Magellan Maestro 4000 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First the good stuff. The GPS accuracy exceeds my expectations, it is usually accurate to within about 10 feet. The "directions" have been flawless so far. The voice prompts are clear and easy to understand. The screen is very large and easy to read. The menus are are breeze to use, and there is no "learning curve".
Now the bad stuff. There is no way for me to look up POIs on my computer, and download them; which is stupid since the unit has a USB interface. The POIs on the GPS are all "AAA" rated places, so you are limited to the places that "AAA" wants you to go to. I looked up restaraunts in my area, for which there are at least 20 "chain restaraunts" like chili's & applebees etc; however, it only listed one obscure restaurant in my area. The next closest place it listed was nearly 10 miles away!!! In my opinion the pre-loaded POIs are absolutely useless. And with no way to download them from my PC, I am forced to look up the address via internet and then MANUALLY enter them into the GPS (this seems like stone-age technology to me).

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With built-in AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details, the Magellan Maestro 4000 Portable Auto GPS System is the ultimate travel companion. Re-engineered for easy use, its fresh graphics and intelligent touch-screen buttons offer a superior, precise navigational experience. And with its error free QuickSpell™ software you only need to enter a few letters to find your destination. The Magellan Maestro 4000 makes driving more pleasurable and less stressful.
AAA-enabled The Maestro 4000 includes built-in AAA TourBook® guide travel information, giving you instant access to service details and Diamond ratings from the world's leading travel expert. Quickly find AAA approved lodgings and restaurants, AAA member roadside assistance details, and discounts available through the AAA Show Your Card & Save® program. Touch the tow truck icon and quickly access details for directing AAA member roadside assistance to your location.
Note: AAA member roadside assistance requires AAA membership.
Easy-to-Use Navigation If you don't like reading directions, you'll love the Magellan Maestro 4000. It's simple to use and ready to guide you to virtually any destination in the 48 continental United States right out of the box -- just turn it on and go. Its thin, sophisticated design and attractive, intuitive touch-screen graphics make driving a pleasure. Enter an address or select from 1.5 million preprogrammed points of interest (POIs), such as ATMs, gas stations, and restaurants with just a few screen touches. SiRFstarIII™ gives you the fastest GPS position accuracy in the industry, which you can use to route on the 2D or 3D map. Finally, let Maestro's friendly voice guide you turn-by-turn while you enjoy the drive.
Additional Product Features
Turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance: Enter virtually any address or POI and get there quickly and safely
Graphical interactive maps: Built-in maps and destinations for the continental U.S. mean you'll always know where you are and where you're going
Bird's-eye 3D view: Clearly see your surroundings in 2D or 3D; also choose between Map View, TrueView™ 3D split screen, and Maneuver List
Rechargeable battery: Navigate even when you don't have access to power
Multi-destination routing: Select up to 20 destinations and choose the order that best fits your needs
SmartDetour™: Automatically prompts you to route around slow freeway traffic
Auto re-route: Never miss a turn and quickly get back on track whenever you make a detour
Auto night view: Adjusts color and contrast for easy night viewing
Complete mobility: Transfer your Maestro 4000 to any vehicle, with no installation
1.5 million points of interest (POI): Optimized database to easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, and more. And with smart location you can search by name, category, and region. There's even a Coffee category so you can quickly find caffeine whenever you need it.
Interactive POI icons: Touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination, see name and address, and get an instant route
Customizable route methods: Fastest time, shortest distance, least or most use of freeways, avoid toll roads
Route exclusion: Select streets and freeways to avoid so you can get there your way
Address Book: Create and store POIs for easy reoccurring trips
Instant locate: One touch shows your location; quickly advise roadside assistance or emergency services
What's in the Box Magellan Maestro 4000 Portable Auto GPS System, windshield mount and cradle, adhesive dash mount disk, cigarette lighter power adapter (12-24 watts), AC wall power supply/charger, quick reference guide, reference manual CD, and USB cable.

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Garmin StreetPilot 2620 3.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a 3 year old Navtech based CD GPS system in my Volvo and purchased this device to use in my older SUV that has no GPS system installed. I first tried using the new Streetpilot on a recent trip to Dubuque Iowa from Chicago; using it and the in car systems simultaneously to compare them. The Garmin SP 2620 outperfomed the Navtech installed system hands down. Although the in car system found satellites instantly the Garmin only took about 10 seconds to find them on start up. And it is MUCH faster on route calculations and more importatnly recalculations, about 3x faster. The in car sytem could not locate the exact street address in Dubuque even though I had the Iowa CD disk installed. The Garmin unit did. The details on local businesses was MUCH better with the Garmin. The map was clearer and was better illuminated. Only things I'd like to have in the Garmin would be a two map display option (for differing zooms of the the same route at the same time) and a display of the remianing miles on the main route display, you can get it but it's on another routing description page. The Garmin does display more immediately useful info such as time and distance to next turn so this is a very minor quibble. It is solid, extremely well built unit and mounts very nicely. It tilts and twists to optimize viewing. The "beanbag" friction mount works very well. The nice thing about the portable system is it's portabilty to other cars and rentals, for instance you can loan it to friends and family if you wish! Furthermore, upgrading is very easy via the Garmin web site whereas updates for my Volvo Navtech in car system have been rare and expensive. The hard drive in the Garmin is a memory card which I can see being enlarged if necessary but the current 512mb card has plenty of map details on it. A new CD disk set for my in car system costs over $200, the Garmin updates so far are free. Overall a stellar value and a device that exceeded my expectations in every way. If you travel by car (and who really likes flyng anyway?)in the US and/or Canada, get one, you'll love it.

