Garmin nuvi 880 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
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Fair- Good
Good overall but missing several needed functions. If you are used to a top line Magellan and it’s features you may not be happy with this one.
This is a GREAT GPS
I’ve had a Garmin 660 that I have loved for the past couple of years so decided to give my spouse the latest & greatest for Christmas this year. We drove across country using this newer model & we couldn’t be happier! Garmin has improved on several items from previous versions, such as the volume controls–now you can select which part you want muted, such as voice commands, but keep the bluetooth and entertainment (ie: audiobooks, MP3) at desired levels. There are also several other features that have been improved & they are all quite handy. The only complaint I would have on the logic of the device is some of the routing information–if I am on a specific route & I select the weather or restaurant feature, it would be nice if it gave you an option to just get the information that is in line with the specific route. If that is my only complaint, then you know it is a good device! I highly recommend it.
Not perfect, but the best one out there
I am a “GPS buff”, having had a GPS for flying since ‘97 and one for driving since ‘02, and have had several for various functions (flying, hiking, driving) since then. While not perfect, this is the best one I have seen for driving, and in my opinion it is the best one out there. Here are the strengths and weaknesses I have experienced.
Strengths:
- Locks onto the GPS signal like a bulldog. My old GPS would occasionally lose the satellite signal on cloudy days or while driving on a tree-lined road. With this one, I can leave the GPS sitting on the floor of the car turned on (while not in use) and it will still get and hold a signal.
- Very sharp, high resolution screen. Easy to read at night or in daylight.
- Intuitive user interface. Everything makes sense.
- Very thin and light. This makes it easier to store and transport, and it can sit closer to the window without bumping against it.
- The traffic, weather, and cheapest gas price features are great. I live outside Boston, and the traffic updates are wonderful.
- Great battery life. When traveling, I will put it into a carrying case I purchased, and not even bother bringing along the power cord. I don’t bother taking it out of the case — just wedge the whole thing between the windshield and the dashboard — and it works great with no setup effort.
- The Bluetooth remote allows you to command the GPS without using your hands or taking your eyes off the road. It works almost flawlessly, with excellent voice recognition.
- Optimizes routes with multiple destinations. If you need to go two (or three, or four…) places, it will calculate the most efficient route to go all of those places. I would imagine delivery drivers love it.
- The 880 speaks the street names (for example, “In 500 feet, turn right on Adams Street”). The spoken street name really help you figure out where to turn when you have roads very close together.
- Always shows you your next turn in text at the top of the screen. Also, an icon on the left of the screen tells you the current speed limit. Getting a text version of your entire route (like MapQuest) is one finger push away.
Weaknesses:
- The default nighttime brightness setting is a bit too bright. You can modify the brightness, of course, but this affects the daytime brightness as well.
- The built-in speaker volume would be better if it went louder. Could be an issue with the windows rolled down. Would be an issue in a convertible.
- Down in the “Settings”, you choose whether you want the 880 to calculate your various routes using “Faster Time” or “Shorter Distance”. It then calculates all of your routes using whatever setting you have chosen (the factory-default is “Faster Time”). My experience has been that there are some times when I am better off using “Faster Time”, and other times when “Shorter Distance” makes sense. Heck, sometimes it makes sense to look at both and then make a decision, or to go part of the route “Faster” and part of the route “Shorter”. My old Garmin GPS gave the Faster / Shorter option each time you chose a destination…very handy. On the new Garmin this function is buried away and thus difficult to change.
- It has a Detour function, but previous generation Garmins gave you more control over the Detour…you could tell it to choose a detour for the next mile, five miles, ten miles, etc. On the new Garmin you can choose a Detour, but have much less control over the duration of the detour.
- No buttons! This is a nitpick, but the only button or switch on the whole unit is the power switch, everything else is accessed through the touchscreen menu system. This makes for a nice clean design, but I preferred the old design that had a few buttons that gave you access to key features. For example, if I held down a button, it would pull up a list of recent routes I had chosen. If I double-clicked that button, it would ask me if I want directions back to Home. Now I have to use the menus to do these two (and all other) things. The menu system is very nice, but I think Garmin chose form over function in some cases.
