Category — GPS Buying Tips

GPS Wars: Does Verizon’s VZ Navigator 4 Compare To The Dash Express?

by Justin

With GPS-enabled wireless devices throwing the PND market for a loop, it’s about time a standalone GPS unit was pitted against a mobile navigational app. Over at Laptop Mag that’s exactly what’s been done with the internet-connected Dash Express pitted against Verizon’s VZ Navigator 4, tested on the LG Voyager. So who took home the belt? In terms of maps, Dash took top spot mainly thanks to a bigger screen. But despite the fact that the maps looked better for this very reason, VZ Navigator 4 on the LG Voyager actually won the screen and interface category thanks to its ease of use and intuitive nature. Round three pitted voice directions on the two devices against each other and once again VZ Navigator won, but only because there are more voice options to choose from.

We though local search would be a sure bet for victory for the Dash Express. After all it’s an internet-connected device and search is supposedly one of its stronger points. But lo and behold, VZ Navigator wins again with more accurate and relevant results. When it comes to real-time traffic info there is no beating the Dash Express. It’s constant cellular connection both sends and receives data on local traffic conditions and historic traffic data means current traffic condition predictions are nearly spot on.

Overall things don’t look so good for standalone GPS devices as VZ Navigator won the contest. It actually beat the Dash Express at its own game. But we will say that for real-time traffic data, the Dash Express is still the way to go.

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July 23, 2008 1 Comment

GPS For The Blind: 5 Bigscreen GPS Units Get Reviewed

by Justin

Cobra Nav ONE GPS

The typical 3.5-inch and 4.3-inch GPS unit screen sizes a little small for your liking? Then why not go bigger. PC World has put 5 bigscreen PND’s through the gears pointing out all of their handy features (and setbacks) than only enhance the bigscreen experience. Reviewed are the Garmin StreetPilot 7200, Garmin nuvi 5000, Cobra Nav ONE 5000, Lowrance iWAY 600C, and the Magellan Maestro 5310-all units that are well worth their pricetags. If you spend a lot of time in the car, are planning a long-distance road trip this summer, or are just plain blind like me, the comparison is definitely worth a look.

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June 14, 2008 No Comments

Stumped For Father’s Day? 75% Of American Dad’s Would Appreciate A GPS Unit Come Family Vacation

by Justin

If you’re already scratching your head trying to figure out what to buy Dad for Father’s Day, putting your money on a brand spanking new GPS unit is a pretty good bet. A study of 4000 Dad’s conducted by Circuit City found that a full 75% of American Dad’s thought that GPS navigation would be somewhat or very important relative to the quality of their family vacation this summer. In the consumer electronics category only the cell phone ranked higher, pulling in an impressive 93%. Hey, with the whole mobile phone GPS convergence going on right now, just make it a double whammy and buy Dad a GPS-enable mobile phone and you’ll have a sure hit.

via twice