A new release by Garmin coming soon is the Nuvi 205 / 205W, compact and affordable GPS navigation systems. Due to be released in the late second quarter of 2008, these portable navigation devices feature new navigation technology such as a built-in MSN Direct receiver.

Common Features
This new product is quite compact, housing its crisp and clear LCD touchscreen display in a chassis that is under an inch thick. What's nice about any Garmin units, such as this Garmin Nuvi 205 / 205W is the speedy access and GPS satellite lock, providing fast and true real-time navigation without sluggish performance. This is primarily due to its built-in flash memory and the speed of the built-in processor. Most users have never complained about Garmin's inability to respond quickly to navigation and commands, and we don't expect anyone to do so with the Nuvi 205.

The Garmin Nuvi 205 / 205W features Garmin's City Navigator map database which is specialized map database for regions in which you live in. The same Garmin Nuvi 205 will be available in most parts of major European countries such as France, UK, Ireland more. The navigation function of the unit allow users to do 2D or 3D perspective navigation with complete turn-by-turn voice guidance. However, the Nuvi 205 does not feature text-to-speech technology, limiting vocal directions to distance and directional turns without any street or highway names mentioned.

The Nuvi 205 / 205W does, however, feature an MSN Direct receiver that will give users the ability to check on weather, movie times, and even gas prices-- and it's all completely free service. It also features an emergency feature that displays not only your current location but also of nearby emergency facilities such as police stations and hospitals. Of course, with all new Garmin navigation products, users are free to download their own customized icons for their avatar displayed on the screen while navigating. This isn't a make-or-break feature, but it's definitely a fun addition to have.

The Nuvi 205 / 205W do not feature any audio or video media playback other than its built-in picture viewer (JPEG). It is indeed a basic compact navigation device. It weighs around 5 ounces and has a lithium-ion battery capable of lasting a maximum of 4 hours. They both have USB ports for firmware/software updates, possible future map updates, and SD card access from a PC. They both also feature some unique tools such as currency conversion calculator, mathematical calculator, and even clocks that could be adjusted to various world time zones. Last but not least, each of the new Nuvi 205 / 205W GPS navigation units could receive FM-based traffic information.

Differing Features
The Garmin Nuvi 205 features a 3.5" LCD touchscreen display while the Garmin Nuvi 205W features a wider 4.3" LCD screen. The screens are both equally high-resolution and crisp, with great visibility even in bright settings. Though the two screens differ in size, both GPS units are equal in thickness (measuring under 1"). Another difference is the Nuvi 205W SD Card reader where as the smaller, more compact Nuvi 205 features a Micro SD Card reader.

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The Nuvi 205 / 205W is Garmin's attempt to reach out to the average driver in need of an average navigation unit. The interface is easy to use and the device features key driver-friendly functions. The ability for the units to stay under $200 is already incredible, especially with its traffic and MSN Direct receiver, and a nice anti-theft feature that is common on Garmin products.