Navigon 5100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Navigon
|
List Price: Our Price: $329.00 You Save: $170.00 (34%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $67.99 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Navigon 5100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: A Feature Rich GPS Device
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently purchased the Navigon 5100 GPS device after some research. I went to some retailers and tried the devices out physically as I wanted to get a good idea of the interface they provided.
First of all the Navigon is loaded with functions, this might overwhelm some, but of course remember that changing these are optional. The default settings are good enough, but it is great to have the choice and freedom to alter certain settings.
Let me first start with the things I am not too happy about, or feel could be better.
- Device periodically lags (doesn't happen often but I would like it to be more responsive during those few times)
- There were also a few times that the route had to be recalculated and it took longer than I expected
- Takes a while to display the turn by turn list (only seems to happen when you have lengthy directions e.g. those spanning multiple states)
These weaknesses really for me was not enough for me to be dissatisfied with the unit, especially with all of the positive attributes it had going for it.
Here are some of the features I love:
- Multiple Transport Settings (Car, Bicycle, Pedestrian)
- Displaying the speed limit (quite accurate too, I was amazed at how the Navigon changed the speed as I was driving past the sign)
- 3D Reality View (HUGE PLUS - it really helps, especially in metropolitan areas)
- Says the name of street in addition to distance from the turn e.g. "In 1/2 mile, turn left onto Omaha street"
- Multiple Route Settings (Fast, Optimum, Shortest, Scenic)
- Night and Day views (contrast/brightness settings can also be adjusted)
- Option to Allow, Avoid, or Forbid toll routes
- Can allow or disallow U-TURNS (great to enable if you do not like taking U Turns.)
- Free Lifetime Traffic Information - It was amazing to see these traffic information popping up, alerting you to an accident ahead or construction on your route - then prompting you to avoid, after which it will automatically reroute you around the traffic. Oh, did I mention FREE for life!!
- Smooth user interface, other GPS devices simply can't come close to how beautiful this interface and user experience is - could almost pass for an Apple product.
- Speed dependent volumne - Wow, this will increase the volume depending on how fast you are traveling. Some users may have said it automatically reverts to a lower audio setting, if you wish turn this feature off and keep it on high volume.
- Points of Interests (POIs) - So many POI, and very accurate. It may be overwhelming, but what is great about the device is that you can select what POI categories you want displayed. Initially all 31 categories are selected, I went in and cut the list in half - I really didn't care to see Car or Motorcycle Dealers in the area.
- Accuracy, it gives great directions, and also allows you to block certain roads if you prefer to take another route.
- Tells me which side of the road my destination is on (pretty helpful)
The Windshield Mount:
Something else I should mention - the Navigon comes with a windshield mount that at first I thought was extremely distasteful. I didn't know why it had to be so long. But after using it I realized that it allowed me to mount the device and have it come out closer to me, so it was easier to reach and see, and it gave me some more flexibility with where to mount it. Though it lacks the ability to tilt UP and DOWN, it does rotate and turn.
The Navigon 5100 also has a "Route Planner" which allows you to plot multiple destinations - this is great, but I think this could be improved by optimizing the route - meaning tell me where to go 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.
Overall, I am more than satisfied and quite pleased with the device. I would highly recommend this as a GPS device to invest in - especially for those new to GPS and are not fixated on the interface functions of other GPS devices. This is an important point to note, if you are used to using a Garmin, then pressing the screen will bring up different options than what happens when you press the screen of the Navigon.
A friend of mine had a Garmin nüvi 350 and we actually tested both products side by side in the city. The only thing I would say that the Garmin had over the Navigon was that it allowed users to connect their phone to the device via bluetooth. Other than that the Navigon excelled in some many ways. The Navigon gave better directions from the start, whereas the Garmin had to recalculate after forcing a different route. The Navigon interface was way better, with 2D/3D options. I also loved how the address and POI entry operated, it was similar to "Google Suggest" where as I typed, matching responses would appear.
I am currently more than happy with the product, it's not perfect, but in sure comes close, with innovative features not found in other devices.
Customer Review: Someone did not understand what drivers need...
