Tech Review

Navigon 2100 GPS Navigator

Just like most would agree that you shouldn't buy a new model car or a redesign of an old model until its second year in production when the company has had a chance to get some of the kinks out, it's pretty much accepted by all except the least disciplined nerds that you shouldn't purchase new consumer electronics technology during its first one or two years of availability. VCRs, flat screen monitors, and computers certainly make the case for this philosophy. Having just exited the immature stage, GPS devices will be the hot item this Christmas season. I myself took the plunge a couple of weeks ago when Staples had the Navigon 2100 GPS on sale for $179.00.

GPS philosophy:

Follow up:

I have Microsoft Streets and Trips on my laptop and a USB GPS receiver that allows my laptop to function as a GPS. It works well, but I have to look over to the laptop to see the directions, a dangerous action, to be sure, and the lack of a touchscreen makes in-car adjustments virtually impossible. PDA GPS are going the way of the, well, PDA. A GPS specifically designed for the car was the way to go for me.

When deciding on a device, it's easy to be tricked by "lightscribe"-like marketing wizardry. GPS being a digital product, manufacturers seem to be shoveling many unnecessary features into a device which should be as easy to use as possible. The dumbest add-on is usually an mp3 player. I ask you: How many people would have an mp3-enabled GPS and not an iPod or car radio that plays mp3s? Bluetooth for connecting a phone to the GPS' speakers makes more sense, but, again, I think most GPS purchasers would have Bluetooth earpieces.

Navigon 2100 features and performance:

(manufacturer demo here)

The Navigon 2100 secures on your windshield via the suction cup bracket or you can stick the bracket on a flat disc which secures to your car via an adhesive strip.

As far as technology, most GPS receivers have good reception, and the Navigon is no exception; it never lost its signal in use even though it didn't have a clear view of the sky.

The Navigon 2100 has 1.3 million points of interest. It may seem like a lot, but it's actually the 2100's biggest drawback. According to this article, 1.3 million POI is the bare minimum for GPS. 1.3 million won't get you individual stores in a mall or store phone numbers. In my use, the Navigon had most gas stations, but didn't have Fry's electronics, a huge omission. Frankly, I'm afraid of needing a particular destination and the Navigon not being able to find it.

The 2100 has a pleasant text to speech voice. The map is clear and offers a good amount of detail. It doesn't show street names when moving, but does when stopped. It also has an awesome feature called "3D Reality View." It automatically shows important highway signs as you would really see it, making it easier to choose the right freeway, for example. It was an impressive sight when I first saw it on the 605 and 60 in Los Angeles. An example is provided below. The night mode makes evening navigation easier. The Navigon also displays compass information, but I didn't notice any longitude or latitude coordinates.

An example of "#D view."

The built-in map is of the lower 48 and is not upgradable.

Operation isn't super-intuitive (It didn't quite pass the "wife test.") which is a shame because it doesn't come with paper instructions. Most people should figure it out after an hour or so, however. The Navigon anticipates streets after typing in the city or area code. It can also find points of interests such as schools, restaurants, gas stations, etc. A back button leaves the current screen.

The Navigon saves addresses for future use and has a handy "Take me home" button whose function you can probably figure out.

I found the touch pad buttons small and the Navigon's reaction to them being pressed, slow, scrolling being especially frustrating. Directions were spot on, but the navigation lady sometimes repeated them after I had already performed the action i.e., "turn left" after I was already on the next street.

Rerouting was quick and accurate.

Since the Navigon is battery-powered, you can take it with you on your hiking trip. Ask your neighbor if he can do that with the factory GPS in his Lexus.

The Navigon doesn't have restaurant reviews which isn't a big deal for me as it's easier to look up on the internet or by phone. Zagat reviews are an extra $40.00. It also doesn't have traffic information. Again, not a big deal for me since my car has a radio, but the service isn't totally useless either as the it color codes the maps according to traffic congestion, suggests alternate routes, and displays traffic "incidents." The lifetime traffic service is an extra $99.00 on the Navigon 2100.

Compared to other Navigons:

For $250.00 more, you can upgrade to the Navigon 5100 which includes the traffic update service, Zagat reviews, and over 3 million points of interest. It also has "lane assist" which is supposed to tell you the best lane in which to be based on the route.

For another $150, you get the Navigon 7100 which has a 4.3" 16:10 wide screen LCD instead of the 2100 and 5100's 4:3 ratio 3.5" screen. The 7100 comes with Bluetooth.

Navigon 5100 GPS Portable Automobile Navigator

Navigon 7100 GPS Portable Automobile Navigator

Navigon 3.5" Protective Hard Shell Case

Overall, a great device and something anybody for whom $200.00 isn't a burden, should own.

**Update. I think the Tom Tom is the better deal at the moment.**

TomTom One, 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator