Customer Reviews

Microsoft MSN Direct One-Time Payment Subscription (Service Non-transferable)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

MSN Direct is pulling a fast one. This is sold as a "One-Time Payment Subscription," but upon activation it is then called a "5-year Service Plan." Seems like a dishonest switch to me. Why isn't it called a 5-year service plan up-front, before purchase?

When I had the service, it's handy but not without flaws. The gas price only included Regular, and it routed me once to a place with no station at all. If you cross one geographic region to another, it can take half an hour for the data to populate the new region, by which time I was heading back and had to wait for the signal of my home region.

The biggest reason I didn't renew after over one year's subscription is that I can find most of the info on my smart phone. For traffic info, I think Google Maps is more accurate in my experience. Among the few things I miss is the rerouting based on traffic condition. Then again, I'm hopeful someone will come up with an app doing just that.

Moreover, I read that the service is tied to the device's lifetime. With rapid obsolescence of electronics, likely accidents of portable devices, and $99 NavTeq map update price tag, how long will I be using my Garmin?

This service needs to be uncoupled from individual hardware box, and differentiate from Live Search (MS' own), Google Maps, and various iPhone apps to prove value and survive.

well guys this is from Garmin's website:

Notice: MSN Direct service will be available only until January 1, 2012. Activate a subscription between November 19, 2009, and April 30, 2010, and receive 9 months of MSN Direct service for free.

so only 2 years will MSN be available, after that all services with the receiver well no longer work forever!!!
super crap for MSN part. Shoulda been Google not MSN failing search engine

you decide if it's the money.

Garmin link:

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If you live or travel to a busy area it's great for the traffic updates.
We love the weather and movies options. It will locate movie theaters and not only give their time but reviews! It does do a whole lot and we enjoy the first free 90 days and then upgraded to the full lifetime.

I live outside the a major metro area, every time I went to a metro are, I had to get them to relink my system. I was only able to use it twice and it was not worth the money. I wish, I had never spent the money on it.

I love this service. I do wish that it was a little less expensive. The service appears to have improved over the last couple of years.

The upload and info. was very good so long as you have the proper plug-in on your computer. Not I had no problems uploading to my Garmin 880, but if you have Problems Garmin International Customer Service is not set up to assist you.

Have a Garmin 765T with free lifetime traffic from fm feed... would this be worth it to upgrade and buy the new receiver, etc... ?

on edit = Apologies to you expert amazoner's - when I did this I did not know how to use this properly....

and didn't even KNOW there were forums on here !!!