Garmin StreetPilot 7200, 7500 - GPS, traffic, XM, 7-inch screens

Garmin has gone big with two new StreetPilot models, the 7200 and 7500. Like the StreetPilot 2730 we just mentioned, the 7000-series models are WAAS enabled, include optional XM Radio, traffic and weather updates, and can play back MP3 files and books downloaded from Audible.com. But what distinguishes these two models — which Garmin says are targeted at truckers, bus drivers and folks who want to max out their minivans — are their widescreen displays, which run 7 inches on the 7200 and 7.5 inches on the 7500, and include composite video input jacks for a backup camera (or a DVD to keep the kids quiet).  The price for all that real estate: about $1,600 and $1,900 respectively. Oh, and one word of advice to Garmin: This may not be the best time to boast that the screen is so sharp on your new product that you can see it clearly "even from the back of the bus."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this one in]

[DaveH @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Nifty. Now (much) cheaper, please.

[I.E @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"This may not be the best time to boast that the screen is so sharp on your new product that you can see it clearly �even from the back of the bus."
^ very dumb comment. what is the relevance?

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

To #2: Rosa Parks just died.

[Gage @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The whole "back of the bus" thing is not only in poor taste, it comes across as racist, juvenile, and insensitive at ANY time - but especially so close to the death of an upstanding American citizen. This isn't the Daily Show, it's a gadget blog.

[Neo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Seems to me it's Garmin being insensitive, not Engadget. They should be aware of how loaded the term "back of the bus" is. You probably wouldn't advertise a product as offering a "storm of new features" right after Katrina (okay, lame example, but you get the idea). Why pitch a product using this terminology right after the death of Rosa Parks?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I think some of you people are reading WAY too much into the "back of the bus" comment. It's simply an exaggeration of distance, because generally, buses are long. To me if they'd said "from the back of your car" that isn't a very impressive claim since I can read a digital wristwatch from that distance. But I suppose if they'd say that, you could assume that the person was in the back seat of the car doing the nasty on prom night or some other twisted association...or maybe you could assume the person was tied up in the trunk of the car, making that statement insensitive to kidnapping victims. There would have to be an obvious direct association for it to be in poor taste. like, "stop by the new orleans lumber company for a FLOOD of new sales!" or "here at Smith's Funeral Home we're DYING to serve you"

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#5

Blame Engadget for this one.

Straight from the product web page:

"The StreetPilot 7200's huge 7-inch touch-screen display means you'll always see where you're going � from anywhere in the vehicle."

Please tell me where the phrase "back of the bus" appears.

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You racist bastards at Engadget. Burn in hell.

[hmmm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

yeah, what he sais ^^^

:)

[NCTRNL @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Good lord, no one is being insensitive. It's been changed, get over it. It was an oversight. The over-sensitive public is always looking for something negative to point out.

[Stuart McIntyre @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Back to the topic in hand - the 7200 and 7500 have just been announced in the UK, and look like a great spec. Unfortunately they are not due for release until January at the earliest, when it would be great to have them available before Christmas.

One question from me - do these use a standard Garmin "beanbag" style mount, or do they need screwing into the dash (as it appears from all the images)? If the latter - this is going to put off a lot of our customers...

Stuart

[don @ Dec 26th 2005 3:12PM]

BOTTOM LINE IS IT ANY GOOD IS IT BETTER THEN 2720