Nextar M3 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
| Overall rating: |
|
The Nextar M3 GPS mobile navigation system assures that your days of getting lost are over! Finding an address or any one of 1.6 million points of interest such as the nearest gas station or restaurant is a snap anywhere in the U.S. Just enter information on the M3’s 3.5 inch touch screen and let the voice prompt and detailed map guide you to the destination. The M3 has a built in stereo speaker, high sensitive antenna and earphone output. Preloaded with USA map on 2 GB SD card. Voice prompts and menu in English, Spanish and French. Text to Speech (TTS) clearly pronounces instructions including street names. Built in rechargeable Li-ion battery. Will also play MP3’s and display photos. Comes with zippered carry pouch, car adapter, AC power adapter, dashboard ount disk, windshield mounting bracket, mounting cradle and USB cable.
Features
- 3.5″ Touch Screen Display
- Text to Speech (TTS) Navigation
- Preloaded with USA map on 2 GB SD card
- 1.6 million points of interest
- Built in rechargeable LI ion battery
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 3 x 1 x 4 inches
- Weight: 0 pounds
speach
I use this in my work since I visit 112 different stores in about 90 different towns in Maine. One area that I would say that would need a little more attention would be spelling. I say this with a little chuckle since one area has a connection rd that one needs to bear right on. Whoever entered the data entered connetion so it sounds kinda funny. It also pronounces the town of Orono incorrectly, and the word Katadin also. Other than that I happy with my little gps with the speech impediment.
Nextar M3 3.5
This was a replacement purchase for the same model I had received several years ago.
It came with different software which was not as useful but I have been able to get sufficient use out of it to be satisfied.
Good for the price
I actually didn’t have much choice in the matter when using this GPS. My mother had purchased this a year before even opening it from some QVC sale. I’m glad she got it, since it’s a decent enough GPS for the price.
My experiences using the device have all be positive. The ONE gripe I really have with it is that entering addresses on the fly can be frustrating, since it’s difficult, but not impossible, to manage through the “suggestion” system sometimes when entering street names especially. I’ve gotten lost a little close to home, about 2 hours at the most, and it always got me back. The “home” feature is REALLY nice for the quick on-the-fly “TO HOME” route.
The longest trip I’ve taken with this GPS is about 5 hours. It was accurate the whole time, and provides sufficient alerts as to when turns are coming up. The volume is also decent enough.
I particularly also enjoy the night mode that turns on when the sensors detect dusk. It really helps the screen be more visible for night driving.
Even using the GPS, though, I always keep index cards of steps from Google Maps just in case when I go anywhere. But, for the most part, this GPS does all the work for me.
dont waste yoru money – get a GOOD system elsewhere
brand new out of box – doesnt even have CORRECT streets near my house
Im 1 mile from the interstate in 30 year old neighborhood
crashed when I drove through what they thought is interstate
they want $70 to updae a brand new system with correct maps
Outdated with no updates available
I bought it last year and it works great. Only problem is, I got a message saying maps out of date, go to [...] to get updated maps. So I did that and it says there are none available, but you can participate in their trade-in program. In other words, you have to get a new one if you want updated maps. And this one doesn’t have Canada. Otherwise, it’s fine. No signal problems or anything like that.
Beware!
Don’t buy anything Nextar! They’re a total crock! They, without notice to registered owners, stop having updates for maps when they feel like it. It’s one use like having to use an old Rand McNally atlas for the year you bought it forever. They want you to participate in their ‘exchange program’ and buy a new one! Buy from a more reputable manufacturer – please!
CRAP!!!
Owned it for 2 days and it would not pick up a satellite at all. Luckily, I was able to send it back to who i bought it from without any penalties. Don’t get it! It’s a POS!
You’ve likely never heard of this brand… there is a reason for that.
I’m not sure if this is the exact model I had but if it is the bottom of the line it should be similar to my model. My Mom got a good price on my unit in November 2008, day after Thanksgiving, and also a unit for my Grandparents. At first it worked ok, the time would not update ever and was never correct on the screen for ETA’s – but the unit still did its job. It worked for about 6 months and then in May 2009 I was getting ready to go on a trip and I plugged it in using the car adapter and it powered up but would not advance beyond the home screen. The power bar would load up and then it would just freeze. I could press it and hear it clicking, and I tried powering it down, letting it die, pressing the reset button, nothing worked. After the trip, I decided to contact customer service since the unit was still under limited warranty, and they were extremely hard to contact. They wanted to do everything online and at that time I lived in the forest and didn’t have internet so I wrote them a letter explaining this and they replied with a form letter telling me to go online. Long story short and many hours of waiting on hold later, I send the unit back in (every piece, mind you) and a cashiers check for return shipping. They said they would send a refurbished unit, but they would not extend the warranty. Well, I get the return package and the mount is for a different unit and doesn’t fit and they did not include my wall charger for the unit. Well, I still had the car charger so I figured I was ok. Then I get ready to go on another long trip and the unit didn’t make it 400 miles. The screen faded to pure white, then gray, then black, then flickering back to normal. Finally, it took its last breath and turned black and died. I pulled into a Wal-Mart and got a Garmin Nuvi, something I should’ve done 8 months ago. Don’t trust this shoddy brand with their terrible customer service.
