Reviewed: Garmin Nuvi 1690

[Alsone1]

The Nu-Link subscription is a retograde step for me.

I currently have a Garmin and was looking to upgrade to a 3D view but I simply can't justify the the subscription.

With my existing unit I get Traffic Master information for free but now Garmin expect us to pay £70 per year to access it? Surely it would be better to give Traffic Master for free but charge for the other extras.

For me, who is someone who probably uses their sat nav 3 or 4 times a year at the most, usually when going on holiday, the Garmin is no longer worth it.

I'll be looking at other brands now if I upgrade.

[my1690]

just seen this review on the 1690, I have had mine for 2 years now, and was debating whether to spend £41 pounds ex vat or 49 euros ( tax free if you live outside Europe) on the 12 month nulink sub, and use it for another year, after a lot of looking around I decided to renew, mainly because I have free lifetime upgade maps on the 1690, but also the Bluetooth phone part is nearly as good as the standalone Parrot bluetooth kits IMHO

a few comments on the review, and after 2 years daily use I feel I can comment with some authority, Matthew mentions these cons

•Screen freeze at busy junctions
•Limited audio options (no headphone socket or / FM)
•Scrolling phonebook is very laborious
•Touchscreen not very sensitive

I must admit in the early days I had some screen freezes at busy junctions as well, but in the last 12 months or so, I can only remember one such occasion where this happened (and I do about 4 to 5000 miles a month)

Audio, this does not bother me, as the radio in my car has DAB, and I much prefer it to FM anyway

The scrolling phonebook, I must admit it probably isn't very intuitive, and Matthew missed it, but just keep the down arrrow pressed and it whizzes down hundreds of entries till you see the letters you want and take your finger off the down arrow, I have 800 numbers on my Blackberry Bold 9900 and they simply get updated over Bluetooth on the 1690, and it is a joy to use

As Matthew mentions, it helps to use the calibrate trick, but also I used a cleaning wipe that my wife uses for her glasses, and this helps make the screen a little more sensitive, I do admit though that the screen could have been made a little more responsive, as it is annoying to press something again when you think you have aleady pressed hard enough

that's my two penneth worth anyways :-)

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