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 I had no problems with the maps being that out of date in my area (despite extensive roadwork), but I did run into one area where roads had changed - the unit re-routes very quickly though.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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