| Rand McNally 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator |  | Brand: Rand McNally
Category: GPS or Navigation System
This item is no longer available
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 1.4 x 4.5 x 3.2
MPN: 528866311
Model: 528866311
UPC: 070609866314
EAN: 0070609866314
ASIN: B000IEYW2U
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| Features:
| • | 3.5-inch color touch screen display offers 2D and 3D map views | | • | Automatic rerouting gets you back on track fast | | • | Rechargeable battery lets you take the slim, lightweight unit on foot | | • | Voice prompts alert you of upcoming maneuvers | | • | Includes built-in MP3 player, as well as exclusive Rand McNally trips and destinations |
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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.
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
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