Navman iCN720 - Buying a In-Car GPS Unit?

[StoneChucker]

When I bought my car, one of the devices I wanted was a in-car GPS / Sat Nav unit. The Navman range is my preference, and I was going to get the iCN635. After an inside tip, I learned that the iCN635 (The top model) was being phased out. I didn't want the iCN520, as I thought they were going to release the new model shortly. Turned out it was a few months away, but finally the new range has arrived.

The iCN530 is the next model up from the iCN520. I was just about to get that one when I thought "maybe they are releasing the next model up from the iCN635"... And yes they are. The iCN720 is being released late September, early October. The iCN720 will have the same features as the iCN635 but comes with a superior antenna, built in camera, larger screen and a larger internal memory. So I am now waiting once again, at least I have an approximate date to look forward to! I was disappointed to see the US Navman site offer these a few months ago, still - it's worth the wait!

The iCN530 is $999.00 at Dick Smith. I don't know what the price on the iCN720 will be, probably at least $1500, maybe nearer $2K...?...
This is the info I got from Navman today, I thought someone might find it useful

(I only want to hear constructive info, I don't care where you can get one almost as good for $1K less, or a new parallel import model for 2/3 the cost...)

[James Deuce]

PM Fish. He's cut code for these devices.

[StoneChucker]

PM Fish. He's cut code for these devices.

Thanks, I have already been in touch with him and a guy he knows. One thing I forgot to add, I'm not looking for free stuff. I already have the info I was after, I'm just waiting for the new release.

Just letting y'all know incase anyone cares.

[jrandom]

Me, I'd buy a 635 or 630. You can get them pretty cheap at the likes of DSE, still. Reason being that they have the world's kick-arse-iest Sharp LCD display. Seriously. The thing pulls about 20 watts and is visible through sunglasses at noon on a clear day in summer. You can fry an egg on the back of it. That LCD screen forms more than half the total component build cost of the product.

Everything else, certainly including all subsequent Navman models, sucks in comparison. And hey, they all run the same software and use the same maps, anyway.

The 63xs, you see, were the only car navigation models that Navman's Auckland electronic engineering team designed in-house. All hardware design (apart from some of the GPS modules) for subsequent units has been done by Chinese ODM design/manufacturing houses, and sucks arse in comparison.

Also, the GPS receiver that comes with the 63x will give you better reception than the 5 or 7 series GPS receivers. Dunno what that shit is about a 'better antenna' in the 7-series. It ain't. It's poo. Maybe they're using the SiRFStar III (although I doubt it) but the receiver chipset is still only as good as the signal-to-noise ratio of whatever it's being fed, and with all due respect, Navman's Christchurch R&D office don't know jack about RF design.

[marty]

whatever happened to reading a map and looking out the window?

[Finn]

Hey, this is a friggen island. If you hit water, perform a u-turn when safe.

[jrandom]

whatever happened to reading a map and looking out the window?

I see you're one of those.

How about I drop you in the middle of Germany in a rental car, in rush hour, after dark, and then call you half an hour later and ask if you still feel the same way?