Finally Took the Plunge on the 2100 Max - My Thoughts

[jbartlettjr]

Well, after months of researching, I finally chose the 2100 Max. Overall, I'm happy that I did. Here are my thoughts:

Routing - the routing is fine. There have been a couple of small hiccups (such as thinking I needed to be a few hundred feet away from my driveway to have "arrived"), but nothing significant. Overall, the routing is excellent. I particularly like the Max's re-routing abilities, as they have been swift and accurate.

Interface - I've read of a few problems others have had navigating the interface, but after a little trial and error on my part, and a perusal of the manual (which I had to go online to find), I am able to use every almost feature of the device with no problems. I still have to flatten the learning curve on adding interim destinations.

POIs - funny, but when researching GPS units I didn't care that the Max had so few POIs. Honestly, I never thought I would use them very much. I was wrong on that front, as they came in handy on my recent 500 mile drive. I wish the Max had more POIs, but the lack of them does not change my overall opinion. I am optimistic that Navigon will add more POIs in future firmware updates.

Touch Screen - the touch screen is pretty good, but I can't say it's great. I often have to press buttons twice, but that really doesn't bother me. I also like the matte finish of the screen, as it cuts down on glare. It makes the screen a little less bright, but it's bright enough for me. I have a laptop with a glossy screen, and any sunlight at all on the screen will drive you glare crazy. I am therefore happy with Navigon's choice to go with the matte screen.

Speed - I am pleased with the speed of the unit. There are slight delays here and there, but nothing significant in my opinion. The device locks onto satellites quickly and the route calculation speed is fine. It seems to take longer to calculate and formulate longer routes, but that makes logical sense.

Size and Finish - this is one sweet looking device. Feels much leaner and lighter than the 7100. If you buy one of these, though, I HIGHLY recommend that you buy a case for it. I can easily envision the glossy black finish and/or screen getting accidentally scratched.

Navigation - this is where the units shines, as it should. The spoken directions are timely, and the Reality View is awesome. I also love the placement of the data points on the sides of the screen (e.g., speed limit, time left, mileage left, etc.). The data points, which can be individually turned on or off in the options section, do not hinder the view of the map or the navigation.

Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase. Now that I know I will be keeping the device, I plan to add the traffic and Zagat options, as well as the Fresh Maps service.

[peterPL]

Hi jbartlettjr,

Have you had any problems with your 2100max's operating temperature? Mine stops charging (but still works using batteries) as soon as it becomes hot (literally after few minutes being exposed on a direct sunshine). See other topic: http://www.gpsreview.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6367

Thanks,

Peter.

[jbartlettjr]

No, thankfully, I'm not having that problem at all.

[peterPL]

Wow... So it seems to be some problem with my unit... Anyway, does yours become hot at all? Does it stay in a sunny weather on the windscreen (windshield) for hours without stopping charging?

[jbartlettjr]

Yes, it was on the windshield for 9 hours the other day. Charged and worked just fine.