What's the greatest invention of humankind? Fire? The Wheel? The Airplane? No, no and no. Without a doubt in my mind, the greatest invention that we as a species have ever created is the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Putting hyperbole aside, GPS systems are one of those "how did we ever get by without it" technologies. GPS is working its way into many consumer level products like cellphones, cars, and other portable devices. One of the leaders in the industry is Garmin, and I've been using one of their Nuvi 360's for about a month.
Build & Design
Unlike the Roadmate line of Garmin GPS devices, the Nuvi line is small and portable. It's meant to be a travel assistant no matter how you get around (walking, biking, motorcycle, car, etc.) The device can fit in a large pocket and is extremely light weight. The built in battery makes the streamlined device possible, but is not user upgradable. Nothing feels cheap about the Nuvi, and it gives the impression that it can take some good shots and keep on ticking.The Maps and Points of Interest
The cost of a GPS device isn't in the hardware, but is in the maps. Much like previous Garmin GPS units I've used, the maps are excellent. It's a rare occasion that I'm directed to a dead end or road that no longer exists. Garmin updates their maps about once a year, which will cost you anywhere from $75 - $150 to upgrade.However, the part that makes the Nuvi stand out from the crowd is the Points of Interest database. No matter where you are, you're only a few clicks away from finding a place to eat, fill your gas tank, or catching a movie. When I was in Brooklyn recently, I found that the database was a little out of date. My wife and I tried to find a place to eat breakfast and one of the entries was out of business. I can't say we've had the same issue with the Boston area.
You can also load in your own Points of Interest using the included software. I found a website that offered a walking tour for the Boston Harbor. The tour takes you to a dozen different points of interest, and plays specific MP3 files when you reach each destination. Imagine the possibilities.
Accuracy
The last two Garmin units I've used have both been in the Roadmate line, and while they served their purpose well, I found that they could be somewhat slow to respond. After bootup, the Nuvi usually finds the satellites in 20 - 30 seconds. I've also found that it is able to keep a GPS signal through tunnels more readily than the Roadmate line. In fact, I've used the Nuvi while in my house without any issue. Don't ask.Calculating routes also appears to be much faster. Speed can sometimes be essential when you've missed your turn and the GPS unit needs to recalculate your route on the fly. Depending on how long the recalculation takes, you can sometimes miss the next course correction. This results in another recalculation. The Nuvi 360 isn't a powerhouse, but calculates the routes with ease.
Text to Speech
Remember when I said that GPS was humankind's greatest invention? Well, coming in at second place would be text to speech software. Yes, you heard me right. Most lower end GPS units will say things like, "Turn right in .2 miles." That's great, but what happens if there's several roads close together and you're not sure which one to take? That's where text to speech comes in. "Turn right on to Main St. in .2 miles." Much better! The Nuvi 360 offers this wonderful addition, and gives you several voices to choose from: Jack, Jill, Australian Jack, Australian Jill, and several other languages to boot.Conclusion
I imagine that GPS has saved more marriages than a licensed therapist. At least I think it's saved my marriage about half a dozen times. The Nuvi 360 is a top notch GPS device that I would recommend to any would-be buyer. If you're interested in routing yourself around traffic, you should consider the Nuvi 660, which also adds a larger screen. The Nuvi 360 can add the same traffic functionality with a $150 add-on.Toyman's Take: Highly Recommended.