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Featuring MapSource City Navigator pre-loaded, detail maps, the Garmin StreetPilot 2620 is a plug-and play portable automotive GPS navigator that's ready to use right out of the box. Forget about unlocking or uploading map data to your unit -- with Garmin you'll be ready to navigate as soon as the StreetPilot arrives at your doorstep. The pre-programmed hard drive that stores the City Navigator detailed maps of North America is simple to set up and use. Drivers can navigate to a particular address or access an enormous database of more than five million points of interest (POI). Whether it is lodging, restaurants, gas stations, or local attractions, the StreetPilot 2620 will help you get there. And the user-friendly, menu-driven touchscreen ensures that navigating the unit is as easy as navigating the road.
Like its successor -- the StreetPilot 2720 -- this unit features a high-resolution color touchscreen with voice prompted turn-by-turn navigation and a powerful microprocessor for fast route calculation and map redraw. Although the new model has a few extra bells and whistles, the 2620 delivers all the navigation you'll need with a lot less strain on your wallet. This unit comes with a unique wireless infrared remote control, which allows easy operation of the unit from a distance and it also offers WAAS-enabled support to ensure the highest degree of GPS accuracy. Mark and name important waypoints with over 500 graphic symbols, set a course for your destination, and listen to the voice prompts for navigation instructions and warnings. And when you get there, you can check your trip computer for miles driven, time on the road, and average/maximum speeds.
With a host of software upgrades, the StreetPilot 2620 can lend assistance in almost any situation. You can find the most efficient route for deliveries or sales calls with the multiple destination feature. Enter all your destinations and the 2620 will automatically sort them to provide the best route. The StreetPilot makes it easy to avoid traffic jams or road work -- just tell the unit where you don't want to go and you'll be redirected around the congestion. Almost out of gas? No need to fret. With a time-saving feature that allows you to limit searches to gas stations, restaurants, and more, this unit will notify you of upcoming points of interest near your route. And, of course, there are those times when you'd just like to take the road less traveled. With the adjustable road class preference, you can select from major, medium, and minor road categories that will help you stay off the highways for a leisurely drive through small towns and winding backroads.
The StreetPilot 2620 receiver includes everything you need to get started right out of the box, including an alphanumeric remote control, car and home power supplies, two kinds of mounts, and a factory pre-loaded version of Americas Autoroute basemap and MapSource City Navigator North America. The basemap is loaded with routable maps of North and South America that contain state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, state and interstate highways, local thoroughfares and secondary roads within metro areas, and federal interstate highway exit information for services such as food, lodging, and service stations. Beyond the basemap foundation, the 2620's pre-programmed hard drive comes with MapSource City Navigation that provides street-level details and addresses, plus millions of listings for restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and more throughout the United States and metro areas of Canada.
What's in the Box StreetPilot 2620, remote control, external speaker with 12/24-volt adapter cable, PC/USB interface cable, AC power adapter, integrated dash mount, and a portable "bean-bag" (friction) mount.

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Nextar Q3 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"WOW!
1.What a winner this "Q3" is. Fast and accurate acquiring satellite signals, even in my living room. Comes with AC AND DC adapters. My car accessory socket is ignition controlled and turns off when I am out of the car. I have to re-charge it in the house.2.I set up all my "Destinations' and "Favorites" in the house so I love that it has the AC adapter included.
3. It has an SD/MMC slot for playing MP3 music and talk I have on my PC. I transfer to the SD/MMC card and insert it into the "Q3" to listen. It may also play MP3 while navigating but I haven't yet been able to do both at the same time.
4.It fits very nicely into my shirt pocket so I can "Plan n Play" at the coffee shop.
5.Once I learned the "Menu tree" I can get around the menus pretty easily. Since this is my first experience with a GPS device and GPS Navigator I had a bit of a learning curve.
6.It comes with two books, one for the hardware showing how to install it and how to set it up. The other book is primarily for the software. It duplicates much of what is in the hardware book. My "Q3" screens look a lot different from the screens shown in the books. I don't know if my screens are the latest version or if the books show the latest version, but THEY ARE DIFFERENT. This difference made it more difficult to learn how to use it.
7.While just driving around the "Q3" was able to pinpoint my exact location including altitude. It offers North as a fixed display or it offers "heading" with North as it North moves around in relation to your heading. Just a tap on the "compass" toggles back and forth.
8.Displays are included to show 2D, and 3D in variations of perspective and depth. Very nice! It gives a feeling of "horizon" perspective.
9.I found the names of streets and roads were not as the actual street signs showed in many cases. It seems to prefer the US-# or the State Road #'s if known. Many local streets have "City" or "Town" names that are used locally. One US-64 is shown on the "Q3" as 'US64' but the street signs say "Four Seasons Blvd". IF I enter the name of this road, it tells me it doesn't exist. Street number can vary by a block or more in many instances. I suspect this is true of most GPS navigators. Updated maps usually come out every 1-3 years.
10. One point six million "POI's", points of interest still don't include MANY restaurants. etc. Some of our local schools, which are four years old, still are not listed under the included POI's.
11. If the "Q3" will save data to the SD/MMC card I have not found out how. If the "Q3" will download data to the "Q3 Flash Memory" from the SD/MMC card I have not yet found out how to do it.
12. Accessories and upgrades are listed on the NEXTAR website but are still not available online or from the supplier. BUT, I can see the potential of this little guy and I love it's size and accuracy.
14.If I have set a destination and am on the road, if I make a turn different from the Voice Instructed action it IMMEDIATELY RECALCULATED THE NEW PATH! within 10 seconds, and it is always correct in the instructions. Hard-drive based models are very very slow and not very often recalculating it AUTOMATICALLY without asking, But the "Q3" does it automatically, instantly!
15.Support gathered from the website is WAY BEHIND AND SLOW if non-existent! These are becoming hard to get because they are so popular they can't keep them on hand for sale. If you want one you'd better grab it NOW!
16. SUMMARY. i don't work for NEXTAR! I bought mine from HSN who is SOLD OUT at this time! It took me a week of many hours to learn what I do know about the "Q3", and suddenly I fell in love with it. If I need to know where I am at any given moment, it tells me, address, city, street, longitude, latitude, and elevation, and CHECK THIS OUT!
The SPEED indicator is more accurate than my speedometer! and it has an alarm that CAN tell me if exceed the speed limit or it I exceed a Preset Speed Limit of my own choosing.

