Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is a decent GPS device and a fine Pocket PC. I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible.
Pros:
1) It's a perfectly decent Pocket PC. I've owned several, and this is no worse than any of them except for CPU speed and RAM. It's perfectly OK and actually pretty decent looking. Its lights (charging, charged, etc.) keep you well informed.
2) The GPS functions work pretty well. The software for the PC is quite good. You can load maps to main memory and/or the SD card (your choice per map). You get a lot of control with reasonable ease of use. The US maps seem pretty good (but not up-to-date with the very latest street changes).
3) It's priced VERY attractively. Consider that you're getting a fully-functional PDA (with MP3 playback, games you can download, etc.) AND a GPS device with a 3.5" color touch-screen. Amazon is a great retailer and has a good price, but I did manage to pay fifty less on sale elsewhere.
4) If you make a "wrong" turn (intentionally or not), it's pretty quick to recalculate the route and give intelligent new instructions.
5) You can switch among 4 screens while navigating: 2D map (and you can zoom in & out and drag to scroll), 3D map, list of directions with current step highlighted, or a "large" screen of what the next major step will be (and how soon). To avoid being distracted while driving, that last screen may be your best friend. You probably don't need the maps much while driving -- just while planning the trip or if you pull over. DON'T DRIVE DISTRACTED!
6) This may annoy some people, but I like that it gives verbal directions about upcoming forks/intersections, even if you only need to continue going straight. It's reassuring.
Cons:
1) The mounting hardware is somewhat awkward. The device needs a pretty good line-of-sight to the satellites, so you really want it close to the windshield (unless you buy an external antenna, which I may).
2) Entering destination addresses is slow because the software tries to anticipate what you're entering as you enter each part. It has to consult its database, so you must wait until it creates a list of possibilities at each step. But you only have to do this occasionally (when you enter locations), so it's not a big deal. It doesn't affect you at driving time.
3) It doesn't speak the names of the streets as it tells you to turn. Some GPS devices (including the one in my wife's Motorola RAZR V3m phone) do. Again, not a huge issue.
4) The screen can get washed out in bright sunlight, especially since you need to have it pretty close to the glass (windshield) for it to have a consistent connection to the satellites. But if you've looked at the map ahead of time, you really don't need the screen that much while driving -- the voice will tell you what to do. Another side effect of having to mount it so close to the glass is that it's farther from your face, so it can be harder to read. But, as I said before, if you get an external antenna, then you can presumably mount the PDA anywhere, so it will be more shaded and closer to your eyes.
Bottom line:
If you're wealthy, get a car with a large, built-in navigation system. If you're semi-wealthy, get a stand-alone, larger-screen, top-of-the line nav system for 3 or 4 times this price. But if you are on a budget and want a nice nav system and a good PDA for one low price, this can't be beat!
PS: I did NOT experience the crashing or power problems that another reviewer mentioned.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Navman PiN 570 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
If you're on the go a lot, you need a device that can combine personal information management, scheduling, and navigation features into a single, pocketable device. The PiN 570 from Navman is just such a device. It can change the way you work and play. Enter a contact, make an appointment, and get voice guidance to that appointment location when you need it. And while you're at it, enjoy the convenience of a Windows Mobile device with mobile versions of your favorite applications, music, games, photos, and more.
Because the PiN 570 is made by Navman, it's first and foremost a navigation device. The unit's GPS navigation system will guide you with 3-D door-to-door maps and voice directions, all at the press of a button. You can travel directly to your Microsoft Outlook contacts using the PiN 570's integrated 12-channel GPS receiver, which is powered by Navman's SmartST 2005 software. Turn-by-turn voice guidance, back-on-track rerouting, a choice of 2-D or 3-D map perspectives, a points-of-interest database for your map region, and multiple route planning are just some of the features packed into the PiN 570's navigation software. You'll also get the convenience of area avoidance--if traffic is bad, you can tell the unit to automatically change your route and keep you moving. The Navman PiN 570 comes complete with North American maps, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, on CD-ROM, so you can easily download your preferred region to an included SecureDigital (SD) Card.
The PiN 570 sports a 3.5-inch landscape LCD with 320 x 240 resolution and support for up to 65,000 colors--plenty of room for detailed map views, as well as for the unit's integrated PDA functions. Get all the functionality you expect from a Windows Mobile 2003 device, including pocket versions of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. You can also listen to music and MP3 files, play games, or store and view digital photos. The PiN 570's interface is touchscreen-enabled, so every function is just a few taps away. And because the 570 fits in the palm of your hand, you can move from car to car or set out on foot with powerful features at your fingertips. From your desk to your dashboard, the Navman PiN 570 will navigate you through your day.
What's in the Box PiN 570 unit, SmartST 2005 3D navigation software with preloaded TeleAtlas Mapping Data, AC charger, DC in-car charger, USB data transfer cable, flexible windshield mount, and leather-feel carry case.
Click here for more information about Navman PiN 570 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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