Garmin Nuvi 880 Portable GPS Device - Design
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If you were of the opinion that electronics couldn't be elegant, you should reconsider your stance. Only the most chic of adjectives can be applied to the design of Garmin's Nuvi 880 GPS device; it is sleek, stylish and surprisingly simple. This is truly one of those rare occasions in which less is more, as the device is incredibly compact and unadorned. At only 6.2 ounces with dimensions of 4.9 inches wide by 3.1 inches high by 0.7 inch deep, the ease of portability goes without saying. Aside from easy carrying, the device's miniature size also comes in handy outside of the automobile as a travel aid and entertainment device. It just keeps getting better and better; the Nuvi comes packed with travel tools and games.
If you are the kind of person not easily impressed by a sleek, stylish exterior, don't worry; the real wow factor comes with learning of the Nuvi 880's features and familiarizing yourself with the design of its4.3-inch touch-screen. With a480x272-pixel resolution, it doesn't matter if you are reading maps or using the device's other features, there's no denying that the display is both bright and easy to read. It is a given that the screen for a GPS device will look differently depending on the time of day, but with Garmin's Nuvi 880, there is an inconvenience that doesn't exist. Aside from being able to adjust the screen's brightness as you would be able to with most major GPS devices, the Nuvi 880 also comes equipped with an automatic mode that switches the map's colors for optimal viewing whether it is day or night.
Interestingly enough, Nuvi's 880 also comes with a separate remote control specifically designated for the device's speech recognition capabilities. It is usually customary for these capabilities to be built into the device, but Nuvi has never really seemed interested in maintaining the status quo. The control, which comes with a rubber strap enabling you to attach it somewhere in your car, consists of an on/off button, which activates the voice feature. Though the appearance of a remote control strapped for example, to your steering wheel, may not be the most aesthetically pleasing sight, a remote that enables such amazing voice capabilities is surely worth the eyesore.
You will find your power button on top of the device, and an external antenna jack and power cradle/connector at the bottom. The left spine of this premium GPS device is home to a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD expansion slot, and a mini USB port. The Garmin Nuvi 880 also comes packaged with a vehicle mount that is simple to install and attach, a car charger, a USB cable and reference material.
The on-screen keyboard on the device is a bit on the small side, so consumers with larger fingers may have trouble typing, but not to worry -- the GPS device has a feature called predictive text that will automatically display possible search results after just a few strokes of the keyboard. It doesn't matter if you prefer QWERTY or ABC, Nuvi's got all of its bases covered; the on-screen keyboard is available in both formats.
When even the best, most experienced and knowledgeable road warriors fail to be intuitive, the Nuvi 880's intuitive user interface and software has got it covered. Still, if you intend to utilize this GPS device for complicated, multi-destination trips, you may want to consult your user manual before attempting to program the 880. Even so, many have found that the best way to familiarize themselves with the device is by simply playing with it. As stated before, the Nuvi 880 is uncharacteristically simple and easy to use, with clearly marked icons and menus. Performing basic operations and getting to locations will prove to be a breeze once you have familiarized yourself with the basic makeup of the GPS device.
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