This Nuvi has a unique design that Garmin hopes will
catch the eye of consumers. It has a slim, tapered edge design with a
metallic back and a black, shiny plastic front. Its dimensions are 5.4 x
0.5 x 3.1-inches (wdh) and it weighs 0.4-pounds, so it’s very thin at
its thinnest point. But don’t be fooled, at its thickest point, it is
just as thick as most other GPS devices out there. Along the bottom
edge, there is a microSD memory card slot for increasing storage for
maps as well as system updates. The back panel has the power button, a
mini-USB port for charging and updating and a 12-pin dock connector.
On the front of the Nuvi 3597LMTHD, there is a 5-inch
TFT capacitive display with a glass front. The display has a 800 x
480-pixel resolution, which looks very sharp and bright overall, much
better than most other similar devices. Because the display is
capacitive, you get the ability to register all sorts of touch
interactions, including swipes and pinches. There is an internal
accelerometer, so the display auto rotates.
The suction-cup mount has a powerful magnet that
attracts the back of the Nuvi to the dock connector. The suction-cup can
attach to either the windshield or some other smooth surface. There is
an integrated speaker within the mount too. The mount connects to your
car’s 12-volt power source and also powers the integrated FM/HD radio
antenna that allows your Nuvi to get free, lifetime traffic-data.
One of the selling points that Garmin uses for this GPS
is the built-in voice commands, which are activated by simply saying
“Voice Command” instead of having to press a button, so it’s completely
hands-free. From there, you can find places, intersections, cities or
even an address. The Nuvi helps you through the information collection
process by helpful voice prompts. It was quite accurate in our use, even
with minor road noise.
Other spoken prompts from the Nuvi 3597LMTHD were also
very natural. Instead of robotic, generic prompts like “In 500 feet,
turn right”, you get “Keep straight past the gas station and turn right
at the traffic light”, which is much more conversational and easier to
relate to real life.
In route mode, the display shows you a ton of
information but in a way that isn’t too overwhelming. On the right side,
you get traffic delay information and other route info. Along the
bottom is your speed and current road. The top shows any turns or
directional changes that you need to take next.
Overall the GPS did a good job at doing what it is
designed to do. It has an easy-to-navigate interface that’s made even
easier to use by voice commands. Finding destinations using the search
feature was easy and accurate. The Nuvi always chose the quickest, most
logical routes and displayed accurate traffic data. Despite all that, we
do cringe at the $340 retail price tag.
Physical & Performance |
|
| Unit dimensions, WxHxD | 5.4″W x 3.1″H x 0.5″D (13.8 x 7.7 x 1.3 cm) |
| Display size, WxH | 4.3″W x 2.9″H (10.9 x 6.5 cm); 5″ diag (12.7 cm) |
| Display resolution, WxH | 800 x 480 pixels |
| Display type | multi-touch, glass, dual-orientation, WVGA color TFT with white backlight |
| Weight | 6.8 oz (192 g) |
| Battery | rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Battery life | Up to 2 hours |
| Headphone jack/audio line-out | No |
| High-sensitivity receiver | Yes |
| Waterproof | No |
Maps & Memory |
|
| Preloaded street maps | Yes |
| Includes lifetime map updates | Yes |
| nüMaps Guarantee | yes |
| 3-D terrain view | Yes |
| 3-D buildings and landmarks view | Yes |
| Built-in memory | yes |
| Accepts data cards | microSD™ card (not included) |
| Waypoints/favorites/locations | 1000 |
| Routes | 100 |
Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth Vehicle GPS with Lifetime Maps and HD Traffic
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