ViaMichelin X-930 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

by ViaMichelin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 3 x 5 inches ; 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000KURO9K
• Item model number: NAVX930NA
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Amazon.com Review If you don't happen to own a luxury car with a built-in navigation system, and you want to drive from point A to point B without having to look up addresses on the internet and print your results--or even worse, pull over and ask directions--the Via Michelin X-930 could be what you're looking for. Its compact size, easy setup, no-learning-curve operation, and reliability make it an ideal travel companion for any drive you can't make on auto pilot.

The device weighs only 4.7 ounces, making it great for travel by car, foot, or bicycle. It comes with all the mounting hardware you need, as well.

The XP-930 puts the latest navigation technology in the palm of your hand. View larger.

Design
The XP-930's basic black and gray plastic exterior suggests its straightforward mode of operation. A touchscreen dominates the front of the device, and serves as the main user interface. You can easily adjust the screen's brightness from the settings menu, or switch between day and night modes. On the right are four buttons that link you directly to central functions: Home (back to the main menu), History (your last 10 destinations), Current Location, and Points of Interest. Two buttons on the left control volume for voice instructions. On the back is a slot for the stylus, meant for the touchscreen interface. On top you'll find an on/off switch, a lock to prevent you (or your kids) from making unwanted changes while en route, a headphone mini jack, and an SD card slot. The device comes with an SD card containing a map of the 48 contiguous U.S. states (sorry Alaska and Hawaii). On the bottom you'll find a mini USB port (as found on most digital cameras), which handles all charging as well as connecting the device to your PC.

Setup
Getting the XP-930 up and running is pleasantly simple. After inserting the SD card, the device guides you through the few steps required for basic setup: choosing an interface language, location, and 2D or 3D map display. You can then mount it in your car with the sturdy windshield mounting system or adhesive dashboard mount. The supplied 12 volt charger keeps the unit powered while you are on the go. Satellite connections are made with the newer SiRF Star III technology, which is very snappy, requiring only a few seconds for the device to locate you and plot your course.

Interface
Apart from the four side buttons mentioned above, all interaction with the X-930 is via the touchscreen. Most applications can be accessed by fingertip, although, unless your fingers are very small and pointed, you will want to use the stylus for a few interactions that require a finer touch--such as adjusting the screen brightness. The home screen has only three icons: "Plan Your Journey," "Navigate To," and "Settings." Submenus are intuitive and easy to negotiate. We found it a breeze to adjust all settings just by following the menu icons, allowing us to leave the user guide at home.

Six different search methods at your fingertips.

Zoom in and move the map with ease.

Search states and towns for points of interest.

The heart of the X-930 is its navigation system, which allows you to input a specific address, search for a point of interest, select a destination from the map, or choose a travel goal based on your saved destinations or navigation history. Once again, complex instructions are not needed, as the unit intuitively guides you through the steps required to tell it where you want to go.

Navigation
The X-930 includes optional voice instructions to guide you if you don't want to take your hands off the wheel. We found this system worked quite well, being warned of upcoming turns 0.1 miles in advance. Maps can be displayed in either two or three dimensions, depending on whether you feel more comfortable with a traditional flat map or like to see your changing position in 3D. Either display variation makes it quite clear where you are, where you are going, and provides a big red arrow to tell you when a turn is coming up. If you happen to miss a turn, the unit quickly recalibrates your position in relation to your destination and gets you back on track.

You can also navigate directly to a point of interest. The X-930 comes with an extensive list of restaurants, parks, businesses, etc. Want to find the nearest McDonalds or Starbucks to your current location? Just grab it from the drop down list and you are on your way. We found not only major chains, but local establishments as well. In addition you can download more points of interest and install them on the device with the included "Navigation" software (PC only).

The only real gripe we had with the X-930 concerns inputting and editing. To enter the name of a city or address requires a keyboard that appears on the touchscreen. However, rather than a QWERTY keyboard, you'll find a grid of letters in alphabetic order. Being used to keyboards and thumbboards we found this system a bit slow and awkward. In addition, if you make a typo there is no way to edit without erasing all letters following your error. If your were, for example, to type "Philladelphia" the device would not find the city you are looking for, nor offer an alternative spelling. You would have to return to the keyboard screen and delete all letters after the superfluous L.

Pros

• Easy to use, affordable GPS navigation that really works
• Fast satellite connections, quick correction for wrong turns
• Reliable map included on SD card
• Customizable points of interest

Cons

• Awkward input and editing of destination information

What's in the Box
ViaMichelin X-930 GPS navigator, car mounting bracket, stylus, SD card, ViaMichelin DVD-ROM, USB cable, AC power adapter, car charger, and user's manual.