One last thing. Regardless of what GPS you get, consider buying an optional dashboard “Bean Bag” mount. Most GPS come with either a “suction cup” mount which attaches the GPS to the glass, or an adhesive mount that attaches the GPS to the dashboard. They both work great, but they are difficult to attach (so most people leave them up all the time) and the window mount leaves a mark on the window. Portable GPS units are the stolen from cars more than any other item these days…you definitely do not want to leave them up when your car is unattended, and thieves roam parking lots looking for the GPS or the tell-tale mark left from the window mount. With a bean bag mount (the bean bag has a soft rubbery underside that holds it firmly in place so it does not slide around) you just place the unit on top of your dashboard when you are using it, and then put it out of sight on the floor or in the glove compartment when you leave the car. It is easy to use, out of sight when not in use, and does not leave tell-tale marks.
I hope this helps!
The best there is!
What a great device! Easy to use, large screen makes navigation a breeze. This is my third Garmin unit and it’s by far the best. Voice recognition takes a little time to get used to but now there’s no more leaning over to touch the screen and risk runing off the road! Although a little pricey, this is THE unit to own.
Better than ever
As full time RVers, we have been using navigation systems since their infancy. User friendliness, accuracy, voice commands and an easy to read screen make this unit a must-have. A buggaboo we’ve run into relates to the voice commands. We have a very large, noisy truck (a small semi-tractor,really) and the unit, on occasion, has difficulty understanding my voice commands.
Note: this unit is not recommended for motorcycles as it is not waterproof. However, we have it mounted on our motor scooter. Unfortunately, the Garmin’s Bluetooth won’t sync with our helmets communication system. Not sure which device is at fault.
Unit works well when plugged in. However, the battery has relatively low capacity untethered.
Excellent Unit
Love the new unit. MSN Direct is a very nice function at times. Voice recognition accurate and directions are much better than previous units which I have owned.
Only downfall is the speaker when using the bluetooth. Very low even at max setting. Even with radio off, when driving the wind noise on a highway is enough to keep you hunched over to hear the speaker.
Very good gps unit
Excellent unit, does most of what you want in a GPS unit. Small, great screen.
Excellent!!!!
Xmas gift for wife, she loves it!!!! Easy to use, works well. She’ll never be lost again. Thanks Garmin!!!!
Garmin 880
Although I already own a model 360, the speech function was something I was interested in. We travel considerably, and there is no distraction with this functionality. I would recommend to anyone.
great device
Christmas present for my daughter. She loves it!! bluetooth and fm transmitter worked flawlessly. Mp3 player sounded great on the car speakers. I fooled around with it for 2 days while she was here. Im going to get another for myself. I never thought I needed a gps for directions (except on my fishing boat!) but being able to quickly find gas/atm/food or …. is a big plus when away from home. The directions although good were not always the fastest routes.
Don’t buy this unit!!! Read why
Got the unit for my mother in law for christmas and spent two days trying to set it up. 1> The voice function does not work well. Kept trying to send us to a hospital 2> Even the most recent maps are not up to date, whole shopping malls missing that have been there for years. 3> Instructions for turns come only when you’re right up on them. 4> MSN after two days could not update nor work the right way. 5> Unit freezes and the only way to get it to shut down is to, open unit, and take out battery, and then reboot. 6> If you need lanes the unit does not show them. 7> Unit is very slow to find locations. 8> It takes way too long to have to input information to find a place or put in directions. 9> The unit won’t take my home address in the location I live. You have to set your home to “A location” it shows my home over 500 ft away from where it really is. >10 Unit shuts off on it’s own. >11 Screen brightness changes and has to be reset. >12 Update of 880 software did not work and reference to 850 was only update the machine would take after trying everything else.
This is the worst electronic device I have ever bought. I’m in a big city on the MSN and Garmin coverage areas. I’d say stay away from this unit at ALL costs. Also returning it is a nightmare. It’s not sold by Amazon but a 2nd party reseller. The fighting to get a refund is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. What a nightmare this purchase has been.
A very good GPS device.
I have been using my Garmin nuvi 880 since its release a few months ago and find that it generally works well. Occasionally (e.g., in San Francisco near Fisherman’s Wharf) the map was off by enough that the unit recalculated multiple times while we followed the indicated route; also, at that time the car image on the map vs. actual street location was noticeably off. Not all drivers in my family have been able to use the voice activation successfully. It does work for me, although when the noise level is high (e.g., in a rainstorm with the wipers running) I sometimes have to repeat commands.
We took the Garmin to Virginia when we visited my daughter and it was extremely helpful, allowing my wife and me to confidently embark on trips all around the Richmond area as we looked for a potential new home.
