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Garmin nuevi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator | 
| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $699.99
Buy New: $280.71
You Save: $419.28 (60%)
New (50) Used (5) Refurbished (7) from $225.00
Rating:  1377 reviews
Sales Rank: 15
Format: Cd
Platforms: Windows Xp Professional, Windows Xp Home Edition, Windows 2000
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: N/A
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Display Size: 4.3
Includes MP3 Player: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 2.6 x 2.6 x 2.6
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 010-00540-00
Model: 010-00540-00
UPC: 053759065110
EAN: 0076565001226
ASIN: B000H49LXQ
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Dimensions WxDxH - 4.9" x .9" x 2.9" | | • | Weight - 6.2 oz | | • | Display - 4.3" WQVGA |
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| Accessories:
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| Similar Items:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
nuvi 650 With a gorgeous widescreen display, the Garmin nA vi 660 GPS Personal Travel Assistant is your answer to the call of adventure. A sleek navigator and a keen travel assistant, the nA vi 660 is preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions, and the data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.This preloaded navigator brings all this fantastic map data to your fingertips with a super-bright, 4.3-inch widescreen display for improved map viewing, day or night. Use the touch screen interface to select destinations, look up POIs, and play your favorite MP3s and audio books. The display also helps you control hands-free calling, traffic alerts, and the FM transmitter, all from the screen of your personal travel assistant.
Which nA vi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators
Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen
and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen
 | Widescreen -- See Better, See More
The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
FM Transmitter -- Hear Better, Hear More
Instead of straining your ears to hear turn-by-turn directions or your favorite MP3s, you can enjoy wireless FM audio transmission via the nA vi 660's wireless FM transmitter. Tune your car's radio to the appropriate station and you'll hear all the nA vi's audio, including voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system. The nA vi 660 includes many "must-have" entertainment and travel tools, including digital music and audio book playback, JPEG picture viewer, currency converters, and more. All these great features make the nA vi 660 a complete Personal Travel Assistant. First Rate Map Data
The nA vi 660 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nA vi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.
In addition, the nA vi 660 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.
Hands-Free Calling
In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. The nA vi 660's Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker lets match it to any bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nA vi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. Making and taking calls on the road has never been easier, or safer. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone's call history log.
Integrated FM Traffic Receiver
| Steer clear of traffic with an integrated FM traffic receiver designed to receive alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nA vi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.
In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous a there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.
A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with purchase of this device. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website.
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Easy To Use Interface
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.
Beyond Navigation
Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. |  A handy MP3 player lets you play songs stored on SD memory cards. |  nA vi 250W accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. | Navigation is just the beginning. The nA vi 660 features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, MP3 player, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.
This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nA vi for your travel needs
Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras. Trick Your GPS Ride
Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
See more icon options | All Garmin nA vis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. With this GPS system on board you'll be prepared to steer clear of traffic with the integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. The nA vi 770 is designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nA vi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.
What's in the Box
nA vi 660 GPS navigation system, preloaded City Navigator North, America NT data, vehicle suction cup mount, A/C charger, carrying case, FM traffic receiver/12-volt adapter with 3-month free trial subscription, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, sample language guide content (preloaded), sample travel guide, sample MP3s (preloaded), sample audio books (preloaded), owner's manual, and a quick reference guide.
Notes
- Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nA vi to fit your travel needs
- The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
- Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nA vi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Which nA vi is Best for You?
Note: All nA vis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
| Screen
Size
inches
(w x h)
| Included Maps
| Text-to-Speech
(Directions in
Real Street
Names)
| Traffic
| Bluetooth
| Media
| FM Transmitter
(audio through
car stereo
system) | Multi-
Point
Routing
| Battery
life
(hours)
| Cont. U.S.,
Hawaii, and
Puerto Rico
| AK and
Canada
| Europe
| | nA vi 200 | 2.8 x 2.1
|  |
|
|
|
|
| Photos
|
|
| up to 5
| | nA vi 200w | 3.81 x 2.25
| |
|
|
|
|
| Photos
|
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 250 | 2.8 x 2.1
| | |
|
|
|
| Photos |
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 250w | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
|
|
|
| Photos |
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1
| | |
| |
|
| Photos |
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| |
|
| Photos |
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 270 | 2.8 x 2.1
| | | |
|
|
| Photos |
|
| up to 5 | | nA vi 350 | 2.8 x 2.1
| | |
| | FM (with opt.
receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s
|
|
| up to 8
| | nA vi 360 | 2.8 x 2.1
| | |
| | FM (with opt.
receiver) | | Photos, MP3s |
|
| up to 8 | | nA vi 370 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | FM (receiver
included)
| | Photos, MP3s |
|
| up to 8 | | nA vi 650 | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | FM (with opt.
receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s |
|
| up to 7
| nA vi 660
| 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | FM (receiver
included)
| | Photos, MP3s | |
| up to 7 | nA vi 670
| 3.81 x 2.25
| | | | | FM (receiver
included) | | Photos, MP3s | |
| up to 7 | | nA vi 680 | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | MSN (receiver
included;
1-year free);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
| | Photos, MP3s | |
| up to 7 | nA vi 750
| 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | FM (with opt.
receiver);
MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5
| nA vi 755T
| 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | Integrated FM
receiver with
lifetime traffic |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5
| | nA vi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | FM (receiver
included);
MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver)
| | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | Integrated FM
receiver with
lifetime traffic
| | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 770 | 3.81 x 2.25
| | | | | FM (receiver
included);
MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25
| | | | | Integrated FM
receiver with
lifetime traffic | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
|
| MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free)
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25
| | |
| | MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free)
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver)
| | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nA vi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
|
| MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | nA vi 880
| 3.81 x 2.25 | | | |
| MSN-enhanced
(receiver inc.;
3 months free);
FM (with opt.
receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | nA vi 5000
| 4.5 x 2.7 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced
(with optional
receiver);
FM (with opt.
receiver) |
|
| | | external
battery
only |
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 1372 more reviews...
 Best Pocket GPS On the Market (at the time) September 28, 2006
ThomasN (Houston, TX)
1122 out of 1138 found this review helpful
This is the first GPS unit I owned and couldn't be more pleased. After consulting with friends who have owned multiple GPS units and reading various reviews, this is one of the nicest, feature-packed, and most importantly, accurate unit on the market. Just this morning, I opted to take a longer route to get to the highway because the street I usually take was under construction. I've driven sparingly on that alternate route for 4 years and never realized there was a small intersecting street in a business district I can cut through to get to the highway more quickly. The Nuvi 660 pointed that out, basically shaving off over a mile in distance, traffic congestion, and plenty of frustration. GPS owners tell me having one will change my life... I'm starting to believe.
To clarify on another review: It DOES come with 6 million POIs... for free. It's located under the subcategory of "Where to?" in the "Food, Hotels..." icon.
Update 10/22/06 - Just took this Nuvi on an East Coast trip to Washington, D.C., VA, NJ, PA, NY and its performance exceeded my expectations. It found just about every addresses and POIs I entered, except for one because the store recently changed its name. Needless to say, I never got lost. In one instance, I searched for the nearest Target in Fairfax, VA. Not only it got me there, but told me where to drive around inside the shopping center's parking lot, leading me right up to the front of the store!
Update 11/08/06 - After nearly two months of use, the unit still works well. However, I found that real time traffic indicator is not as useful as initially thought. It would give me the typical obvious traffic jams around town, but who doesn't already know it, unless one is not from here. I've come to realize that no GPS has the capability of knowing which back roads to take to avoid traffic jam in all instances. Only you (the user) being familiar with local roads and its driving conditions can make such a decision.
Update 1/30/07 - The unit suddenly stopped receiving satellite signals yesterday. Tried every method from resetting/rebooting to installing lastest software, but no success. Called tech support this morning and they were able to fix the corrupted software remotely within an hour without having to send in the unit for service.
Originally, it wouldn't support my 4gig SD memory card, but with the latest Garmin software 3.20 update, it now recognizes it. I'm using the RiDATA PRO 4GB Secure Digital (SD) Flash Card Model SDCR4G. Also, my Verizon Treo 650 links up a little better now when in talk mode, albeit still won't maintain a stable connection, ie. phonebook, when in standby mode.
Update 6/4/07 - My brother-in-law was so impressed with the 660 that he upgraded from a lower-end Garmin this past Christmas. Last month, his Nuvi stopped receiving a signal. He tried calling tech support, but was unable to fix it remotely like I had. He ended up sending his in for repair. They still were unable to correct the problem at the repair center, so they gave him a brand new replacement. Despite the inconvenience of the malfunction, he came away satisfied with Garmin customer service.
6/29/07 - This unit links up with my iPhone via Bluetooth without a hitch. Bye-bye Treo 650...