I returned the competitors' GPS Navigators for refund , not accurate, too slow, can't acquire or maintain satellite readings.
NEXTAR Q3 IS HOT!"


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Getting lost is so last century. This GPS Navigation System from Nextar brings your navigation skills up to date with all the accuracy and modern magic of satellite-aided way finding. Just mount your Nextar navigation system in your car and head out on the road. You'll enjoy the confidence of having built-in maps of all 50 states complete with over 1.6 million points of interest, ranging from hotels and restaurants to airports and landmarks.GPS Navigation System with 3-1/2" Screen by Nextar Includes:* GPS receiver with 3-1/2" TFT color display touch screen* Voice-guided directions* Mounting cradle* Suction cup mounting bracket* Dashboard mounting disk* Remote control* Car accessory port adapter/DC adapter* AC adapter* USB cable* Carry pouch* ManualsProduct Features: * Built-in maps of the 50 U.S. states* 1.6 million points of interest* Built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery * SD card slot for added memory* MP3 song playing mode (requires SD card, not included)* 2D or 3D map viewing modes* Day and Night modes - Night mode features additional light on thescreen for easier viewing* Turn by Turn voice prompts* Comes with manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty

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Garmin - Adhesive disk (pack of 2 ) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought a new car, so I needed new dashboard disk to mount my Nuvi. these seemed like a reasonable price for what appeared to be factory OEM disks.
When I received them I cleaned the dashboard with alcohol to make sure the adhesive would stick, removed the cover from the adhesive disk, and pressed it against the dashboard. Would not stick. I tried the other one. No-go. I touched the adhesive with my finger , and there was no adhesion - it did not feel sticky at all.
I contacted the seller for a refund, heard nothing. A week later sent another request for a refund, this time I got a refund.

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Portable GPS, Garmin, Dashboard Disk (Large), 2-Pack, 010-10646-00

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ViaMichelin X-930 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this unit after shopping around for an entry-level GPS. I had seen this particular item in the UK (where it is extremely popular) and knew ViaMichelin were finally about to release a US version. For those who didn't know, this product is from Michelin (yup, the tire company). It's a great unit, and the price is unbeatable for what you get. First and foremost, this is a GPS unit - not an MP3 player, audio book player, storage hard-drive or picture viewer. It has been made to do exactly what it should do - give directions. I appreciate the other little 'bonuses' but is it really worth the extra cost?
This unit has the usual 3.5" screen which is very clear and anti-glare. The supplied windshield and dash mounts are very handy and well-designed, but I haven't really needed to use them just yet - I usually just place it in a small storage area I have right below my console.
What is really nice about this unit is its size and weight. It is unbelieveably light and extremely portable. You can just slip it in your pocket and take it with you. I found this one of the nicest features since I wanted the option of taking it with me if I choose to - a great feature is being able to switch between vehicle and pedestrian modes.
There are four buttons on the side that let you choose options, and the volume button is the left. The software is simple and very easy to use, with just three main items on the home screen - no complicated menus here. Entry is via touchscreen and you can either use your finger or the provided stylus that conveniently stores behind the unit. If you have large fingers, it might be hard to input details without making mistakes.
Since the unit has an integrated antenna and uses the SiRF Star III technology, satellite access is extremely quick. Route calculation and re-calculation is quick and the voice direction is clear and loud. Plenty of information is displayed on screen, without being overwhelming, and you can choose 2D or 3D views. The unit DOES display street names (or street direction), you just have to turn them on in the 'settings' area (mind you this is only on the 2D display map, not on the actual directions map). POI's are great too, doesn't seem to be missing anything major so far. I had no problems with the maps being that out of date in my area (despite extensive roadwork), but I did run into one area where roads had changed - the unit re-routes very quickly though.
The 1GB SD card that is included is all you need to get started since it has detailed maps of all 50 states (Alaska & Hawaii ARE included - to correct the Amazon review. To change to Alaska or Hawaii, you just select 'change map' under the 'map' icon under 'settings'), and the supplied DVD-ROM for Canada is useful if you end up heading that way. If I ever do that, I'll probably buy another 1GB SD card and load the data from the DVD-ROM.
I agree with the Amazon review that the main con is the lack of being able to backup and correct after entering a mistake, but it's not that big of a deal. The keyboard not being in QWERTY format actually made it easier for me. I only find that format handy on something you can use both hands to type. So, since that is really the ONLY negative thing I've noticed with this item, it deserves the five-star rating.
Overall, this item is an amazing little unit for the price. It has most of the features of more expensive units, for a fraction of the moolah. For anyone wanting to try out a solid GPS unit and do not mind not having (or paying for) the ability to play MP3's, etc., then this is the perfect unit for you!

