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TomTom GO 920/920T review

November 15, 2007 By 5 Comments

Tomtom_go_920t

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our TomTom comparison chart.

The TomTom GO 920 / 920T is TomTom’s new top-of-the-line GPS navigator. This one has it all — pre-loaded maps of the U.S., Canada and Europe, voice commands, FM transmitter, Bluetooth, text-to-speech, Map Share, remote control and an included traffic receiver. The TomTom 920 has everything except that the traffic receiver, which is available as an optional accessory.

The really hot new features on this unit are voice commands and what TomTom calls Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT). This uses dead reckoning sensors to help keep track of your position when you lose satellite coverage (in tunnels, etc.).

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, TomTom, TomTom auto GPS Tagged With: ,

TomTom RIDER 2nd edition review

November 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Tomtom_rider_2nd_edition_2

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For a list of current TomTom models and their features, please see our TomTom comparison chart.

The TomTom RIDER 2nd edition, designed specifically for motorcycles, updates the first-generation TomTom RIDER. This new model adds a RAM mount, Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use, and includes a high-quality Cardo scala-rider(R) Bluetooth(R) headset for in-helmet spoken instructions. It comes with pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada.

An optional car mount with integrated speaker transforms the RIDER into an auto navigator.

UPDATE: TomTom has announced that the RIDER 2nd edition will now include TomTom Map Share™, Help Me!, Fuel Prices Service (option), and TomTom Traffic with a 30-day free trial.

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, TomTom, TomTom auto GPS Tagged With: ,

Magellan Maestro 4250 review

November 11, 2007 By 8 Comments

Magellan_maestro_4250

The Magellan Maestro 4250 updates the Magellan 4050. Thinner and lighter, it also increases the number of points of interest (POIs) available to 6 million, compared to the 4050’s 4.5 million. Otherwise, the two units are identical in their key specs. Both offer pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, text-to-speech, Bluetooth and live traffic info.

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, Magellan, Magellan auto GPS

TomTom ONE XL-S review

November 10, 2007 By 2 Comments

Tomtom_one_xls_mount

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For a list of current TomTom models and their features, please see our TomTom comparison chart.

The TomTom ONE XL-S, updates the TomTom ONE XL, adding text-to-speech to its feature set. That way, you’ll get “turn left on Oak Street in 500 feet” rather than just “turn left in 500 feet.” It also includes Map Share, though that is also available on the ONE XL as a free upgrade.

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Filed Under: GPS Reviews, TomTom auto GPS

Garmin nuvi 750 review

November 1, 2007 By 1 Comment

Garmin_nuvi_750

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin nuvi 750 is one of the new high-end 700 series of this popular product line, adding the following to an already outstanding feature set:

  • Multi-destination routing
  • Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route
  • Tracklog recording
  • Speed limit display for many interstates and highways
  • The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series
  • Automatic marking of your last position when the unit is turned off (to help you find your car in mega-mall parking lots)
  • A “Where am I” safety feature that gives your current location,
    nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs
    for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations

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Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware Tagged With:

Mio C230 review

October 29, 2007 By 19 Comments

Mio_c230_review

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Mio GPS reviews.

I’ve been trying out the Mio C230 for the past week or so. Also know as the Mio DigiWalker C230, this unit updates the C220, adding one thing most low-end units don’t have — text to speech. This means that you’ll get “turn left on Oak Street in 200 feet” rather than just “turn left in 200 feet.” It also offers a much brighter screen than that of the C220, along with pre-loaded maps of all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, Mio, Mio auto GPS Tagged With:

Magellan Maestro 3210 review

October 29, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Magellan_maestro_3210_3

The Magellan Maestro 3210 is one of Magellan’s new thinner (0.7″) line of Maestros. It has a 3.5″ screen, six million points of interest (POIs), pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, and the SiRFstar III chipset. What it doesn’t have is text-to-speech, so you’ll get “turn right in 200 feet” rather than “turn right on Oak Street in 200 feet.” Nor does it have Bluetooth or live traffic capabilities.

Step up to the Maestro 3220 to get maps of Mexico too. Meanwhile, the Maestro 3250 adds text-to-speech, Bluetooth, traffic and voice commands to the 3210’s feature set. Going the other direction, the basic Maestro 3200 has a very weak 1.3 million POIs and drops the maps of Canada and Alaska. Finally, the 4200 series boosts the screen size to 4.3″.

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, Magellan, Magellan auto GPS

Garmin nuvi 760 review

October 24, 2007 By 10 Comments

Garmin_nuvi_760

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin nuvi 760 is one of the new high-end 700 series of this popular product line, adding the following to an already outstanding feature set:

  • Multi-destination routing
  • Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route
  • Tracklog recording
  • Speed limit display for many interstates and highways
  • The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series
  • Automatic marking of your last position when the unit is turned off (to help you find your car in mega-mall parking lots)
  • A “Where am I” safety feature that gives your current location,
    nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs
    for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations

read more

Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware Tagged With:

Navigon 7100 review

October 15, 2007 By 2 Comments

Navigon_7100_review

NOTE: Navigon has pulled out of the U.S. market and we are no longer recommending their receivers. Check out our auto GPS buyers guide for our current recommendations.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been trying out a Navigon 7100, a high-end unit from a relatively new player in the GPS navigation market. Navigon has distinguished itself with several novel features including their “reality view” of complex interchanges (shown above), Zagat ratings, and live traffic without any renewal fees. On top of that, the unit allows you to save locations and navigate to them by voice commands.

Dropping down to the Navigon 5100, you lose Bluetooth and voice commands.

Only rarely do I stray from the established major companies in reviewing GPS navigators, but this one was just too tempting.

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Filed Under: Auto, GPS Reviews, Hardware, Navigon, Navigon auto GPS

Garmin nuvi 260 review

September 11, 2007 By 16 Comments

Garmin_nuvi_260

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin nuvi 260 is the nicest of Garmin’s budget-line nuvi 200 series. This is a basic, no frills unit, but it has Garmin’s intuitive interface and something the other 200 series units don’t have — the ability to call out street names. That way you’ll get “drive one-half mile, then turn left on Oak Street,” instead of just “drive one-half mile, then turn left.” Other than that, it’s identical to the nuvi 250. Both units have a 3.5″ color touch screen, six million points of interest (POIs), and preloaded maps of the U.S. and Canada. The nuvi 260W has the same feature set as the 260, but adds a wider, 4.3″ screen.

UPDATE: A newer model, the nuvi 255, offers these features and more.

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Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware Tagged With:
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