Minor problems aside, I liked the Garmin nuvi 880 enough to give one to my son-in-law for Christmas. BTW, the purchase price has dropped by almost half since I purchased my original unit!
Best Yet
Have been using the Garmin Nuvi 880 for several months and on two trips over 2000 miles each. It is as advertised, the best yet by Garmin or any other I have seen. I was somewhat leary about the voice recognition but it works, about 90% accurate on the first try.
The hands free phone connection is a plus although the volume at interstate speeds could be higher.
The “find place by name” feature is my favorite, so easy to just speak ‘Starbucks’ and let the unit find one.
All in all, I give it five stars.
Garmin NVI 880
Bought as a gift for my wife. Works as described. Voice instructions are a strong point. FM transmission is weak and should be improved; but this is only negative. Excellent GPS!
Good Product
Very satisified with the Garmin nuvi 880.
Works as advertised. Have not had any problems.
My first GPS device. Would not hesitate to recommend.
Nuvi 880
First time owner of a GPS. Purchased it about 1 month ago. Used it to travel through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC – all territory unknown to me.
Worked perfectly. Always took me were I wanted to go. Voice recognition was outstanding. Bluetooth answered my incoming calls. Highly recommend this unit…tho pricey.
cool
So far I have enjoyed this product. It has proven to be very usful in areas that I do not know. My wife enjoys the voice recognition so I can still concentrate on the road and not pushing buttons on the Gps
The bluetooth works great. When the phone rings even if its not easily reachable while driving the nuvi tells me who it is and I can answer it witht the push of a button.
The FM transmitter works good in my area there aren’t a lot of radio stations so it is easy to find a good static station
Only real problem so far is when routing if I dont go the way it wants me to go then it reroutes, but the reroute a lot of times is just do a u turn and go the other way. so I hit the detour button and it tells me to do a u-turn a mile down the road instead of finding a different road. But that may just be a setting issue with how I have it set to route
Overall great product
Very good product, but has an annoying bug
The Nuvi 880 is really cool. It understands speech quite well. (although I had to use the add on external microphone because my vehicle noise is rather high since it is a diesel vehicle.) With the microphone, as long as I speak clearly and don’t speak too quickly (normal speed is fine), and leave a slight pause between words, it works very well. It has lots of points of interest (6 million), although I have found a couple of POIs that the TomTom (which I used previously) had that this one does not. Also, my neighborhood is somehow missing from the map, although it was on the TomTom map. It does have some major roads on its map that TomTom was missing, though, so I guess you just can’t get everything in one unit. My main problem with the unit is a bug when trying to play MP3 audio files via voice. If I say, “Music Player” to bring up the music player, and then say, “Browse” to browse my library, and then say, “1″ which is listed on the screen as display all songs, when I get to the screen showing my songs, it lists 4 songs at a time with a 1, 2, 3 and 4 next to them along with page down and back options. If I say 1, 2, 3, 4, page down or back, it makes a beep sound indicating that it understood, but then it doesn’t do anything. From doing some troubleshooting I have determined that if you don’t have a lot of MP3s on the device, this works fine, but the more you have loaded, the worse it gets. If you have 6 or 7 MP3 files, you’ll probably not see the problem. If you have 20-30, you’ll see the problem some, but not a lot. If you have about 50-60, you’ll see it fairly consistently, and if you have around 300+ like I do, you will be hard pressed to get it to work at all. I have reported this problem to Garmin, so hopefully they will get this fixed. If it wasn’t for this problem I’d give the unit a 5 stars. Overall it is a very cool device.
Nuvi 880
The Nuvi works ok, good points are it has the alerts on the screen so all you have to do is touch it to see the alert, the screen is clear and bright, the recalculation works quickly and is accurate. Some poor points are the speaker is not very loud, the phone synchronization is good but the speaker volume is far to low, the unit has difficulty finding satellites at times, the voice recognition for planning a route does not work properly at all, you will do better to use the screen. I had a Tom Tom and really liked the screen layout but the route calculation was not as accurate as the Nuvi. So there it is the best of both worlds.
Excellant Choice
Purchased via Amazon for 1/2 the price of the same unit at Best Buy. 90% accurate and extremely helpful refinding the freeway ramp in an unfamiliar city or town. Need to review some route choices that could place you on a two lane vs the freeway for a more direct route. Modify as you see fit. MSN Direct useful but not available in very many places.