Rand McNally 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

by Rand McNally

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.4 x 4.5 x 3.2 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000IEYW2U
• Item model number: 528866311
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

If you're not the type to pull over and ask for directions, you may want to give the Rand McNally GPS navigator a look. Although its feature set is basic, in many cases that's a good thing, as this device offers just what you need to get from point A to point B. If you can do without Bluetooth connectivity, traffic warnings, wireless services, and other bells and whistles, you'll like what the GPS Navigator has to offer.

Compact and easy to use, the Rand McNally GPS Navigator is a solid, basic vehicle GPS unit. View larger.

Mounting on your windshield is a snap. View larger.

The simple, icon-based user interface makes most tasks a cinch. View larger.

Design
The GPS Navigator's unassuming exterior goes right along with its no-frills operation. The front of the device is dominated by a touch-screen that offers good feedback when icons are pressed. While the screen offers lower color depth and resolution than other more expensive units, it gets the job done admirably. It also has an ambient light sensor, which changes the illumination and map view as the daylight waxes or wanes. A row of buttons beside the screen control power and volume. There's also a button for quick access to the main menu. On top, you'll find an SD memory card slot, which comes pre-loaded with base maps for North America, including Alaska. The back of the unit houses a stylus, which may be useful for some when planning a route at home, but it's not something most will want to fiddle with while driving. A headphone jack is provided on the side of the device, while charging is handled by a mini-USB port on the bottom.

Installation
Getting the GPS Navigator up and running is a snap. It ships with a well-constructed suction cup windshield mount and a sturdy cigarette lighter power supply. The unit contains a rechargeable battery, as well, in case you want to take it on foot. The first power-up requires you to define your geographic location and enter your language preference. The unit installed some software from the memory card and we were ready to go. The GPS Navigator's user interface, which runs on top of the Windows CE operating system, offers straightforward, icon-based navigation. The unit acquired a satellite signal surprisingly quickly, and it indicated readiness within 30 seconds.

Interface
The main menu presents options for navigating to an address or point of interest, planning a trip, changing settings, showing the current location on a map, returning home from the current location, or launching the built-in MP3 player. Basic navigation starts with choosing the Navigate icon and then choosing the method of entry, which includes address entry, point of entry lookup, a list of recent destinations, and a "My Favorites" list of preset destinations.

Points of interest-based navigation is simple, yet powerful, on the GPS navigator, and we were impressed by the speed with which the device found a wide range of gas stations, restaurants, retail shops, and other establishments within a given traveling range. Address entry is straightforward, too, with an effective touch-based based keyboard for text and digit entry.

Our only gripe in terms of the GPS Navigator's user interface was the row of icons at the top of the map view screen are also a bit too small for fat fingertips. For instance, most current navigators zoom in and out via plus and minus icons superimposed on the map screen. The GPS navigator opts for tiny icons crammed into the top of the screen. Like many other Windows CE devices, the overall user interface lacks the spit and polish of vehicle GPS units that operate on custom platforms. This criticism is purely aesthetic in nature, however; Windows CE does the job. It's just not as pretty as it could be.

Navigation
Like most other GPS units in its class, the GPS Navigator features voice prompts that alert you of upcoming maneuvers. This system works well, and it's great for those who prefer not to take their eyes of the road. For the most part, the GPS Navigator plotted out routes well, although we were instructed to turn up one-way streets from time to time.

In some cases, the automatic redirection system detected these errors and at times it simply couldn't keep up. The device fared far better in non-urban environments, where it wasn't confused by complicated city streets and fast-action maneuvers. If you're a suburban dweller, or need a companion for long distance trips, the GPS Navigator should do the job just fine.

Rand McNally has added a custom touch to the GPS Navigator with the inclusion of "Best of the Road" trips, which are preprogrammed trips and points of interest along sightseeing routes. For instance, The Pacific Northwest Passage trip guides drivers along the Oregon coast and Columbia River basin, offering restaurant and lodging recommendations along the way. The MP3 player is a nice addition, as well, letting you load up your tunes on the memory card for enjoyment on the road.