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ViaMichelin Portable Navigation GPS Device

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LG LN735 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just bought the LN735 navigator and am happy with it.
Pros:
1. Finds your location within seconds of turning it on.
2. The only time it loses its location is inside a tunnel.
3. Very nice display. Maps and fonts are very clear.
4. Calculates your route in a couple of seconds.
5. Does a nice and logical job of calculating the best route, most of the time.
6. Entering addresses is very easy.
Cons:
1. Battery life in the spec is 4 hours. I can only really get 2-3 hours out of it.
2. After it calculates your route, you can tell it to avoid a road, and it will recalculate a different way. BUT, you cannot detour a road that you are on. So if you are sitting in traffic on the highway, you cannot tell it to recalculate and completely avoid the road you are on.
3. For some reason, it like to calculate routes by getting you off of the highway as fast as possible and have you take more city streets. So, if it is a little farther to take the highway to your destination, but is quicker due to highway speeds, it will still route you through city streets, because it is shorter even though you would be moving at city speeds.
4. It does not remember the contrast setting. Every time you power it on, it is at full contrast, which doesn't help the already short battery life.
5. The volume of the voice is too low, even at full volume.
This is a very good unit, and you get a lot of useful features for the price.

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The LG LN735 Portable Navigation Device is the mid-range model in LGsline of automobile navigators. It is highly portable, coming in at less than 0.8 inches wide, but with all the functionality you need to get you where you are going in the best possible fashion, the LN735 not only provides you with accurate GPS navigation, but includes convenience features that make your trip more enjoyable as well. The LN735's bigger sibling, the LN740, features a lightly larger 4-inch screen and real-time traffic data capability. You can see a comparison of features of all three LG GPS models below.
The LN735 utilizes a brilliant, 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD display with 320 x 240 pixels of resolution and 260,000 colors. This screen provides you with clear, selectable 2D and 3D map views and menus that are easy to read at a glance, and features auto zoom, and day and night views that you can manually switch to, ensuring you can see no matter what your lighting conditions. And not only does this navigator quickly display your routing based upon your user-selected preferences, but provides you with turn-by-turn voice guidance with 16 different language options, even announcing street names so you can keep your eyes on the road during more stressful driving circumstances. As an added convenience, the LN735 also provides you with text-to-speech voice guidance in English, Spanish or French.

Pre-loaded with complete maps of the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada, the LN735 comes ready for you to travel throughout North America right out of the box. This navigator even includes millions of POIs (points of interest) so you can quickly find restaurants, gas stations, airports, hotels, ATMs, and other important nearby services, and instantly route to them with a simple tap on the screen, giving you local expertise at your fingertips. And while you are getting there, the LN735 provides you with speed indication, estimated time of arrival, and distance to your destination. This unit also provides you with a multi-stop planner, detour options, fastest and shortest routing options, and an automatic route recalculation, as well as vehicle and pedestrian navigation modes so you can take it with you when you are out of the car and walking the last stretch.

More than just a convenient navigation device, the LN735 has a built-in MP3 music player so you can take all your favorite songs with you to listen to on the road. What's more, this unit includes a photo viewer that allows you to bring you family photos with you, or view your favorite pictures from the trip while you are still on vacation, and even play them as a digital slide-show while travel. The music player accepts both MP3 and WMA digital music formats, while the photo viewer can display either JPEG or BMP digital pictures. And though the controls and menu system are extremely simple and intuitive, if you need a bit of assistance, this unit provides a handy on-screen help system.

The LN735 achieves fast, and highly accurate mapping with a strong signal reception via its SiRF Star III GPS receiver, and provides you with up to four hours of use from its rechargeable, internal lithium-ion battery. The LN735 comes with 2 GB of internal flash memory for storing maps, POIs, MP3s, and photos, as well as including an SD card slot for unlimited memory expansion and a USB port for fast data transfers from your PC. The stylish black-on-black LG LN735 navigation device weighs only 0.35 pounds, measures just 4.3 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.