Perfect GPS and great for its value!
Short and simple, this GPS works great, and I recommend it if you are looking for a cheap price on a quality item. The touch screen is responsive and quick, and the interface is very easy to get used to. The only thing I wasn’t satisfied with was the battery life when it’s not plugged into the car charger, because it only lasts about one to two hours long. So I wouldn’t recommend using this for a bike, or anything but a car.
Can’t beat the Text to Speech for the Price and Quality!
Mine is an Model M3-03 & I am not sure of the differences, so I thought I’d put my review here.
I had originally bought a Tom Tom after much research on Text to Speech vs. the Basic GPS that says Turn here & you pass the street after hearing. However we returned it due to Price drops at the Holidays, but didn’t get another until now.
I’m very happy with the put off, because this product does what the Tom Tom did and more. Another nice thing about the Nextar is the removable SD memory Card with the Map Data on it, but there is Room enough for MP3 Music & Pictures. It even has an Adjustable Speed Alert Function which helps a Lead Foot out like me.
I really like that it tells you haow far your turn is & what Street name your Turning on. It then tells you again at between 500 to 900 feet and then again at the street. Of course if you do not like that much detail you can change it in the settings.
I agree with another reviewer that real maps are invaluable and that when lost and far from home at night or in a Storm, this thing will get you Home Safely.
The Stylis could have come with a holder, but a retracted pen or Eraser works fine. You can bye thin sticker covers to protect the surface as well.
I am very happy with the purchase.
Works great
Bought one of these at Kohl’s last week for $88. I was skeptical because I haven’t researched these and thought the way to go was a Tom-Tom or Garmin. My wife had it in her cart and when I saw it had text to speech written on the box I thought we’d try it.
After testing it for a week and reading about features on more expensive units, this one holds up very well. Works perfectly so far!
I’m giving it 5 stars to counter the low rating of the previous reviewer. He praised it and then only gave it one star. I don’t understand that at all.
Nextar M3-02
This little item offers map updating every 25 feet. It has a good response time if you drive within reasonable speed limits….lead footed speeders will find it to be a bit sluggish if they are driving over 80 m.p.h..
Make sure you download the ActiveSync program from the Microsoft Mobile website… this unit runs on Windows CE and you can do upgrades on it…or even hack it if you so desire.. AFTER the warranty period has expired!! Using ActiveSync you can make back-ups on you PC and edit routes, files and settings.
I have friends that use other GPS devices that have more “bells and whistles”, some of which they have to pay to subscribe to. This is just a basic GPS. I WILL STILL USE MAPS! I probably always will. If you are planning a long trip with any of these units, use the “waypoint system” of navigation: break your trip up into sections and save them as favorites.
This device is great for when you are driving down a dark road in a storm and are having trouble reading the cross road name signs, or if you go out on a drive and get lost you can cue in HOME and that is where it will take you. NICE!!!
Upgrades to the maps should be available in April, 2009.
I paid $79.99 NEW and it came with 2 sets of holders for cars….I would not pay any more than that for ANY of these devices. I am rating this a four star item because I believe that the instructions could be improved and the corporate website support pages could be improved.
Good Price, But Disappointing
This is a nice little unit that calculates routes quickly and offers Text-To-Speech (TTS) making it easier to make the turn at the right place because it tells you the street’s name. Others simply state “Turn Left Here!” and you may turn too early, having to make some maneuvers to get back on track. I found that entering an address is a major negative; enough to cause me to return the unit. I tried repeatedly to enter Tierra Verde FL. As soon as ‘Tie’ was entered a screen appeared offering six locations with those three letters, but not my destination. Try as I might, Nextar won’t let you enter more than three letters before offering suggestions. The supplied stylus is stainless steel with plastic ends. It’s slippery to use and the eraser end of a pencil works better. The manuals are minimal and their website offers no additional help. Although TomTom is more expensive, it is a far superior GPS. Compare the two and you’ll make the right choice.