Pros

• Affordable, basic vehicle navigation
• Simple, straightforward design and interface
• Custom Rand McNally road trips included

Cons

• Some user interface functions too cramped

Product Description

The Rand McNally GPS Navigator is the first portable navigation device from the provider of America’s most trusted maps and directions. Rand McNally has combined its leadership and experience in maps and navigation with its extensive understanding of consumer travel and navigation needs and the latest technology to create an intuitive GPS navigation system that is simple enough for everyone to use. The Rand McNally GPS Navigator provides a rich feature set at an affordable price. In addition to features drivers would expect in a leading GPS device such as an easy-to-read 3.5-inch color touch screen, clear and accurate voice-prompted directions, and automatic rerouting for missed turns. Rand McNally has included travel tools drivers won’t find anywhere else. The Rand McNally GPS Navigator comes with a specially designed, companion printed road atlas and trip planner to help overcome the limits of any small device screen in providing “big-picture” perspective consumers want. To further help travelers decide where to go and what to do along the way, the travel experts at Rand McNally loaded the GPS Navigator with 26 Rand McNally award-winning Best of the Road trips. Each Best of the Road trip provides a specially selected driving itinerary complete with attractions, restaurants and shops, all created by Rand McNally’s award-winning editorial staff. Travelers who prefer to pack light need not worry, the Rand McNally GPS Navigator has a slim, lightweight design that is an inch thinner than many GPS devices in its class. As a result, it occupies less space on the dashboard and easily fits in a briefcase or purse.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be simpler!, November 20, 2006

By 

Main Street MC (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rand McNally 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

From the moment I saw the packaging, I knew I had "Navigation For Dummies," which made me relieved and eager to dive right in. I have found the Rand McNally device to be superior to others in that it provides ample warning time prior to making turns, allows me to preview streets off the freeway for alternative routes, and thereby resetting itself, and offers a soothing voice that is far from robotic. It comes with a sleek stylus, but also responds to direct touch. Finally, the maps are colorful and easy to read. This is a great system for those needing some extra help in orientation.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is why I bought it..., January 10, 2007

By 

S. Cohen (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rand McNally 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This is my first time writing one of these... Hopefully it helps someone out.

Anyway, I am in pharma sales and NOT technical at all. Needed a GPS device to help navigate between doctor's offices. I sampled a number (i.e. Garmin, Magellan, etc.) of them - their too expensive to make the wrong choice! -before selecting Rand McNally. Here is what I like...

Pros:

1) WAY easier to use than others. Very intuitive. I didn't have to read the directions. I just felt my way through and got to the feature I wanted . I tested the others... Always bumbled-stumbled into the wrong areas and found myself asking the sales clerk what I did wrong. Drove me crazy!

2) The RM starts up faster than the others. Sounds like a small thing, but when your running from one meeting to the next and need quick directions, it's really nice. (and cause less consequential stress!!). The Garmin took foreverrrrrrrrrrr.... I would still be waiting.

3) The RM has pre-programmed roadtrips. I haven't used them yet, but I thought it was kind of cool. Figure at some point I will... And at least I trust Rand McNally (i.e. make maps!) more than others.

Cons:

Only Con since using last few weeks is I keep misplacing the dang stylus. It has place to put in back, but instead I just use my finger... It works fine on touch-screen, but not as sophisticated as using stylus I suppose.

Overall it works great. I'm very happy. It is a solid product.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gadget and portable, November 9, 2006

By 

S. Pennell (Lake Zurich, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rand McNally 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This is a great GPS device! It is very simple to set up and use immediately because the directions are very clear. It also comes with a small Rand McNally atlas and mount for the windshield.

When you are actually driving the directions are given in a clear voice with plenty of warning time before a turn. It also includes estimated time of arrival and mileage for that trip. I can plan different routes with different stops and if I choose to go a different direction, the GPS will self correct and give me a new route.

I have not used the MP3 yet, but I plan on loading songs soon.

Great new product!