What's in the Box LG LN735 portable navigator, a windshield mount, a dashboard mount disc, a 12-volt car power adapter, a home AC power adapter, a carrying case, a USB cable, a back-up map CD, a back-up installation CD, a quick-start guide, a user's manual CD and warranty information.

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Garmin Carrying Case for C300 Series (010-10704-00) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A MUST have for the street pilot.
I have had my street pilot c330 for 6 months and when I dropped it (and cracked the screen rendering it useless), I was on the way into a hotel room -out of town and I had the rest of my trip saved in the favorites (not to mention all the milage that was stored for my expense report).
Later after I got it repaired, I went on a quest to find a better way to store it. I would have thought the unit would have came with a case for the price.
This case fits the pilot, mount and cables. Perfectly snug. Case is stretch cloth (kind of like a wetsuit) and end is harder cover (think it is plastic under the cloth) that zippers down. Unit slides in - attached to the suction mount. Cables have a place in front of screen with a protective cover in between the screen and the storage for the cables. Wish I could post a picture how good this thing is.
I wish I bought it from day one. Used to hate the mount with the cables all over the place and would wrap it tight every time I took it down. Look at the picture - that is what it looks like stored... no messy cables, no exposed screen and easier to hold when going in or out of car.

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Garmin 0101070400 Case for C3 Series. This lightweight case holds your GPS, mount and power cable. Great for keeping your gear together when traveling and using your unit in multiple vehicles or rental cars.

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Garmin City Navigator for Detailed Maps of Mexico (microSD/SD Card) Review

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(More customer reviews)I acquired this product for use in a trip from Oklahoma City to San Miguel D'Allende Mexico. After we got to Mexico it worked fine on the interstate highways and in some of the larger towns and cities but was, of course, of little value in some of the smaller cities and towns. It was useless in a great deal of the time since there only a are few large cities. I finally quit using it altogether.

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10-22-2007 - Brand New Item. Description - GARMIN 010-10754-00 CITY SELECT® MEXICO NT V2 (SECURE DIGITAL CARD)

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Pharos 150 3.5-Inch Widescreen Portable Drive GPS Navigator with Text-To-Speech (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)PROS:
- Destinator v7
- clean interface
- good options
- quick to pick up GPS on cold start (took ~15 seconds while sitting indoors about 8 feet from window)
- works as expected
- Text to Speech
- HACKABLE!
CONS:
- no battery meter in Destinator v7
- not sure if I'll get the advertised 5-6 hours batteryPrice paid:
$83, after coupons/discounts/rebates/taxes/shipping
MSRP:
$200
Included in box:
- GPS unit, 3.5" screen (with 1GB unlabelled SD card)
- carrying case (pretty good quality)
- home/wall charger
- car charger
- USB cable (charge with computer)
- window mount (_much_ better than the pdr135 mount I have)
- cd manual
- warranty card
- quick start poster
Software:
- Windows CE .NET 4.2 Core
- Destinator v7
Processor:
- Motorola i.MX21 @ 266Mhz
Memory:
- 64MB, about 45MB usable (guessed)
--------------
My current/previous GPS devices:
- Belkin Bluetooth (rebadged Fortuna) with Belkin Navigator (forget which maps) + Compaq iPaq h1940 (or laptop with bluetooth) = I love this unit, still use it but it's not as convenient as a standalone unit
- Mio C220 - basic unit - does what it needs to do but sometimes not accurate
- Pharos PDR135 - Ostia software not great, but loaded with Tom Tom Navigator or other software this unit works well (hackable)
--------------------
The Pharos PDR150 does what it's supposed to do. I've only been using this for a day so far but it seems fine. The Destinator v7 softare seems fine, the GPS processor works just like the other SiRFstarIII chipsets
The great thing is that this unit is _hackable_ - I've loaded Tom Tom Navigator v6 and it works fine - I'm switching between Destinator v7 and Tom Tom Navigator v6 to test out and play.
(perhaps I'll write more if pricegrabber starts offering a rebate for this review ;))
OVERALL:
5-stars as one of the best in this price range, since it does what it's supposed to do, has TTS, is hackable, and has an SD-card slot. For $80, how can I complain? This is the best bang-for-the-buck and beats out all the other BF2007 GPS deals (FYI I purchased this on "Cyber Monday 2007") --- Would I purchase this for $150-200 (current price after rebates), would I purchase it again? Compared to the other units I've used in this price range, yes, I would purchase this again. However, keep in mind that the "hackability" factor plays a big role in my decision. Out of the box, this thing still works well but may not be the best fit for everyone.


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The Pharos Drive GPS 150 makes it easy to keep your eyes on the road when looking for a specific address with voice prompts and turn-by-turn spoken instructions that include the name of the street or highway (text-to-speech technology). The large 3.5" color touch screen LCD clearly displays the preloaded U.S. street level maps and navigation routing. Tech Support Hotline: 1-888-PHAROS-8

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Garmin Deluxe Carrying Case for StreetPilot and GPSMap 176 (010-10231-01) systems Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the carrying case to use with the Garmin Street Pilot Deluxe package. With the case you can snugly fit the Garmin Street Pilot unit alone. However, when trying to also put it the cigarette adapter/speaker, both don't fit without having the zipper on top partially opened. Also, don't even consider trying to store the bean bag mount in the case.
I do like the fact that the bottom of the case has a protective cushion so the unit can be stored face down.
I think it would be nice if they had another sized bag -- one which can store the unit, adapter cable, plus the bean bag mount all together. This would be the ideal size for those who want to carry the unit and all the accessories at once.
Review update: The original review is for trying to hold the Street Pilot III with accessories. The case does fit the newer smaller Garmin units. I was able to easily fit the Garmin Street Pilot 2620 with it's cigarette lighter adapter and remote control. I also was able to add the external power adapter too -- but this was a bit tighter fit when the adapter was added in.

