Garmin StreetPilot i2 2.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review
Garmin StreetPilot i2 2.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Feature
- WAAS-enabled 12-parallel-channel vehicle GPS navigator with suction-cup mount
- Built-in speaker offers voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions via intuitive menu-driven interface
- Includes City Select North America DVD, with nearly 6 million points of interest in U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico
- 128 MB Transflash data card receives mapping data; high-contrast backlit FSTN monochrome display
- Runs on 2 AA batteries or included 12-volt adapter cable; 3 x 2.74 x 2.15 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
This review is better late than never, and therefore probably of more historical/collector interest than as buying guidance. But I do think the i2 is still worth buying if you find a lightly used one for cheap, and have a purpose in mind for it.
I got an i2 a long time ago, maybe 2005 or so. I liked it so much that I got one for each of my kids, and my sister bought one too. Nowadays, it seems way outdated with only a monochrome screen (not quite true…it’s not black/white, but rather black/blue/green), small screen, not all maps are preloaded, etc.
The first thing I did with each unit was to replace the 128MB microSD chip with a 1GB one ( then, probably now) and put all of North America on it from CD-ROM or online.
As a car nav, it’s quite sufficient, and really easy to use.
Of the 4 units in my family, only my own has died, giving an everlasting “satellite reception lost message” while driving down the highway one day after years of faithful service. Way out of warranty and not worth fixing, especially considering that a new unit costs not much more than a map update anyway.
Surprisingly, what I miss most about the i2, now that I’ve upgraded to a Garmin 750 as a car nav, is the ability to run it on AA batteries. That not only covers you if your cigarette lighter outlet dies or is needed for something else, but it makes it useful as a hiking nav that you can load strings of waypoints into (name them coherently, as it doesn’t handle routing, so you pick one at a time to go to if just observing them on the map isn’t good enough for you), etc. Doing that with a Li-Ion nav like the 750 is suicide, because when a built-in battery dies, you’re done.
With the i2, just carry spare AAs and you have no worries. I hiked in remote Nevada mountain/desert with a hiking nav in my hand and the i2 inside the top of my backpack, both AA powered. Indeed I fell on a rock and stopped the fall with my hand holding the other GPS (eTrex Vista). It survived, but I was glad I had the i2 in reserve, with my car’s location and waypoints all entered in it. Then once when I’d forgotten the i2 was even turned on, out of my backpack came her voice “ARRIVING AT DESTINATION” as I approached a waypoint I’d programmed in earlier. Being 10 miles from the nearest human, and suddenly hearing a voice over my shoulder, sure got my attention!
For the above reasons, when any of the other i2 Garmins in my family fall out of use due to upgrade, I’ll snap it up and put it to good hardware-backup use.
Garmin StreetPilot i2 2.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Overview
The StreetPilot i2 is an extremely compact, affordable automotive GPS. This affordable navigator offers automatic routing capabilities with turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance. The StreetPilot i2 offers the same great navigation features as the i3, but it has a high contrast, FSTN, monochrome display. The StreetPilot i2 includes a compact vehicle windshield mount that allows for easy transfer between vehicles. The StreetPilot i3 is powered externally with the included 12-volt power adapter cable or using 2 AA batteries. The StreetPilot i2 comes with a MapSource City Select North America NT v7 DVD providing mapping detail throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico (including rural areas). Map data can be loaded onto the included 128MB TransFlash card, which allows the unit to display residential streets, addresses, business listings and more. The database features nearly six million points of interest ¿ including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Map data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.
Garmin StreetPilot i2 2.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Specifications
No larger than a baseball and priced with affordability in mind, the StreetPilot i2 GPS navigation system is a great fit for commuters, college students, and corporate travelers looking to experience the ease and enjoyment of satellite navigation for the first time. Don’t let the small size fool you; the i2 boasts many of the same powerful functions as Garmin’s premium vehicle GPS navigators.
The StreetPilot i2 features a unique and convenient click-to-enter scroll wheel and a back button that makes it easy to select a destination from the unit’s menu-driven interface. It also offers voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions through a built-in speaker, and should you miss a turn, the i2 will automatically recalculate the route to put you back on course. And perhaps most conveniently, the unit moves easily from vehicle to vehicle thanks to the integrated suction cup mount, so you don’t need to go through a cumbersome process each time you change cars.
The StreetPilot i2 is the monochrome-screened version in the i-series. |
Voice prompts and a destination flag help you get to your next destination quickly and effeciently. |
A convenient click-to-enter scroll wheel and a “back” button make it easy to select a destination. |
To get you from point A to point B, the StreetPilot i2 includes a MapSource City Select North America NT DVD, which contains mapping detail of the entire U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. The DVD’s nearly six million points of interest range from hotels and restaurants to gas stations and ATMs, along with local attractions such as amusement parks and museums. Simply load the City Select data onto the included 128 MB Transflash data card via a fast USB connection and you’re set.
As an added benefit, you can now import customized points of interest with the help of Garmin’s free POI Loader software. For instance, you can upload safety cameras or school zones, and then receive a warning if you are traveling too fast in these areas. In addition, an optional proximity-alert feature notifies you of upcoming custom POIs.
Maps are displayed on the i2’s high-contrast backlit FSTN monochrome display, which includes a backlight for difficult lighting conditions. Motorists even have the choice of multiple perspectives–either a 3-D mapping angle or an overhead bird’s-eye view. For added convenience, drivers can power the unit with either two AA batteries (six hours, typical use) or the included 12-volt adapter cable.
The StreetPilot i2 measures 3 x 2.74 x 2.15 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What’s in the Box
StreetPilot i2, America’s Lite Routable base map, City Select North America DVD, PC/USB cable, 12-volt adapter cable, vehicle suction-cup mount, dashboard adhesive disk, 128 MB Transflash data card, setup guide, user’s manual.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 07, 2010 16:18:06