My wish list for a better Nuvi:
- have option to select a default city, instead of asking for state & city every time
- alphabetize the favorite list and let user create sublists
- have an alternative qwerty keyboard layout
- design a better mount.. suction cup sucks!
6/11/08 - Although the Nuvi 660 served me well, I upgraded to the Nuvi 760. Overall, it's a better unit than the 660. If you're deciding whether to get the 660 or 760, consider the 760 because it comes with a newer map version, faster boot-up (but still has difficulty picking up signals indoors like the 660), no flip-up antenna, slightly brighter screen, QWERTY keyboard, better suction cup mount, and a few other feature enhancements. On the downside, the traffic receiver marginally works and the FM transmitter is still staticky like the 660. By the way, the 660 has been discontinued by Garmin as of January 2008 (if that's a concern to anyone). But if you already have the 660, no need to upgrade because it's still a very capable unit.
6/23/08 - Garmin has a 2009 MAP that one can upgrade for FREE if request within the 30-day period of the unit's registration date. My Nuvi 760 came with 2008 preinstalled. Since I was unable to get the free upgrade via Garmin website, I had to call in and was put on hold for 25 minutes! Anyway, the tech support guy was very helpful in taking me through the steps to register for the free map update. I opted for the CD instead of download. It costs $10 for the shipping/handling via UPS Ground, but he waived the fee for me. Nice! Although I did this with the 760, the same offer should work for the 660, except for the waiver on the shipping :o)
7/8/08 - I sometimes come across comments about the unit's inability to search for the "best" route. For example, a recent reviewer states that "The Nuvi frequently wants to route me off the highway and thru towns that I know will be much slower." - MY SUGGESTION IS NOT ONLY YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF CHOOSING SHORTEST ROUTE OR FASTEST TIME, BUT YOU CAN FINE TUNE THE GPS TO AVOID TRAFFIC, U-TURNS, TOLL ROADS, ETC... PLAY WITH THOSE CONFIGURATIONS TO SEE IF YOU GET BETTER RESULTS.
Wow!! Just unbelievable! Run, don't walk and get one NOW! September 29, 2006
JanSobieski (United States of America)
381 out of 398 found this review helpful
With this unit, Garmin has blown TomTom out of the water. The 350/360 were slick units but arguably came up a bit short in the display department when compared to the TomTom - that's all a distant memory now.
This is the most elegant AIO (all in one) GPS navigation solution I've come across to date. IMO, it represents the best compromise between size and functionality on the market today. Beyond this point, increasing the screen size enters the diminishing return territory. The SiRFstarIII chipset, while no longer the absolute best on the market, remains a reliable workhorse with rapid satellite acquisition under even less than ideal conditions. The mapping details are excellent though, as with all mapping programs, is not beyond reproach. The 660 has the most recent highly detailed City Navigator NT maps.
The voice prompts are loud, clear and timely. The ease of use is just fantastic and the visibility and quality of the display are now the gold standard in the industry with a 4.3" WQVGA LCD screen and 480 x 272 pixels. It uses the same low reflection screen as the 360.
POI access is excellent and can be navigated to much more simply than the TomTom unit which requires additional cumbersome steps. The attachment system for the Nuvi is superb and very secure. You can access your POIs directly by name rather than having to go through a cumbersome category menu and then only getting the POIs by proximity as is the case with the TomTom 910. Garmin simply blows TomTom away in the POI functionality department.
This device is intended as an extremely simple point to point navigating AIO GPS navigation solution and is not intended to enable the use of way points or easily changing the course selected by the unit. You have essentially two options: the shortest route and the fastest route. Fortunately, the mapping program selects routs that are very acceptable. Personally, I like to look at the overall route and fiddle with it. This unit is not designed for such use. Microsoft Streets and Trips is ideal for this kind of tinkering, but terrible for point to point navigation while on the go at which the Nuvi has no peer.
Make sure and get the most recent firmware updates on the Garmin website which will fix the known bugs and further improve the functionality. Insofar as functionality goes this unit is as simple as the 350/360. Even my 85 year old father can use these things! He is, to put it kindly, technologically challenged but his 350 is so intuitive and easy to use that he's had no problems whatsoever. He doesn't like to be distracted while driving so he plans his trip before leaving and simply listens to the voice prompts.
The new bluetooth feature enables the use of your hands free bluetooth enabled phone. It's a nice feature, but as with all bluetooth devices that I've used it's still not as good as talking directly on the phone. I personally have not used the built in FM transmitter and so cannot comment on it.
