Once the c330 lists the available locations, simply press Go, and a route is calculated from your current position to your chosen destination, complete with text and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions. You can search by address or use the POI icons to locate hospitals, auto services, transit hubs, and other points. The Where To icon takes you to another screen, where you can select locations in your immediate vicinity, in another city, or closest to your final destination. After powering up the c330, you're given two choices: Where To and View Map.
Navigating through the menu screens is a breeze, thanks to the touch screen and the use of big, colorful icons to guide you through the process.
Mapsource map for c330 Patch#
And of course, powering the whole device is a WAAS-enabled 12-channel receiver and an integrated patch antenna to lock on to GPS satellite signals. Designed to work right out of the box, the Garmin StreetPilot c330 comes preloaded with MapSource City Select street-level maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and it contains more than 5 million points of interest (POI), such as hotels, airports, eating establishments, local attractions, shops, and more. There's also a connector for an optional external antenna for better satellite reception.
Mapsource map for c330 software#
In addition to an AC power adapter and a PC/USB cable for firmware and software updates, the c330 comes with a lever-activated suction cup swivel-mounting cradle that is easily attached to the vehicle's windshield, giving the antenna a clear view of the sky, while the 12-volt car adapter is hardwired to the cradle. But the built-in speakers are loud and clear, so you won't be left completely on your own to find your way. Unfortunately, when viewed in direct sunlight, it loses some of its sharpness. Showing off 64,000 hues and 320x240-pixel resolution, the c330's 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen with backlighting is colorful, and the maps show quite a bit of detail. Garmin also sells a five-pack of faceplates ($25), should you decide you want to change the look of your c330 to match the interior of your car. Weighing just 9.5 ounces and measuring 4.4 by 3.2 by 2.8 inches, the c330 is certainly portable, but its black-plastic casing with removable silver bezel feels like it might not withstand an accidental drop, and it's not waterproof, so you may want to spend an extra $32 for the deluxe carrying case that will protect your investment. The only thing missing is a remote control. Other than a power switch, a volume control, and a USB port on the unit's right side, all user controls are accessed via the responsive touch-screen display. The Garmin StreetPilot c330 is designed for simplicity, as is evidenced by the lack of function buttons on the unit. Alternatively, if your travel plans require only smaller geographical segments, Garmin offers a step-down version, the $750 c320, that includes a SD card slot and 128MB SD card for map data. More importantly, the c330 is a solid navigation device that provides accurate directions to help you get to your destination. Like the GO, the c330 is compact and ready to use right out of the box it comes with maps preloaded on the device's internal memory and includes some extras not found the TomTom, such as an internal battery for out-of-car use and changeable faceplates, all of which give the c330 a slight edge over the GO.
That's because Garmin's new in-car navigation system, the $964 StreetPilot c330, bears a striking resemblance-not that there's anything wrong with that-to the TomTom GO, which was released last year. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the folks at TomTom must be blushing.