It is versatile and does look better than the typical windshield mounts. Click on any of the images for a larger version.

Here is the complete series:
http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2009/Home/June/Week3/RDMHomeJun1509.htm#ProClipMount

http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2009/Home/July/Week1/RDMHomeJul0209.htm#ProClipAssembly

http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2009/Home/July/Week2/RDMHomeJul0609.htm#ProClipInstallation

First the positives. Navigon makes it easy to update software as well as maps. Just plug the GPS into your computer, and the Navigon Fresh program takes care of the rest. That being said, there was a software update available that added features to my device that were described in the literature, but not on the device when I first turned it on. So, please update the software.

I found the routing the be very good. I haven’t noticed any routes that take me out of the way, or that are not practical. Also after the update the maps were re-drawn very quickly, and the maps scrolled much smoother than before. There are also several warnings and signals which tell you exactly which lane to be in, and when. Pretty nice. It’s also very easy to add interim destinations. Which is nice to be able to stop for gas, and continue to your final destination without more input. The maps have a nice auto zoom feature that you can adjust. It’s nice to see the map get larger as you speed up, and smaller, so it makes it easier to find the turns.

Free traffic for life is what really sold me on the device. I currently have a Dash Express, but I know the day is coming when they totally shut down, so I wanted to find a replacement for that traffic information. While the Navigon is not as in-depth as the Dash, it still provides decent traffic information on major highways. Again, considering the cost, it’s a pretty good deal. The Navigon does have color coded road sections when traffic is heavy. Before the update, the device seemed to want to always find an alternate route around the traffic. After the update, I don’t think I’ve seen that once. I’m not sure that is the devices fault since there are few alternatives around traffic along my routes.

The POI database seems about average. I’ve noticed most of the major chain stores are here. You should be able to find what you need in another town, but I imagine you would have a hard time finding the less common POI’s.

Other people have complained about the lack of a manual. Two things about this. Most people either don’t read the manual, or are not smart enough to understand it anyway. Besides, you can download a PDF copy directly from the website. Furthermore, had they included a manual with the GPS I bought, it would have been outdated after the first software update. I think it was smart not to include one, since it would be wasted on most people, and would drive up the costs. There are some basic instructions in the box, but please download the PDF copy.

Before the update the text on the screen was small. I have good eyesight, and could see it, but I understand that it would be hard for some to read. After installing the update, the text size was increased. It’s not huge now, and some icons are small, but it is a big improvement over the previous font.

Now for the not so good things. The mount only has two axis. Up down, and left right. In my car it’s not an issue, but I imagine this would give people in other cars some problems. But again, this is an area where they were able to save a few bucks, so again, not a huge deal. In the future I would hope they would use the Garmin type mount. Probably costs the same, but much more adjustable.

The one thing that is really odd is the placement of the power cord. It’s shoots straight out of the bottom of the device. And the cord is very rigid at that point, so it does interfere with placement. I don’t see why they couldn’t have made the cord a 90 degree, or placed it on the side, or even out the back. This would have cost little more, and made the device much more usable. The cord is also the traffic antenna so it has to be plugged in to receive traffic data.

The day night mode is automatic, but not while the device is routing. So if you begin your journey before sunrise, and the sun comes up during your drive, the device will stay in night mode until you switch it, or you arrive. All other GPS’s do this automatically, so it’s a bummer that the Navigon doesn’t. Also, you have to choose the brightness level in day and night mode, it wont automatically adjust light output of the screen. Also, kind of frustrating given the fact that it could be 6:45 am and the device is still in night mode.

The Navigon won’t start processing a route until it has a GPS signal. I don’t find this to be a huge issue since it usually takes less than a minute. Also, the device will not automatically wake from sleep. Kind of weird, but not a deal breaker.

In today’s market, consumers want everything, and don’t want to pay anything for it. People have no understanding or appreciation for quality. But that is a topic for another day. That being said, the Navigon is an excellent device given the fact that it only costs $179 including software updates, map updates, and traffic. If you want a GPS that is a jack of all trades, this is it. Keep in mind that this is a sub $200 dollar device, so there are some quirks, but given the value of the package, it’s hard to beat.