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Garmin nuvi 1490/1490T 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Review.
List Price: $279.99 Amazon Price: $249.80 |
Garmin nuvi 1490/1490T 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #229 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Garmin
- Model: 010-00810-05
- Released on: 2009-07-30
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 3.40″ h x .60″ w x 5.40″ l, .50 pounds
- Display size: 5
Features
- Brilliant color on a 5-inch touchscreen display, integrated Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker for hands-free calling
- Lane assist with junction view that guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate
- Includes advanced navigation features to take the worry out of traveling, including cityXplorer pedestrian maps
- Steer clear of traffic with integrated FM traffic receiver and free lifetime traffic updates
- NOTE: Model number on the box is 1490T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 1490 as the “T” in 1490T refers to the additional component
Customer Reviews:
Nice upgrade
Update: August 15:
- My con I listed below about the buggy firmware (2.7)… it’s VERY buggy. The nuvi “forgets” my settings such as vehicle icon, map detail display level, time format whenever I plug my nuvi into my PC (to transfer waypoints and such). Still keeping the unit but looking forward to an update REAL SOON…hopefully.
I’ve owned many Garmin units over the years (GPS V, eMap, nuvi 350, 265W, 750, 755, tried 1260T, 1350). I decided to upgrade to the 1490T because of the larger screen and thinner form factor.
Just some observations:
Pros:
- The display is 5 in diagonal, that may not seem much bigger than the 4.3 but it is. The resolution is the same as the 4.3 wide-screens units but the extra space is well worth it and noticeable! It also makes it easy to hit the right button on the touch screen.
- User interface has received some minor updates, mostly in the cosmetic department. The font is new and contributes to a refined feel, everything is “smoothed” and looks very good. It’s also VERY responsive and doesn’t feel like it’s lagging.
- I like the new menu organization, they didn’t bury as many of the options and settings in sub-folders.
- You can change the map display so that the data fields are stacked along the right side as opposed to being in the corners. I like this view a lot. With this stacked view, you can see 4 data fields (3 are customizable) versus the two in the normal corner view.
- The unit is about half an inch thick, it’s very easy to carry around, even pocket-able in a pinch.
- (updated) The speaker on this unit is MUCH better than on my 755, 1260, 1350; perhaps they had room to add a larger speaker. The spoken directions sound not only louder but fuller and do not distort at high volume.
Cons:
- The mounting cradle is a two-step/two-handed affair, unplug the mini-USB then unmount from the two point cradle. The older, better quality cradle is literally one click grab and go from a nice powered cradle. Don’t know why they removed that (cost savings?).
- A common complaint: less detail shown on maps. The newer nuvi’s show fewer street names at the same zoom level as the older units. The argument being this reduces clutter. I’m not happy with it, but it’s not a deal breaker. Garmin has added alot of other information to the map display and I can understand they don’t want to overwhelm the user with text.
- The latest firmware is 2.7 and it seems to be quite buggy. Issues with Bluetooth, saving favorites, thats all I’ve experienced.
- Note, this comes with version 2010.10 maps. Garmin just released version 2010.20 maps. You only get one free upgrade.
- Very expensive…
I am planning on replacing my 755T with the 1490T. The larger screen size is just so overwhelmingly impressive it outweighs the cons in my book. If you’re not into that type of stuff then the 1490T is probably not for you.
Best Garmin GPS Yet
Received the 1490T around September 10, 2009. I am replacing a Garmin nuvi 680(cost $800) which is a good unit but becoming dated. I also have a Zumo 550 for my motorcycle. I absolutely love the large screen of the nuvi 1490T(cost $405). It is by far the best GPS screen I have ever used, both for size and clarity. As my eyes get a little older the slightly larger type helps immensely. I am not sure what all the complaints and fuss is about from some of the other reviewers. When I received the unit I immediately went to Garmin’s Webloader and updated the firmware. Then, I updated to the latest 2010 maps since Garmin gives you 1 free update in the first 60 days. I like this gps even better than my nuvi 680 or the Zumo 550 for that matter. The unit has lane assist and junction view which you will love if you live in a big city like I do. The traffic service is free and is as good as or better than MSN Direct that I have on the nuvi 680. And, of course the service is free. There is a small ad that appears in exchange for the free traffic service but the ad is tiny and inconsequential because it disappears when you change the screen. Route planning is a huge bonus. The 680 did not have route planning. The 1490T shows the speed limit of the road you are on and more data is available on the screen than was on my 680. The screen is bright and they have improved the volume immensely. I use it on 50% volume. The 680 I had to use on 100% volume. Must be a bigger speaker or something–or maybe even 2 speakers. The unit is thinner than the other nuvi’s and pretty light also. Garmin did not include a cover/sleeve with this unit like they did with the 680. The only negative I can think of is that the power cord is slightly thicker than the 680’s cord and the power cord plugs into the unit rather than the cradle. This is a small hassle because you have to unplug the cord from the unit when you want to take it off the windshield and hide it in it’s case on the floor(which I always do when I park in public). Overall, I gave the 1490T 5 stars. For $400 it is a very very good value. It’s a much better unit than my $800 nuvi 680 since it has more and updated features. I think this is the best automobile unit Garmin makes right now. I love it.
