Auto GPS Reviews

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Auto GPS Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Auto GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. GPSMagazine.com >> Details/Subscribe	GPS magazine In-Depth Product Reviews Editors of GPSMagazine.com As of June 2008		This e-zine publishes a plethora of incredibly comprehensive reviews. Every feature is tested, and reviews conclude with long lists of pros and cons. The reviews are lavishly illustrated with photographs, screen shots and additional documentation. Testing methodology is fully explained. Each product test is headed with a subjective verdict that makes comparisons easy, and verdicts range from wonderful to useless. Products are also scored and ranked. Each product is assigned a ranking in six subcategories, and a chart compares and ranks features. By a wide margin, this is the best review source for auto GPS we found.
2. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Portable GPS navigation Editors of Consumer Reports Apr. 2008		Consumer Reports rates and ranks 42 portable GPS navigation systems in its most recent update, with results summarized in a detailed ratings chart. Testers measure the units' dimensions and weight. They then do real-world tests in a Consumer Reports car in rural, suburban and urban areas (including New York City). All recommended models come from brands that specialize in GPS units. A one-page summary for each model includes pros, cons and user ratings, though discussion itself isn't especially detailed.

Auto GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Auto GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. GPS Tracklog	Our GPS Reviews Rich Owings As of June 2008		This unusual blog site is operated by Rich Owings, who posts all known information about most major-brand GPS devices, personally reviews some of them and links to reviews and ratings by others. Site users add opinions and occasionally contribute reviews. A buyer's guide lists Owings's picks in budget, mid-range and high-end auto GPS receivers, as well as some alternate recommendations. Though not in the buyer's guide, Owings also highly recommends the Dash Express in a separate review.
4. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	GPS Navigation Craig Ellison As of June 2008		Craig Ellison regularly reviews new GPS units for PC Magazine, identifying each product's place in the market and assigning an overall rating. Reviews are easy to read, even though they aren't as exhaustively detailed as those at dedicated GPS-review websites. Still, the quality of the reviews is consistent, and the ratings help narrow the field for readers. Lists of pros and cons are also helpful, but some would only matter to a small percentage of users. Several models are identified as an Editors' Choice, but some of those are older models.
5. GPSLodge.com	GPS Reviews Scott Martin As of June 2008		GPSLodge.com identifies itself as a weblog that is dedicated to news and reviews on GPS navigation systems. This site has many original reviews and also links to other reviews on the Internet. Site owner Scott Martin reviews inexpensive, entry-level products as well as those with bigger screens and added features. Some of the reviews are comparative -- including a couple of single-brand roundup articles -- but comparisons are mostly limited to obvious feature distinctions. Martin's holiday buyer's guide picks the best auto GPS in four categories: entry-level, widescreen entry-level, "a step up" and high-end. Martin also speaks highly of the TomTom GO 920/920T in a separate review that came out after the gift guide.
6. Laptop Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Untitled Troy Dreier As of June 2008		Laptop magazine has published reviews of eleven auto GPS models so far in 2008 (as of our last visit). Reviews are critical, with a clear verdict about each model. Laptop has updated its "Editor's Choice" picks, too, dropping some former picks in favor of the more current TomTom Go 720. The site does still include an old review of the Garmin StreetPilot c550, listing it as an Editor's Choice, but its more recent review of this auto GPS downgrades its traffic performance and recommends the TomTom GO 720 instead.
7. GPSReview.net	Recent Reviews Tim Flight and contributors to GPSReview.net As of June 2008		The performance-oriented reviews at GPSReview.net are detailed and comparative. Features for each product are charted, but we're disappointed that products aren't rated or ranked. The TomTom ONE 130s is recommended as "a very functional device at a great price," and the Dash Express as the "dream GPS" for commuters who need constant traffic reports.
8. CNet.com	Best 5 GPS Systems Bonnie Cha As of June 2008		CNet.com.com regularly reviews new auto GPS units. Only a few reviews are comparative, but CNet.com rates units and ranks the top choices in this list. The reviews devote more attention to features than performance. Testing is typically limited to a single test drive in San Francisco, which is unusually easy to navigate because it is a mature, gridded city that is surrounded by water on three sides. However, CNet.com's reviews are critical, often recommending good alternatives to poor-performing auto GPS units. A link on this article connects to all CNet.com reviews of GPS devices. Users also have the opportunity to weigh in with their opinions.
9. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	GPS Receivers Editors of PC World As of June 2008		PC World's reviews of auto GPS offer numeric scores, succinct pros and cons and clear buying advice, but editors don't test as many units as other publications. The Mio Moov 310 gets the highest score, with testers calling it a great entry-level buy. The Garmin nüvi 760 is recommended -- "as good as it gets" in its category, the reviewer says -- although the auto GPS does have some drawbacks. In one head-to-head review, the Magellan Maestro 4250 beats the V7 NAV740. In another head-to-head comparison, PC World recommends the Garmin nüvi 360 over four other models by Mio, Pharos, Alpine and LG.
10. Money >> Details/Subscribe	GPS that puts you in the fast lane Charles Passy May 2, 2008		Money magazine road tests five current GPS models from five different manufacturers. Reviewer Charles Passy lists each model's key features and price, briefly outlines how effective and easy-to-use each was in the road test, and assigns each unit a letter grade. The top finisher is the Garmin nüvi 780, followed closely by the Magellan Maestro 4250. The review is comparative and balanced, but it provides far fewer details and discussion than those we rate higher.
11. Choice.com.au >> Details/Subscribe	Test: Car GPS Editors of Choice.com.au May 2008		Choice, an Australian consumer-testing organization, is similar to Consumer Reports: It doesn't accept freebies to test, and it accepts no advertising. Choice tests nine auto GPS systems in and around Sydney, through tunnels, tolls, city and country roads, assessing the units' accuracy and usability. Two of the six recommended models are available in the U.S., including the TomTom GO 720 and Mio C520.
12. Consumer.org.nz >> Details/Subscribe	Car GPS Hamish Wilson Apr. 7, 2008		Consumer is New Zealand's version of Consumer Union, publishers of Consumer Reports. It tests road-tests six GPS units, and the results are amusing to read -- especially testers' reactions to the annoying two last-place models, which aren't available in the United States. The review outlines both good and bad points about the two recommended models, the Navman s30 and the Garmin nüvi 250 (the nüvi 250 is available in the U.S.). The review also includes a ratings chart, with numeric scores for navigation, ease of use, safety features and overall and full profiles of each unit.
13. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	Satellite navigation Editors of Which.co.uk Apr. 8, 2008		Which?, the UK version of Consumer Reports, updates its ratings of "sat navs" (GPS devices) with "increased emphasis on testing them where the biggest differences are evident -- around the tough streets of London." Which? tests 59 units, some of which are available in the United States. Reviews are critical, and editors point out which models are bad, as well as naming several "Best Buys." Brief ratings include numeric scores, pros and cons, but they are available only to subscribers.
14. Trusted Reviews	Mobile Devices Jonathan Bray As of June 2008		This English website provides overly generous ratings in some product categories, but its GPS reviews and ratings are well balanced. Jonathan Bray drives many miles in England and France to test units, and he reports how successful each auto GPS is in providing timely, accurate directions. The only disadvantage to the reviews here is that not all products are sold in the U.S., and maps and navigation are obviously different in Europe. The TomTom GO 720 scores a perfect 10 and gets the "Editor's Choice" award. Also recommended are several UK and Australian models.

