Garmin's new n�vi 7x5 and 2x5 navigators live and in person

We got a brief glimpse at Garmin's new nüvi navigators, the 7x5 Series and 2x5 Series. Since we weren't on the road, the 755T treated us to 3D views of the IFA building we were chilling at, spinning at a blistering 10 fps. The Lane Assist also does what it says on the box, giving you a crystal clear look at your next merge. The 265T was considerably less dramatic, and both units show a considerable amount of boredom on the industrial design front. Garmin clearly knows what it's about when it comes to navigation devices, but we could use a bit more spice with those maps to keep us coming back.

Gallery: Garmin's new nuvi 7x5 and 2x5 navigators live and in person

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Genevie @ Aug 27th 2008 4:01PM]

10fps huh? I bet it could run Doom.

[konshuss @ Aug 27th 2008 4:02PM]

looks cool.

that is one huge car.

[GPS Tracking @ Aug 27th 2008 4:21PM]

GPS tracking is awesome technology that is just getting better with time. I can't imagine what It will be like in 5 years.

[NxP3 @ Aug 27th 2008 4:48PM]

That is really bad. The 3d building looks tacky and it's not even accurate, some of the pictur shows the car driving off the road. And the car icon is just ....bad. I rather have a triangle. They tried too hard on this one. I do like the lane change and street signs, but that's about it.

[Anthony @ Aug 27th 2008 5:11PM]

I'm gonna be honest: Like Garmin, own Garmin stuff, but the photo example just looks confusing to me. 3D overlays, giant car, lots of peripheral stuff.

Honestly 2D works better for me when driving at 30+, 50+, 80+ MPH.

[Greg @ Aug 27th 2008 5:38PM]

My last 2 cars had built-in navigation. Just bought a new car but didn't want to spend $1,500 -$2,000 for the system. Decided to go with a portable. I like the portables but hate the wires. Automobile manufacturers need to come up with an easy way to hide the wires. Maybe a "hidden hole" in the top of the dash (sort of like the hole in a desk for computer wires) with charger outlets under the dash. IMO I think they are adding too many items in the GPS systems, that most people don't use, to jack up the price. I just like great directions, they can keep the FM radio, blue tooth, photo player, etc..

[jeti @ Aug 27th 2008 6:05PM]

Why would car manufacturers provide a nice solution to integrate cheap portable navigation when they can make a load of money on built-in devices?

[NxP3 @ Aug 27th 2008 8:58PM]

I have a 2001 acura with navigation. Even though that thing is old, it keeps better tracking than any portable gps. The one from the dealer is more expensive, but it integrates with your whole car. You got ac controls and others with it as well. It also linked to your car giving it more accurate reading, My unit in the back is about the size of a dvd player, but it has gyroscope in there to keep it going when it's signal is blocked by buildings. I bought other units for the other car...but I returned quite a few of them because none seem to match the level in the acura. And back then there wasn't even a sirf III around.

[Loban @ Aug 27th 2008 5:47PM]

Man, you guys are picky. It looks fine to me. The lane assist looks great. I'll take the superior routing and maps of a Garmin device over pretty graphics any day of the week. Garmin knows what's most important, POIs and routing, and they definitely get those two things right.

[StalematE @ Aug 27th 2008 5:51PM]

yeah, sure its fun to make the little pictures look pretty... but they should work on the text-to-speach or audio related things... you're not really supposed to be looking at these things. people are bad enough drivers trying to get the next song qued on their ipod while on the phone or emailing someone with their god-forsaken blackberry and simultaniously changing lanes and murdering a minivan full of foster children. those buildings look like they just get in the way. the color scheme isn't exactly pleasing and that stupid car is massive. the whole thing looks like it was colored in by a six-year-old

[Marino @ Aug 27th 2008 6:33PM]

It's not about "pretty" graphics. It's about comprehensive information at a glance.
Garmin doesn't seem to have any decent designers on staff.
I've bought TomTom twice only because their maps are much easier to look at.
Europeans take pride in good design.
US manufacturers think spending money on design will make them gay or something.

[floffm @ Aug 27th 2008 6:01PM]

btw: the picture above is from frankfurt :)
http://maps.google.de/?ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=50.110988,8.673137&spn=0.004534,0.013733&t=h&z=17

[phanbouy @ Aug 27th 2008 6:47PM]

those are some sexy roads you got there

[karmaghost @ Aug 27th 2008 10:13PM]

I don't understand why people would want these huge 3D buildings as reference points on their GPS. Unlike the view of the street, that view does not represent how you see the buildings from the road and would only create more confusion and slow the GPS processor down.

[tekdroid @ Aug 27th 2008 10:53PM]

user-replaceable batteries?

[higeki @ Aug 27th 2008 11:15PM]

3D GPS sytems with better fraterates and graphics were released here years ago (Japan), and only NOW they're making a big deal about it and touting it as new technology in the west? Catch up, world.

[inteller @ Aug 28th 2008 2:05PM]

Zemrin's interface destroys Garmin badly....but to get it you have to get an Infiniti or some other vehicle that has it built in.

[Gatorguy @ Aug 31st 2008 4:17PM]

I can state as an absolute fact thant my Infiniti built in system (FX45) is no more accurate than my nuvi 760. The one advantage my built-in has in the smoothness of the map refresh. The new 7x5's answer that quite nicely. And rather than pay $200 for an update DVD (Navteq) I can update the maps on my Garmin for less than $70. When I want to take my truck instead of the car, the nuvi transfers nicely. The only remianing advantage to the built-in is aesthetics and muting music for nav instructions. Of course this can aslo be addressed by a Garmin option. Don't see why it's necessary to spend 3-4 times the price of a portabel just to make it "pretty" as part of the dash. No navigation advantage whatsoever. After all, have you tried loading a custom poi file to your built-in factory system?

[PatrickS @ Oct 11th 2008 2:31PM]

I love Garmin Nuvi 780. It's a personal travel assistant with MSN Direct content.

http://cheapcampingnow.com/garmin-nuvi-780-010-00657-05/