Worth moving up!
I have now had a couple of weeks to work with the new Garmin 1490T.
I should begin by mentioning that I have been using Garmin GPS units in airplanes for quite some time, and my experience with ROAD GPS units began with a Street Pilot III soon after they were introduced. Currently I also have a Garmin KNA-G510 which drives a 7″ in-dash Kenwood display and a nuvi 660. I compared the 1490T to both the G510 and the 660. I did not have any of the issues with “buggy” software forgetting my settings which others have mentioned.
For me, the 5″ screen of the 1490T was one of the attractive features; it provides almost as much viewable map area as the 7″ G510 display; the 510 has most of the data outside of the map, whereas the 1490T and the smaller 660 have these as overlays onto the map. The 1490T map appears more “crisp” than either older map display as smaller width lines are used for most features. The older, thicker lines look bolder, but the thinner lines contribute to a sharper looking display. The 1490T labels use upper case and lower case letters rather than upper case only, and this too contributes to a somewhat more legible display in my opinion. One unusual note: at night the 1490T background appears dark blue rather than black. I think the contrast is better with black and would prefer the more dim background of the older units.
The most dramatic new 1490T feature is HotFix ™, a feature present in the airborne units since introduction, but new to the road units. The result is a very rapid calculation of position when the unit is turned on. My 660 often requires a full minute longer than the 1490T which might require less than 3-5 seconds. I also have the impression that if my 1490 is charging in my car, it may be partially “on” and maintaining a fix in the background. In either case, the very rapid navigational fix is very noticeable and much appreciated.
For example, a rapid fix is really useful in a strange area, when you return to your car and need to start driving out of the city, for example. The long wait for a fix as you leave the parking garage, or pull from your parking space seems like an eternity.
One odd display change – while my older units will usually say something like “Oak St. Ahead” in the green boarder stripe at the top of the screen, the 1490T will say “Driving on Main St”. Now I will grant you that in answer to the “where am I now?” question, it may be more important to know that I am on Main Street, but when I am looking for Oak Street, the older displays seem better. While it is true that the 1490T will have a map label for Oak Street (most of the time) and it is located properly on the map, this is somewhat harder to read than the larger type in the green stripe.
This may also relate to the 1490T approach to placing map labels on streets but not on “things” like parks and neighborhoods. Others have commented negatively on this loss of map labels. I think the 1490 labels more streets, so I am OK with this.
The 1490T appears to calculate positions and speeds and/or display more quickly; it is hard to tell which. If I decelerate slowly, the 1490 displays the decreasing speeds more rapidly than the 660. This may be due to a more rapid calculation or it might be due to a more rapid display cycle. Either (faster fixes/calculations or faster display updates) could contribute to more rapid updates of map display. It is hard to tell for sure, but it does appear to me that the 1490T map display updates more often and this appears more smooth.
I have had only a little experience with traffic data, but my first impression is that this is somewhat better integrated into the 1490T. For example, you can tell when you are receiving traffic data on the 1490 from the main map screen and the color indicates traffic conditions.
I have not had a chance to see the Junction View or Lane Assist feature, but I did like the turn preview feature, which, after a short display interval automatically returns to the map display. If my other units do this, I must have missed it; this is a nice feature as it eliminates a longer glance at the screen and another button push at exactly a time when you might be busy.
