NavMate 2.0 car navigation system

[gary s]

Does anyone have any knowledge of the NavMate 2.0 navigation system. Is it easy to use, reliable, can you put in any address and get directions to it? Any info would be appreciated. I'm thinking of getting one.

Thanks,
Gary

[Nick]

No experience, but if you get one, check back in and let us know how it works.

http://www.autonav2000.com/Products/NavMate.htm

[Richard King]

I use one of these guys: http://www.gpspassion.com/Hardware/Reviews/RSGPS.htm with my laptop when traveling. I like being able to have the bigger screen and wider viewing area. It worked very well on my cross country trip last summer. I simply left it sitting on the passenger seat and when I needed to make a turn it would speak up and tell me where to go, not that I don't get enough people telling me where to go anyway. :D The problem is that the unit has since been discontinued.

[n8dagr8]

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/473845/

here's a garmin one....fyi

[SimpleSimon]

I just use my laptop with Delorme Street Atlas with an old handheld GPS unit (with bad display) and an external antenna. Not bad once you stow the cables.

[DonLandis]

Richard- I used the Delorme system on the laptop for several years. It worked but was not really convenient as I thought it would be when I got it. Basically did it as you describbed.
Now, for rental cars, I found my IPAQ with a blue tooth GPS receiver works much better. What it lacks in large screen, it is made up for with ease of use and convenience. I simply put the GPS receiver on the dash and attach the Ipaq with a rubber band slipped through the AC grill. Simple and very convenient.

[gary s]

No experience, but if you get one, check back in and let us know how it works.

http://www.autonav2000.com/Products/NavMate.htm

Thanks for the NavMate specific info Nick. I think I've seen most of the printed info on it. I was hoping someone had one and could tell me about it. Thanks for the rest of the replies also but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with a NavMate. I rented a Hertz car with a navigation unit in it and it was pretty cool. Now I want one for my car. The Hertz car had a different brand in it but they are way too expensive for me.

[DonLandis]

gary s-

I use a Kenwood system in my Van. Yes, it is very pricey but if you were planning to install a complete entertainment system and wanted a good GPS as well, I would say that the Kenwood GPS beats all those mentioned hands down. Some features it has that work very well- Touch screen for input. Voice command/ driving directions/ Screen graphics that is very clear and the latest DVD-ROM has all sorts of Points of intests such a Yellow pages directory and phone numbers. Like map me directions to the nearest Best Buy store... They publish a new DVD-ROM map update every year. I may be a bit partial because I did a TV show on the system about 3 years ago and was so impressed, I went out and bought the full system including sound system, TV tuner, DVD player and recently upgraded to MP3. While you may not want to spend the kind of Bucks Kenwood gets, I'd suggest you find a dealer and at least get a demo before you buy. Even though I did the TV show on their system, I still spent a month trying out all the others first and determined that (at the time) Kenwood was the best trouble free GPS for the vehicle one could buy. BTW- No, I didn't get any special deal on the purchase. But, I charged accordingly for the work I did for the TV producer as well. So, in effect, I didn't have to pay the full price out of pocket. I worked for GPS! :) Had I not done that, I don't think I would have been happy with the other cheaper systems I demoed knowing the Kenwood system did what it can do. Good luck with what ever you decide and I'm sure today's systems do much more anyway.