This year I often travel + car, so I PND become an indispensable device. For me the idea that this kind of thing, I do not want to spend three or four hundred dollars to buy a high-end products because replace older too fast, prices not only fast, high-end models now feature, perhaps six months after the decentralization of the low price of only half of the models. So I just want to go out in the after-tax lump sum not exceeding $ 250 budget, buy a function best the aircraft.
From February to October, I spent a total of 2 sets of Navigon, 3 Taiwan Garmin, 2 Taiwan Tomtom, could not find a handy machine (Navigon I like, but there is no reason to stay here because of a change of orphans in the United States, two come on my iPhone already purchased Navigon, so hope to use a different brand PND, which can complement the missing function). After these few months, I finally found a product to my satisfaction, or actually never considered the brand: Magellan RoadMaster 1475T, with a month later, only with “amazing” to describe my feeling of it.
The following is a comparison of four brands of platforms and systems integrated experience, although I try to write objectively, but the introduction of Magellan would be more a little more, after all, the other three brands are no longer in the hands of the machine. Most of the comparisons are $ 180 ~ $ 230 price between the models, so if I mentioned in a number of shortcomings under license, but that the price of the products on behalf of these shortcomings, most likely in the high-end products, there is no.
Navigon vs Magellan ,Tomtom vs Garmin features:
Navigon
Advantages:
1. Maps and POI’s design is very nice clear, good color contrast.
2. A “POI On Route” function. Can book up to three Category, for example, if I want to eat in the navigation on the way, if I have pre-set at the restaurant, one of the three Category I only need to press two (or three) button, can obtain the following results. Shun all the direction of the destination.
Is not like most of the PND, you have to use “recently from the current location” approach to search, only to know the distance, and do not know the direction to the destination or along the opposite.
3. Enter the address will be locked when the state, need to enter the different continents to change when it can (and that means will not always ask you state). This avoids repetitive city, as many continents have the same city name. (Please do not compare the following Tomtom situation that occurred in this function)
Disadvantages:
1. Font is too small!
2. 3D navigation can not zoom in / zoom out, the map size will automatically adjust according to speed
3. 2D navigation can only be up north, not up front
Garmin
Advantages:
1. Simple
2. Lane Assist beautiful
Disadvantages:
1. And as one of the advantages, the operation is too simple. What little can be customized
2. Picture is cartoon, like strokes with Mike.
3. Strictly speaking, no particular advantage Garmin can make a big fuss, but no major defects to be perfect, but the models equipped with the same functions, in all the brands in, Garmin has always been the most expensive price
Tomtom vs Garmin review
Advantages:
1. IQ Route function (the original is to look at this feature before buying)
2. Tomtom Map Share allows user to share the latest traffic information (such as construction / road closures / diversions)
3. Windshield suction cup seat is designed to be folded, very convenient!
Disadvantages:
1. The most intolerable disadvantage is that map data is not human and not wisdom.
* Example 1. Suppose I want to go to the destination address is 100 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY. Enter the city during the kick down the Brooklyn, it will appear Brooklyn-and Brooklyn-A Zone B Zone, you have to pick one, it not go so far you take the wrong road, because of a Brooklyn city will not have two identical road names, this road is only possible in a zone B area one of them. But if you guess wrong on some can not find Main Street, and then will jump back to choose another. is a waste of time.
I use the TomTom in the U.S. east coast in three weeks of experience, there are too many to choose … how do you say that, “Vice City?” Situation, may be the unnecessary “administrative” information added to the postal which to address the causes. the above address and city name only example, because when I met LP has been owned by the fire, and did not write down the exact information or photos as evidence.
* Example 2. I use Tomtom in San Antonio Texas, enter the destination city Houston, actually gave me lists Houston AK, Houston AL, Houston AR, Houston BC, Houston DE, Houston MO, Houston MN, Houston MS, Houston OH, Houston PA, Houston TX. and then I have to select the volume to the second page of the Houston, TX. please look, even if you search the country, even if you ignore my current location in Texas territory, at least you like Magellan this way, all the United States The largest of Houston (TX), ranked first in the search results, right?
2. And the first advantage of the same, IQ Route function. Although this “concept” very good, but in fact the opposite effect than the opportunity to help save time even larger. Because it is often obvious comparison is to me to plug Yong on the road. I side with the iPhone Google Map congestion while watching real-time Traffic, this is all their own path of red, the other path is the green / yellow. added, the system with a set date or day of the week did not, I do not know the IQ Route to Work Day today is how to judge or holidays.