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Keep your StreetPilot GPS safe from harm with this attractive deluxe carrying case. The case also has a storage area for extra data cartridges.

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Garmin Vehicle power cable Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a cord and two connectors; one end plugs into your GPS receiver, the other end into a 12-volt outlet in your car. Simple. Remember that running the GPS off car power means you can leave the receiver on continuously and even use the backlight as much as you want.

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Save batteries and end meaningless stops at convenience stores for replacements when you power your Garmin GPS device with this handy cigarette-lighter power adapter. The adapter fits all standard cigarette lighters and works with a range of GPS devices, including the GPS StreetPilot (Monochrome and ColorMap), GPS II+, GPS III+, GPS 12XL, GPS 12CX, GPS 12MAP, GPS V, GPS 76, GPSMAP 76, GPSMAP 176, and GPSMAP 176C.

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Garmin Dashboard disk (small), 2-pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered these, not exactly sure what I would get -- therefore I am writing this review so that others may have the information that I lacked at that time.
I bought a new Quest GPS system from Garmin. The automotive mounting system that came with this unit was a suction cup mount. The unit sits in a cradle at one end, and a suction cup is at the other. Between these 2 endpoints are two lockable tilt adjustments and a swivel adjustment. When mounted in the windshield, the suction cup "face" points up towards the windshield, and the mount extends away from the windshield (towards the driver). I found three main disadvantages to this setup:
1. The unit bounces when driving over anything but smooth road. It's only a slight range of motion but enough to make it hard to read.
2. The suction cup leaves marks (not permanent) on the windshield
3. Although it never lost suction, from this position if it were to detach from the windshield it would fall downwards, strike the dashboard, and then slide down to the floor, center console, or my lap.
I much preferred the mounting the mechanism of my GPS V which consisted of a bracket that the unit fits into, which locks into another piece attached to the dashboard.
The mounting disks (the subject of this review) improve on the windshield mount, but are not as good as the GPS V system. What you are buying is simply a smooth flat plastic disk with adhesive on one side of it. The package I ordered came with two of these, both the same size -- although only one is needed. You attach the disk to the top of your dashboard with the adhesive, and it provides a smooth spot to attach the suction cup mount. Now this may sound like not much of a "win", but it actually works fairly well. The key (and something very hard to describe without pictures) is that the suction cup mount in this position folds in on itself, so it is no longer an extending arm. The suction cup mount in the folded position is much like the GPS V bracket, with the main difference that it attached via suction to the flat dashboard disk rather than locking into the GPS V dashboard piece. This setup solves problems 1 and 2 above, and limits problems presented by item 3. Additionally, I understand that some states do not allow windshield mounts, and this would also be a useful workaround to that.
All in all, this was a worthwhile buy for me.

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Garmin 010-10646-01 Small dashboard disk 2 pack. The dashboard disk allows the suction cup mount to be mounted onto the dashboard of multiple vehicles.

