are you happy with your 660?

[cookie]

how does it compare with any previous gps units that you've owned?

do you still wish you had your 2610 etc?

i'm thinking of buying one to replace my gpsmap60csx, or maybe in addition. dunno

give me your thoughts...

 

[Wapping]

In a word, yes.

I have had assorted GPS devices over the years, right back to a PDA with an add on aerial.

It has a couple of software glitches (see threads) but no doubt they will be sorted out.

The screen is definitely large enough.

The touch screen ability works well.

The Ram mount and in-car mount work OK, at least on a 1200GSA and in a VW Golf.

It recalculates quickly without too many quirks.

Decent, off-bike, battery life.

Micro SD card is OK.

The Garmin mains charger will charge a BlackBerry and maybe some other phones, too?

Still wouldn't do without a decent map and the route written down, mind.

 

[nedflanders]

I did have a 2610 before this, overall I'm pretty happy with it (but thankfully I didn't come from a Zumo 550), I've had to have a new M/C mount but Garmin where pretty quick at sending a replacement, now everything works as it should and it's nice to have GPS/MP3 and phone all in the same place, the only fly in the ointment is the bluetooth only works properly with the older Nokias so just waiting for a bluetooth update from Garmin to cure that.

 

[ECM]

If you buy one right now, be aware that the firmware is pretty much "not ready"

Beta firmware is tested and underway, but Garmin is very slow in releasing that repair version. Lots of frustration by current owners is now vented on several gps fora..

 

[David Nimrod]

If you buy one right now, be aware that the firmware is pretty much "not ready"

Oh the pain of the 'early adopter'

It's just not fair when they rush stuff out

 

[Wapping]

PS

I don't use Bluetooth, just simple wires via an Autocom, or just the screeen with no voice prompts at all.

No great desire to make or receive phonecalls on the move, probably having enough to think about without wondering why client XYZ wants his deductible reducing by USD 2,000,000 or my mother whittering on about why my sister has gone shopping!!!

The music works OK but I'm not a great fan, other than for long dull A road stretches.

Never used the fuel gauge. The one on the vehicle / the vehicle's odometer seems to work well enough.

Don't see the great need to store pictures, change splash / start-up screens, translate words or metric to imperial or whatever the bits of add on software do.

I like the option whereby you can change the basic info. that is shown on the main screen. For instance: Current speed / time to turn / distance to turn / distance to destination / time to destination.....etc. etc. etc.

They have given up with the silly security screw. The device simply clips in to and off the mount, easy-peasy. Get off the bike and wander off? Take it with you or lock it away.

 

[chapsworth]

I made a few comments on the thread ´Avoiding Tolls´.

 

[Arsey]

PS

I don't use Bluetooth, just simple wires via an Autocom, or just the screeen with no voice prompts at all.

No great desire to make or receive phonecalls on the move, probably having enough to think about without wondering why client XYZ wants his deductible reducing by USD 2,000,000 or my mother whittering on about why my sister has gone shopping!!!

The music works OK but I'm not a great fan, other than for long dull A road stretches.

Never used the fuel gauge. The one on the vehicle / the vehicle's odometer seems to work well enough.

Don't see the great need to store pictures, change splash / start-up screens, translate words or metric to imperial or whatever the bits of add on software do.

I like the option whereby you can change the basic info. that is shown on the main screen. For instance: Current speed / time to turn / distance to turn / distance to destination / time to destination.....etc. etc. etc.

They have given up with the silly security screw. The device simply clips in to and off the mount, easy-peasy. Get off the bike and wander off? Take it with you or lock it away.

If you don't use the Bluetooth function and don't listen to music,get a Nuvi 550 for half the price.

Looks almost the same,slightly smaller screen,work brilliantly.

Paid £210 for mine



Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

 

[WindyChuffer]

Its early days for me. Still getting used to it. Got mine 2 weeks ago. Running latest f/w v2.8.

