The Bottom Line
A solid, basic GPS for everyday use. Easy to carry around, not expensive enough to worry about if it gets stolen, and easy to use.
Pros
- Easy-to-use design and menu options
- Small enough to slip in pocket
- Text-to-speech for spoken street names
- Turn-by-turn directions
- Large database with millions of "points of interest."
Cons
- The touch screen can occasionally be unresponsive
- No Bluetooth
Description
- Includes pedestrian and fuel-efficient routing options
- Optional cityXplorer download ($9.99) provides public transportation navigation
- Compact, slim design, integrated antenna
- Preloaded with maps for continental U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico
- Over five million points of interest
- High-sensitivity GPS receiver
- 3.5-inch color touch screen
- Includes USB car charger and cable
- Traffic alerts available with separate receiver
- Suggested Retail Price: $139.99 USD
Guide Review - Nuvi 1200 GPS
I've used a number of Garmin GPS units in the past and they've always been really solid machines. The Nuvi 1200 is no exception. The Nuvi 1200 is a solid bet for a basic GPS device. While a wide-screen GPS is nice, I prefer small ones like the Nuvi 1200 for portability. They're smaller and lighter.
While it's on the low end of the price scale (roughly $140 suggested retail price, but available for less), it's got all the basics you need for good navigation, including turn-by-turn directions with spoken street names (really handy when you're in an unfamiliar location), a slim design, a large database of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc., and a variety of navigation options.
The Nuvi 1200 doesn't include live traffic, although you can purchase an option accessory/receiver that provides it. I personally tend to use my iPhone's Google map for a general traffic status when I'm traveling. The Nuvi does have a "Detour" option once you're navigating, and I've frequently used that to find an alternative route to a destination when I hit traffic.
Occasionally I find that Nuvi 1200's touch screen to be slow or unresponsive. It always works, it's just sometimes I have to hit the screen a little harder or more precise than I have other times.
The Nuvi 1200 doesn't come with a USB cord to attach to your computer, but you can use any standard one. It does come with a car charger and suction cup attachment for attaching it to your window or dash.
All-in-all, the Nuvi 1200 is a good choice for business travelers, especially if you're like me and the device is likely to get lost, stolen or broken on a business trip.
