tomtom go or navman 510

min · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 25, 2004 Posts: 1

tomtom go or navman icn 510, which should i buy, is screen better on nav than go.

Dave · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject:

Both use a PDA style screen, so both will have trouble in bright sunlight. If this is an issue for you, you need to look at other products like a Navman iCN630 or Garmin StreetPilot.

Are you going to want to leave it in-car, or carry it around with you ? The GO can be quite cumbersome to carry around.

rob-bob · Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject: would not go for tomtom

see problems ive had with it....
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12301
you might have to cut and paste it though.......
had a streetpilot III was not impressed with that either
i would wait to see what the navman is like....trhe best one ive had and still have it tomtom 2 on a pda

MiddleMan · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 16

Dave,
any idea when your review of the Navman 510 will be appear?
Being my first GPS system purchase, I'm totally split between the Tom Tom Go and Navman and was hoping your review of the Navman would convince me either way.

If any of you guys in forum land can help sway my decision, I would welcome any help.

Cheers

Simon1 · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject:

The review Dave did is here: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/navman-icn510.php

As far as the decision goes, I was in the same predicament until I read the review and I was immediately sold. I've been reading heaps about the TTGo on this site and others, and was about to go and order one, even though I had a few misgivings from what I was reading.

The 510 tackles the main problems I had with the TTGo (and yes, I did manage to have a play with one). The big difference for me is the huge amount of control you have with the 510 over 'shortest v quickest', 'more or less freeways' and 'more or less urban roads', all with three sliders that allow you to set it just right. After a couple of days I think I've got the settings to just where I want them, and I can always change them to suit a particular trip I want to take.

The other huge plus for me was the size. The 510 is the same as most PDA's - nice and flat. It fits easily into my shirt pocket or into the briefcase so I can take it with me if I fear the car being broken into. The Go is way too bulky for me.

The 510 comes well packaged, it feels like a quality product, even the stylus has a certain 'weight' to it so it doesn't feel like a cheap cocktail stick. It comes fully charged and really does work straight from the box.

If I decide to divert from a route, it recalcs in seconds. The screen redraws in under a second as I drive along and is nice, bright and crisp.

I love the way you can get pop-up menus on the 2D maps - very useful if you're plotting a route from inside the house and also to shade in any 'avoid areas'.

Another advantage over the Go is the way you can change the screen to show you a close-up of the next manouvre before you get there, this can also be zoomed in or out and the icon of 'you' appears on the screen when you arrive at the intersection.

I also like the fact that there are a few hard buttons to press for the most common things like ESC, Change Page, Home, Screen Brightness and Volume. These are ideal to use while on the move. The four way pad also can be used instead of the stylus although I find it a bit fiddly if I'm driving. I don't like to use the stylus when I'm driving, it takes far too much concentration.

The menus are really easy to understand. I had most of it sussed before I read the detailed instructions on the CD-ROM.

Another plus is that you can have up to a dozen (I think) via points on the way to a final destination.

Okay , that's the plusses. The few minuses I have are:

1. The speaker is too small and tinny to be clearly heard over the stereo! It needs some sort of bass response to it. I know Tom Tom have sorted this out really well but the size of the TTGo is way to large to be easily put in a pocket. To their credit, Navman have supplied the unit with a headphones jack for an external speaker.

2. The windscreen mount needs to have a small extension arm to be able to bring the unit a little closer. My windscreen doesn't rake dramatically, but I find the unit is a little too far away to press buttons conveniently as I sit further away from the wheel than some drivers.

3. The night setting for the display doesn't seem to do much. There are a few other colour settings for the maps but I fail to see any real advantage in going off the default setting.

4. I would like to see an option whereby you could increase/decrease the number of street names displayed around you. At times it gets a bit cluttered but I'm getting used to it.

Overall - I love it. Easily portable, easy to use (now I've worked out how to d/load the speed camera POI's) and so far, extremely reliable. I called Navman support to ask a question about the battery and got thru no problem and got the answer straight away. Didn't have to wait to get a reply from an email.

Hope this helps your decision.

MiddleMan · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 16

Thanks Simon
You've addressed all the the plus and minuses that are holding my final decision.
I thought Dave was going to do a second full review on the Navman but maybe I read it wrong.

I am a little worried about the speaker on the Navman, but I have used a laptop GPS system in the car which is just loud enough with avg volume on the stereo, so as long as it could match this I would be happy.

I also like the idea of the zoom in map on junctions of the Navman and the combined map and direction arrow display that it offers.

The 'shortest v quickest' options are also a plus point for me.

So my only plus points on the Go are the volume and price advantage (which is becoming less of a difference lately, down to £30 on last search on web).

Now is there anyone out there who has seen the Navman but instead still bought the Go? I would like to see their findings.

MiddleMan · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 16

and by the way Simon, how does the screen on the Navman cope on sunny days? This problem is something that is troubling me with the Go, although alot of people don't see a problem with it.

Would you say its a problem on the Navman as well?

icsys · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:09 pm Post subject:

Simon1 · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 6:32 pm Post subject:

resuj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 07, 2004 Posts: 16

Ditch · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 10

As for the speaker issue, I resolved that easily with a "very" inexpensive amplified (single) speaker available at Radio Shack for about $12.00US.

It runs on a 9v battery, but also has a plug to use an auto power adapter which I placed (both speaker & adapter) behind my dash so replacing batteries wouldn't become a problem. It's small, easily attached out of the way with some heavy duty Velcro, and has sufficient audio output to be heard clearly (male voice seemes better for this) over a car stereo at pretty substantial volume. I suggest taking power for the Navman & speaker from a line that only powers up when the auto is running. That way you won't find a dead battery if you don't drive your car for an extended bit such as when on holiday...

The only thing you have to be careful about is not to dial up the voume too high or the audio will distort. But with a careful initial adjustment, it works like a charm and costs very little.

Hope this is of help! Wink

sdclark · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:43 pm Post subject:

I'm thinking of buying either the Tomtom GO or the Navman iCN 510 as well.

But after reading many forum posts, reviews etc I'm think it will be the Navman.

One thing I want to know though. How does the navman iCN 510 display POI Safety Cameras when approaching them? Are you able to select only warn if on route as on the TTG? Question

Being able to change soundfile for warnings has also swayed my decision to the Navman. I currently have a Garmin Streetpilot III, which is for sale on eBay at the moment. Finding that it's slow finding routes etc. Would like one with a 3D display now.

Hope someone can answer my questions.

Loking forward to getting new one.

Simon1 · Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 6:42 pm Post subject:

Egor · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 12, 2004 Posts: 7

I'm seriously thinking about this model. Like most peeps was going to get the TTG.

I have an Apple computer will this make using the 510 difficult ?

How much is the 510 and also is it battery only or can it be powered off the cig lighter ?

Many thanks

mark

Tim Buxton · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:00 am Post subject:

According to Navman's website, it isn't possible to use the iCN510 with an Apple Mac, even using Virtual PC.

The RRP is £499 although it can be found for less if you look around. It can be run from the battery, for which Navman claim a four hour life, or from the supplied Car cord or mains adapter.
_________________
Tim

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