The next step in high end transportable automotive GPS

Update - November 30, 2005

Note that Garmin has released a 512 Meg memory chip that works in the 276c, which is the preferred alternative I propose for those considering this model. That is enough to cover about half of the continent in one load.
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Original Review:

Garmin's 2720 replaces the older 2620 vehicular navigator. I strongly suggest reading up on the 2620 to get a sense of what it is all about, simply because these devices have a huge amount of functionality. It would be easiest to just read the manual (available for download online from Garmin's web site at www.garmin.com)

Housed in a small package only slightly larger than the device's 3" LCD display, the unit features a touchscreen and is provided with an infrared remote control.

The North American version is equipped with a full set of maps for the entire of Canada and the USA and has an extensive database of points of interest (gas stations, libraries, museums, restaurants, hotels, civil services and so on) that can be searched by name or type and organised by distance or by name. Restaurants are additionally categorised by type of cuisine.

In operation, one generally will perch the device on top of the dashboard using the supplied 'bean bag mount' where the built in antenna can 'see' the sky to capture the satellite signals. The supplied 'cigarette lighter plug' contains the loudspeaker that annunciates the directions and such.

Similar to previous versions of the product, one need generally only enter an address and tell the unit whether to take the fastest or shortest way (not necessarily the same thing) to get to where you want to go. After a short delay the unit will display the route and announce the guidance (turns and so on).

There are a couple of new features in this model;

1. The 3D display

Garmin recently added a 3 dimensional (3D) display mode where the streets are shown from an offset angle, looking down at the roads in the direction of travel. The view is a lot more intuitive that the top-view 2D mode that is traditional for this type of device. Note that 3D is not exclusive to Garmin, but it IS a recent addition to the feature sets of most new, higher end automotive units.

2. The top view

On previous models the map display showed all except major highways as simple lines. If you've ever used Streets and Trips from Microsoft, you'll recognise the new 'meat' that the streets now have on the display - very attractive.

3. Text-to-speech

The 2720 now announces street names. I live in Canada, so some of the speech is entertaining indeed, but in general it works. However it is something of a gimmick because if you are navigating an unfamiliar area, knowing what the street name sounds like doesn't add much to the experience.

4. RDS Traffic

I can't check this out because we don't have this service on any stations where I live.

In general, you purchase the optional accessory receiver and it will find the local source for digitised traffic information. This information will be used for route planning, helping you avoid congestion and construction if the locals authorities put it out. A real future-view application.

5. Better display

I still prefer the larger 276c/376c displays, but Garmin now has a better daylight readable LCD on this model than they did on the 2600 series.

6. Proximity POI

A POI is a "Point Of Interest". This receiver has the ability to set up an alarm at a user-specified radius from any map point.

You can also set up a 'speed' value as part of the definition, so that the unit can ignore the point unless you are (heaven forbid) speeding when you get to the area.

Does your city have red light cameras? Do the local police ALWAYS park a speed trap at some specific place? Set up a Proximity POI and you will be warned as you approach it!!!!

The only negative to this feature is that they must be entered from a computer - it can't be done while on the road (unless of course you have a laptop and a USB cable handy) - so if you're sitting, waiting for the officer to write you a ticket you'd better set a waypoint or mark down the Latitude and Longitude and remember to do it when you get home.

The 276c and 376c have always had this feature (location only, not speed (and why not, Garmin?) and they let you set them up on the fly - these dual mode marine/automotive units really 'do this better' than the 2720.

In general the 2720 is a great improvement over the 2620 it replaces. The receiver is sensitive and the database is very complete and up to date. However there have been a few niggling issues with software that Garmin is addressing with updates.

I have a Chrysler with a built in navigator - the database on that unit is nowhere near as complete as is the one in the 2720 - save some money when buying a car. Skip the factory navigator and buy a 2720, 276c or 376c from Garmin (NOT their C, V or I series).

Garmin's automotive units feature a 2,000 point tracklog (memory of where the unit has been, when and how fast it was traveling) - good for about 300 miles. Marine units have 10,000 point logs, so they can store about 1,000 miles of history.

Why is this important? Because they can extremely useful for fighting traffic tickets, because they can prove your location and speed and they can allow you to review a day's driving in detail. So a marine unit is the better choice for this application because of the larger tracklog - I have a 276c on my motorcycle for this reason.

Your specific selection will depend on what you really need. Here are some quick comparison points for the units I'd consider if I was buying a navigation unit today:

2720 for excellent automotive-only operation with optional traffic input. Supports 2,000 tracklog points, but features the ability to organise a day's driving into the most efficient-to-navigate route. On board mapping for all of Canada and the USA - no need to load up maps if you travel expensively.

276c for a dual-mode marine/automotive device with a battery that will operate the unit for 20 hours or so. Larger 10,000 point tracklog. Limited memory (but good enough to cover from Detroit to the Atlantic, from Quebec City to Boston with the 128 Meg memory chip to give you an idea - and you can get 256 meg chips today). You can always carry multiple chips if 256 isn't enough and you want to leave the computer at home. It is equipped with a rechargeable battery to allow portable operation for up to 20 hours.

376c for the same feature set as the 276c, but with the option to get a built-in XM radio and to subscribe to XM's marine and aviation services.