Comments on: Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One? Not Quite. http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/ 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: TA1http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42804 TA1 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:13:30 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42804 Clarion does have an optional 4.5 hour extended battery for this product. I also read a different review that this product has a google map feature that lets you send a POI address from google maps to the mind for navigation. This allows access to unlimited POI's without costly map upgrades. It also stated they will add a music store and widget application downloads to their portal website in the near future. Clarion does have an optional 4.5 hour extended battery for this product. I also read a different review that this product has a google map feature that lets you send a POI address from google maps to the mind for navigation. This allows access to unlimited POI's without costly map upgrades. It also stated they will add a music store and widget application downloads to their portal website in the near future.

]]> By: Dsgoldringhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42457 Dsgoldring Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:12:47 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42457 I liked the GPS and the screen. Not $650 liked...but still. :) Everything else... I liked the GPS and the screen. Not $650 liked…but still. :) Everything else…

]]> By: pedahhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42455 pedah Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:44:39 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42455 Wow you really didn't like this did you? Wow you really didn't like this did you?

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42454 John Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:46:21 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42454 Great review, but a small failure about GPS Navigation is included. Navteq is one of the two big player providing Navigation data (the other one is TeleAtlas), but they provide data only, no software, no routing and navigation engine. This stuff is done by the software provider (in case of Clarion EB, Navigon does own SW engineering). This means even if similar map data is used will be different routing and navigation behavior notable. Great review, but a small failure about GPS Navigation is included. Navteq is one of the two big player providing Navigation data (the other one is TeleAtlas), but they provide data only, no software, no routing and navigation engine. This stuff is done by the software provider (in case of Clarion EB, Navigon does own SW engineering). This means even if similar map data is used will be different routing and navigation behavior notable.

]]> By: Dsgoldringhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42443 Dsgoldring Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:32:17 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42443 Exactly, the price just makes no sense, Nurhisham, you make a good point. If this is a manufacturer that makes things which are typically hardwired into cars, that is usually a much higher price point than a portable GPS. So, it could be that they just do not understand this market as well and don't realize how out of whack they really are. That would just be poor market research, which is a good reason a lot of devices fail. :) Exactly, the price just makes no sense, Nurhisham, you make a good point. If this is a manufacturer that makes things which are typically hardwired into cars, that is usually a much higher price point than a portable GPS. So, it could be that they just do not understand this market as well and don't realize how out of whack they really are. That would just be poor market research, which is a good reason a lot of devices fail. :)

]]> By: dsgoldringhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69422 dsgoldring Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:57:39 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69422 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">RT Gear Diary:Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One. http://tinyurl.com/afjxjt</span></span> RT Gear Diary:Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One. http://tinyurl.com/afjxjt

]]> By: ChrisSperahttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42439 ChrisSpera Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:12:23 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42439 I reviewed a similar device for Gear Diary a couple of years ago. I forget the name of the device, as it was just simply OK. As a GPS device, it did well. As anything else, it was a disaster. I never completely got why manufacturers included media center functionality in what was primarily supposed to be a GPS device. Chris Gavula said it was because the functionality was simple and easy to include, AND it really didn't cost them anything extra TO include it, AND they could charge more for the device because it "did" more. You did a very good job with this review. I agree with all of your findings and there is NO WAY I would pay anything over $100 for this, in its current form. Get rid of Real Player, give me iTunes compatibility (or at least WMP compatibility), and a redesigned device with the speakers on the front, and I might...MIGHT consider paying $250; but no mer than that. I reviewed a similar device for Gear Diary a couple of years ago. I forget the name of the device, as it was just simply OK. As a GPS device, it did well. As anything else, it was a disaster. I never completely got why manufacturers included media center functionality in what was primarily supposed to be a GPS device. Chris Gavula said it was because the functionality was simple and easy to include, AND it really didn't cost them anything extra TO include it, AND they could charge more for the device because it "did" more.

You did a very good job with this review. I agree with all of your findings and there is NO WAY I would pay anything over $100 for this, in its current form. Get rid of Real Player, give me iTunes compatibility (or at least WMP compatibility), and a redesigned device with the speakers on the front, and I might…MIGHT consider paying $250; but no mer than that.

]]> By: Computer Articles blog » Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One …http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42438 Computer Articles blog » Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One … Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:09:08 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42438 [...] See the rest here: Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One … [...] [...] See the rest here: Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One … [...]

]]> By: gorkonhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42435 gorkon Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:25:32 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42435 PLUS considering alot of GPS devices can also play media and some, like the Telenav Shotgun also have internet..... PLUS considering alot of GPS devices can also play media and some, like the Telenav Shotgun also have internet…..