Summary: 1 Stars
Rather than going into a prolonged review regarding the items I would like to focus on the issues that make this GPS most annoying. So much so that after having had it for 2 months I stopped using it altogether.
Here goes, not in any particular order of annoyance:
#1) Switching it on: there is a tiny leveled button that you, according to the manual, have to hold for 6 seconds to turn the GPS on. It is more like 10 seconds and you will be leaning forward reaching over your steering wheel to do this. Not a disaster if you are parked but if you decide to switch this on while driving you are in for a real treat that is actually dangerous.
#2) In conjunction with #1 this is a real annoying one. The item is ALWAYS powered. So even if you turn off the car this baby is sucking the life out of your battery. Ind it does so pretty aggressively due top a lack of powersave or sleep mode.
#3) The text is SOOOOOOO small. I mean as in TINY. I have 20/20 vision and for the life of me cannot read any of the detail on the display unless I stoop over and put my face right in front of it. DANGEROUS if you are driving. Add some of the extra info to the screen and this becomes a joke. Note that my car is a 2007 Honda Civic and the swingarm is right next to the speedometer... What the hell, Navigon.
#4) The Traffic Alert feature, main reason why I bought this GPS, if just a pop up list with slow traffic or accident alerts. Here's where it just does not work:
- there are so many alerts that it becomes a barrage of messages when you live near a great city
- the messages display as text with an exclamation. So expect something like SLOW TRAFFIC NEAR SIBLEY, but it does not show where or how you will be hitting Sibley nor if it is even on your route. HOW THE HELL do I know if it is common to have traffic on Sibley and how bad is the alternative? Well, I tried the AVOID option and landed in the heart of traffic lights and more cars and got completely jammed up. Since there is no traffic alert on the reroute the cure sucked worse than the disease
- the listings are so tiny that you cannot read them unless you lean real close
- the listings require you to choose AVOID or SKIP every time. Not so bad if you live in Montana but I drive around Chicago and the listing is a NEVER ENDING barrage of pop ups and YOU CAN'T see the navigation unless you click away the pop ups. Combine this with a tiny screen that is far away due to the crazy crappy mount (other #'s) and you will switch the feature off pretty quickly. It is dangerous as you are constantly interacting with this GPS rather than driving your car.
#5) The sound... oh the sound... I mean WHAT SOUND. The speaker CANNOT be heard if you are doing 65 miles an hour with your radio off unless you have a whisper quiet Lexus or Caddy. I drive a Honda and it must suck to be me as I cannot hear the lady speak. This forces you to read the tiny micro font... 'nuf said about that.
#6) The mount works but that is about it. It if nice that you can tilt the screen etc but it is not flexible and forces the GPS to be VERY far away from you if you want to put it at the right height. Dilemma that cannot be fixed. Especially not when you drive a Honda.
#7) The REAL VIEW feature is only available in what they think are complex situations but frankly when you need it it does not show up. Most complex situations have enough signs to guide you through open heart surgery. I need it when there is nothing telling me where to go. Not worth the hype.
#8) Turning it off. I have to sit stooped over squeezing (or hoping I am hitting it) a tiny hidden button for what seems like an eternity until the damn things switches off... unless you want it to stay on into eternity.
#9) It is completely unclear form the manual and package how to update this thing online. I plugged it in an nothing happened. Since I stopped using it after 2 months I guess it does not matter much. I am back to my monochrome and beloved Garmin, sure if falls of the windshield when it freezes outside but I can still hear her telling me where to go.
Final thoughts of a raging gadgeteer: I wonder if it can be used as a projectile in road rage situations. I also wonder who let a computer game designer spec a GPS unit; obviously the design team is a bunch of treehuggers on bicycles that have not yet had the pleasure of trying the Navigonad 5100 in a real car. Blah and much cursing.
Final final remark: I have it on a well-known auction site without a minimum price, but note that you were warned if you decide to bid.
Customer Review: Best for the price: update
Summary: 5 Stars
Update of my original review (which is below) after 1+ months of use in 3 different cities:
-I really appreciate the traffic info. I thought it was a gimmick, but it has saved me twice from major backups (best save: truck had hit an overpass, the gps told me of it, took me out at the exit right before the accident, and returned me to the freeway just past the accident. I was impressed!). I use it all the time. Check on the Navigon website to see if your city is covered -- most are.
