Do you prefer 3.5 over widescreen?

 

Do you prefer the smaller 3.5" GPS units over the wide screen units?

Me I've always preferred something pocketable, and the 3.5" GPS units seem to fit much better in my pocket / bag / jacket, than the wide screen unit.

For some reason the widescreen just seems too big for my tastes.

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http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
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more information on exactly where I'm not going

I bought the 3.5, but I expect I would have selected a W model if theye were both the same price. I'm not sure there is much of a reason to get the W models though. The 3.5 does fit nicely in a jacket or even shirt pocket, the Ws might be more of a problem for those of us who never leave our GPSs in the car. And while the wide screen model is a few pixels higher, the extra space is mostly on the sides, exactly where I don't need it to be on a map. If there were an option to rotate the W versions by 90 degrees I might like it a lot, but as is I can't see much benefit beyond the qwerty keyboard option for a wide screen GPS.

I perfer

the wide screen wink

I have both and it's a toss up as far as carrying it...

nuvic320 wrote:

Do you prefer the smaller 3.5" GPS units over the wide screen units?

Me I've always preferred something pocketable, and the 3.5" GPS units seem to fit much better in my pocket / bag / jacket, than the wide screen unit.

For some reason the widescreen just seems too big for my tastes.

They both fit in my pocket and of course backpack etc. The weight is about the same, at least I don't notice a difference. The features do matter though, I much prefer my 770 to my 270... but the 270 was free so I can't knock it... rolleyes

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It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

I have both and I greatly prefer the widescreen's display

I have both and I greatly prefer the widescreen's display on the 760 much better.

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Garmin Drive Smart 55 - Samsung Note 10 Smartphone with Google Maps & HERE Apps

Would I prefer a 1,500 sq.

Would I prefer a 1,500 sq. ft house over a 1,000 sq. ft house? Most definitely! More real estate. On the Tom Tom GO 930, the wider screen permits me to see side streets that a 3.5" is unable to show.

Give and Take

I would prefer a wider screen than a narrow screen for viewing, however, in use, I like the smaller screen, plus it's a little more convenient to carry.

If you have a model that can play video files, you might like the wide screen format.

I would prefer the larger house too - but the additional taxes imposed would make me think more in depth. Just as the extra "tax" of carrying space on a wide screen model.

If you reach for the zoom button when reading a paper map, you just might be a GPS user. rolleyes

If you wish you had a mute button when your "backseat driver" is giving directions, you just might be a GPS user. redface

GROAN - yeah - they're bad - but what'd you want on such short notice. mrgreen

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And now, back to your regularly scheduled forum - already in progress . . .

was a big 3.5" fan ...

I was a big fan of the 3.5" screen that my nuvi360 has - liked the portability of it ... until I got the 4.3" nuvi765.

The wide screen is absolutely an improvement, and, to my surprise, does not really change the portability at all ... still fits in my pocket/briefcase etc.

Widescreen Fan

Personally, I'd definitely take the 4.3 over the 3.5. I like the added screen area and the ease of viewing. It still fits in my pocket ok.

Widescreen

The widescreen lets you see more map. I would much prefer a larger viewing area than have a feature that is only used when the unit is off (smaller size for easier portability).

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nuvi 250W nuvi 765T

Wide Screen

After using a 3.5 that belonged to my brother-in-law on a trip we decided on the 4.3 Nuvi 750. The wide screen provides more viewable map and seems easier to read. Also, I can put my 750 in my pocket as it's just a little bigger than a iPhone.

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Nuvi 750 and 755T

Wider Screen

I have both and prefer the wider screen. However, the real answer is that both of them (350 & 760) get me where I want to be.

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JG - Nuvi 2460

Wide Screen

I've only own the 660 and 680 so I have to say I prefer wide. I find them easy to port and I like being able to see street details around my route.