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Garmin StreetPilot c320 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are a first time GPS buyer and want an easy to use unit with intuitive touch screen controls and the best unit you can get for under $300, I recommend the C320 (or C330 which comes with pre-loaded maps). I bought this unit for much more a little over a year ago and so far I am quite happy. It has saved me many miles of extra driving! It also makes me a braver night time driver as I have difficulty spotting a sudden turn in the road at night time. But with my GPS I know exactly when to turn and it even tells me 'stay right' etc. This was confusing at first but now that I know what it means I find it very helpful to not have to change lanes at the last minute. It makes me feel safer on the road at night in unknown places! I can easily type in addresses on the touch screen with it's large display or look for a place of interest (a restaurant, library etc.) if I change my mind while at an intersection and then continue on the specified route. I often type in store names like "Target" or "Borders" on a whim and it takes me to the nearest one in the area. It just made a couple of mistakes so far once for a Kroger and once for a Walmart as the store had moved to another location about half a year ago but even Google maps had shown me the wrong location for that Walmart. It is also convenient to be able to specify the cuisine and locate the nearest restaurant to your current location or near your destination. However the restaurant choices are by no means exhaustive, it may miss a couple of good ones here and there but may show you ones you never knew existed.
I chose the C320 as you can load whatever maps you need by just getting a larger SD card, especially as SD cards have come down in price.
Before using this unit, I had used the Magellan Roadmate 300 for a few days, and Garmin's routing is a definite improvement over Magellan in terms of speed of route calculation and accurate routing. The Magellan locked up a couple of times although it was a new unit and I had to pull off on an exit and power it down for several minutes before it started reading the correct route. The Garmin C320 has never frozen on me. If I do not take the prescribed route or miss a turn it takes just about 2-3 seconds to figure that out and recalculates my route, this is way faster than Magellan or any other GPS system I've encountered so far. This is great feature as the next turn might be just 5 seconds away and you may miss it again if the unit takes too much time to recalculate!
Some reviews complained about the maps saying the unit said that they had reached the destination even though they were 100-200 feet away and sometimes confused between left or right of the street. But if you have used other GPS systems you would know that no GPS navigation system is perfect and I generally prefer Garmin navigation over Magellan.
The C320 allows you to specify your preferences such as - Avoid highways, avoid U turns, avoid toll roads etc. And you can set it to "Shortest distance" or "Fastest time". I've found that the shortest distance can sometimes take you on backroads or unusual roads which you normally may not take. This option gave me a great new route between office and home which avoids traffic but when I used the same option on a longer drive it suddenly detoured off the highway ans took me through bumpy back roads, a most unpleasant experience! But with experience I have learned the best way to calculate my route using the options. There is a bit of a learning curve with all GPS systems and the more advanced GPS users have rated Garmin navigation very highly in the several comparisons I read on the web.
The C320 does get a bit confused in situations where -a) there is a small roundabout (like in apartment communities) and may keep missing the exit turn and b) when there are intersecting highways over and under the highway on which you are traveling, especially if it takes you more than 15-20 seconds to cross that area where the highways intersect c) In very long tunnels. But now that I know this I just stay on route and as soon as I've crossed that area it starts showing the earlier route.
Some reviewers complained that the unit does not show the complete route turn by turn text instructions - that is not correct- as it will show you the turn by turn text instructions if you touch the green text bar over the route map.
If you want to take a detour at any point in your route it will calculate an alternative route for you if you touch the detour button, but will try to get you back on the original route very quickly. You can create points of interest in the route through the software and you can also save your favorite locations or most used addresses on the unit.
I prefer having a portable GPS than an in-car GPS as the software update is cheaper than in car GPS and I can carry it with me to use in rental cars when I travel. I tried out the in car GPS system in my friend's Honda and Garmin had better routing and a better "voice". The Honda GPS's high-pitched "Chinese Schoolgirl" voice drove me to distraction....!
January 7, 2007 update: I've gotten so used to my GPS that I don't know how I lived without it. The only complaint I have about the unit is that it is very hard to read in bright sunlight and I have to depend on the voice instructions. Also, please don't leave it mounted in the car if it's above 90 degrees as my unit's battery died after it was out in the summer for a few days at 100 degree temperatures and now it takes time to read satellite signals when I start out as it starts from a "cold" state.
May 7, 2007 Update: I called Customer Service last week as my internal battery died and the unit started falling off my windshield as the heat exposure reduced its grip. Hold time was very short, 3-4 minutes each time I called. They offered to have the unit repaired for $150 which is more than half the cost of a new unit, so I refused as it wasn't a critical problem. However, they offered to send me a new mount (including the windshield mount piece and car adaptor) for free despite being out of warranty . It was FedExed and reached me in 3 business days. That's good customer service!
Overall I am satisfied with C320. Better GPS systems exist (some made by Garmin) but this one is the best bang for my buck by far!

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With a simple touch screen interface, automatic route calculation to any destination, and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions, the StreetPilot c320 GPS navigator is a powerful companion for your adventures on the road. Plus, Garmin has designed the "c-series" of car navigation units to be as simple and easy-to-use as possible-- no more intimidating features,just straightforward, basic navigation at your fingertips. Selecting a destination is as simple as a few finger-strokes, and you can choose between a three-dimensional navigation view or the more traditional "bird's eye" overhead view.
Although the c320 boasts distinctive and sleek styling, simplicity is the name of the game. The only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield for easy portability between vehicles. You can customize the unit's appearance with an array of colored faceplates that are sold separately.
For navigators who only require detailed maps for a limited area, the StreetPilot c320 features an SD card slot, a 128 MB SD card, and MapSource City Select street data on CD-ROM. To load the area you need, simply select the specific area of interest on your computer and the data is transferred from a PC to the unit via a fast USB connection. The c320's bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display makes navigation a snap. The unit also features dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning.
What's in the Box StreetPilot c320 receiver, vehicle suction cup mount w/integrated power cable, PC/USB interface cable, 128 MB SD memory card, and setup guide. Also, Americas Recreational Basemap and MapSource City Select North America CD with full unlock.

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TomTom GO 700 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay, I couldn't resist the completely politically incorrect review title, but I promise, it's the last time I'll go there.
I'm a new transplant to the myriad highways and byways of Metro Atlanta, and simply put, the Tom Tom GO 700 has been absolutely amazing in terms of getting me around town, routing me through, over and around traffic snarls and getting me to unfamiliar destinations on time and without backtracking! The user interface is blissfully easy, and it even links to your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to access real-time traffic information, so you can avoid those rush-hour parking sessions at Spaghetti Junction. The unit allows you to preload your destinations so that when you're on the road you can literally just touch the screen to navigate from stop to stop, and the whole thing connects to your computer using the included USB cable and it charges the battery AND updates it's maps and points of interest as required (some updates are at additional cost). Finally, you can also purchase additional voices for the turn-by- turn directions (did I mention that it TALKS TO YOU and tells you when to turn? Well, it does! Amazing, right?), including people like John Cleese and other notables. I personally selected a low, throaty, sexy Brit babe - I figure that if I have to ride in traffic, I might as well get a chuckle out of it. Miss Brit says things like "There's a toll road coming up - do you need a hand getting your change out of your pocket?" and "You've reached your destination - but don't stop just yet..."
In short, the Tom Tom GO 700, at this price, is a luxury gadget that will prove to be invaluable to you if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel and don't like sitting in traffic. I'm going to buy another one for my wife!

