GPS

I'm excited to replace my Nuvi 255W! At first I was planning on getting a Nuvi 855W because it's one of the cheaper models that support preloaded routes. Then discovered that it's no longer listed in the current model list at garmin's website, so I looked for the cheapest one that's still listed there, and found out that a refurbished Nuvi 1450 is just a buck more expensive than a refurbished 855W! And it has a larger screen (though its battery holds up for only up to 3 hours, an hour less than my 255W) to boot!

But as the days went on and I kept searching and researching, I found out that Amazon is selling brand new 1450 units for $133, about 33 or 34 bucks more than refurbished ones. I decided to buy peace of mind for 33 bucks. :D

Here's some information about the 1400 series that's going to prove useful (most esp. the 1-sec track recording feature):

from http://www.malfreemaps.com/viewtopic.php?p=76250&sid=f186f7f255982c9a0d2d32bf765a6a36#p76250 :

I just got my Nuvi 1460 and I have in my internal memory (in the /.System folder) my Thailand map as gmapprom.img, MSM-MySinG v3.09 as gmapprom1.img and Masmap Tiles and MFM v091019 as gmapsupp.img in two separate SD cards.

Then I created a folder /map and put in it Australia.img and Korea.img. When I located the /map folder in the SD card, it did not work. Then I tried the internal memory and put the /map folder in the .System folder and then the /Garmin folder as a sub-folder but both did not work either. Finally, I moved the /map folder to the root directory of the internal memory and the Australian and Korean maps were available for selection. This is a really neat feature.

The v2.10 firmware solved the incompatibility issue with cgpsMapper compiled maps.

The only things I find annoying (so far) are:

1. The touch screen is very insensitive compared to my Nuvi 200 and it will be a challenge trying to make changes while driving.

2. The only British TTS voice is Daniel. I prefer a female voice and there is no non-TTS British voice. I don't like Daniel murdering Jalan Tanjung Tokong as Jalan Tanjung Terkerng. Tanjung Bungah became Tanjung Bang Gah. Strangely Jalan Oldham was pronounced as Jalan O_L_D_H_A_M and Jalan Sg Kelian became Jalan S_G Kelian. Mappers will have to make the appropriate changes to the naming of roads.

3. The Autozoom is annoying because it does not return to the set zoom level as my Nuvi 200 does. I was happy with the autozoom in the Nuvi 200 but the N1460 always returns to its preset 300m.

4. I found that getting into PC Mode is mode difficult and complex than the Nuvi 2xx. In the Nuvi 2xx, you just plug the USB cable in while the unit is off and it will automatically switch on and go into PC Mode. With the Nuvi 1460, you have to switch on without the cable and let it boot up until it reaches the Where To? screen and the simulator must be off before you plug in the USB cable, then only will it get into PC Mode. However, the difference is if you plug in like you do for the Nuvi 2xx, the USB connection is recognised as external power so you can avoid using the internal battery and navigate with it connected to your PC.

1-sec tracking is available but cannot be activated through the Where Am I? screen (Easter Egg method). You can however activate it by touching the speedometer for about 10 seconds (remember the v3.4 firmware of the Nuvi 2xx?) then a Diagnostic Page appears. Touch the Diagnostic Logging option and you will get the Logging Control screen with the Start Recoding and Start Playback buttons. The logs are stored in the /debug folder in the internal memory.

Satellite lock is very fast. Accuracy improves to 4 metres (so far experienced) with WAAS selected. It was 6 metres when Normal was selected.

One more thing, I can see custom POIs displayed (without labels) in the Navigation map (if you like that). Strange thing is Favorites POIs are seen without the label (the Nuvi 200 shows both the icon and label).

Will report more findings later.