Nuvi $129 at Costco Feb 9

Nice deal for a unit with TTS!

But if you can buy the Nuvi 205 for the same price, which one would you go for?

205 has the faster GPS acquisition, newer interface...but no TTS...

Don't be certain that the 260 talked about here has slower acquisition. I bought a 250 back in November thinking it had slower acquisition and a slower processor than the 2x5 line, but it seems that new 250 are built on the same hardware platform as the 2x5 line. I got the faster CPU, apparently the faster gps chip, and a few other "upgrades" like multi-via support. I would not be at all surprised to find that Garmin is building 260s on the new hardware platform as well, makes more sense than having different hardware platforms for that unit.

I didn't get everything with my 250. Found that my latest firmware doesn't include ecoroute. Apparently that is something that the marketing people are holding back for the xx5 models. But I got more than is spec'ed for the 250 and the new 260s may be the same.

I certainly expect that most of the hardware in the nuvis is the same, although the 200 and 205 have less flash than the other nuvis (apparently saving just enough to justify the hardware difference). But I'm pretty sure that many of the feature differences that define the different models, including TTS and mp3 support, are just firmware differences on the same hardware.

TTS didn't matter much to me, but it seems to matter to most people here. I would not expect the 260 to be slower than a 205 in any way unless I confirmed that it was.

The old 260 had square + and - buttons on the screen, in the top left and top right corners of the map. If I'm correct and this new 260 is based on the newer hardware it will have circles around the + and - buttons and they will both be on the right hand side of the display. However, any picture in an advertisement, and the picture on the box as well as the printed plastic screen overlay that comes on a new Garmin GPS will still be printed in the older style, so it's hard to be sure which you are getting until you make the purchase. I'm not sure if the older hardware 260 took a full size SD card or a micro SD card, if it took a full size SD card them this could be a way to tell between new and old hardware before making a purchase, the new hardware will use a micro-SD card. Of course, i the deal is on-line only then you can't see before you buy, but you could try to look at other 260s to see what Garmin's current 260 is.

Limited Online Offer:

$50 discount is reflected in the price.

Valid for orders placed
February 2, 2009 through March 1, 2009.
While supplies last.

Online price
$179.99
Less -$50.00

YOUR COST
$129.99

After talking to the Garmin Tech.I would look at the 205 series because of added features and faster processors.Should be some good deals out there on them.See https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

Great price.

I just opened my 260 and it looks like a 2x5 series.

It has:
Where Am I?
The + and - are on the right, stacked
It has the upcoming turn arrow in the upper left
Clear voices
When you look a POI, a litle route info tag slides out from the GO! button.

When it makes any sound, it has a slight click and the voice has a slight hiss in the background but I hear it because I'm in a quiet house. I won't hear it in the car or outiside.

It has SW version 4.70
GPS SW Version 2.55b
S1 P1 V7 2GB
Maps are 2009
Takes the micro memory card

If you want the wide screen version, it is $160 in my local store.

Nice, Garmin needs to trim some of the nuvi models if they're similar from the xx0 and xx5 series.

Once these units get cheap enough and there are lots more of them out there, maybe they'll be less of a theft target?

I wonder if the GPS accuracy has any improvement. I had the Garmin 200 and the GPS accuracy is pretty bad compared to a standalone GPS receiver. It can not detect I am on a service road, with at least 15 meters off the highway.

Jeff

Does Costco charge shipping? Otherwise Amazon has it for about $10 more.

That is a very good price for a 260. I say you should go ahead and buy it.

Newegg had it for $139 shipped last month.
They were sold out and I got mine from TigerDirect for mid $140's shipped.

Don't forget add tax and shipping to Costco price.

hmmmm....

my girlfriend is moving up here to phoenix this weekend. this might just be the perfect gift for her being in a new city and all.

shame those dishonest folks have ruined costco's return policy.

.