August 2008
Garmin Nuvi 880 GPS: First Look
This pricey navigation device features voice recognition that works well
Drivers are talking and Garmin is listening. Its Nuvi 880, a full-featured global positioning device, is distinguished by
a very good voice-recognition system. It has a wide vocabulary, enabling drivers to enter destinations and cycle through menus
without touching the screen. And it works in multiple languages.
The Nuvi 880 has a wide, 4.4-inch LCD screen flanked by speakers. Like Garmin’s other high-end units, it has Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, an MP3 player, a photo viewer, video games, and a trip computer. It also has an MSN receiver for traffic updates and can provide information about the weather and gas prices.
The Nuvi 880’s price sets it apart. It is $1,000, twice the price of the similarly featured Nuvi 780, essentially a $300 premium for voice recognition.
Key features include:
Initial impressions. In our testing, we found the Nuvi 880 to be an excellent navigator with a full range of Garmin’s latest features. It has
a friendly, easy-to-use interface with an updated onscreen keypad like the new 2x5 line. It also adds features we’d like to
see shared with all other Garmin models, including the ability to exclude a road from a route, and distance options in the
detour menu.
The Nuvi 880 has the first truly integrated voice-recognition system in a portable navigation device, allowing users to perform
such common tasks as entering destinations, changing volume and brightness settings, and accessing all menus in a hands-free
manner. Other systems with voice recognition that we have tested have had a more limited vocabulary and still required interacting
with a touch screen to access menus and enter certain information.
To initiate a voice command with the Nuvi 880, there is a watchlike button that must be pressed. It can be connected to the power cord or gear selector, or set in a cup holder. (The button should not be attached to the steering wheel, where it might catch on a shirtsleeve as the driver makes a turn.) The benefit of the button is that the system knows when to listen. And more important, it doesn’t interrupt conversation like the Magellan Maestro 4050. Interaction with the Nuvi 880 is eased through a comprehensive list of shortcut commands to allow a user to do most major tasks.
We found the voice recognition to be quite good, but not perfect. Typical of most systems, users may have to repeat a command, especially if the windows are open or the radio is playing. But it does effectively limit the need to touch the unit, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. There is a learning curve with the vocabulary, but common functions are simple to master. We did find that sometimes it was necessary to enter information using the touch screen, as the 880 might not recognize a word or letter at first.
CR's take. The Garmin Nuvi 880 is a premium, full-featured navigator with few overt flaws. The voice-recognition system is state-of-the-art, setting the new benchmark for portable navigation devices. It is simple to use, though it still may require touching the screen for data entry if the device cannot interpret instructions. However, voice recognition commands a high price.
For $1,000, we would have liked to have seen other features, such as historic traffic data and Wi-Fi connectivity—functionality found on lower-priced competitors. And an AC adapter, carrying case, and video player are notably absent.
Ultimately, many of the same qualities can be found in lower-priced Garmin units—minus the voice recognition. For example, the $500 Garmin Nuvi 760 scores nearly as well as the Nuvi 880, plus its battery runs an hour longer.
We hope to see of voice recognition and advanced routing functions spread to more Nuvi models, but at a lower price. For now, the Nuvi 880 is best only for those who must have voice recognition at any cost.
For more information on portable GPS devices, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss them with other shoppers and owners in the forums.
The Nuvi 880 has a wide, 4.4-inch LCD screen flanked by speakers. Like Garmin’s other high-end units, it has Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, an MP3 player, a photo viewer, video games, and a trip computer. It also has an MSN receiver for traffic updates and can provide information about the weather and gas prices.
The Nuvi 880’s price sets it apart. It is $1,000, twice the price of the similarly featured Nuvi 780, essentially a $300 premium for voice recognition.
Key features include:
- 4.4-inch screen
- Voice recognition
- Removable battery
- “Where am I?” emergency feature
- FM and MSN traffic capability, with built-in receiver
- Photo navigation with geotagged images
- Maps for the U.S., including Hawaii and Puerto Rico
To initiate a voice command with the Nuvi 880, there is a watchlike button that must be pressed. It can be connected to the power cord or gear selector, or set in a cup holder. (The button should not be attached to the steering wheel, where it might catch on a shirtsleeve as the driver makes a turn.) The benefit of the button is that the system knows when to listen. And more important, it doesn’t interrupt conversation like the Magellan Maestro 4050. Interaction with the Nuvi 880 is eased through a comprehensive list of shortcut commands to allow a user to do most major tasks.
We found the voice recognition to be quite good, but not perfect. Typical of most systems, users may have to repeat a command, especially if the windows are open or the radio is playing. But it does effectively limit the need to touch the unit, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. There is a learning curve with the vocabulary, but common functions are simple to master. We did find that sometimes it was necessary to enter information using the touch screen, as the 880 might not recognize a word or letter at first.
CR's take. The Garmin Nuvi 880 is a premium, full-featured navigator with few overt flaws. The voice-recognition system is state-of-the-art, setting the new benchmark for portable navigation devices. It is simple to use, though it still may require touching the screen for data entry if the device cannot interpret instructions. However, voice recognition commands a high price.
For $1,000, we would have liked to have seen other features, such as historic traffic data and Wi-Fi connectivity—functionality found on lower-priced competitors. And an AC adapter, carrying case, and video player are notably absent.
Ultimately, many of the same qualities can be found in lower-priced Garmin units—minus the voice recognition. For example, the $500 Garmin Nuvi 760 scores nearly as well as the Nuvi 880, plus its battery runs an hour longer.
We hope to see of voice recognition and advanced routing functions spread to more Nuvi models, but at a lower price. For now, the Nuvi 880 is best only for those who must have voice recognition at any cost.
For more information on portable GPS devices, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss them with other shoppers and owners in the forums.
