Figure 60: Time Preferences

Many other GPS devices require you to to manually specify whether you're currently observing daylight savings time, so it's nice to see Garmin add an "Auto" option to let the GPS handle the time automatically (which makes sense really, since the GPS knows the EXACT time and your location).

Figure 61: Language Preferences

The nuvi 250W supports 30 different languages for voice, text, and keyboard settings. Note that the nuvi 250W doesn't have text-to-speech (the GPS doesn't announce actual street names. Instead, it says "left turn ahead", etc.), so the language settings only affect the on-screen text, generic voice prompts, and on-screen keyboard.

Figure 62: Display Preferences

The Display menu is home to the Color Mode, Screen Shot, and Brightness controls:

• Color Mode allows you to specify whether you want the GPS to use "Day" or "Night" mode, or automatically switch between the two depending on the time of day.
• Screen Shot allows you to capture screen shots of the nuvi and upload them to your PC
• Brightness allows you to adjust the screen brightness

Figure 63: Color Mode

Like other Garmin nuvi GPS units, the nuvi 250 can automatically switch between the standard, bright "Daytime" screen settings and the dimmer, darker "Nighttime" mode, shown below. When set to "Auto", the nuvi will automatically switch between the two display modes based on the time of day.

Figure 64: Garmin nuvi 250W's Night Mode

Some GPS unit's I've tested only change the map screen when night mode is enabled. Thankfully, the nuvi adjusts all the various screens for easy viewing in a dark car at night.

Figure 65: Setting the Brightness

Brightness controls are located on the Display menu. Brightness can be adjusted from 0 % to 100 %. Screen brightness on the nuvi 250W is very good; the nuvi 250W uses the same bright screen used in the 600-series nuvis.

Some other GPS units have separate brightness controls for battery vs AC operation, as well as day vs night modes. I actually liked the simplicity of Garmin's interface, and prefer to have a single brightness control.

Figure 66: Map Preferences

• Map Detail allows you to specify the map detail level
• Map View lets you set the map to 3D, Track Up, or North Up
• Vehicle allows you to change the vehicle icon (see section 16 in this review for details on using custom vehicle icons)

Figure 67: Map Detail

The Map Detail settings page allows you to set the map detail level. Adding map detail slows the map re-draw speed, and can also clutter the map, so I found the "Normal" setting typically the best setting.

Depending on your location on the map, the various detail settings may or may not impact the map. In densely populated areas the "Most" setting can really clutter the screen (although there my be circumstances where you'd want the highest detail, such as in pedestrian mode).