-I also really like the Zagat ratings. In new cities, I search near my hotel for zagat rated restaurants, nightlife and attractions. The full reviews are included, and I use it whenever I travel. Very useful.
-Also good: maps are excellent, gps tracking is very accurate, text-to-speech is fine, the menu is intuitive and POIs are pretty complete.
- Some negatives: voice should be louder, text is on the small side, and the button presses can be annoying. Lastly, the website is very basic (Garmin has a great website).
-Overall, I still stand by my original review. No gps is perfect, but I truly like this one and enjoy using it.
Original Review (October 2007):
This is by far the best gps for the price. All else being equal (routing, rerouting, POIs, etc.), three things are paramount for me in a gps: Accurate Maps, the ability to Plan Routes, and Style. By the way, before choosing a gps, I downloaded and read the manuals of Garmin 660/680/750, Magellan 4040/4050 and Navigon 5100/7100 (see below why I skipped TomTom).
1. Accurate maps. This means Navteq maps rather than TeleAtlas maps. Since TomTom uses TeleAtlas, I eliminated TomTom products;
2. Planning Routes. I need to be able to plan a route using a starting location other than where I currently am. Most gps units start navigation to a destination from the current gps location. I need to be able to input into a gps a destination AND a starting point so that I can be on a plane, for example, and be able to figure out how long a drive takes, when I get in, what time to leave, etc. No Magellan 4000 level products do this. This ruled out Magellan.
3. Style. The 5100 is small and elegant, and the maps are beautiful. Garmin/Magellan maps look like a kid drew them with crayons. I could have bought the 7100, but I wanted portability, and with the smaller screen, I figured the processor would be faster also.
Everything else is as good in the 5100 or better than in any other GPS, plus you get free traffic information and zagat. There are some minor quirks (the keys are small, and sometimes you have to press twice), but these are truly minor issues with this many features at this price. And price is a concern if for no other reason than that this industry is changing so quickly (over 10 new units introduced this year) that anything you buy now is likely to be dated by newer and better units very soon -- so why spend too much? (this rules out the completely overpriced Garmins). Altogether, I have used used 5 different gps programs/units, and the 5100 is excellent at any price, and a bargain at what it's at.
NOTE: a few reviews have noted how it takes long for the gps to lock on to satellites. I think this is due to the erroneous instructions that come in the box which instruct you to hold the "on" button for 6 seconds to turn the unit on. This actually resets the unit. All you need is to push the button once to have it turn on, and satellite fix is almost instantaneous.
Customer Review: Sanity Check!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Up to this point, I had planned to only write book reviews but feel compelled to write this after the mixed bag of reviews for this product. The listed reviews created alot of confusion for me; I'm always suspicious of the "one-item reviews" that either damn or glorify; maybe this info will be helpful if you are considering a purchase.
I purchased the Navigon 5110 last month (June 08), have used it for several trips, and couldn't be happier with it. In a nutshell, to address some of the issues brought up in the other reviews:
Pros
1. Mount system is ingenious-no velcro, screws, sticky tape, etc...just suction cup it to your windshield and hook up the power to your cigarette lighter. You can use it for any automobile that has a working cigarette lighter (even an old 1970 Ford Oldsmobile). For security, you can detach the GPS from the mount in a matter of seconds. And overall, it has a sleek, minimalist design.
2. Navigation is highly intuitive; I missed a turn in Berlin, took a turn at the next traffic junction, and the Navigon recalculated and put me back on track. I really liked the highway sign visuals-you will never be confused again about major highway turns.
Let me address 2 complaints from the other reviews.
U-Turns: if you miss a turn the voice command will say " Make a U-Turn now." to let you know you missed a major turn. You get this voice prompt even if you are on a 4 lane highway. So you take the next turn/exit, and the Navigon recalculates and puts you back on track. (If you are one of those persons who would try to make a U-Turn on a 4 lane hgihway because the Navigon said so, it would probably be too dangerous for you to own any type of car navigation system.)
