Garmin launches nuvi 200W, 250W

No surprise here, but Garmin's launching those two new nuvis, the widescreen 200W and 250W. Both feature the same 4.3-inch 480x272 touchscreen display and the usual turn-by-turn voice directions, POIs, and extras like currency converter, world clock, etc. The only real differences are in name, price, and maps; the 200W will run you $500 and comes bundled with maps of the contiguous 48 + Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the 250W will run you $550 and has the same, but also includes Alaska and Canada as well. Expect 'em in July.

[david @ Jun 15th 2007 11:01AM]

Nice looking units, but too much $$$

[NHAnimator @ Jun 15th 2007 11:53AM]

They are pricey, but for this type of product, the nuvis (nuvii?) beat every other company hands down.

[bgdc @ Jun 15th 2007 12:16PM]

Way too pricey. Go get a Mio 520 with more features for $300. Garmins are damn nice but not worth $200 more than a competitor who offers more features.

[Jared @ Jun 15th 2007 12:30PM]

Enough already with all these f***ing models. Garmin now has officially more models of GPS devices than Crayola has crayons. In fact recently I got so annoyed trying to figure out which Garmin to buy I just ened up getting a TomTom. Which by the way works fantastic, and was only $250 shipped.

I've got a new idea Garmin, why not make a model with a green faceplate, you can make it in 4 versions, call it the 200WG, 250WG, 200G, 100G.

Seriously, check it out for yourself, it's ridiculous.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

They actually have a model that the only difference is that you can change the arrow icon to a car icon! I'd tell you which one it is, but I don't feel like reading through all their variations to find it again.

[bgdc @ Jun 15th 2007 1:39PM]

Does that tomtom have text to speech? I ditched my tomtom (worked fine in europe and the usa, by the way) because of the lack of text to speech. At this point - late 2007 - buying a GPS system that still lacks text to speech is like buying a cell phone without bluetooth. Sure it still exists but it's a few model years behind.

[Jared @ Jun 15th 2007 1:58PM]

The one I got does not have text to speech though the newer models do. It came down to budget, after reading what many people had to say, I decided that wasn't an option I really cared about. Though frankly, I have no problem finding which street I need to turn down. If I really want to know the street name I'll glance at the display. FYI try using text to speech in Hawaii, it can't get 10% of the street names correct.

[George @ Jun 15th 2007 1:25PM]

I had the garmin nuvi 350 and now have the tom tom xl. Both were good but garmins arent any better than some cheaper brands in my opinion. I traded the nuvi in for the new tom tom xl for a couple reasons but mainly the larger screen. Garmins are nice but overpriced. They are the sony of gps brands, good but there are cheaper alternatives that work as good.

[Ron @ Jun 15th 2007 2:07PM]

So what you're saying is that you are comparing your $250 TomTom apple to a $500 high-end Garmin orange. What you are describing is more like the C330 which is in the same price range as your TomTom.

[LTM @ Jun 15th 2007 2:03PM]

One of the few benefits for me is having both Europe and North American maps built in to something like the Nuvi 370 (or 670 ). Tom Tom's dual continent 910 is way too big to mess around with moving it from car to car as well as while trying to use the GPS for pedestrian mode. I'm still waiting on Garmin updating the 370 model, as without the text to speech feature, I think a GPS is pretty much useless; such as the problem with the 200 range which omits this feature even when they do introduce the 270W. I think a lot of Garmin's range is pretty overpriced, but for me the Nuvi 370 (best price $540 compuplus ) because of its size, having maps of both continents built in, the rds tmc receiver, and the excellent chip makes it a first class gps unit. I'm just waiting to see how they update it and give it a fresh coat of paint to compete with their new model line.

[james cordero @ Jun 15th 2007 2:11PM]

I owned the Nuvi 350 and now the 370, Love them both. The 370 was recently used in Italy and Switzerland without a hitch! But I have to agree, how many model do you have to make? It is starting to make me wonder if having such a product line so stretched out, if it will effect future products quality. Even Apple knows how to manage a product lineup with the ipods! Enough already Garmin.

[james cordero @ Jun 15th 2007 2:15PM]

In addition,

Perhaps Garmin representatives should go to Fry's Electronics and watch how people who are novices and newly interested in purchasing a portable GPS unit. They would see mass confusion and staring at products that do not explain themselves and the boxes locked up in a case so they cant even reach them to see and attempt to understand their features if they cannot get the attention of sales help. Now give them way too many choices for no good reason and you have the makings of a customer who just walks away with his or her head spinning in confusion, There should not be a need for this many products. Heck, it has taken you forever just to get us the BETA software for your products for Apple computers. Finish what you have started and promised 2 years ago at Macworld San Francisco!