New Garmin GPS Receivers: nüvi 1200, 1250, 1260T, 1300, 1350, 1370T, 1390T

Garmin has announced a new series of seven GPS receivers that will be released this coming May, 2009. We provide a quick look at the features and specifications on these models, so you can decide whether or not it's worth jumping on these new devices.

The Garmin nüvi 1200 Series

The 1200 series of Garmin nüvi GPS receivers includes the 1200 model, the 1250 model, and the 1260T model, all of which have 3.5-inch standard LCD displays. These models have manufacturer's suggested retail prices between $199 and $299, and are aimed at consumers who wish to have a pleasant navigational experiment but do not require a lot of the frills and other bonus features that tend to drive up price tags. Those can be found on the 1300 series.

The simplest, the nüvi 1200 has the basic features one would expect from a modern GPS receiver: text-to-speech functionality, and basic map support for the continental United States. The 1250 model expands the map to all of North America. The 1260T model pushes the upper end by including not only Bluetooth wireless functionality, but also free lifetime traffic updates via NAVTEQ. That's right, no subscription fee necessary.

The Garmin nüvi 1300 Series

The Garmin nüvi 1300 series of GPS receivers includes the 1300, 1350, 1370T, and 1390T, all of which feature 4.3-inch widescreen LCD displays. These are the higher end models, though the 1300 model is the same price as the nüvi 1250, and the 1350 is the same price as the nüvi 1260T. Their different feature sets, namely the display type but also, in the case of the 1260T, traffic functionality, accounts for this.

The 1300 and 1350 are basic widescreen models: the former includes map coverage of the lower 48 states, the latter includes all of North America. It's not until the 1370T that things become interesting. The 1370T includes free lifetime traffic coverage from NAVTEQ, lane assist for more precise road navigation, and map coverage of North America and Europe, widening its scope of usefulness. The 1390T tops things off with realistic visual presentations of upcoming intersections and junctions, known as "Junction View," to prepare drivers for confusing twists coming up along the road.

CityXplorer and ecoRoute

Both the 1200 and 1300 series GPS receivers support two new features that hope to address the concerns of modern travelers. The CityXplorer functionality allows owners to download special CityXplorer maps for their device (at a cost of $10 - $15 per city), which enable the receiver to plot routes through urban environments via walking and public transportation, not just driving.

The ecoRoute feature provides routes for drivers that use less fuel, and a Fuel and Mileage Report that keeps users up to date on their consumption.

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