Auto GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Auto GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

15. Register Hardware.co.uk	Show me the way to go home: GPS on test Duncan Madden Mar. 30, 2007		This roundup article covers ten auto GPS units from nine brands. The individual product reviews are short and backed with minimal documentation. Direct comparisons are rare, but each product is scored, and the range of ratings is sufficiently broad to rank products. Duncan Madden concisely identifies the niche for each unit, but scores sometimes seem at odds with his commentary.
16. Lordpercy.com	GPS Navigation System Reviews "Lord Percy" As of June 2008		Lordpercy.com is an English gadget review site where the reviews are idiosyncratic to the point that readers will likely find them either charming or time-wasting. Site owner "Lord Percy" details his experience with each GPS device. The editor notes in various reviews that new products aren't necessarily getting better. Instead, manufacturers are adding features that many people will not use. Few reviewers cover more products than this site, and the reviews are comparative.
17. YourNAV.com	Reviews Editors of YourNAV.com As of June 2008		YourNAV.com is a British enthusiast website dedicated to personal navigation devices. For a specialty site, it does not offer many reviews. Reviews are not easy to read -- they are a bit technical, poorly organized and not focused enough on performance. However, objectivity is terrific, and editors painstakingly cover nitpicky considerations, each of which may be a make-or-break issue for some percentage of consumers. Reviews conclude with lists of pros, cons and ratings. However, ratings are limited to thumbs up, thumbs down and in between. Of recently reviewed auto GPS models, the TomTom GO 920T gets the highest praise.
18. GPSInformation.net	Auto GPS Reviews Joe Mehaffey, Jack Yeazel As of June 2008		Owned by retired engineers who operate it as a hobby, GPSInformation.net is a good source for detailed reviews of handheld GPS, auto GPS and GPS software. It really does deliver what the name says -- basically all of the information you would ever want about the GPS models it covers, with tons of photos of each unit, what comes in the box, screen shots and a rundown of every physical and technical feature. However, the site layout makes reviews difficult to find, and the site operators haven't reviewed many auto GPS units in recent months.
19. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Navigation Devices Editors of BusinessWeek As of June 2008		BusinessWeek's technology testers have rated 15 navigation devices, including cell phone GPS, car GPS and handheld GPS models. The one-page narrative reviews provide good insight into the models' pros, cons and overall performance, although the models are not directly ranked against one another. Of the five auto GPS models reviewed, the highest scores go to the Dash Express and the Garmin StreetPilot c550.
20. About.com	About.com: GPS Fred Zahradnik As of June 2008		Fred Zahradnik, About.com's guide to GPS, has reviewed seven current auto GPS models. Each review includes pros and cons, but narratives are heavy on lists of features and light on real-world test results. The highest-rated unit is the TomTom ONE XLS. In his "Top Picks" section, Zahradnik also highlights the Garmin nüvi 760 and TomTom GO 920T, and rounds up five top picks for low-cost GPS with traffic tracking. (Note that About.com and ConsumerSearch are owned by the same parent company, but they are not affiliated editorially.)
21. Pocket-Lint.co.uk	Car and GPS Editors of Pocket-lint.co.uk As of June 2008		Pocket-lint.co.uk is a British gadget news and reviews site. The auto GPS reviews are good and include some product comparison, but all the ratings are high, making distinctions difficult. Site navigation is also a nuisance, since GPS systems are mixed with other automotive products, most notably cars. The three most highly rated products are not available in the United States.
22. Kiplinger Personal Finance >> Details/Subscribe	The Best GPS for $300 or Less Bob Frick June 2008		Kiplinger Personal Finance senior editor Bob Frick doesn't appear to have tested all of the GPS models mentioned in this roundup himself, but he does ask specialist sites -- GPS Lodge, GPS Magazine and GPSInformation.net -- for helpful advice on extra features and whether they're worth the extra cost.