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Peter

Smaller

I prefer the smaller nuvi over the widescreen for portability. I'd rather have it taller than wider so it show more road up ahead.

It would be nice to have the widescreen for the extra icons and QWERTY keyboard.

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><> Glenn <>< Garmin nüvi 2598

Tall screen

gdfaini wrote:

I prefer the smaller nuvi over the widescreen for portability. I'd rather have it taller than wider so it show more road up ahead.

It would be nice to have the widescreen for the extra icons and QWERTY keyboard.

-------

The 3.5" screen is square, i.e. the height and width are the same. I agree with you that it would be nice to have a 4.3" tall screen (portrait view).

Widescreen

I prefer the widescreen. The bigger/wider the better.

widescreen

widescreen for sure. much easier too see.

Widescreen

It is so much easier to see.

I am very happy with my Nuvi

I am very happy with my Nuvi 5000

Widescreen

I think widescreen is better

Wide is better

Anytime you can have a bigger screen it is less of a distraction when you are driving. With the Wide Screen the Text is bugger and you see more of the road..Wide is better.

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Dave_ Nuvi 660 , 760,1490LMT Wooster, Ohio

Widescreen

Size isn't much of an issue for storage, as I leave it in the car. I prefer to have a screen as big as possible, so 4.3 widescreen is better than 3.5 inch 4:3 aspect screen. I would rather have a 4.3 inch screen that isn't widescreen, but as far as I know it does not exist.

I like the widescreen and

I like the widescreen and couldn't see myself getting the smaller one.

Widescreen Definitely!

I like having the additional map space.

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Shooter N32 39 W97 25 VIA 1535TM, Lexus built-in, TomTom Go

wide screen you can see

wide screen you can see more,it is like pereferil vision,plus it still fits into any pocket with ease,like they say bigger is better

Wide Screen

After previously having a Nuvi 350 and now the 765T, I don't think I could ever go back to the smaller screen.

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Nuvi 765T, Nuvi 2350LMT

Can you really notice a

Can you really notice a difference in use with the wide screen. I bought a smaller screen Nuvi 350 because it had a great review and I didn't think the screen mattered. Thanks

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I tripped going up the escalator and I fell for an hour and a half!

BIG DIFFERENCE Between the 2

BIG DIFFERENCE Between the 2 screens.

I Started off with a Nuvi 250 (3.5) and Later got a Nuvi 760 (4.3) and right away noticed a HUGE Improvement. I'm VERY Glad I got the wider screen, everything looks so much better, and the outlying streets are easier to see. Everything just looks too cluttered on the smaller screen.

Old eyes, wide screen...

The larger (wide) screen is a lot easier on my old eyes... I can read it at its working distance without my reading glasses. That was really important to me -- the smaller screen units didn't hack it!

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Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows

Great, I am sold on the

Great, I am sold on the larger screen. I will remember that for my next purchase.

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I tripped going up the escalator and I fell for an hour and a half!

LARGER SCREEN

k6rtm wrote:

The larger (wide) screen is a lot easier on my old eyes... I can read it at its working distance without my reading glasses. That was really important to me -- the smaller screen units didn't hack it!

Ditto

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Widescreen

Definitely the wide screen is better. I had a 3.5 inch screen, but returned it because it was bothering me that it was to small.

Also, if you want a QWERTY

Also, if you want a QWERTY keyboard layout you need widescreen.

Wide Screen or Not

I must be missing something. I don't have a wide screen but can't see the advantage of one for a basic GPS. If anything, I would want a taller unit as someone previously mentioned to see more of the road ahead. I seldom care what is far to the left or right. It is not significant but a wide unit obscures more of your view of the road through the windshield.
I think the wide screen is a lot of advertising hype that people have bought into.

Deja-vu...

Mike107 wrote:

I must be missing something. I don't have a wide screen but can't see the advantage of one for a basic GPS. If anything, I would want a taller unit as someone previously mentioned to see more of the road ahead. I seldom care what is far to the left or right.

