Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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Amazon.com Product Description In the U.S., German-based Navigon may be the biggest name in gps you’venever 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. It’s beautiful. It’s the kind of device you’d expect an international spy to have in their rocket car. It’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. |
Intuitive, 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. It provides you with turn-by-turn directions, including actual road names via text-to-speech. It 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. It warns you when you are exceeding the speed limit. It offers 2D and 3D map views with incredibly precise road visualizations (more on that below). Its Navteq data contains millions Points of Interest (POIs) 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 Icons for POIs
All of Navigon’s gps navigators offer Zagat ratings and reviews for their POIs, 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 III GPS chip, 64 MBs of both RAM and ROM 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 ROM 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
NAVIGON has been a leader of GPS navigation since 1991, and has a long history of industry innovations. NAVIGON 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.
NAVIGON 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 NAVIGON’s award-winning MobileNavigator (MN) software delivers reliable information on millions of destinations in an intuitive, easy to use format. NAVIGON is a valued partner to the automotive industry, and in 2006 strengthened its category competency by acquiring NAVTEQ’s navigation software business.
NAVIGON is a privately-held software company based in Hamburg, Germany, with NAVIGON USA headquarters in Chicago, IL.
Features
- Precise turn-by-turn directions, including spoken road names via text-to-speech
- Lane assistant recommends the best lane for you to be in relative to the proposed route
- Photo-realistic 3D images of junctions, complete with actual sign text and exit ramp guidance
- Free real-time traffic information via the integrated traffic receiver
- High-contrast, wide-format 4.3-inch, full-color touch-screen display; unit measures 5.1 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D)
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 5 x 4 x 1 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
Don’t even think of buying this
Navigon sold their GPS units in USA, then they pulled out of it.
Now they don’t have a support worth the name anymore.
I really liked my GPS when I bought it, but started to have problems with it after a while.
It locks up and gives error codes, and now you can’t update the unit anymore.
People thinking of buying their in phone GPS, for example for a iPhone should be aware of that
they just quit supporting their units all of a sudden.
NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!
I have purchased a Navigon in March and my new navigation unit made by Navigon has already gone out. I am ok as long as it gets fixed. On the navigon box it says they will email you back from support.navigon.com within 48 hours. I sent my email out June 22nd and have resent it out 4 times already. Its now July 9th with no responces. I then went to Amazon.com, at first they said they wouldn’t help me, now they put a claim in for me. So, I now have a 200 dollar navigation unit fron Navigon that wont work and no one to help me out, I am hoping Amazon I will still be back to where I was with no navigation unit for almost 2 months. I DON NOT RECCOMMENT A NAVIGON UNIT OF ANY!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no phone numbers for the company to talk to anyone, only emails of which they don’t return emails!
This s not a perfect GPS but it’s ok
I own this GPS (Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator ) since June 2008 its not a perfect one but its ok. Since I bought this GPS I have used this GPS extensively while travelling from Chicago to New York city, Houston and Florida and enjoyed it. Most surprising about this GPS is it does not have map of Downtown Chicago. This GPS has old highway information out dated highway speed. I tried to look for updated maps for this GPS but found none for this model. Navigon should update this maps periodically and push to the gps for free of charge. It does not have auto day and night switch you have to manually switch it. It has most terrible long windshied holder that come with this GPS.
I will give 3 stars for this GPS because of bad customer service and support.
works as advertised
just put the address in it and away you go it is awesome program and easy to use i love it i have two of them one in each of my cars
No customer support
I have owned a Navigon 7100 along with a 3 year subscription to fresh maps for 2 years. The unit works well except for a few routing issue and I receive email notifications that the fresh map update is available periodically. When I download it and try to install it, it always says the file is corrupted and will not install. I have attempted to contact Navigon customer support on numerous occasions with no success. They do not reply to the the emails sent to them from their customer support web links. There is no phone number to reach customer support that I can find. It is very frustrating since I paid $80 for the fresh maps subscription. Any help contacting these people would be appreciated
Dont buy!!!
One you actually get this going its good. But looooong startups, sometimes it takes 20 minutes to find my position. Too difficult to punch in keys with fingers, must use stylus. The operating system is chopping, they almost had something good. I bought the Garmin Nuvi and I love it.
Navigon 7100 GPS
The GPS works as promised. The company is no longer in business in the US. I have not received any Map Updates after I purchased teh updates.
NAVIGON PIECE OF JUNK
DON’T BUY THIS C**P. IT’S THE WORST GPS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE TO CHECK GOOGLE MAPS BEFORE I LEAVE MY HOUSE, BECAUSE THIS JUNK IS TAKING ME CIRCLES, THROUGH SHOPPING CENTERS. IT’S THE MOST FRUSTRATING WOORTHLESS DEVICE EVER. AND NOW YOU CAN’T EVEN REACH CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Never get lost
We have had our 7100 ever since we saw a taxi driver use it in France. I liked the fact that it does reroute when you take a particular direction. When we were in Hawaii, I switched it to the Hawaii map and we never got lost and toured the island all day. We also enjoyed using the scenic route to tour thru New Hampshire and Vermont.Another plus is no monthly fees. The additional features for dinning, recreation, gas stations are great. The wireless phone is a plus also. Great product backup also. The con-only one voice her nickname is “la bitch.” Sounds like my husband’s ex wife. LOL. Also you need a PC to update, I have a Mac.