Auto GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Auto GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

23. PocketGPSWorld.com	GPS Hardware/Personal Navigation Devices Menu Editors of PocketGPSWorld.com As of June 2008		This UK site has detailed reviews, but auto GPS units are neither rated nor ranked, and the reviews don't adequately distinguish between products. PocketGPSWorld.com has reviewed only two auto GPS receivers thus far in 2008. One of them, the TomTom GO 920T, is very favorably reviewed, as is the TomTom ONE. Reviewer Darren Griffin thinks the TomTom ONE is a better value than the TomTom GO 300.
24. Wired News >> Details/Subscribe	Gadget Lab: GPS Editors of Wired Blog Network As of June 2008		Wired magazine's blog unit reviews all kinds of gadgets, occasionally GPS units. Recently, reviewers tested two budget auto GPS units: the Navigon 2100 Max and the V7 NAV730. They weren't very impressed with either one.
25. Orlando Sentinel	Bulky GPS device offers new twist on providing directions Etan Horowitz May 3, 2008		Orlando Sentinel technology blogger Etan Horowitz road tests the Dash Express, and he does a good job outlining the real-world usefulness of the Dash's unique features. Horowitz stops short of recommending the Dash Express, however, noting it has some problems with basic navigation. No other auto GPS models are rated or ranked.
26. The Wall Street Journal	Dash's Car Navigator Gives Smart Directions, If Others Participate Walter S. Mossberg Mar. 27, 2008		The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg stops short of recommending the Dash Express, although he says he likes it a lot. Mossberg tested the Dash Express before it was released, so he doesn't get the full effect of Dash, which gathers data from other Dash users to constantly give users new information about traffic tie-ups. Instead, Mossberg used a two-person "network" for his test: himself and a colleague.
27. Amazon.com	Vehicle GPS Units Contributors to Amazon.com As of June 2008		Amazon.com sells all the major brands of auto GPS units and encourages customers to submit ratings of products they've used. Garmin auto GPS units dominate Amazon's bestseller list, and they earn the highest average ratings. The reviews don't offer the depth of those written by professional reviewers, but this is a good place to learn how auto GPS units work in everyday use. Navigation is easy, but discontinued products remain listed.
28. Newegg.com	GPS Navigation Contributors to Newegg.com As of June 2008		Although the Newegg.com site doesn't attract as many consumer ratings as Amazon.com, things have picked up in recent months, and the site now lists just about every brand of auto GPS. One advantage over Amazon.com is that Newegg users tend to be more technically savvy.
29. Infosync World.com	Review: Navigon 7100 GPS navigator Matthew Ruiz Mar. 10, 2008		Infosyncworld is a prolific reviewer of mobile devices, but it has fully tested only one recent auto GPS: the Navigon 7100. The road test is balanced and thorough. Reviewer Matthew Ruiz rates the unit on its design, interface, directions and hardware, and he gives examples of how the Navigon 7100 performed on each measure during the test.
30. The New York Times	Navigators Everywhere, Especially on Holiday Gift Lists Wilson Rothman Dec. 5, 2007		This pre-holiday guide from The New York Times rounds up GPS gift choices in the hiking, running and smartphone categories, as well as car GPS. The picks here seem based mainly on features and the writer's background as a technology reviewer, rather than on comparison testing.
31. Technical-Itch.co.uk	SatNav Reviews "Dean" As of June 2008		British blogger Dean regularly reviews GPS units (called Sat Nav units in England). The reviews are better documented and illustrated than many mainstream media reviews. Most reviews are unduly favorable, features are overemphasized, and products aren't rated or ranked. The lack of ratings here makes it hard for readers to see which auto GPS unit is considered best.

Auto GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Auto GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

32. Consumer Guide.com	GPS Devices Reviews and Prices Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of June 2008		Consumer Guide occasionally reviews auto GPS units. The reviews are short, noncomparative, unduly favorable and do not reference any product testing. However, editors assign an overall rating and rate units in subcategories. Consumer Guide's short, features-oriented reviews do not demonstrate enough expertise or distinctions to provide meaningful consumer guidance.