Panasonic Car CNGP50U 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 5.1 x 3.4 inches ; 9.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0013G8NBS
• Item model number: CNGP50U
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,381 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

The CN-GP50U features a 5-inch display, and comes with text-to-speech technology for reading out road names when under route guidance. An optional real-time traffic service from Clear Channel is also availble on the device with the purchase of a separate receiver. Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling and Sturdy Mounting Bracket.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful screen, but below-average usability, July 25, 2008

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Panasonic Car CNGP50U 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This GPS from Panasonic features a large, bright LCD screen. It's also got a loud speaker and a very solid windshield mount. (A dashboard disc is included for those living in Calif. and Minn.)

Setup is easy, although practically no documentation is enclosed in the box. You get 3D navigation map view, choice of routing based on type of vehicle (passenger car vs. truck vs. bike, for example -- can be a lifesaver). It also features an "electronic compass" that keeps keeping track of your approximate location even when you're in a tunnel.

But the software, made by Navigon of Germany (which has a line of its own GPS units), is really bad in terms of usability. The symbols and text on the navigation map are *small*, making it hard to see where you're and where you're going, despite the generous 5" screen. The software, powered by Windows CE, is extremely slow, whether you try to pan a map or enter a POI. For example, I was in Yonkers, NY two weeks ago and tried to find a KFC. I waited 3 minutes before any results came up (even though there *are* KFC's in Yonkers.) I finally gave up and reset the unit. Also, the software tries to auto-fill street names and zip codes for you, but it's really slooow, making it painful to enter anything.

Speaking of zipcodes, Navigon is such a great company that they make you enter address by zip code! If you don't know a zip code, or choose a city like San Fran or Chicago or NY with many zip codes, you may not be able to find a particular street or house number. Real smart.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NO SUPPORT!!!!, May 18, 2008

By 

J. Puntel "Groundzero" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic Car CNGP50U 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

I would have given 4 or 5 stars, but Panasonic doesn't offer any software support for this unit. The major complaints about this unit can be fixed with a couple of patches. It's been out on the market for 5 or 6 months now, and there are no patches or updates of any kind. Ranked 25th by Consumer Reports. I bought it for two hundred bucks and still didn't keep it. This unit is very nice in many ways, just no support at all to fix its flaws. I used this unit for 3 1/2 weeks and I liked it. The lack of any support is mind-boggling in this extremly competitive market. Sent it back and bought a Garmin 760.............went online updated all the software and I love it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works great and extremely easy to use, December 9, 2008

By 

Living in Budapest "livinginhungary" (Budapest, Hungary (originally Ann Arbor, MI)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Although I am usually an early adopter of new technology, for some reason I had never gotte around to getting a GPS system for my car. I finally received this Panasonic as a birthday present from my wife. It took me a month before I finally set it up and used it. The unit comes with seemingly a lot of instructions/manuals. However you only really need to follow the getting started paper to calibrate the compass...a one to two minute procedure. You also spend another minute or two setting basic preferences and you're good to go.

I'm impressed with the unit's ability to quickly identify destinations. Also the routes that it has plotted have been perfect. The warnings to turn are quite accurate.

My only complaint with the unit has to do with the mounting system. The mounting disk for the dash board was useless. This is somewhat surprising as the adhesive is from 3M which I've found makes good tape. However the 3M adhesive simply would not stick very well to my dashboard. Thus I reluctantly opted to use the suction cup on my windshield. This worked out quite well. My other issue is with the ease (or in this case difficulty) with which the unit can be removed from the bracket. The GPS clicks into a cradle. Removing the unit requires pulling with both hands. A better design would have a release button.

Overall I give the Panasonic CNGP50U a solid 4.5 Stars. I have no basis for comparison with the two big names, Garmin and Tom Tom. However I can't imagine that any other GPS is easier to use than this Panasonic.