Sunday, March 18, 2012

Insignia GPS first impressions

Insignia_nscnv20_gps

UPDATE: Read my full Insignia NS-CNV10 review.

I've been spending the past few days getting to know the Best Buy Insignia NS-CNV10 GPS. This 3.5" model, like its bigger brother, sports text-to-speech, a cellular connection, Google Local search and no connection fees for the first year. The 4.3" model is pictured above, but except for the phone button (Bluetooth is found only on the NS-CNV20) it gives you a good idea of what it looks like.

The Insignia appears to utilize deCarta's Connected Navigation (CNAV) service. So far, the device has been fairly intuitive and has done a good job of navigation, recalculating quickly whenever necessary. And I love having Google Local search at my fingertips. I also like being offered multiple route options, though it sometimes takes a couple of steps to get to them.

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Garmin nuvi 755T review

Hands on with another winner from Garmin

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

The Garmin nuvi 755T is a member of the high-end nuvi 7×5 series, a second-generation nuvi 700 line that adds lane assist, 3-D buildings and lifetime NAVTEQ traffic to an already significant feature set. The 755T has a 4.3″ wide touch-screen, pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, and text-to-speech, so you”ll hear “drive one-half mile, then turn left on Oak Street,” instead of just “drive one-half mile, then turn left.” read more

Knight Rider GPS by Mio review

Mio_knight_rider_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.

The Mio Knight Rider has gotten a lot of coverage for its hip factor, though I assume its appeal is limited to fans of the 80’s TV show Knight Rider. Mio may also attract a new generation of fans with this device, thanks to the new NBC series remake of the same name. But hey, we’re not here to discuss TV, David Hasselhoff or muscle cars. So let’s get straight to the GPS review…

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Magellan Maestro 4210 review

Magellan_maestro_4210

The is Magellan Maestro 4210 a wide-screen version of the Maestro 3210. Other than bumping the screen to 4.3", it offers the same feature set including pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, six million points of interest (POIs), and AAA TourBook, which rates restaurants, lodging and more.

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Navigon 5100 review

Navigon_5100_2

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.

The Navigon 5100 is Navigon’s first generation mid-range GPS device. It features lifetime traffic, Zagat ratings and the reality view / lane assist feature for major highway interchanges, as shown above. It also has a 3.5" touch screen, maps of the lower 48 United States, and text-to-speech, so you’ll get "turn left on Oak Street" rather than just "turn left."

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Garmin nuvi 500 review

Hands on with the Garmin nuvi 500

The Garmin nuvi 500 represents Garmin’s foray into the “crossover” GPS market, aiming for a device that functions well whether used for driving, hiking, cycling or boating. This review will take a hard look at how well Garmin pulls that off, but first let’s get some basics out of the way.

UPDATE: Here’s a post I did about dual-use GPS, and how well they work for both road and trail. read more

Garmin nuvi 255 review

Garmin_nuvi_255_review

UPDATE: The nuvi 2×5 series has been officially discontinued. For current recommendations, see our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin nuvi 255 is one of Garmin’s entry level navigators and, like the rest of the nuvi 2×5 series, it is loaded with features previously unavailable in the nuvi line or found only in high-end models. Before we get into those though, let’s look at the basics.

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Navigon 2000S

Navigon_2000s

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.

Navigon is clearly making a big push for the holidays again this year, with their third introduction in as many weeks. The Navigon 2000S is a new 3.5″ entry level device that offers a number of high-end features:

  • Text-to-speech
  • Reality View Pro
  • Lane Assist Pro
  • DirectHelp
  • Speed limit display

The 2000S lists for $199.99, slightly less than the recently announced Navigon 2200T, which features lifetime traffic in addition to the features listed above. The other new model is the Navigon 7200T, which adds 3-D landmarks and voice commands.
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Garmin pink nuvi 250 review

Pink_nuvi_250

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

The Garmin pink nuvi 250 is a special edition version of a popular entry-level nuvi GPS. It sports a 3.5 inch color touch-screen display, has preloaded maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and 6 million points of interest.

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Magellan RoadMate 1412 review

Magellan_roadmate_1412_2

The Magellan RoadMate 1412 is one of Magellan’s most popular GPS navigators.The 1412 has a 4.3″ color touch screen, pre-loaded maps of the entire U.S. and Canada, and 6 million points of interest (POIs). It also features text-to-speech, so you’ll hear “approaching right turn, Maple Street” instead of just “approaching right turn.”

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