Pros: It worked for most of the part.
Cons:
- The online registration to unlock the map was extra hassle I didn't expected.
- Too much other junk in the map causing a 128M SD card hold no more than three states at a time. I was told some other brand has less than 4M a state.
- Reception is poor. It failed to make its first round of contacts with satellites even if I placed it on the picnic table on the back deck or the front patio stairs. One time on interstate, it failed too, when there's a 16-wheeler nearby. Consider the radio still works, you'd think they should augment/supplement the signal somehow to make it work too. Otherwise, you simply can't drive in a crowded traffic and expect it to guide you.
Here is the other parts when it failed to work or could use some improvements:
- In St Augustine Beach, FL, I was directed to turn left to Mandrid St for my destination from SR A1A South. It turned out Mandrid street was blocked by a private gate.
- In Atlanta, GA, I was instructed to turn left in 4 miles off 285 to my house. Nothing was mentioned about a right turn (T-junction) from Ashford-Dunwoody Rd to Mt. Vernon Rd.
- In Kissimmee, FL, I was directed to a Super Wal-Mart 3.2miles away from the resort we stayed in instead of the one 1.2 miles away. Apparently both had been there for quite few years already.
- In St. Augustine, FL, we wanted to go to a Thai restaurant. However, the unit complained it couldn't find '4900 SR US 1". By searching 'shopping' on the unit, however, we located a Publix at '1127 SR US 1'. It has been more than one occasions when it claimed no such address can be found even though the whole FL state is loaded.
- Driving back from Orlando, FL to Atlanta, GA, it said turn in 310 miles when we paid $2.50 at the 2nd toll plaza. I figured $2.50 is cheap for a 300-mile toll road. It turned out it failed to mention the merge from Florida turnpike to I-75 N in 27 miles.
The extra junk turned out to be very handy when we were in Orlando
- To find a super Wal-Mart to buy a special brand of organic milk for my son, I just selected 'shopping' and spotted the first super Wal-Mart, as the list is sorted by distance from your current location. We left our laptops home on purpose even though places we stayed have free WI-FI. Without the GPS, I guess we'd have to drive around to spot one on the run. We found a CVS and a Publix the same way.
- We had tickets for Downtown Disney. However, both the tickets and brochures don't list street address. I guess the smart Disney writers assumed everybody know where it is ?! The unit listed it under 'theme parks' as 'Disney Quest'. That solved our problem pretty easily.
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