Product Description

ViaMichelin Portable Navigation GPS Device

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little entry-level GPS unit, January 13, 2007

By 

MrMan (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ViaMichelin X-930 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

I bought this unit after shopping around for an entry-level GPS. I had seen this particular item in the UK (where it is extremely popular) and knew ViaMichelin were finally about to release a US version. For those who didn't know, this product is from Michelin (yup, the tire company). It's a great unit, and the price is unbeatable for what you get. First and foremost, this is a GPS unit - not an MP3 player, audio book player, storage hard-drive or picture viewer. It has been made to do exactly what it should do - give directions. I appreciate the other little 'bonuses' but is it really worth the extra cost?

This unit has the usual 3.5" screen which is very clear and anti-glare. The supplied windshield and dash mounts are very handy and well-designed, but I haven't really needed to use them just yet - I usually just place it in a small storage area I have right below my console.

What is really nice about this unit is its size and weight. It is unbelieveably light and extremely portable. You can just slip it in your pocket and take it with you. I found this one of the nicest features since I wanted the option of taking it with me if I choose to - a great feature is being able to switch between vehicle and pedestrian modes.

There are four buttons on the side that let you choose options, and the volume button is the left. The software is simple and very easy to use, with just three main items on the home screen - no complicated menus here. Entry is via touchscreen and you can either use your finger or the provided stylus that conveniently stores behind the unit. If you have large fingers, it might be hard to input details without making mistakes.

Since the unit has an integrated antenna and uses the SiRF Star III technology, satellite access is extremely quick. Route calculation and re-calculation is quick and the voice direction is clear and loud. Plenty of information is displayed on screen, without being overwhelming, and you can choose 2D or 3D views. The unit DOES display street names (or street direction), you just have to turn them on in the 'settings' area (mind you this is only on the 2D display map, not on the actual directions map). POI's are great too, doesn't seem to be missing anything major so far. I had no problems with the maps being that out of date in my area (despite extensive roadwork), but I did run into one area where roads had changed - the unit re-routes very quickly though.

The 1GB SD card that is included is all you need to get started since it has detailed maps of all 50 states (Alaska & Hawaii ARE included - to correct the Amazon review. To change to Alaska or Hawaii, you just select 'change map' under the 'map' icon under 'settings'), and the supplied DVD-ROM for Canada is useful if you end up heading that way. If I ever do that, I'll probably buy another 1GB SD card and load the data from the DVD-ROM.

I agree with the Amazon review that the main con is the lack of being able to backup and correct after entering a mistake, but it's not that big of a deal. The keyboard not being in QWERTY format actually made it easier for me. I only find that format handy on something you can use both hands to type. So, since that is really the ONLY negative thing I've noticed with this item, it deserves the five-star rating.

Overall, this item is an amazing little unit for the price. It has most of the features of more expensive units, for a fraction of the moolah. For anyone wanting to try out a solid GPS unit and do not mind not having (or paying for) the ability to play MP3's, etc., then this is the perfect unit for you!

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not Great, July 22, 2007

By 

Veronica Bennett (Wilmington, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ViaMichelin X-930 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This GPS system is the least expensive of its kind and it works. For basic navigation, it is adequate, however, after a 2500 mile trip, there are some concerns. As other reviews have indicated, some of the information is outdated. Also, this system has a tendency to stick to interstates when other routes might be more appropriate. The battery life of the unit is slowly diminishing. Of course, because of the price, this unit will not apprise you of traffic slowdowns or accidents ahead.

The good things this unit provides are these features: distance traveled, distance and time to destination, speed and direction. Being able to estimate ETA has proved handy as I was able to tell those folks at the destination my estimated arrival time.

If you are looking for the basics, this is a good unit. If you are looking for more bells and whistles, you may need to spend more money.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Keeper, January 18, 2007

By 

Jorge "The gadgets man" (Lawrenceville, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ViaMichelin X-930 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

A real steal for $200 with free shipping and no sales tax. This unit sells in England for 500 dollars. Got it overnight with their free shipping (ships from Pennsylvania). I have been using a TomTom GPS for two years, this one is for my wife.

Pros: Price, reliability, ease of use. You can place it anywhere in your car (and in my bedroom) and still gets the signal, even under bridges (did not say tunnels). Uses Michelin database, a world leader in travel charts. A big plus is that if you turn it off once you reach the highway, it remembers where you are trying to get to after turning it on again and will resume the directions from where you are now.

Cons: A bit slow to calculate and recalculate routes (remember, it is looking at the whole country's map unlike the TomTom that looks just at a region).

I was reluctant at first for the price (really) but now it is a keeper.