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Subscribe to this threadCES 2008: Navigon takes GPS back to the basics
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RockStoneSteel @ Jan 7th 2008 11:19PM
This is a step in the right direction as Garmin seriously needs competition to bring the prices down to reasonable levels. Another fix needed by most GPS devices is a significantly larger screen. The manufacturers are obsessed with the dainty little 3.5" screens. Ideally, GPS's would have a built in display driver which would permit attachment of any size LCD touch screen.
The biggest advance in the market will come when manufacturers finally start offering map updates. It is absurd that a GPS device can become obsolete so fast simply due to the mapping software.
The market is certainly increasing at a rapid pace. When I bought my GPS about 6 months ago, I had to go online since most electronics stores, Best Buy included, didn't bother carrying a reasonable selection of devices. No dedicated display booths; the GPS buyers were an afterthought. However, over this past Christmas season, Best Buy turned 180 degrees and started to carry a variety of brand names with dedicated showcase areas in the stores ...with reasonable prices to boot. They then sold like hotcakes. It is a bit mindboggling that stores like Best Buy didn't have the foresight to dedicate more floor space to GPS devices a few years ago.
Hank @ Jan 8th 2008 12:54AM
uh, you CAN actually get map updates for you recently bought GPS, albeit for a not-so-cheap price (~$70 from Garmin), but still cheaper than the $200 for an updated DVD for a built-in car navigation system.
Also, I would argue that bigger navigation screen is NOT better than smaller screen. There is a 'sweet spot' of screen size for a portable navigation device, which allows it to be easily readable, easy to carry, and does not become obstructive to your vision to the road. There's a reason all the portable navigation devices (even the high-end ones) only made the screen slightly WIDER but not taller, and they are all kept in a relatively similar dimension.
Really, people want big navigation screen just for showing off, sounds like you're one of those show-off types...
RockStoneSteel @ Jan 8th 2008 8:35AM
In reply to Hank...
Uh, show off type??? 99% of the time, I'm the only person in the car. And besides, who would be "impressed" by having a GPS screen that was 7" diagonal as opposed to 3.5"? There isn't a single automobile manufacturer that puts such dainty screens in their cars from the factory. So why is the aftermarket so obsessed with tiny screens? Fact is, you can show significantly more of the surrounding map data on a larger screen. The point I was making about having a built in display driver is at least the buyer could select the ideal screen size for the vehicle. One would at least have a choice. So if you want the dainty little kiddy screens that result in fingers overlapping the keyboard and mistyping, that is your prerogative.