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TOMTOM 1D00782 GO 700 Refurbished GPS Navigation System. 3.5 Inch TFT Touch Screen, Pre loaded 2.5 GB hard disk storage, Hands free calling via Bluetooth connection with mobile phone, Speaks more than 30 languages in over 50 voices, Millions of points of interest, Phone control support, Car speed linked volume, Crystal clear 3D graphics, Review and test the calculated route before you actually start driving, Assisted Satellite Navigation allows continuous navigation, even in tunnels, Accurate turn by turn voice instructions. Previously Road Tested.

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Garmin A/C Charger for StreetPilot C Series Review

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(More customer reviews)The Garmin StreetPilot GPS has built-in batteries, and ships with an automobile 12/24 volt adapter. If you want to avoid having wires draped over your dashboard, purchase this convenient accessory and charge your unit inside. This is particularly handy if you share the GPS between cars, and use it in rental cars while travelling.

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GPS AC Adapters, Garmin, A/C Adapter Cable, 010-10618-00

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Garmin StreetPilot c330 Refurbished Automotive GPS Navigation System with Full One Year Warranty Review

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(More customer reviews)Just 2 years later, this newer GARMIN is much better, faster and works right out of the box! No software to load. Re-maps almost instantly. Touch screen is easy to see. Simple to use and the price is in line with the features. Why pay a much higher price for stuff you don't need and obviously won't use. No overkill here!

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GARMIN WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS Built-in patch antennal Solid-state memory can be accessed at very low temperatures and can withstand more shock and vibration than a hard drive Pre-loaded with MapSource(R) City Select(R) North America No downloading necessary Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings Dim: 2.8"W x 2.1"H x 3.5"D Built-in Li-Ion battery Includes USB interface, suction-cup mounting system with 12V adapter, AC power adapter and user manual

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Magellan RoadMate 2000 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This GPS system is fairly cheap and does most of the things you would want a GPS unit to do - get you from point A to point B. Basically, that's all I really wanted when I bought this unit and I am happy to say that it has been pretty successful in doing that. I had a little trouble at the start because it wouldn't lock-in my route and always had "Proceed to Route" on the screen even though I was already on the road and moving to my destination.
Having said that, this machine has a few annoying issues. First, it sometimes just restarts automatically and could leave you hanging if you have to turn or something. Second, it gets lost when you are surrounded by tall buildings. Hence, you have to be sure that you know the turn-by-turn directions prior to entering business districts, etc. Finally, it's "shortest time" route may not be the optimal route every time. I went on a trip to Milwaukee to Chicago and the GPS took me through rural Northwestern Illinois, which increased the travel time home from 2 hours to 3 hours. I don't know what happened there, but be sure to check the route before you embark on a long trip (I learned this lesosn the hard way).
For city driving, I think this unit is fine. It has gotten me to most places without any real issues. It's also cheap, which is good for reluctant first-time buyers. After you get a GPS unit though, you will surely ask yourself why you didn't get one any sooner.

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Small, powerful and affordable, with a SIRF StarIII chipset for quick GPS signal acquisition, the Magellan RoadMate 2000 makes it easier than ever to get where you need to go. Simple touch-screen menus and 40 built-in, interactive maps of the contiguous United States let you select virtually any destination and enjoy voice and visual turn-by-turn directions as you drive. This advanced vehicle navigation system features a 3.5-inch color touch screen display that you can use to enter an address or select a point of interest. You'll instantly receive the best route using the shortest time, shortest distance, most freeways or least freeways-- it's all up to you. And nearly 1.3 million pre-programmed points of interest enable you to quickly find gas stations, airports, hotels, restaurants and much more.Convenient and easy to use, the RoadMate 2000 gives you one-touch access to detailed information about a destination, including phone numbers when available. Simply touch the icon on the screen, and you're ready to go. You can also save your own personal points of interest to quickly navigate to frequent destinations. When time is of the essence, take advantage of some of the RoadMate's advanced features, including helpful technology that routes you around sudden slow freeway traffic, a multi-destination routing option, QuickSpell software to quickly enter your destination, and a 3D "bird's-eye" view to clearly see your surroundings. You can even select up to 20 destinations in advance to plan out where you need to go.Great picture quality is a guarantee, thanks to the integrated ambient light sensor, which adjusts color and contrast for easy night viewing. In case of an emergency, you'll never have to worry about being stranded; just one touch displays your exact location so you can quickly advise roadside assistance or emergency services.The RoadMate 2000 also comes with a high-impact plastic case that protects against marks and scratches while the built-in battery delivers continuous use for up to three hours. Easy to transfer between several different vehicles, with 4 GB capacity and optional SD card expansion, this system is ideal for business and personal travel.

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