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 enlarge | Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $363.79
Buy Used: $99.99
You Save: $263.80 (73%)
New (5) from $245.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  259 reviews
Media: Electronics
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 320 x 240
Display Size: 3.5
Includes MP3 Player: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.4
Dimensions (in): 2.2 x 4.4 x 3.2
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 010-00521-00
Model: 010-00521-00
UPC: 753759054472
EAN: 0753759054472
Release Date: July 10, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Garmin C530 - Don't buy January 7, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I purchased two Garmin C530 GPS's for my wife and I in Dec. '07 and was very disappointed with the product. I ended up returning both of them and am planning to purchase the next model up, the Garmin C550. The C530 came with outdated maps and would cost an additional $70 each to upgrade to the 2008 maps, however, if you purchase the C550, you can upgrade to the 2008 maps for FREE. The C530 also did not have alot of common businesses in it that have been around for years. For example, I entered Wal-Mart and it took me to a car dealerhip parking lot however, Wal-Mart was actually located about a mile away on the other side of the highway. I paid $200 for the C530 whereas I can get the C550 for around $310 but the extra $100 is worth it since you would have to upgrade the maps anyway or live with a questionable GPS.
 Very Good GPS but not perfect. January 11, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Pros:
* Sirf is a MUST and this unit has it. Sirf will keep your GPS unit connected under bridges and tall buildings. Reception is top notch.
* Fast sattelite connection.
* Users friendly, to the point and very straight forward.
* Windshield mount is very strong, unlike my Magellan which keeps on falling off the windshield mount.
* No external buttons, its all touch screen, except for the power button
* It records the highest speed, time idle, time travel, odometer and speedometer.
* It will operate up to 8 hours if unpluged. I hate chords hanging on my windshild, so I run mine solely on the internal battery power.
Cons:
* No options for route preferences. For example if you want to avoid freeways in your route you will have to go to a different menu to disable it first. I found this to be bothersome and time consuming. Other GPS (Magellan) will give you an option which route you prefer such as: shortest time, shortest distance, least use of freeway.
* Points of Interest takes too long to process. Its beyond slow. For those who uses this feature often I have news for you, BE PATIENT or it will drive you nuts.
In summary I give this unit a 4 Star due to the Cons that I listed above. Other than that this GPS unit is GREAT.
 Disappointed March 25, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
I had a Garmin Street Pilot III before, and I like it a lot. Since it has been a long time, the map needs to update and it looks a little bulky,I decided to get a new one. After a while of research, finally I decided to get this C530.
But I am very disappointed compare to the one I had before.
First, the voice prompt always says 'turn left' as 'turn B-left', it's annoying.
Second, after each turn, it won't show the road name of the next turn until it gets to about 0.2 miles. I don't feel I am giving enough time to prepare.
Sometimes, after you make a turn, it won't promt the next turn for you if the next turn is between 0.2 - XX miles alway. The GPS is just silent until you reach 0.2miles, always makes me wonder if it talks at all.
The volume adjustment is very bad. There are about 9 or 10 scales, but the top 2 are almost the same, and the bottom 7 are almost the same, basically it is like only two scales. If you use the top 2 on the local, it's too loud. but if you use the bottom 7, you won't hear much if you are on highway. You have to adjust the volume when you get on or off highway, very inconvenient. Also the place to adjust volume is very easy to be touched accidently.
The calculation is not as good as what I thought. I use fastest route calculation, it often leads me to a lot of small roads, makes a lot of turns, and usually there are a lot of traffic lights, the result is it takes me much longer than it originally calculated. It supposed to have traffic information considered in it's calculation, but I haven't activate that function yet. On the day I updated the software on line, I lost the traffic icon on GPS.
I wrote to technique support for two questions, but haven't got back from them after about a month now.
There are really a lot of things to complaint about. especially the screen design and the software. Just to be fair, the screen design and the software problem are not only in this model, I tried Magellen roadmate 2000, had the same problems too. I would rather return the Garmin C530 I got, but I will lost half of my money due to Amazon return policy. I really would rather continue using the old one I have.
 Important "gotcha" with this unit November 5, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
One Buyer Beware on this unit is that it will ship with Version 8 of the mapping software. NOT the latest version 2008. This is per Garmin. This model must be being discontinued. Version 8 is a significant step down in that the routing algorythm it uses is pretty poor. Even worse than 7. Unless you plan on paying for the upgrade as well, skip this unit
 Simple GPS Navigator June 11, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
The Garmin StreetPilot c530 is a simple GPS navigation system. It adopts quickly if you chose to deviate from the route it picks. It gives ample warning for up coming turns so that you do not need Street Names. Its lack of announcing street names, lack of use as a cell phone or iPod makes it a pleasure to use it for the one thng it was designed for; Get from Here to There. The friction base (available from Garmin not the one Amazon incorrectly claims it will work with) is easy to move from car to car and to reposition so that it does not interfere with driving.
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