Likes:
- The lane guidance and the pix of motorway junctions the pop up. Great for when you are tanking it off a motorway and you know what lane you need to be in for the imminent next turn. Lane to be in was guess work with 2610.
- Speed camera warnings.
- Large screen
- Thin form factor
- Bluetooth integration. Although it doesnt seem to display the callers number even though that comes through on the phone, but havent played with it enough.
- Vastly improved satellite signal reception compared to 2610. I can dispose of my external antenna now (car use).
- Battery (no battery on 2610)

Dislikes:
- Rendering speed. If you hit the zoom in / out button a few times, it takes an age to render. Slower than the trusty 2610 !!
- Customisation of the display. On the 2610, you had granular control of what information you had displayed on the main navigation screen. From memory, I had:

** current speed
** time
** time to next turn
** distance to next turn
** arrival time.

But with the Zumo 600, you are limited to only 4 of these. So a bit of a backwards step here. Shame on the lack of display customisation options. This is my biggest gripe with the device. Maybe in a later firmware release - pretty please ! There's enough space on the screen.

- On the 2610 was nice to be able see the satellites in view and the relative signal strengths. You just get a generic signal strength indicator on the Zumo 660.
- Havent found battery charge status indicator yet.
- Lack of printed manual. You need to print it yourself !!
- Beta Mac software. V slow and noddy address search. No postcode search. PC version functionally richer and faster. Garmin themselves admit it's not good, but say there will be a lot of patches for the Mac version so good news.
- Can only update firmware via PC, not a Mac.
- Complex unlock process what with unit id, unit serial number, coupon codes (no coupon codes in my box) + 2 calls to Garmin tech support to get my maps unlocked.

 

[cookie]

If you don't use the Bluetooth function and don't listen to music,get a Nuvi 550 for half the price.

Looks almost the same,slightly smaller screen,work brilliantly.

Paid £210 for mine



Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

looks good, as i definitely don't want music or comms.


RAM mount available i assume? is it 12v or does it need an adaptor like the q-pak?

 

[cookie]

Its early days for me. Still getting used to it. Got mine 2 weeks ago.

Likes:
- The lane guidance and the pix of motorway junctions the pop up
- Speed camera warnings.
- Large screen
- Thin form factor
- Bluetooth integration. Although it doesnt seem to display the callers number even though that comes through on the phone, but havent played with it enough.
- Vastly improved satellite signal reception compared to 2610. I can dispose of my external antenna now (car use).
- Battery (no battery on 2610)

Dislikes:
- Rendering speed. If you hit the zoom in / out button a few times, it takes an age to render. Slower than the trusty 2610 !!
- Customisation of the display. On the 2610, you had granular control of what information you had displayed on the main navigation screen. From memory, I had:

** current speed
** time
** time to next turn
** distance to next turn
** arrival time.

But with the Zumo 600, you are limited to only 4 of these. So a bit of a backwards step here. Shame on the lack of display customisation options. This is my biggest gripe with the device. Maybe in a later firmware release - pretty please ! There's enough space on the screen.

- On the 2610 was nice to be able see the satellites in view and the relative signal strengths. You just get a generic signal strength indicator on the Zumo 660.
- Havent found battery charge status indicator yet.
- Lack of printed manual. You need to print it yourself !!
- Beta Mac software. V slow and noddy address search. No postcode search. PC version functionally richer and faster. Garmin themselves admit it's not good, but say there will be a lot of patches for the Mac version so good news.
- Can only update firmware via PC, not a Mac.
- Complex unlock process what with unit id, unit serial number, coupon codes (no coupon codes in my box) + 2 calls to Garmin tech support to get my maps unlocked.

i like the sound of Lane Guidance. i'll check if the nuvi 550 has that.

i have given up on Road Trip. everything from the UI onwards is pretty shite. i'll run mapsource on a windows machine or or in a virtual machine on my mac instead. mapsource may look like it's running on windows 95, but it seems to work.

 

[Wapping]

Lane guidance is provided (FREE) by the bloody big blue signs that seem to attach themselves to most motorway junctions.....

