0ur opinion:

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ln the U.S., German-based Navigon may be the biggest name in gps you've never heard. Navigon has long been a major provider of navigation software to automotive manufacturers for in-dash gps navigation devices, but only recently did they introduce portable navigation devices under their own name. What they offer up, however, demonstrates immediately that this is a company that knows navigation inside and out.

• More about Navigon

Navigon...James Navigon
The first thing you notice about the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator is, well, the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator. lt's beautiful. lt's the kind of device you'd expect an international spy to have in their rocket car. lt's less than an inch thick, and its shiny black casing will go well with just about any car interior. Paying the same attention to every detail, Navigon's included car mount raises the bar even higher, with a design that is not only easy to use, but echoes the 7100's in a way that makes device and accessory become one, adding a touch of style and elegance to any vehicle's interior.

The Navigon 7100 offers a premium navigation experience in a sleek package. View larger.

lntuitive, animated menus offer predictive text input, helping you select your destination quickly. View larger.

The lane assistant provides guidance to the optimal lane for your route. View larger.

The reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions. View larger.

Packed with Features
When you stop ogling the outside and really start using the 7100, what you notice is that Navigon has decided to avoid media support and instead has focused on navigation-based features. This means the 7100 is packed, offering an array of features that are, at the time of this writing, unmatched at this price point. lt provides you with turn-by-turn directions, including actual road names via text-to-speech. lt includes built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hands-free mobile phone integration, which not only increases driver safety, but is fast becoming a necessity as states pass laws against talking on a cell phone hand set while driving. lt warns you when you are exceeding the speed limit. lt offers 2D and 3D map views with incredibly precise road visualizations (more on that below). lts Navteq data contains millions Points of lnterest (P0ls) such as restaurants, hotels, golf courses, gas stations, banks, etc.




Reality View and Lane Assistant
The 7100 has two features that are a great help in negotiating unfamiliar or complicated road systems. Lane Assistant recommends the best lane for you to be in relative to the proposed route, so you won't find yourself trying to move over three lanes when the freeway splits.

Reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions, complete with actual sign text and exit ramp guidance. This makes translating what the navigator is telling you to what you see on the road instantaneous.



Free Traffic for Life
This is a biggie. The Navigon 7100 comes is the first GPS device to offer subscription-free, real-time traffic information via the integrated traffic receiver with no additional fees or setup for the life of the product. Be advised on traffic flow and incidents, as well as the best alternate routes. The traffic info starts working as soon as you get the 7100 out of the box.




Zagat Ratings and Branded lcons for P0ls
All of Navigon's gps navigators offer Zagat ratings and reviews for their P0ls, so while this device may not get you a beer, it can tell you where to find the best one. Branded icons displayed on your map make it easier to navigate to a familiar location of your choice.



Superior Software and Hardware
The features and functions of the Navigon 7100 are controlled via intuitive, easy-to-use animated menus that use predictive text input to quickly and easily select your city, state and address. Maps and menus appear on its extra-large and elegant, high-contrast 4.3-inch, full-color touch-screen display with an easy-to-read 16:9 aspect ratio for an exceptional view of the road. The Navigon 7100 includes a powerful Samsung 400 MHz processor, a fully integrated SiRF Star lll GPS chip, 64 MBs of both RAM and R0M built in, and a rechargeable 1,200 mAh lithium ion battery that is rated for 4.5 hours of continuous use. All this is housed in an ultra-thin, sleek piano black housing that weighs only seven ounces, and measures just 5.1 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D). The Navigon 7100 even comes pre-loaded with complete maps of the U.S. and Canada, providing you with superbly accurate, seamless door-to-door directions wherever your vehicular travels might take you.



Note that the 7100 runs on the Microsoft Windows CD Net 5.0 operating system. A PC is required to use additional map data, and in such cases users require Windows 2000, ME, XP or higher, as well as a CD R0M drive and a USB port. An SD/MMC card reader is recommended as the 7100 not only uses SD cards, but also comes with a 2 GB SD card in the package.



What's in the Box
The Navigon 7100 preloaded with North American maps, 2 GB SD card, car charger, wall charger, car mount, USB cable, CD and user manual on DVD, quick installation guide, and warranty information.




