Depends on the size of your pocket I guess The page you linked to shows the specs. about 3x4" it seems.
It looks like it comes with maps built in. Buying in Canada you'll be stuck with the North American maps. It can take added maps BUT if you check the price of the European maps they add a fair bit. You're likely better off getting a unit with both map sets included.
Brenda I bought the 550 model on line at Costco but after asking just as you are doing I was told to return it and get a Garmin model that ended in "70" as they have the European map access. It is not advisable price wise to keep a model that does not have the European maps if that's what you want (I'm sure that's the case for you.)I returned mine and am still shopping for a Garmin model in the 70's. I hope this is not confusing. Good luck. Barb Cabot
Posts: 589 | Location: Long Beach, California | Registered: 27 August 2007
It is quite some time since we talked with you and we hope you are keeping in good health and still enjoying life. We still look back fondly to our stay in beautiful Jasper.
If you haven't already bought the C550 then I wouldn't recommend it as although it is fine for vehicle use it is not hand or purse friendly as it is quite thick (over 2 inches) and not an easy shape to hand hold. If you go into the Garmin site (www.garmin.com) or GPSCentral who are in Calgary (www.gpscentral.ca) then you can look at the shape of that devvice and seee what I mean.
Have a look at the Nuvi 270 and the Nuvi 370 (both Garmin). They are considerably thinner and lighter and much better for carrying by hand or in your purse when out of the car. Both have preinstalled maps for North America and Europe which I assume will cover your interests.
You will probably not remember but we had a GPS with us when we were with you in Jasper. It is a Nuvi 350 and still fully meets our needs. It is the same size and shape as the C370 and very similar to the C270. The C370 is a bit dearer than the C270 but does include Bluetooth wireless which is very handy as an interface with your phone when driving (almost handsfree phone) assuming your phone is reasonably modern and has bluetooth.
We have friends with a Garmin the same shape as the C550 and they find it rather large for carrying around (she had to get a bigger handbag!) and difficult to hand hold.
The modern shape of GPS devices has gone widescreen - look at the Nuvi 770 - but this is really just a fashion issue (keeping up with widescreen TVs I suppose) as it provides virtually no greater viewing area (none at all if you prefer to have your vehicle always going up the screen, which I find most women do) and adds to the weight and size for hand carrying. I have 3 friends who have all bought widescreen versions, and find them too big for pocket carrying.
I hope that clarifies the situation a little and hasn't made it more confusing, but if you have any other questions I'm only too happy to help. We have been using a GPS (we have more than one actually) for 8 years now and although Annette initially saw it as just another one of my gadgets, she won't go anywhere overseas without it now.
I bought our Nuvi from GPSCentral in Calgary as it was too modern to be available in NZ and their price was as good as anyone, and I found them very helpfull.
Brenda at last nights L.A. GTG David of (David and Marcia team) showed me his Garmin Nuvi 370 which can be handheld and fits in his pocket. I liked the size and shape and David says it works great. (They used it in Italy and it had all the tiny little streets as well). I think I am going with this one and just wanted to pass on my observations. Let us know what you come up with. Again, best of luck. Barb Cabot
Posts: 589 | Location: Long Beach, California | Registered: 27 August 2007
Nick, That helps! I know very little about any GPS, so this post is part of my learning curve. I've bookmarked both links...thank you!
Barb, Not confusing at all. Actually, you've directed me down a new path, so I'm now reading about the NUVI 370. That looks more like what I was hoping to find. I spotted this Garmin Street Pilot on a 50% off sale and thought it might be a really great deal. Sounds like the Garmin Nuvi 370 is a better buy for me. Thank you for your advice and direct comments! It helps, lots. I have never owned a GPS so I feel like I'm way out of my comfort zone
My grandfather always told me that the cheapest is often the most expensive in the long run, and this looks to be true here, as well. Buying the StreetPilot at $250+/- and paying extra for UK and Europe map uploads would eat up any cost difference between the StreetPilot and the Nuvi 370. Add into that, the fact that it really isn't pocket-friendly, and I think I've just eliminated this GPS from my wish list!
AnG, Of course, I remember the GPS in your car! I had a wonderful few days visiting in Jasper with you and Annette! That was such fun. You are comfirming what Barb is telling me...stick with the 250 - 270 - 370 Garmin NUVI models. Nice to talk with you again, Graham...Please say "Hi" to Annette for me.
Now I need to find a good price...anywhere from $333 to $654. What's up with that?? I also read a review that indicates that the 370 can be used as an audio book reader and an MP-3 player.
Any comment on this quote from a review I found? "Garmin has been terrible though, they were slow to update software and they have released a map update for Europe for this device now, less than six months from purchase that they want $130 dollars for. I purchased this model specifically for US and European maps rather than dealing with expensive map expansion of another model, it costs almost twice as much as comparable models that have only one or the other. At that price I feel it should have free map updates for at least a year as some of the other manufacturers offer, they do not." Brenda
New maps come out every year. Nobody forces you to upgrade the maps. With falling prices the maps are most of the cost of the unit. Garmin isn't really the creator of the maps either.
If you buy a unit after the new maps are released you get a free upgrade. OTOH the "improvements" for the well covered areas tend to be minor. For example the Italian maps are getting some new points of interest. The UK maps already have most of those.
I'm skipping this years upgrade and likely buying a new unit in 2010 or maybe 2011.
I agree with Nick's comments that Garmin bring out updates aproximately yearly but the changes tend to be quite minor - how many roads have changed in your town in the past year or two?) I don't upgrade every year and when we were in North America last year we were not using the latest maps but had no trouble at all. Out of interest I received an email today from Garmin saying the lates update on North America has been released so you will get the latest NA maps anyway (it is called 2009 maps, so they are getting a bit ahead of themselves!)
You are correct that the 370 is an MP3 player and an audio book reader. We have a lot of MP3s on ours and use them quite a bit on trips. The device has an earphone socket and we found that some car radios have an input for the like of iPods so the Nuvi can be plugged into that - gives much better audio than the little speaker in the Nuvi. Using the Nuvi as a source of music has the advantage that the device stops the music briefly for directional instructions which works well. We have a number of audio books also on an SD card that plugs into the Nuvi but have used that very little. Do know a traveller that uses that feature all the time though.
The 370 also has many other features of questionable need such as a calculator, etc but also has a minimal language translator in it. You can buy an additional sd card with an extensive translator in it if that could be useful.
Price is very variable as there is a lot of competition and large sales being made of GPS devices, hence the large variation you have found. On a quick look today, GPSCentral in Calgary still look pretty competitive.
If and when you do buy please let me know what you have got and I will make a couple of comments on really basic things to be aware of when using it, based on what we have learnt through trial and error!!!
Annette says "Hi" and comments that Jasper was a definite highlight on our trip, mainly due to the personal travel guide we had there.
Slow Travel Talk 
The page you linked to shows the specs. about 3x4" it seems.
You are comfirming what Barb is telling me...stick with the 250 - 270 - 370 Garmin NUVI models. 