One last positive note: the 1490 has a scale bar AND a north diamond, my 660 has neither. It is a little hard to accept anything as a navigator if it does not indicate “north”. Both 660 and 1490T do the same auto-zoom which for some reason I never noticed on the 660. Maybe it is more obvious now that I have the scale bar to read on the 1490. The 1490 shows topo features when zoomed out a ways, and this is nice – a cute feature to show off.
I was tempted to set up a double system in my car to mirror a double GPS display I have fooled with in the airplane, i.e. one screen zoomed in with track-up, and one zoomed out with north-up. But, aside from the question of whether you really need this in a car and aside from the odd looks one gets, perhaps this would invite one to spend too much time with their head in the cockpit and not on the road.
If I can have only one, I like the new 1490T.
Amazon.com Product Description
The large screen nuvi 1490T offers multiple-point routing and lane assist with junction view to help you manage busy highway interchanges. It also has subscription-free traffic alerts for most cities, hands-free calling, pedestrian navigation options and ecoRoute.
Navigation is just the beginning. |
See Even More
It’s easy to see where you’re going on nuvi 1490T’s 5-inch touchscreen display. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. With its large screen, you’ll always get the big picture.
Navigate City Transit
With its enhanced pedestrian navigation capabilities, nuvi 1490T is the perfect travel companion for getting around town. Download optional cityXplorer content to help you navigate city public transit. Know where to walk, where to catch the bus, subway, tram or other transportation and how long it will take to get there. cityXplorer maps are available for select cities throughout North America and Europe. And with prices as low as $9.99, you’ll have money left over to spend in the big city.
Take It With You
Twenty-five percent slimmer than other nuvis, you can take the ultra-thin 1490T anywhere. It easily fits in your pocket or purse, and its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.
Know the Lane Before It’s Too Late
No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist with junction view guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.
Plan Ahead
nuvi 1490T includes advanced navigation features to take the worry out of traveling. With route planning you can save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on the 1490T’s large screen. In addition, nuvi 1490T automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide an efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you’ve been on the map.
Brilliant 5-inch touchscreen display. Click to enlarge. |
Steer clear of traffic with the included FM traffic receiver and free lifetime traffic updates. Click to enlarge. |
Get Turn-by-Turn Directions
nuvi 1490T’s intuitive interface greets you with two simple questions: “Where To?” and “View Map.” Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator NT street maps, nearly 6 million points of interest (POIs), 2-D or 3-D maps and the speed limit for most major roads. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. With the 1490T’s enhanced user interface, you can slide your finger to conveniently scroll between screens. You can also upload custom points of interest (POIs). And with HotFix satellite prediction, nuvi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker.
Make Hands-free Calls
For hands-free calling, nuvi 1490T integrates Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker. Just pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through the 1490T while staying focused on the road. Simply dial numbers with nuvi’s touchscreen keypad to make a call. To answer calls, just tap the screen and speak into its built-in microphone. Enjoy convenient one-touch dialing for contacts and points of interest.
Receive Free Traffic Alerts
Steer clear of traffic with nuvi 1490T’s integrated FM traffic receiver and free lifetime* traffic updates. Receive alerts about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your route. Next, simply touch nuvi’s screen to view traffic details or detour around the problem area. Watch informational video
Lifetime traffic extends for the useful life of your Garmin traffic receiver (as long as you own a compatible Garmin GPS) or as long as Garmin receives traffic data from its traffic supplier, whichever is shorter.
Go Beyond Navigation
Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 1490T saves you gas and money with ecoRoute–a green feature that calculates the most fuel-efficient route, tracks fuel usage and more. The 1490T includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect Photos and navigate to them. It’s also compatible with MSN Direct (receiver purchase and subscription required). With its “Where Am I?” emergency locator, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations. The 1490T features Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and is compatible with our free Garmin Garage where you can download custom voices and vehicles. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in microSD cards.
What’s in the Box
nuvi 1490T, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America, Lifetime traffic, FM traffic receiver with vehicle power cable, Vehicle suction cup mount, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual
NOTE: The initial setup is crucial when first using your nuvi – it allows the device to find and sync with satellites. The startup screen will allow you to skip through this section but doing so could cause your nuvi to have difficulty working the way it should. Without completing this important step, your nuvi may default back to the location of Kansas City each time it is turned off and on again, not saving your settings. It also may not be able to pick up the satellite properly.
Which nuvi is Best for You?
Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
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