Aggravating GPS Device
I went with this device despite the expensive price tag because of the many features, including the free traffic updates. Unfortunately, it was a big mistake.
As for the ease of use, the device has been very problematic, particularly the “arm” that attaches it to the wind shield. The suction has never worked properly, I think because of the unique, elongated design of this device’s arm (see the photo). There is too much weight hanging because the device, particularly the 4.3-inch model, is heavy. Our first arm, which needed to be replaced, would constantly fall–creating a decent hazard while driving–and finally cracked on impact. The second arm has broken where it connects to the device. And Navigon has been very unresponsive to our issues. You cannot even call them on the phone, and their North American customer support is quite limited.
Other features are problematic. The touch screen requires significant pressure before registering, which is difficult while driving. Also, the satellite connection often takes a very long time to link when we set out on our trips. When we are leaving from home, that isn’t a big deal, but when we are leaving from a new location, we are often sitting in the car waiting for it to tell us the first direction to go or the first turn to take. And it often doesn’t link until we drive around for a while, aimlessly, making the effects of this problem worse.
Finally, the traffic updates, which were the selling point, are non-existent. In two years, I have received only a handful of traffic updates, perhaps six. Yet, I live and primarily drive in the NYC metro area and throughout New Jersey. They do not update fast enough, and I still rely on satellite radio to get my updates. To give it credit, it is not “on” every time I drive, but often on the weekends.
I would pass on this product a second time around, and I would go with a cheaper, more well-known brand with better customer support, both over the phone and in major stores.
It’s great IF it works but Tech Support & Customer Service is HORRIBLE
Upon the recommendation of a friend who did extensive research on personal GPS units — and having used hers for a day — we purchased the Navigon 7100 in August of 2008. It worked well 99% of the time – including taking me directly to an obscure driveway off the beaten track in New England (which I never would’ve found on my own). Unfortunately, in August of 2009 the GPS was overloaded with traffic alerts from Chicago (along our route) and essentially imploded. I attempted to fix the problem at motel stops along the way, but having an online account isn’t sufficient – you have to remember your authorization code. Driving D.C. without the GPS was hell. Despite repeated email pleas for assistance, nothing happened. Three weeks after my initial contact I was told their server had been down…. not down enough that I didn’t get a reply at one point in time. What followed was a customer service nightmare. One rep telling me to fill out the form and sending me a new memory card (which didn’t fix the problem), another telling me essentially “tough luck” because THEY NO LONGER SERVICE THEIR PRODUCTS IN NORTH AMERICA! Eventually, after yet another memory card failed to work and my repeated requests for an authorization code were ignored (despite supplying proof of purchase), I had to send my GPS to their service department. It was returned today. Packing slip said “no fault found” and the damn thing still DOES NOT WORK. DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM NAVIGON! If something goes wrong, you will be left holding a worthless product and their customer service department doesn’t care.
The best GPS for a good price
SO I was on the market for a GPS that would help my wife to get around without a problem .. and I was looking for a GPS that had great graphics and self explanatory with the turns and that the prompts were accurate as well as understandable … I came across this GPS while reading a review from PC Magazine and it helped with my decision … it is very easy to operate and the graphics are amazing …
Horrible Support – The 1.2 update actually broke some features
The 1.2 patch for the 7100 model came out well over a year ago. Shortly thereafter we saw this notice:
“In the 7100 1.2 software update only, when POIs are saved as
Favorites or Recent destinations, the data for these POIs is not
stored correctly after the device is reset. This is an issue we’re
currently examining. We suggest that you only save addresses/points on
the map as Favorites and not POIs.”
Well that still hasn’t been fixed after all this time.
NaviGONE!
I bought my Navigon a little over a year ago. It’s performance has been mixed, in line with much of the reviews here. However, I can now unequivocally state that you should NOT buy this product. Navigon has abruptly left the North American market, leaving customers, even those who purchased a device and map updates within the year, almost completely without support. If you buy one of these, you’re buying a dead device with no hope of updates.
Great GPS. Tends to freeze
This is a great GPS unit. Has a lot of bells and whistles that other comparable units do not. The directions are clear and the GPU is easy to navigate. I would have given it five stars except that the unit tends to freeze from time to time. I was able to get in touch with Navigon’s support department, only to be informed I needed a software update. The link they directed me too seemed to be for every country but the US. They sent me the file, but it would not recognize my GPS unit. After that they told me I would just have to do a hard reset whenever it would freeze and that there is nothing else they could do. This unit is still within it’s warranty, so I take a little offence to a manufacturer telling me they won’t help me any further. All in all it is a great item, but the other reviews are absolutely correct when they say the service and support is almost non-existent!
Piece of Junk
Worst GPS on the Market Dont waste You time I would not take it for Free
Worked for 1st month then died – no response from Customer Support!
Worked OK for 1st month then stopped; devise now displays a msg to reset it which after following directions in manual carefully didn’t revive it.
Since Navigon no longer allows any buyers to call them (RED FLAG), sent Navigon’s Customer Support a total of 5 emails requesting HELP over past 5 weeks. All I get is an OUT-OF-OFFICE auto-response (RED FLAG #2).
I’d suggest buying another device…. too bad since it did a gd job for 4 weeks.
If I ever get a response I will update this post.
They should now be called NaviGONE.
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.
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
Navigon 7100 GPS
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!