About 18 months ago, I posted an almost identical reply to a similar discussion thread. However, it turns out I was missing something redface

When I got my wide-screen Nüvi 760, I discovered that, it's the bits off to the side that are actually the most useful, especially when there's a turn coming up (because you get a feel for where the road goes after that). (Assuming a 'track-up' display).

Of course, when there isn't a turn coming up, you tend not to be looking at the unit anyway!

The downside of wide-screen, is that the unit is obviously bigger and therefore more cumbersome to carry around. It also seems to make it more fragile - longer case sides that flex more? (I've got a cracked screen, after it fell to the ground sad ).

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------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

The screen

on the 760 seems to be quite a bit better in bright sunlight compared to the 360. I didn't realize this 'til I spent some time with it and find it a signficant enhancement compared to my 360. Overall legibility is just excellent.

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(2) Nuvi 1450LMT + 3597LMTHD + 2557LMT + DS61LMT-S Boston MA

Must Have

I've had both types. I will always get the Wide from now on.

I'm going from an in-dash to

I'm going from an in-dash to a portable widescreen (765T), meaning I'm going smaller. I wouldn't be able to handle dropping all the way to the 3.5. In so far as portability, the widescreen is not much of a difference than the 3.5 when putting it in your pocket. GO WIDE.

Widescreen

On the next one.

3.5 screen

I have the 3.5, my son has the wide screen. after using his W I'm going to upgrade. It sure is nice and easy to look at.

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FJM

I'll go bigger

I have a 4.3 now but will consider a 5.0 next time I buy. For me bigger is better.

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Wanted -Woman with GPS -send picture of GPS

Man, just got a Garmin 265T

Man, just got a Garmin 265T 3.5, because I couldn't beat the price anywhere for the features. I hope I don't end up regretting it, but I can see everything I need too on the screen no problem.

I think it is like HDTV, once you see it, you could never go back, but if you never see it, you would never notice.

Size War

I have both a 360 and a 750 and I like both. One has bluetooth and the other doesn't. I guess you would say I'm bi because I go both ways with no problems. Depending on the need for the trip I use the one that works best. 360 and Bluetooth for the car with straight shift and Wide screen on the bike when I plan a route. Love both equally.

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Nuvi 750 And a 2006 Star Venture between my legs.

I own...

nuvic320 wrote:

Do you prefer the smaller 3.5" GPS units over the wide screen units?

Me I've always preferred something pocketable, and the 3.5" GPS units seem to fit much better in my pocket / bag / jacket, than the wide screen unit.

For some reason the widescreen just seems too big for my tastes.

a 350,360 and 370. I love them all! I suppose that the wider model has it's advantages but since I have three of the smaller ones...I suppose I am, what you might term, stuck.

Initially when I bought the 360, I wanted something that I could hide on my person while vacationing in France, and it worked well. Wider at that point meant nothing to me, and it still doesn't.

Just my thoughts...

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"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."

My...

thoughts also...

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"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."

Widescreen

I only used my son's 350 once or twice before getting my 750. There have been times when walking around using it, the smaller screen would be lighter and not as bulky but definitely prefer the widescreen while driving.

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Nuvi 750

I haven't tried a wide

I haven't tried a wide screen, but since I normally drive in the "track up" configuration, I don't think extra width would be that helpful. I agree with some of the posters above that a taller screen would be nice.

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"Recalculating... drive 0.2 miles, then abandon vehicle." ------------- [ETrex Venture CX; Nüvi 40; Drive 52]

Wide vs. 3.5

I do not own a wide screen.
For the amount of time I am looking at the screen on the gps while traveling the added cost of a wide screen does not seem reasonable.
Like many other things if I owned a wide screen I may have a different opinion.
Chuck

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Old Eyes--

Old eyes like the larger screen!

And my fingers work easier with the larger screen too!

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Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows

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