]]> By: gorkonhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42434 gorkon Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:24:30 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42434 This DOES seem overpriced, but probably isn't thanks to the touchscreen. This device is ripe for hacking if you could get something else on it.. You'd likely need a powered USB hub, a keyboard and mouse and a bootable thumb drive or a bootable SD Card. This DOES seem overpriced, but probably isn't thanks to the touchscreen. This device is ripe for hacking if you could get something else on it.. You'd likely need a powered USB hub, a keyboard and mouse and a bootable thumb drive or a bootable SD Card.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42431 Wayne Schulz Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:30:19 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42431 I wonder if the pricing comes about because of the huge lead times between when they create a device and when it comes to market. It seems to me that any GPS priced over $200 is going to have a tough time when people make point by point comparisons to what other multi-use devices provide for about the same money. I wonder if the pricing comes about because of the huge lead times between when they create a device and when it comes to market. It seems to me that any GPS priced over $200 is going to have a tough time when people make point by point comparisons to what other multi-use devices provide for about the same money.

]]> By: Clarion MiND fails to impress yet another reviewer | GPS Obsessedhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42428 Clarion MiND fails to impress yet another reviewer | GPS Obsessed Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:03:09 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42428 [...] Read [...] [...] Read [...]

]]> By: Topics about Music » Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One b…/bhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42427 Topics about Music » Review: Clarion Mind – Media, Internet, and Directions All-In-One b…/b Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:58:08 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42427 [...] Doug Goldring placed an interesting blog post on Review: Clarion Mind â [...] [...] Doug Goldring placed an interesting blog post on Review: Clarion Mind â [...]

]]> By: breleyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42425 breley Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:56:29 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42425 Wow, Doug. Your MSI Wind comparison really threw the Clarion Mind pricing disconnect into sharp relief. I'd really love to see where some of these OEMs get their price schemes. It's pretty ironic too given my Dilbert calendar had Dogbert taking Dilbert into the "Land of Unrealistic Business Assumptions." Sounds like someone at Clarion may have vacationed there. Wow, Doug. Your MSI Wind comparison really threw the Clarion Mind pricing disconnect into sharp relief. I'd really love to see where some of these OEMs get their price schemes. It's pretty ironic too given my Dilbert calendar had Dogbert taking Dilbert into the "Land of Unrealistic Business Assumptions." Sounds like someone at Clarion may have vacationed there.

]]> By: GPSTracklog.comhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69423 GPSTracklog.com Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:54:25 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69423 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Reading: Clarion Mind review http://is.gd/kwBs</span></span> Reading: Clarion Mind review http://is.gd/kwBs

]]> By: Dsgoldringhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42424 Dsgoldring Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:25:25 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42424 Thanks, Wayne. I think this review would have been very different if the price had been cut about in half. But the biggest factor for me was the battery life. If I am on a plane and want to watch video, there is no real way to plug this in anywhere. If there had been a 3-5 hour battery, then I might have been able to say this is pricey, but look at this video. And the GPS was great. As it is though, it was more like Strike 1: Real Player was awful, especially with that speaker on the back; Strike 2: It costs $650; and Strike 3; The battery barely lasts an hour. Toss in the fact that Wifi would not work consistently,and the Mighty Clarion has struck out. (Man, I wish I had thought of that one when I wrote the review). Doug Thanks, Wayne. I think this review would have been very different if the price had been cut about in half. But the biggest factor for me was the battery life. If I am on a plane and want to watch video, there is no real way to plug this in anywhere. If there had been a 3-5 hour battery, then I might have been able to say this is pricey, but look at this video. And the GPS was great. As it is though, it was more like Strike 1: Real Player was awful, especially with that speaker on the back; Strike 2: It costs $650; and Strike 3; The battery barely lasts an hour. Toss in the fact that Wifi would not work consistently,and the Mighty Clarion has struck out. (Man, I wish I had thought of that one when I wrote the review).

Doug

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42423 Wayne Schulz Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:12:21 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42423 Great review Doug. I get the feeling reading this that the review might have been a little different if this was a $100 device. It also seems that the market is ripe for a way to +easily+ use our cell phones as a data source. Great review Doug.

I get the feeling reading this that the review might have been a little different if this was a $100 device. It also seems that the market is ripe for a way to +easily+ use our cell phones as a data source.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69424 Wayne Schulz Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:04:48 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-69424 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Excellent review by Doug of the Clarion Mind GPS/Media Player - http://is.gd/kwBs</span></span> Excellent review by Doug of the Clarion Mind GPS/Media Player – http://is.gd/kwBs

]]> By: Nurhisham Husseinhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42421 Nurhisham Hussein Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:26:43 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/2009/02/22/review-clarion-mind-media-internet-and-directions-all-in-one/#comment-42421 Clarion are better known as makers of car audio-visual units (think CD players etc). That's why there's this unspoken design-assumption that the MiND is supposed to be used in-car only - hence the poor battery-life. Heck, everything else about it almost screams "designed for in-car use only". Clarion are better known as makers of car audio-visual units (think CD players etc). That's why there's this unspoken design-assumption that the MiND is supposed to be used in-car only – hence the poor battery-life. Heck, everything else about it almost screams "designed for in-car use only".

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