I can heartily recommend this product. Garmin has knocked one out of the park.
Nuvi 660 extras = Widescreen + integrated FM traffic receiver December 17, 2006
B. Steeg
148 out of 152 found this review helpful
Why buy the Nuvi 660 over Nuvi 300 - 360?
* uses larger Widescreen.
* includes FM Traffic receiver
Why buy the Nuvi 310, 360, 660 over the Nuvi 300 or 350?
* Bluetooth cellphone integration
Why any of the more advanced Nuvi's over the Nuvi 300?
* Spoken street names
I began the day by splurging on the top of the line Nuvi 660. And then by that night I was kicking myself for spending my cash on a bunch of features I didn't really need. After all, didn't I just want a point-to-point GPS unit. In addition, I had a nice earpiece for my cell phone. What good was bluetooth on my GPS going to do? Answer: alot!
First of all, let's get the boring stuff out of the way. Garmin's user interface is intuitive and easy to learn - no need to waste time with directions, just start clicking and learning. If you want a point-to-point GPS then you can choose any of the Garmin automotive series and be satisfied.
However, the feature that surprised me was the Bluetooth cell phone integration. And that's because the Nuvi isn't just a speakerbox for your cell phone, it's a phonebook. First of all, the Nuvi easily imported my contacts from my cell phone. I dind't know it could do it, the screen just started asking me if I wanted to copy my contacts to the GPS unit.
The easy phone contacts import was great, but wait, there's more. I clicked "Where to?" then clicked "Food, Lodging..." then "Food" then "Asian" then "Edokko on Floring Rd." Well, not only did I get an option to "Go!" to Edokko, I also had a little phone icon with the phone number right next to it. I clicked the phone icon and next thing I know my cell phone/GPS is calling the restaurant and broadcasting the signal through my car stereo. So basically, it dawns on me that the Bluetooth feature is not a redundant feature - I have an entire phonebook in my point-to-point GPS!
Another useful feature was the MP3 player. Basically, you buy an SD card to increase the available memory of the GPS and import the MP3 files you have already generated for your iPod. As you drive down the road listening to your favorite tunes the Nuvi mutes your music and reminds you that you have a turn coming up. Does the same thing when a phone call comes in over your bluetooth phone. Very smooth feature for cutting down on the multi-tasking.
If you do get an automotive Garmin GPS be sure to note that you can click-drag the map just like you can with Google Maps. So if your navigator/passenger wants to get a heads up they can click drag the map to the next turn. Or they can also click the heading icon in the lower right to see a slide show of the coming turns. These features make navigating an unfamiliar route much easier - cuts down on the last minute surprises.
Finally, I haven't made mch use of the FM traffic cautions, however, I can imagine it would be quite valuable to know that the current parking lot/freeway you are stuck in is due to an accident or road construction rather than just normal traffic congestion. It would give you an idea of how far ahead things were going to break up so that you could make an alternate route decision.
On the whole I recommend this product. I also recommend the less expensive products as long as you get the bluetooth phone feature. The bluetooth addition is well worth the extra expense you will incur. Are additions of the widescreen and FM traffic receiver worth the extra expense of the Nuvi 660? That is a little more questionable. But you won't feel like you got ripped off when paying for those extra features either.
Edit Re: Safety
I have been using the Nuvi for the last month between Portland, OR and Kelso, WA. There have been recent storms (you probably saw all the buzz on the news) that have iced over the roads and caused heavy snow that drastically reduced visibility. In other words, I was in an area I didn't know and visibility was hampered. The Nuvi made driving these unfamiliar roads a breeze. I didn't have to struggle to find road signs so that I didn't miss my turn. I could place almost my full concentration on road hazards - ice - and other drivers. My car partner has nicknamed my Nuvi "Garson" - because it takes us right to the type of restaurant we are hankerin' fer.
Edit Re: Charger
I have a RAZR phone - because I a victim of marketing. This works out great with the Nuvi because the charger input/computer interface cable for both devices is 5-pin USB. One cable for two gadgets, nice!
A terrific gps unit September 11, 2007
Stephen M. Charme (Cranford, NJ United States)
110 out of 112 found this review helpful
This is the first gps unit that I have owned. I did extensive research. I wanted a unit that was fully portable, easy to use, and could be charged in the car, from an outlet, or from my laptop. I bought the Nuvi 660 and after using it on long and short trips am delighted that I got it.
