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Sony NVU44 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text to Speech Silver

The Sony nav-u portable satellite navigation system is more than basic digital maps; it is the system that gets you where you need to go quickly and efficiently with intuitive features that help you along your journey. The latest Sony navigation system brings Photo Viewer to an already packed and helpful unit.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars cant find streets
unit will not find some streets by street names it decides that I need to know the county road number. It also will just not find some roads that have been around for over 20 years. Sony tells me that if I buy their $50 map update it “might” fix the problem. I wasted enough money buying the unit. It does no good to have a gps that is lost half the time. I’m going back to Magellan.

4 Stars Not Bad At All, I Like It Better Than Magellan
This is my fifth GPS. Three of my previous ones (a TomTom One, a TomTom One XL and a Magellan Maestro) were stolen and the third was a Magellan Maestro that I thought was dead but repaired. Nonetheless, I bought this one because I didn’t want to spend another $200 on yet another GPS.

My favorite of my previous GPS’ were the TomToms because of their user friendliness and their routing intelligence. The Magellans were just plain stupid and their user interfaces were klunky.

This Sony has a very nice user interface but doesn’t quite reach TomTom level but it is good. Address entry and marking locations on this GPS is pretty good. I wish there was a GPS that would just put the current state as a default before you type but I haven’t found one yet that does that. The order of entering the address is not what I’m used to. I think this unit does number, street, city, state. I like the reverse (state, city, street, number). But the entry feels less klunky than the Magellan.

At first, I was disappointed at how garbagey the graphics looks but I quickly got over it when I noticed that the response time this unit beats any other GPS unit I’ve had. The route recalculation speed on it is phenomenal as well. Also, the simplified graphics seem easier to follow. The voice navigation is much less annoying than others I’ve used as well.

All in all, it’s a pretty good device considering it’s sub-150. I’m going to keep using it for another week and if I still like it, my Magellan is going on eBay!

Update: I felt compelled to add this since it is pretty important to me. The unit is great but the PC software for this unit STINKS! In the TomTom, you can edit an address book with real addresses but with this software you have to enter actual coordinates. What geek knows actual coordinates of addresses off the top of his/her head? This type of nerditry is what makes Apple number 1 in consumer devices. They really got lazy on the software on which would otherwise have been a 5 star unit. The Magellan software wasn’t any better so I guess that gives me some comfort?

4 Stars Not bad for the price
I just purchased this gps system for about 79.00 at SEARS. I had some running around to do today and I just pluged in all destinations and the little device was really accurate. I am a first time gps buyer so I can’t say what I am suppose to get and what I am not suppose to get.

You can clearly hear turn by turn directions.

Im satisfied for now

**Cons*** None yet

3 Stars Good while it lasted
I enjoyed this GPS while it lasted. After 3 months of not-so-heavy use, it no longer picked up the satellites. I returned it to Sony and since they no longer have any left in stock (getting out of the GPS business?), they refunded my entire amount. Also, the battery would not hold a charge after several uses which I didn’t care about too much since I had it mounted on the windshield and plugged in.

Overall, I liked the interface and it was very easy to learn how to use. The routing algorithm was a bit weird where it would take me off a major interstate too early, causing a longer trip. I did update the unit to the latest firmware and played with some settings but it didn’t help. Some addresses where hard to find as I had to type in alternate forms of the street address. However, as long as my defective unit isn’t a sign of common problems, I would recommend it as a cheap entry level GPS.

2 Stars Unfortunately it broke
The GPS was working well for a couple of weeks and I was happy enough. Then when I returned from a trip to VA, it stopped working. Now the battery will not charge and the touch screen does not work. So it is dead in the water. I contacted Tech Support and they told me to return it for repair, so I am hoping to return it to Amazon for refund.

Too bad !!!

Buy/More Info

Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator

Garmin’s MAP60 CSx is an all-purpose upgradeable handheld locator that lets you load up your own digital maps for better reference. The reflective 256-color display lets you find your way on the map in almost any lighting. It’s got a long-life battery for up to 20 hours of outdoors adventuring. The new MicroSD card slots make it simpler than ever to find those out-of-the-way places — just put them on a MicroSD card and load it up. Internal Memory – 64MB MicroSD Card slot Celestial tables Quad helix antenna Battery life – 20 hours (requires 2 AA batteries) Includes belt clip and USB cable

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Garmin 60CSx a great GPSr
I wanted a GPSr for hiking and geocaching. I also considered the Garmin Oregon 400T and the Delorme PN-40. The Oregon is touchscreen like my Garmin Zumo (car/motorcylce) The Delorme costs less than both. I passesd on those 2 after much research as they both have issues which need to be resolved before I’d get one. So I settled on the tried and true 60CSx and do not regret it. It is accurate, has a great visible screen and long life battery’s. The main reason I didn’t get the Oregon is the much reported dim screen. The Delorme has quality issues and not as easy to learn to use. The 60CSx is very easy to learn. The Zumo was my first GPSr and couldn’t be easier to use, it also doesn’t offer all of the functions of the 60CSx. The 60CSx comes with a very detailed user manual and it will show you all of the functions of which there are many.

I don’t mind that the 60CSx is not paperless for Geocaching, being reliable, bright screen and long battery life is more important to me. I keep track of all my geocaches both found and not found at groundspeak.com also a great place to find out all about GPS recievers.

Someday when Garmin has improved the Oregon to be as reliable I may consider getting one and using the 60CSx as a backup or give it to my kids who are now 5 and 7 but I see using it for many years.

Also get the Garmin carry case for it. It fits the 60CSx perfect allowing for the antenna, belt clip and protects the screen.

5 Stars excellent product – free maps available
I’m very pleased with the product. It works as advertised. I would encourage anyone looking for maps to load onto this to do a search for “gpsfiledepot”. There are many excellent, free maps available as well as instructions for making your own custom maps. Maps are both Mac and Windows compatible.

5 Stars Excellent service
Great transaction and product delivered on time or beforehand and excellent condition, well wrapped.

5 Stars Well Pleased
I purchased this gps at suggestion of a freind.I have had an etrex for years that I never use because it never picks up signal in heavy wood cover. The 60csx never has lost signal even when I have no cell phone service. I use it hunting and riding 4-wheelers. It is alot more user freindly than the etrex also. I think this a great unit and have had zero trouble with it. Would highly reccomend.

5 Stars Great GPS at this price point
The GPS 60CSx is a great choice for a handheld unit. Pretty decent battery life, screen is bright even in sun, and has enough customizable features and settings to work for just about anyone. I will definitely tell my friends to get this one if they are looking for a GPS.

Buy/More Info