Garmin - Nuvi 500

GPS Manufacturers are coming up with hi-tech models that will work across all terrains to meet the needs of people who have diverse interests. The Garmin Nuvi 500 is one such high-end model that can be used by you while driving, hiking, biking or even boating.

Considered to be an advanced yet rugged model, the Nuvi 500 has features that truly make it a good outdoor navigation device. For example, to begin with it is waterproof. This means it can be submerged in water up to a depth of 1 meter for close to 30 minutes without causing any damage. Secondly, the Nuvi 500 has a compass mode that you can use when you are off the road – either walking or biking. There are many other advanced off the road navigation features which makes this a great pick for those who have an active lifestyle.

Features

The Nuvi 500 has all the world-class navigational tools that have popularized the Nuvi series. The user-friendly interface begins by asking you ‘Where to?’ and then displaying the ‘View Maps’. You just need to use the touch screen to get detailed instructions on how to proceed from turn to turn. The device comes loaded with maps of North America and millions of points of interest. If you ever get lost, use the ‘Where Am I’ feature to quickly understand your current location, the closest points of interest and in emergency situations, the nearest hospital, police station and so on.

Since these features are more or less standard in the Nuvi series, we will focus on the off the road navigational features that the Nuvi 500 comes with. The device has a smooth touch screen that also possesses the durability that is so necessary in an outdoor device. The Nuvi 500 also comes with topographic maps of the US which are already preloaded in the device whereas the special Inland Lakes Vision as well as the BlueChart g2 Vision, marine maps can be accessed by just plugging in an SD card. The GPS receiver is extra sensitive and uses the latest HotFix satellite technology to help you locate your position faster and more accurately. In addition, this also enables the device to maintain GPS location whatever the surrounding terrain - deep canyons, heavy trees or tall buildings.

The Nuvi 550 is very similar in design and features to the Nuvi 500 except that while the Nuvi 500 carries detailed maps of the lower 48 states of the US along with those of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the Nuvi 550 also contains maps of Alaska and Canada. Thus both Nuvi 500 and 550 can be considered to be the ultimate GPS devices as far as outdoor navigation systems are concerned. Very similar in design to the Nuvi 200 series models, these two devices include more rugged and waterproof exteriors and screens, making them more durable and hence more capable of handling outdoor tasks while you are hiking or sailing.

Thus, no matter what kind of adventure you would like to embark on, the Nuvi 550 will prove to be a trustworthy companion.