Leaving a restaurant late at night in a strange town and missing the turn for the road back to your hotel can spell trouble, but when this happened to me the Nuvi 660 took me on a different route that got me back safe and sound. Likewise, in familiar areas where I know the address of a store but can't read the street numbers, the Nuvi conveniently announces when I am arriving at the store and on what side of the street it is. And finding someone's house at night is a snap.
The screen on this unit is very bright, and can easily be seen with sunglasses on in direct sunlight. The speech directions are very clear and easy to understand.
I particularly like the ability to spell the name of a drugstore or supermarket chain, etc. when I am in a strange town to see if there are nearby locations. I also have used the unit to locate a park to go running in when I was away from home.
Keep in mind that no gps unit is a substitute for common sense or advance planning on a long trip. Don't expect to travel your favorite backroads or shortcuts, but also know that you can explore a strange area in confidence without constantly worrying about how to backtrack onto your original route.
Here are some specific tips when you first buy the unit:
Register at mygarmin.com
Download the WebUpdater. http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/. Use it to update the software, and then use weekly to check for updates.
Download POI Loader. http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/. This will enable you to download custom points of interest.
POI Factory has over a million free points of interest. http://www.poi-factory.com/. For example, you can download rest areas for various highways so that on a long trip you know exactly where they are.
Two words of caution re bluetooth: (1) Does not work on many phones(like mine). Check to see if your phone is listed: http://www8.garmin.com/bluetooth/phones.jsp; (2) if you tune to an FM station with no reception to use your phone, then you cannot listen to the radio.
I substituted the default splash screen with a splash screen containing my cell phone, email, and office address in case I lose the unit(like forgetting to take it off the table in a restaurant). Type text in Word, cut and paste to Paint,save as jpeg file. Copy this file into the jpeg folder on the Nuvi, go to System, display, change splash screen.
Back up the files on the Nuvi onto an external hard drive on a weekly basis. That's a lot simpler that having to re-input all of your different custom points of interest in case something goes wrong.
If you go to a mall or somewhere else where there is a large parking lot, when you arrive touch the screen once, then press save, and name the location. You can then use the Nuvi to find your car easily since it has a pedestrian mode.
I like that on any trip the Nuvi shows not only the total distance, but also the distance already traveled, average speed, maximum speed, and time of arrival, which is not static, but changes depending on whether you get stuck in traffic or really start moving. I also like that if you stop along the way, it is not necessary to re-input where you are going.
I do wish that this unit could save particular routes (such as the backway I come home from the office), but for my purposes that does not matter.
The MP3 player is not nearly as convenient as using my ipod. Moreover, the sound using the internal speakers is mediocre. You can use your car's radio speakers by tuning to an FM station that is not in use, but I can so the same thing with my ipod, so I don't bother with the MP3 player.
The traffic alert feature has yet to activate even though I have travelled on major highways. I suspect this feature works only in close proximity to major urban areas. So depending where you live, this feature may not be available at all.
The 660 comes with a travel case that is convenient to use when transporting it. The unit is only slightly larger and thicker than my Palm TX handheld, which means that I can put it in my back pocket even with the case on.
The unit has many other features that you can explore, but the most important thing for me is knowing that I don't have to worry about getting lost anymore.
A life saver December 4, 2006
Gary E. Peterson (Minnesota USA)
69 out of 73 found this review helpful
My wife has a tough time with technology. It took a lot of explaining for her to figure out email. When I got my Garmin, she gave me a lot of kidding about "another gadget for the techie." Recently, she was going to make a 400 mile trip to visit her sister in Milwaukee. On prior trips she would meet her sister at a truck stop 20 miles from town and leave her car there as she is also big city driving challenged. I convinced her that with the Garmin she could drive all the way to her sister's front door. I told her that I would enter in the address and give her step-by-step instructions on how to use it.
On the day that I was going to show her how to use it I first needed to make a quick stop at a store. When I came out, she had already punched in the address and had it all ready to go. I was amazed. She figured it out all by herself.
Next came the travel day. As she entered Milwaukee all her driving fears came together in a perfect storm. Big unfamiliar city, darkness, heavy rain, rush hour traffic, alone. All she had was the Garmin to guide her. Several times when her exit came up she was boxed-in in the wrong lane. She just drove past and was confident as she heard "recalculating" and was given further instructions. The Garmin took her right to her sister's waiting arms.
When I talked to her that night her first words were, "I take back everything I ever said about the Garmin." Garmin has two very thankful and loyal customers.
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