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merlot158 Occasional Visitor
Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Darren
Having just read your review of Panasonics entry Navigation system, I'm rather disappointed in your conclusions. Like you I have always considered Panasonics products to be amongst the premium brands.
However, portable navigation is hardly new nor the basic requirements to satisfy a modicum of road safety.
So, small difficult to read text, visual information that is just too late (lane departure), lack of audible warnings ref above and a screen that requires several presses then actions all the screen presses is just not good enough, first product or not.
I feel you should have been much more scathing in your conclusion and certainly not recommended it. It sounds like it is just the opposite to what “a newbie to GPS devices” needs or for that matter anyone.
Please give realistic recommendations when reviewing products. _________________ merlot
Nuvi660fm
GTM21
external gps & FM aerials |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your advice on reviewing criteria. However, if you take the time to re-read the text you will see that this is a reader review and not one of mine. As such the comments and conclusions are not mine to change!
We tried to obtain a review sample from Panasonic who promised on numerous occasions that one was forthcoming imminently. It never arrived.
Sadly Panasonic are not alone in taking short cuts to get a GPS to market bearing their name. Whilst the hardware me be unique to them, the software is not and it is this that is the most important feature Sony have taken a similar route to market with equally (in my opinion) poor results. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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Infama Regular Visitor
Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Mio offers Greece maps as well. They are Teleatlas data and cover 51% of roads there.
I also read that traffic rules change so often in Greece (monthly, even) that it is a challenge to have anything even reasonably current.
However, even old maps can be better than nothing! |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Panasonic have been in touch and I should have a Strada tomorrow. Once I've evaluated it I'll add to John's review with my findings and some product shots. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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mostdom Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jul 10, 2006 Posts: 1964 Location: Surrey, UK.
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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merlot158 wrote: | Please give realistic recommendations when reviewing products. |
Thanks for the feedback. The panasonic strada may be a little aqward to use but as I suggested, these are issues that can be easily overcome. I personally use a device with more customisable options and prefer the choice, but for a novice user the choice may be a little more 'pick up and go'.
I have just bought one of these devices for my father who is not a technically minded person, who was then able to use it within a few minuits, and loves it all the same.
All electronic products have minor problems when released, and the question is always how debilitating are these problems to the operaton of the product. If the strada was impossable to use due to these issues then I would have cirtainly given it a thumbs down.
Darren, Any news on your re- re- re- promised review model? _________________ Dom
HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yes I now have one here. First impressions, nice screen, qood build quality but dire menu speed. It really is slooooow, frustratingly so.
I'd thought it had TTS but if it has I can't find it? _________________ Darren Griffin |
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mostdom Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jul 10, 2006 Posts: 1964 Location: Surrey, UK.
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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Darren wrote: | I'd thought it had TTS but if it has I can't find it? |
I didn't see it on there. You aren't mistaking TTS for speech recognition are you? _________________ Dom
HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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No but I may just have got confused! _________________ Darren Griffin |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Review now updated with my impressions. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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mostdom Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jul 10, 2006 Posts: 1964 Location: Surrey, UK.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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I'm disgussted, utterly outraged...
...I mean look at that tablecloth, I hope you don't have curtains to match.
As for the review, I'm glad to see you did pick up on the same things as I, and your conclusion, I'm sure is based on a greater wealth of knowlege, so I bow to the better reviewer. Hail Darren! _________________ Dom
HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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, my lighting cube had been mislaid, I hadn't reviewed the photos until it was too late as Panasonic wanted the device back at short notice. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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Galvany Occasional Visitor
Joined: Apr 04, 2008 Posts: 10
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:29 am Post subject: |
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Ran one of these for a couple of months. Very slow, battery died after less than a month, and not very flexible. Overall, a rather disappointing experience. Got a refund, and vowed never again. Will get a Garmin instead (having also vowed never to return to TomTom). |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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I'll give Panasonic some credit as they read the review and said that all the points raised would be passed on to the development team. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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Galvany Occasional Visitor
Joined: Apr 04, 2008 Posts: 10
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Well, if Panasonic are reading this then they should learn.
A (once) committed customer of Panasonic products, I finally bought a Garmin 760T and find that it is excellent. I am still learning the unit (two-three weeks on) and though I liked the screen size of the Panasonic, the Garmin's functionality, speed, and receptiveness to customised POIs are real winners. The absence of clutter on the Garmin display makes a mockery of the Panasonic Strada's size (too much "noise" on the screen).
I should also note that both the Panasonic Strada and the Garmin were used in Spain and the Garmin wins hands down. Only issue with the latter is that the Panasonic seemed to have more restaurant/dining POIs, but I don't really need those.
So, if their development team wish to improve, they can start by using Garmin as a benchmark.
And if the Garmin 860 proves to be as good as the promise, then there's an even bigger headache ahead for Panasonic. |
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ttaxi Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jun 07, 2009 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:12 am Post subject: My Comment about CN-GP50N |
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It is a good gps with a good look and a good size for a gps and I recommend it.
The only problem I m finding is to update the map, I steel didn't find the way to do it.
If any one knows....let me know. |
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