I understand that Tomtom launch in Taiwan IQ Route, I suggest that we should not expect too much. This is not the machines in the financing of the plan itself, but the IQ Route of Database fundamental problem is not accurate enough. Of course, this problem may only in the United States, after all, is really too big to
3. Lane Assist is not a change in each of the expressway will be displayed, the function of map data covers the degree and the other three brands (almost 100%) compared to not only small, even less to the poor, about 20% less.
4. Ugly color screen, especially in night mode. Almost all of the color scheme are worn, most of the background, road, path planning the same thing three colors, and shades. Can you imagine how difficult this in the end Recognition? I think the programmer designed the color scheme of the fundamental problems head
5. Local Time must be entered manually, there is an Auto Update button, but by no matter where you go after, are achieved Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + – 0), then you have to adjust their hours. There is no automatic time zone function, driving time across time zones must be manually fixed. (I thought the time automatically, and automatic time zone change is already a basic functionality GPS)
Magellan
Advantages:
1. Set the destination, there will be four paths allow you to choose: Fatest Time, Shortest Distance, Most Freeways, Least Use of Freeways. ㄟ … you have to say, this feature almost every PND has, ah, However, only the four paths Magellen time display, but also the four routes are drawn to you.
2. OneTouch functions, like windows on the quick launch action bar, you can put your favorite search (for example, Nearest Coffee Shop), POI frequented attractions (such as an airport), or the address book of the project (for example, a friend home) set in it. except in the Setting of any page, you can press the upper right corner of the white circle directly into the OneTouch, and then select your one-button shortcuts.
The POI and address book (or Favorite), the design no matter how impossible the menu requires only two buttons to complete your selection. Not to mention, or if you are looking for names not on the first page of POI, you have to roll page or enter a few letters to search. The following chart shows the first page only can be set to 9 shortcuts, in fact, there are 12 shortcut to the second page of the space.
3. Encounter traffic jam, instead of asking do you want to Avoid or Reroute, then you do not know what to take you around the way to go, do not know, after a detour when the estimated time of arrival will be, Magellan will give you three Path. It does not only replace the path will show the three expected arrival time, you press the right side of each map + arrow symbol that will tell you the details of the three paths.
4. Navigon first mentioned advantages, Magellan, too. But a lot of complicated steps in the search, which in the navigation, you must first choose Goto – POI – Select Category – Select Sub Category, and then press the [Near] button, select “AlongRoute “set the search.
5. Navigation screen has a POI on Exit button, press down near the exit will show what the next two POI, the need for temporary short stay (buy fast food, coffee, toilet, fuel …) very useful.
6. The direction of distance and road names pronunciation, can only say that the degree of accuracy and a very pleasant surprise.
7. Other people’s screen is 4.3 inches, Magellan is 4.7 inches, is really the heart to the Buddha.
8. POI in 2D or 3D can simply click on the map, it is simply the function of dreams!
Disadvantages:
1. Land Assist is not the same as the other three brands of virtual real way to draw, but there are several signs above the lane to draw the arrow, not so cool relatively high degree of the matter, but in fact this show with a different angle see also a advantage because, unlike the above three brands, when entering Land Assist displayed, will occupy the full screen, then could not see the road. And you can see that Magellan does not sacrifice Land Assist road show.
2. Navigation information (the current time, estimated arrival time, remaining distance, or the remaining number of minutes) can only display one, that is, 0:11 in the lower left corner on the map at that location. Must click on the order of switching.
3 .. 3D screen does not appear to be 3D (for example, from the air looking down to the ground, that is, the meaning of the vertical angle too), zoom in to within a range that looks as simply and 2D. This does not affect functionality, but the same 3D images should be seen under a wider range of this advantage disappeared.
Conclusion
Magellan RoadMaster 1475T such a PND, 4.7 “large screen, thin body (1.8cm), a life free of the Live Traffic, although there is no Bluetooth, no voice control, but with so many licenses it is not the same price models function, using NAVTEQ’s map data, it also threw in your AAA Tourbook attractions. How much?
I do not need flowers to be the budget ceiling of $ 250? No
Do not need flowers to be $ 200? Not
The answer is as long as USD $ 149.99, now Costco is special Oh, a friend in need to live the United States, may wish to buy to try. If you’ve never used this brand, you will be pleasantly surprised like me.
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