Comments on: Dash Express GPS Review: Three Words- Bulky, Buggy, Beta http://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/02/dash-express-gps-review-three-words-bulky-buggy-beta/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mchinskyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/02/dash-express-gps-review-three-words-bulky-buggy-beta/#comment-35057 mchinsky Fri, 02 May 2008 21:03:35 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7302#comment-35057 I do think, whether this is the device or not, this concept is the future and all new GPS's will work this way in 36 months. The hope is the big guys can "share" their data and realizing that working together is better than trying to be the winner, otherwise we'll have a "bluray vs HDDVD" situation which will slow down mass adoption years. Assuming they can fix routing algorithms, shrink the hardware a bit, it seems that if there were a few hundred of these in Wayne's region, it would have been killer. So the issue is to see if they can get enough early adopters out there. I do feel, if they were smart, they would give them away for hardware cost and no data fees to the first 20,000 users or something to seed the market and get PR. I do think, whether this is the device or not, this concept is the future and all new GPS’s will work this way in 36 months.

The hope is the big guys can “share” their data and realizing that working together is better than trying to be the winner, otherwise we’ll have a “bluray vs HDDVD” situation which will slow down mass adoption years.

Assuming they can fix routing algorithms, shrink the hardware a bit, it seems that if there were a few hundred of these in Wayne’s region, it would have been killer. So the issue is to see if they can get enough early adopters out there.

I do feel, if they were smart, they would give them away for hardware cost and no data fees to the first 20,000 users or something to seed the market and get PR.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/02/dash-express-gps-review-three-words-bulky-buggy-beta/#comment-34990 Wayne Schulz Fri, 02 May 2008 14:03:54 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7302#comment-34990 It is my opinion that this thing is a lot of hype. I noticed the routing and the speed that you mention. Really, the only reason I can think of that the other sites were fawning over this is that they never used a GPS in their car before. As a beta I think it's ok -- but sheez -- for $399 and a month fee? No thanks. Anyone want to buy a slightly used Dash Express? :-) Maybe I'll give it away if I can figure out how to unlock my name form the unit. It is my opinion that this thing is a lot of hype.

I noticed the routing and the speed that you mention.

Really, the only reason I can think of that the other sites were fawning over this is that they never used a GPS in their car before.

As a beta I think it’s ok — but sheez — for $399 and a month fee? No thanks.

Anyone want to buy a slightly used Dash Express? :-)

Maybe I’ll give it away if I can figure out how to unlock my name form the unit.

]]> By: Christopher Gavulahttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/02/dash-express-gps-review-three-words-bulky-buggy-beta/#comment-34987 Christopher Gavula Fri, 02 May 2008 13:53:19 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7302#comment-34987 I've done more than a few GPS / Navigation reviews over the years (including for one of the bigger GPS-related sites) and people have been extremely excited about this product. I've been a little less excited about this product. Here's why: 1) The device requires ongoing payments of at least $10/month to be useful. I"m not sure I want to pay that much for just traffic info when I can get full satellite radio, which includes traffic info for just a couple of bucks more. How about a service-included price like Amazon employed with the Kindle? 2) The device uses a lesser-known aggregator (Jasper Wireless) to carry the traffic and data. Have you looked at the coverage maps for the service? They're not wonderful ouside of the biggest cities. This is a connected device - when you lose signal you not only traffic, but all of your "connected" services (like Yahoo Local search and Send 2 Car). They should have used someone with more solid coverage areas to carry the data traffic. 3) For the premium price, this device has a so-so processor (only 400MHz) and a low-res screen (WQVGA only). For a lot less I can get VGA (or better) screen resolution and a device based on a more powerful processor. And don't get me started on the wonderful 2 hour battery life. 4) They have a LOT of work to do on their routing/rerouting algorithms. I have read many many accounts of poor route selection from this device. This device has been so overhyped as the "ultimate" GPS navigation unit, yet it is so flawed in so many ways. It has potential, but it has been so poorly executed. What were they thinking? I’ve done more than a few GPS / Navigation reviews over the years (including for one of the bigger GPS-related sites) and people have been extremely excited about this product. I’ve been a little less excited about this product. Here’s why:

1) The device requires ongoing payments of at least $10/month to be useful. I”m not sure I want to pay that much for just traffic info when I can get full satellite radio, which includes traffic info for just a couple of bucks more. How about a service-included price like Amazon employed with the Kindle?

2) The device uses a lesser-known aggregator (Jasper Wireless) to carry the traffic and data. Have you looked at the coverage maps for the service? They’re not wonderful ouside of the biggest cities. This is a connected device – when you lose signal you not only traffic, but all of your “connected” services (like Yahoo Local search and Send 2 Car). They should have used someone with more solid coverage areas to carry the data traffic.

3) For the premium price, this device has a so-so processor (only 400MHz) and a low-res screen (WQVGA only). For a lot less I can get VGA (or better) screen resolution and a device based on a more powerful processor. And don’t get me started on the wonderful 2 hour battery life.

4) They have a LOT of work to do on their routing/rerouting algorithms. I have read many many accounts of poor route selection from this device.

This device has been so overhyped as the “ultimate” GPS navigation unit, yet it is so flawed in so many ways. It has potential, but it has been so poorly executed.

What were they thinking?

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