Review: Navigon 8100T Portable GPS Navigation Device
The Executive Portable Navigator
February 2, 2009 By Grant ClauserOne of my favorite features of the 8100T is the Voice Destination Entry. With this enabled, instead of poking the touch screen to enter a destination address, you just speak it out loud. There’s a quick setup step to adjust the built-in microphone, and then it’s ready to listen to your command. When you enter voice mode, the unit will ask you for the state, city, street and number, then confirm the information your gave it. It did have a little trouble understanding one street number I gave it, but other than that the feature worked very well. It also offers your clear voice prompts on your route, though pronunciation is sometimes hilarious.
Keeping on the voice them, the 8100T doubles as a Bluetooth speaker phone, which will save you from having two separate devices hooked up to your car at once. The unit’s speaker proved loud enough for highway use, and listeners on the other end of my calls were satisfied with the voice quality.
Like all nav systems, this one comes with a large points-of-interest database. Navigon’s database is larger than most at about 5 million, and includes a built-in Zagat guide in case you’re looking for restaurant reviews (I learned that Abacus in Hatfield scored a 23 for food while Philadelphia's Buddakan scored a 27).
Without consulting the instructions at all, I was able to figure my way around the system’s menus and get addresses entered pretty simply. The only hiccup I had while using it happened almost as soon as I got it out of the box. For some reason the device got stuck on the idea that it was in Nebraska and wouldn’t let me change state. Once I got over that hurdle, I didn’t have any other issues, and in fact was impressed with the speed in which it acquired a satellite signal. Turn prompts were delivered at appropriate times and the maps moved along nicely in sync with my driving. The extra large screen, coupled with the voice commands and Bluetooth makes this the most hands-free GPS on the market, which makes it a bit safer to use, as well as pleasurable.
Navigon 8100T
$599
4.8-inch widescreen display
5 million points of interest
Built-in Zagat guide
Panoramic 3D view
Lane assist
Voice control
Bluetooth phone compatible
Free traffic updates
www.navigonusa.com
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