Garmin nuvi 1200 Review

This has been a great year for Garmin nuvi because of their announcement of a new 4-digit series with the Garmin nuvi 1200 representing the most affordable of the new lineup announced back in March 2009. These models are comparable to the entry-level 200 series that offer basic features, but several enhancements are introduced both inside and out making the Garmin nuvi 1200 and other models fine additions to Garmin’s wide selection of Automotive GPS devices.

Garmin nuvi 1200 GPS Navigator

Design

The Garmin nuvi 1200 looks the same if it is viewed from the top, but once it is tilted, people will be amazed to find out just how thin it is and the other models were surprisingly thin to begin with. This is why the new 1XXX series is dubbed the “ultra-thin” series. Overall, it is around 25% slimmer than the previous Garmin nuvi devices yet is still durable enough to travel around with in anyone’s pocket or purse.

Features

The interface maintains the same look and feel as the others so people that want to convert their old models to the thinner versions will have absolutely no problems navigating the interface. New Garmin nuvi users shouldn’t feel left out either as the main interface gives two options: “Where to?” and “View Map”. With a very limited selection, it is very easy to put the device to use after the device is turned on for the very first time. The “View Map” feature allows you to use all the GPS functions while the “Where to?” helps users set a route with ease.

Garmin Holder

The CityXplorer features that made the other devices famous reappear on the Garmin nuvi 1200 and are fitted with some fresh features that are new to all the units. cityXplorer makes navigating big cities or unfamiliar towns a cake walk by having the GPS download any information regarding the person’s current location for around $10. Newly introduced exclusively to the 1200 and other newer models is the “Enhanced Pedestrian Mode” which highlights which places are walkable and which places the user can safely catch a bus ride or subway ride. It estimates how long it takes the transportation vehicle to arrive and offers some useful data in some cities.

The ecoRoute is also included which is very useful for saving on gasoline prices. Because the Garmin nuvi 1200 tracks fuel usage, it can calculate a very effective route in such a way that the least amount of fuel is consumed and still reach the desired destination. Street names are spoken as well so navigating using the Garmin nuvi 1200 is good affordable and safe choice.

Bottom Line

In addition, the Garmin nuvi 1200 includes the same extras like calculator and JPEG viewer to make it more than anyone’s money worth. It is recommended for any person who wants a simple and light GPS device.

Product Feature Summary

High-sensitivity GPS receiver for fast satellite lock; sleek, ultra-slim design fits in a pocket
Pre-loaded with City Navigator 48 States NT maps, including millions of name-searchable points of interes
Pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps; ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel
Public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems
Turn-by-turn directions with spoken street names (text-to-speech)

Technical Details

Faceplate Color: Silver
Dimensions: 3.7"(W) x 2.9"(H) x 0.6"(D)
Weight: 4.0 ounces
Battery: Built-in lithium-ion battery
Battery Life: Up to four hours
Connectivity: USB
Display: 3.5 inch touchscreen QVGA TFT display with white backlight
Display Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Additional Storage: microSD card slot
Voice prompts : yes
Text-To-Speech : yes
Lane assist : No
MSN® Direct compatible: yes
FM traffic compatible: yes
Bluetooth : No
Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos): yes
Picture viewer: yes

Actual user review:
• "I bought this GPS for a planned trip to France, the smaller size (fits better in my pocket) and text-to-speech feature, along with SD mapcard capability were my reasons. I have had the Nuvi 1200 for 3 days and the adjustment from Tomtom think to Nuvi think has been relatively painless. The suction cup mount (with its lever application) is a definite upgrade from the Tomtom. Also the auto detection for day/night mode is nice. Satellite performance seems even better than the Tomtom. The map screen is bright and uncluttered, my wife says it is noticeably sharper." - B.Franklin (USA)

List Price: ~~$199.99~~

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