Garmin’s Nuvi 500 ‘a satisfactory device’

Garmin’s Nuvi 500 has been described in a new review as a "satisfactory" multi-purpose GPS device.

Bonnie Cha of CNet Reviews said that while the model does not feature text-to-speech functionality, its waterproof casing and topographic mapping are two of its positive features.

She went on to explain that during testing, the system proved to be accurate with its directions.

"Once on the road, we took a couple of wrong turns to check the route recalculation rate, which was fast. The Nuvi 500 was able to get us back on track in a timely manner," she wrote.

The voice-guided directions included on the model were also "loud and clear", according to the writer.

Garmin recently released maps designed to help those heading to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The company’s new City Navigator China NT 2008 package is available on either a microSD or SD card and features around seven million points of interest, including hotels, sporting venues and restaurants.