Like their paper predecessors, GPS units give you maps, but they take up a lot less space, give you exact directions and you don't have to fold them up after you've reached your destination. Like most electronic items, GPS units offer have a lot of differences between models. That, however, isn't the case with the Garmin Nuvi 250 and 250W, which are virtually identical with a couple of exceptions.
Screen Size
The primary difference between the 250 and the 250W is the screen: The 250 has a standard screen and the 250W has a wide screen. The screen on the 250 is 2.8 inches wide and 2.1 inches high, giving you a 3.5-inch diagonal display. The 205's screen is 3.81 inches wide and 2.25 inches high, giving you a 4.3-inch diagonal screen. The wider screen gives you a larger display to look at without adding a lot of size to the unit.
Unit Size
Portability of a GPS is its biggest asset. Therefore a large, bulky unit isn't as convenient as a smaller unit. The 250 is 3.8 inches wide, 2.8 inches high, .8 inches deep and weighs 5.2 ounces. The 250W is slightly larger--to accommodate the larger screen--at 4.8 inches wide, 2.9 inches high, .8 inches deep and weighing 6.1 ounces.
Battery Life
Because GPS units are portable by nature, it's important that they have a battery capable of lasting you a long time. Both the 250 and the 250W have a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack, which can last for up to five hours.
Voice Prompts
There are two main ways that a GPS gives you verbal directions--voice prompts and spoken street names. Voice prompts tell you to "turn left in 1 mile," while voice prompts with spoken street names tells you to "turn left on Washington Street in 1 mile." Both the 250 and 250W give you voice prompts, but neither has the ability to give you spoken street names.
Maps
The 250 and the 250W both come preloaded with a number of maps that not only contain routes, but also points of interest, specific locations and alternate routes. As time goes by, however, those routes, locations and points of interest can become out-of-date. The 250 and 250W both have the ability to use new maps, which you can upload via an optional Secure Digital (SD) memory card.
Tags: inches high, inches wide, inches wide inches, wide inches, wide inches high
