a speakerphone and BT received the same comments. The Garmin on clues on the screen to make simple hands-free mobile phone.

Activation of MSN Direct service is a little over the net. On the first activation of your free 3-month study, they offer a 6 month extension for 9 U.S. dollars. 95, rising to a maximum of 9 months of service for under $ 10 – a very good deal. Information MSN Direct, took time to load the initial information, but then said that in the Quick Start booklet. Once loaded, worked the traffic, weather and message size. Gas prices are causing several days, which is an eternity in those days. My favorite (and least expensive) STATION not been registered.

Overall I am very pleased that I will be the 780th work force in coming weeks on a trip to another city with MSN Direct Service. I can not believe I was waiting so long for the jump to take a GPS unit for my car. Even if I am a master with cards, the Garmin hit an intelligent routing that I did not see before mine. From what I’ve seen so far, the 780 is a very popular addition to my Road Warrior kit bag. I can recommend the 780, without reservation.
Rating: 5 / 5