The other complaint was about getting commands to make turns too late or too early. I found the voice command for turns to be spot-on in every case-including a 3K, 1K, 500m, 300m and 100m warning prior to the turn. This was critical in busy, city traffic.
3. Voice Commands-I really liked this feature, esp. the female, British accent. I have a slight case of ringing in my ears (tincture) from years on firing ranges and rock concerts from my younger years. Still, with the radio playing, I had NO PROBLEM hearing and understanding the voice commands.
4. Options and Updates-traffic warnings and the ability to get road updates online is a big plus. I'm currently using the Navigon in Europe, but it also has maps for the continental US when I go back to the states. For that matter, I used it in Prague (Czech Republic) and Berlin, both former eastern Europe.
Cons
1. Screen-there is one legitimate complaint-some of the numbers are small-ie if you want to read total distance of trip, your current speed, current elevation, you need to really look at the screen to read those numbers. Also, it can be a little difficult to read if you are driving into the sun, but this may be true of all navigation systems.
2. New Destinations-I think this is a Con-I need to check the user's manual. I would like to have the ability to go somewhere and then enter it as a new destination. This may be possible-I need to check the User's Manual.
3. Price-no issues for me for what I got, but like all technology, wait 6 months and the price will probably drop $100.
Highly recommended.
Customer Review: Rich feature set crippled by major shortcomings
Summary: 3 Stars
I currently own a MIO that I purchased on Black Friday 06 and planning to upgrade. The Mio is a competent little unit, but I was hoping to get a unit with text-to-speech, newer maps, updated POIs, better interface, and better routing. Here comes Navigon 5100.. at $160 it came with Text To Speech, Lane Assist, 3d reality view, Zagat ratings, and Free TMC! Could it be the magical upgrade I was looking for?
After 1 day owning the unit and using it to drive around, this item is going back to Amazon. And here's why.
1. First thing I notice was the HUGE windshield mount that looks cool, but it's a major pain to use. Rotating the device around was very awkward and I was afraid that it would snap off. Another annoyance: On highways the mount just shakes road vibrations! My Mio didn't do that.
2. You must HOLD the button for 10 seconds for startup and shut-down. In addition, you must click OK to the EULA agreement that you wont use this unit while driving ( you know what I mean ) etc etc. This makes the unit impractical for quick turn-on and go like my Mio does.
3. The keyboards (or any other buttons, for that matter) are TINY. I have relatively small hands and I'm having problems typing my destinations.
4. The UI are clunky. I was interested because I heard Navigon has a very pretty UI, but I'm disappointed. The 'Flash' menus are nothing to be excited about. The maps on most streets are plain white and hard to read.
5. It takes many taps to do the simple things I can do right away on my Mio. For example I can simply move the maps around with Mio while I was in 'navigation mode.' With this Navigon, I need to click on the little button on the bottom right which pops up a menu, and select the button for 'move your fingers around to scroll map' view.
6. There's a 'direct access' buttons for specific types of POI (which allow you to quickly see surrounding POIs with 1 tap) which is very nice, but then it directly routes me to the POI I selected ( I cant just view the phone number etc - to do that I have to do it through the regular POI screen)
6. The fonts are very small. I'm talking TINY small.
7. And here's the killer for me: The speaker is very soft. The unit when cranked all the way up is barely audible on highways, and the sound is already cracking. My Mio is way louder.
So those are the reasons the unit is going back. It's too bad - I really wanted the unit to be the upgrade I had wanted. Just to wrap this review up on a good note, the positives (for me ) are:
1. The unit looks very pretty.
2. Navigation is pretty good and accurate.
3. Voice guidance (when you can hear it!) spells out street names pretty accurately.
4. It says which side of the road your destination is (this is very neat)
5. It can display speed limit, your speed, altitude, etc. Lots of information.
6. There's dedicated 'direct access' button which has its limitations, is a nice feature.
7. Route recalculation was pretty fast.
There you go. I hope this review serves as a caveat emptor - Keep in mind that you DO get a host of features for a very low price, but it has its (for me, major) shortcomings. What that shortcomings amount for you is for you to decide.