About Navigon
NAVlG0N has been a leader of GPS navigation since 1991, and has a long history of industry innovations. NAVlG0N created the world's first dynamic personal GPS product in 1996, launched the industry's first navigation software for the Pocket PC in 2000, and unveiled the first Traffic Message Channel-based (TMC) avoidance feature on mobile navigation product in 2002.

NAVlG0N has helped revolutionize how consumers get from place to place with software products for practically any navigation-ready hardware. Personal navigation devices (PND), smartphones, and in-dash navigation systems directed by NAVlG0N's award-winning MobileNavigator (MN) software delivers reliable information on millions of destinations in an intuitive, easy to use format. NAVlG0N is a valued partner to the automotive industry, and in 2006 strengthened its category competency by acquiring NAVTEQ's navigation software business.

NAVlG0N is a privately-held software company based in Hamburg, Germany, with NAVlG0N USA headquarters in Chicago, lL.






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Buyer's feedback: - *
I bought my Navigon GPS (7200T) because it had the most features for the lowest price. That still holds true. Very nice unit- attractive and works well, too. Recently, I wanted to update the maps, but there was no Freshmaps Activation card in the box from Amazon. You need the code on that card to get updates. So, I emailed Navigon support for assistance. They sent the following:

'Thank you for your inquiry. Accessories, map material and content are not available in North America through NAVIGON. Unfortunately we don't have information concerning the availability of these products at other major retail shops.'

As has been noted in the posted comments, and which I discovered too late, Navigon is pulling out of the North America market. Beware of this major change, and buy accordingly. They should now be called NaviGONE.

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Buyer's feedback: - Usless navigation
Turned off the highway about 2 blocks from the motel we were trying to find and the 7100 told us to go in every direction but towards the motel. Even when we were in the parking lot of the motel it told us to turn around and go back on the highway. If we had depended on it's directions we would still be looking for the motel

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Buyer's feedback: - *
I purchased this GPS to use when driving across country and through the maze of exits and interchanges that you run into in larger cities. The feature that caught my eye was the 'reality view', and I hoped it would take the surprises out of being in the wrong lane at the right time.

That feature has worked tremendously! I can navigate relaxed through 4-5 lanes of traffic anywhere on the interstate system and it will pop up a 3-D view of the upcoming intersections and show me which lane to stay in as well as showing me the correct names on the exit signs. Very, very impressive, I couldn't have hoped for more.

Now for the bad. If you leave the interstate system at all even for a mile in places, you might as well ignore the trip time estimates it gives. I don't know what the problem is with the data base but this GPS couldn't calculated a correct trip time if you threatened it with a hammer.

When I leave the interstate system and turn on to the access road that leads 1.5 miles to my house it says it will take 12 minutes to get there. As I drive closer you can watch it revise it's estimates in minute increments until I finally pull into the driveway.

This also means that most of the time it doesn't do very well calculating the fastest route once it gets into a surburban area. It will eventually get you there, and if I'm going someplace that I'm unfamiliar with I will trust it, but when I've tested it locally it sometimes comes up with a bewildering route, all because it must have the speed data for certain types of streets way off in the data base.

Finally - the windshield mount is stylish but not functionally friendly. There is no dash mount option that does not use this huge support column. They need to offer something like all the other mfg's do that will sit on the dash and can be moved around. Most of the generic mounts I looked out would block the speaker so I still use the windshield mount which is not illegal in MO.

Surprisingly, I gave it a good rating because I got this GPS for one primary purpose - getting me across country and through the city interstate system quickly and easily and it does that in flying colors. If you are wanting more than that out of a system, like accurate trip time calculations for instance, you might want to compare it with other models on the market as well. But make sure they have the 'reality view' feature!

The 'reality view' feature alone is enough to make me not worry about calculating trip times and just keep on using this GPS no matter what other problems it may have!

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Buyer's feedback: - Navigon 7100
Good GPS unit with nicer features than Garmin or Tom Tom. So far has operated without issues. 2 complaints: first, the speed limit only appears when on the freeway, and I do a lot of 2 lane road driving; and second, the description I looked at indicated it came with map updates for 3 years...mine did not, so if you want that feature, make sure it is specified by the Amazon seller.

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Buyer's feedback: - *
This is a great GPS. Menus are easy to read and access. Not as many Points of interest as I would like....