Review: Navigon 8100T Portable GPS Navigation Device
The Executive Portable Navigator
February 2, 2009 By Grant ClauserThat’s where Navigon’s $599 8100T model steps up. The company promotes it as an XXL nav unit due to the impressive 4.8-inch widescreen display. The extra large (or XXL) screen makes all the functions of the device easier to use, especially if your car has a large dashboard that puts the screen far from your eyes. Adding to the easy-on-the-eyes theme, the unit abandons the cheap plastic look of some nav systems and instead gives you a distinguished brushed aluminum bezel surrounding the screen. The windshield mounting device is also sleekly designed, suction-cups to the window easily and includes an integrated charger so you don’t have the charge cable dangling from the side of the nav system (this actually tripped me up first, because I plugged the charge cord into the 8100T instead of to the mount and couldn’t figure out why there was no power). The mount is very sturdy and includes a quick-release button to take the 8100T with you.
The Navigon includes several advanced features you won’t find on cheaper models. Unique to Navigon is the Panoramic 3D view. Instead of simply offering you flat maps, this unit shows you a 3D version of the world in front of you. On paper this sounds cool, but not it’s not until you try it out do you realize how useful it really is. With the 3D view you’ll know that the right turn coming up is at the top of a hill or that an intersection is at the bottom of a valley. Another feature which helps take the guesswork out of your route is Lane Assist Pro which shows a more detailed close up of turns and highway interchanges. If you’ve ever missed an exit because you didn’t know which lane to line yourself up in, this feature will guide you right.
Another feature, that comes free and activated out of the box, is real-time traffic updates. The traffic updates feature will alert you to congestion and accidents along your route and offer alternatives to save you time. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I encountered no traffic problems why using the unit, so I can’t report on how well this works. However, other manufacturers offer similar services for a fee.