PS The skyjock's call over the Nuvi 550 was a good one....

 

[ChasMill]

If you don't use the Bluetooth function and don't listen to music,get a Nuvi 550 for half the price.

Looks almost the same,slightly smaller screen,work brilliantly.

Paid £210 for mine



Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

You have obviously never met Richard - never knowingly misses out on new shiny kit. (Big by the way before he retaliates )

 

[Funrider]

If you don't use the Bluetooth function and don't listen to music, get a Nuvi 550 for half the price.

But he said:
> just simple wires via an Autocom.

The Nuvi 550 does not have a jack plug, so no audio navigation to the helmet.

Also, I don't think it comes with any fixing kit, so that another £50 - £60 by the time you have bought a RAM kit and wiring kit.

I did look at the Nuvi 550 before I bought the Zumo 660, and thought it was a good option, but it would only have been about £100 less by the time I had bought all the fixings for two bikes, so the extra was worth it for the Zumo's audio capability.

 

[Funrider]

- On the 2610 was nice to be able see the satellites in view and the relative signal strengths. You just get a generic signal strength indicator on the Zumo 660.

On your 660, press and hold on the generic signal strength indicator for about 5 seconds. That will open up the detailed screen you are after.

 

[newboy]

I only recall 2 on screen on mine - am I missing something...
Would love 4 on screen...

Likes:
- Customisation of the display. On the 2610, you had granular control of what information you had displayed on the main navigation screen. From memory, I had:

** current speed
** time
** time to next turn
** distance to next turn
** arrival time.

But with the Zumo 600, you are limited to only 4 of these. So a bit of a backwards step here. Shame on the lack of display customisation options. This is my biggest gripe with the device. Maybe in a later firmware release - pretty please ! There's enough space on the screen.

 

[gasman]

NOT happy with it.
I broke my 2610, so had to buy a new one. I don't buy the 'get a 550' argument, which seems to me like making a virtue out of necessity.
Compared to 2610, the 660 is just too simple, and glitchy,
I have an autocom, so don't need the bluetooth at all.

The only advantages are that it's got a battery, and the reception is better.

All in all, I'd rather have my 2610 back.

 

[Funrider]

I only recall 2 on screen on mine - am I missing something...
Would love 4 on screen...

ON my 660 :

** current speed - Lower right box, customised.
** time - Top right of screen at all time.
** distance to next turn - In Top left turn indicator box all of time.
** arrival time. - Lower left box, customised.

** distance to next turn - can be swapped with either above "customised items"

 

[Joybringer]

Share the the same thoughts as most here...

Pros:-

- Better resolution display than my 2610 and Quest - easier to read and mostly less prone to glare in sunlight
- There's enough info on screen to read easily whilst moving - loads to look at while stopped
- Bluetooth (ADP2? stereo) is essential for me, having tried Autocom and found the weight and number of cables too much
- I thought the phone option was going to be useful, but as was said, why do I need it?
- Good build quality
- Good battery life
- Rapid calculation/recalculation
- Great reception - works under the stairs (don't ask)
- Safety camera option (mostly)
- Road name announcement


Cons:-

- Bluetooth volume issues
- Some quirky menu/button/navigation options
- Undocumented features - repeat command function, for example
- Not 'chunky' enough - easy to drop
- Relatively expensive, at present


Neither/nor:-

- Weakish support from Garmin, based on knowledge of the person you happen to get on the end of the line ie some are much better than others. But, they all mean well, and keen to help.


Would I change it back? No.

 

[Bumpkin]

But he said:
> just simple wires via an Autocom.

The Nuvi 550 does not have a jack plug, so no audio navigation to the helmet.

Does it not have a power cable with an audio jack built in? Garmin tout this model a suitable for bike/scooter use. Maybe this is an accessory (not shown on the Garmin website though as I've looked).

Also, I don't think it comes with any fixing kit, so that another £50 - £60 by the time you have bought a RAM kit and wiring kit.

Not really a problem if you're using it to replace an existing sat nav but for a new user, yes.