Garmin StreetPilot c330 Car GPS Receiver

Though gadget-inclined, I avoided GPS units for a long time believing the expense simply didn't warrant the occasional convenience (and gadgetry fun). But receiving this one as a gift got me over that hump, and the gift-giver - who really is dismal with gadgets - hit her first home run.

I found the unit easy to set up out of the box, especially when I actually paid attention to the simple, cartoonish "quick start" instructions.

I note some gripes in other reviews about trouble with the suction cup mount, and I, too, saw mine fall off a couple of times early in the process. But I found it was a matter of patience, finding the right spot to apply the cup, and setting up in the right conditions. On a super hot day, or with the moisture of a cold morning, I had a problem. But once it was up, I've had no problem with it in several months-almost a year.

The controls couldn't be simpler. Yes, there is a feature or two available in other units that I might like to have in this one, but for the price these are sold at, it's almost like stealing the units. And to get those extra features the price jump is, for my money, wildly out of the question.

I've found one tiny block in AZ where the unit was utterly confused, and reported that I was about 500 feet off the road and further back than I was - a pain because I was looking for a VERY imminent turn. Otherwise, it has performed flawlessly.

When family was visiting us in the Los Angeles area, I was able to program in an entire route of tourist destinations, handed them the unit, and off they went to see the studio, visit the famous mall, see Beverly Hills, etc, and I never had to use a gallon of my own gas or even leave the house.

Shortly after I first received the unit,there WAS a problem with the internal battery. Other than to have no problem at all, I could not have asked for anything more from Garmin. They handled shipping my unit back, and three days later had a new unit in my hands-programmed with the destinations I'd already loaded into the dud unit.

I also find that I'm able to use it much more than I'd ever expected. I may glance at a mapquest map still to get a fix on where I'm headed, but I've had no problem trusting the 330 to get me where I'm headed. Even dumb little things have proved useful. I'll take one of my kids to a friends house, then hit "SAVE" when we arrive. The kid didn't happen to spend time with that pal again through the rest of the year. The following year my son went to his pal's after school, then called for a ride home. I didn't have to go through getting directions and such - I just scrolled through to that pal's name, hit "GO" and I was off. I guess I still don't know the kid's address-I follow the 330.

I travel with the sound off unless I'm in a completely unfamiliar town and looking for an address. There's is a choice of guiding voices, numerous languages available, 3 map styles to choose from, each with 3 levels of detail available, plenty of adjustments available for the screen lighting/color, "real time" speed, distance, compass direction info available, AND you can move through the maps just like moving a mapquest map on screen (Fellow users I know had no idea of that and some other available features until I showed them).

ESPECIALLY when you consider the price, this unit is virtually flawless.