Garmin c330 vs. Nuvi 200

[chris7b]

Any feedback. Looking to spend sub 200 and i found both for this price. The unit is for my father and he is not super tech savvy.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: chris7b
Any feedback. Looking to spend sub 200 and i found both for this price. The unit is for my father and he is not super tech savvy.

Quick main point from my own tests.

C330 using Garmin/MTK chip set
Nuvi 200 using SirfIII (earlier model) and Bravo (later model)

C330 using 2400mAh battery (last 7 hours in repeat testing)
Nuvi 200 using 1250mAh battery (last 4.5 hours in repeat testing)

C330 come with North American Map
Nuvi 200 come w/ the U.S. map only

C330 using Version 1 UI: no vehicle icon change (Both UI is extremely easy to use)
Nuvi 200 using Version 3 UI: vehicle icon changeable, finner outlined road and more detail map display info.

C330 Screen, barely visible under the sun.
Nuvi 200 or 2xx has the best non-reflective screen among all GPS I have tested.
* kind of remind me Dual scan vs TFT *

C330 cold start in 1 min. Warm start with in 20 seconds.
Nuvi 200 cold start in 2 min, warm start within 15 seconds.

C330 position accuracy 30 yard behind actual position at speed over 40mph
Nuvi 200 (Bravo chip firmware 3.4) (Sirf III model, I didn't get to test it) position accuracy less than 15 yard behind actual position at speed over 40mph

To be honest, I wouldn't give C330 a second look. If you must have Canadian map, I will go for Nuvi 250, 260( tts)

 

[tphss]

TimeKeeper gave you an excellent reply, but I would like to differ, I have the C330.
The Canadian maps are a big bonus for me as well as the battery life. Start-up time was less then a minute for me.

The Nuvi has better accuracy and is smaller and I assume better screen, but the screen on the C330 is visible in sunlight (also of course has the night/day modes that switches the color layout) only when reflecting sunlight you cannot see anything.

 

[ultimatebob]

I liked TimeKeeper's review, but I honestly never had any problems viewing the C330's screen in sunlight.

I'd personally choose the Nuvi anyway due to smaller size, although the bigger battery in the StreetPilot does come in handy. I can't get the damn suction cup mount to stick to my windshield, so I just keep it in glove box and stick the GPS on my dash with a sticky pad cell phone dash mount.