Sunday, March 18, 2012

Lowrance iWAY 500C Review

Iway_500c
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Lowrance iWAY 500C GPS is an award-winning auto navigation system. Named an Editors Choice by both PC Magazine and Laptop Magazine, the 500C does more than navigation; it includes an MP3 player as well. With more muscle than the 350C, the 500C comes with a larger screen (5″ vs. 3.5″) and bigger hard drive (20 GB vs. 4 GB).

23 readers at Amazon gave the iWAY 500C an average 4 out of 5 star rating.

Here’s what others are saying about the iWAY 500C:

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Magellan RoadMate 360 Review

Roadmate_360

UPDATE: The Magellan RoadMate series has been officially discontinued. For a more current model, check out our Magellan auto GPS comparison chart or our list of current Magellan receivers.

 

The Magellan RoadMate 360 GPS auto navigation system is a relatively new addition to Magellan’s popular RoadMate line. An entry level model, the 360 updates the old RoadMate 300 model by incorporating a hard drive that holds pre-loaded maps for the entirety of U.S. and Canada.

Customer reviews of the RoadMate 360 at Amazon have been mixed.

Compare prices on the Magellan RoadMate 360

Here’s what other early reviewers have to say:

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Magellan RoadMate 300 Review

Roadmate_300

UPDATE: The Magellan RoadMate series has been officially discontinued. For a more current model, check out our Magellan auto GPS comparison chart or our list of current Magellan receivers.

 

The Magellan RoadMate 300 GPS is an older version of the more recent RoadMate 360 model. Maps must be transferred via USB cable from your PC with the 300, whereas the 360 has maps for the entire U.S. and Canada pre-loaded, already in the unit.

46 readers at Amazon gave an average 3.5 out of 5 star rating in their RoadMate 300 reviews.

Here’s what others have to say:

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Garmin nuvi 350 review

Garmin_nuvi_350

UPDATE: Though still available and supported, Garmin has discontinued the nuvi 350. For newer models, check out my Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

The Garmin nuvi 350 has proven to be an incredibly popular touch-screen GPS navigator. Garmin bills the nuvi as a “a Personal Travel Assistant™ that combines a GPS navigator, language translator and travel guide capability, an MP3 player, an audio book player, a currency and measurement converter, a world clock, and a digital photo organizer.” The nuvi has the newest generation of GPS chipsets, the SiRFSTAR III, resulting in fast satellite lock and improved reception. It also speaks street names, so you’ll get “turn left on Highway 128” instead of “turn left in 200 feet.”

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Garmin StreetPilot 2610 Review

Streetpilot_2610 UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.   The Garmin StreetPilot 2610 GPS auto navigation system is very similar to the StreetPilot 2620. The key difference is that, with the 2610, you have to load City Select maps to a Compact Flash (CF) card, whereas the 2620 comes with a built-in 2.2 GB hard drive. The next level in this series, the StreetPilot 2650 and 2660 models add a gyroscope which can maintain your position when satellites are lost for brief periods in urban canyons or under heavy canopy. The StreetPilot 2610 is a popular unit. 98 reviewers at Amazon rated it an average 4-1/2 out of 5 stars. Here’s what reviewers elsewhere had to say: read more

Garmin StreetPilot 2620 Review

Streetpilot_2620

UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

 

The Garmin StreetPilot 2620 GPS is a touch screen auto navigation system that comes with Garmin’s City Select software pre-loaded on a 2.2 GB internal hard drive. That’s the key difference between it and the StreetPilot 2610; to get the same detail with the 2610 you have to transfer City Select maps from CDs to a CF card. Going up one more level in this series, the StreetPilot 2650 and 2660 models add a gyroscope which can maintain your position when satellites are lost for brief periods in urban canyons or under heavy canopy. Before moving on to the 2620 reviews, you might want to check out my review of the updated version, the StreetPilot 2720.

58 reviewers at Amazon gave the StreetPilot 2620 an average 4 out of 5 star review.

Here’s what other reviewers are saying:

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Garmin StreetPilot i3 Review

Streetpilot_i3

UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

The Garmin StreetPilot i3 GPS is a great entry level auto navigation system, that will get you where you’re going without breaking the bank. The mid-level model in the i-series, this unit is a step up from the i2 monochrome edition. Packaged with Garmin’s City Select software, this little dynamo gives voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, to guide you wherever you want to go. One caveat though — this unit has no touch screen. If you want that feature at a reasonable price, check out the StreetPilot c320.

The StreetPilot i3 garnered 4-1/2 out of 5 stars from 39 readers at Amazon.

Here’s what others are saying about the i3:

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Magellan RoadMate 700 Review

Magellan_roadmate_700

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

 

The Magellan RoadMate 700 is a mid-level model in Magellan’s RoadMate line of auto navigation systems. With touch-screen controls and built-in maps of the U.S. and Canada, this unit is ready to go, right out of the box.

A popular unit, the RoadMate 700 received an average 4 (out of a possible 5) star rating at Amazon, from 116 reviewers.

Here’s what other reviewers are saying:

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Garmin StreetPilot c340 Review

Streetpilot_c340

UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

 

The Garmin StreetPilot c340 is the top unit in Garmin’s StreetPilot c3 line of auto navigation systems. Like the c330, this receiver comes with pre-loaded maps for all of North America or Western Europe. While all the c3 models give voice commands, the c340 adds the ability to call out upcoming points of interest and street names. This model is also compatible with the GTM 10, adding the ability to show real-time traffic info in major metropolitan areas.

Dozens of consumers have posted StreetPilot c340 reviews  at Amazon.com.

Compare prices on the Garmin StreetPilot c340

Here’s what others have to say…

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Garmin StreetPilot c320 review

Streetpilot_c320

UPDATE: Most of the several generations old StreetPilot series, including this model, has been discontinued. For a more current recommendation, check out our Auto GPS buyers guide or go straight to our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

 

The Garmin StreetPilot c320 is a popular entry level auto navigation system. It is very similar to the c330 and c340, except that maps do not come pre-loaded on a hard drive. Instead, you get a City Select disc from which maps can be transferred to the unit via USB or loaded onto an SD card.  Additionally, while the c320 gives voice prompts for navigation, it will not call out upcoming street names and points of interest (POI) like the c340.  But even though it doesn’t have a hard drive that will hold the entire
country, you can still fit all of California on the 128 MB SD card that comes
with it, and you can always get a bigger card.

This unit is quite popular, with dozens of users rating it highly in their StreetPilot c320 reviews at Amazon, which has this to say in their editorial review…

"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…"

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