OT: Garmin Navus

[0gopogo]

Well it may not be handheld but it sure means the upcoming Chrysler 300C SRT-8 is even more attractive now.

While browsing and googling for things automotive I read that Garmin cut a deal with Mopar which means that one can buy the Garmin "Navus" navigation system as a dealer installed option in 2005 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.

See
http://www.forbes.com/home_asia/markets/2005/01/28/0128automarketscan13.html
and
http://www.automotive.com/news/25/9738/.

Can anyone here provide more info e.g. how the Navus compares to StreetPilots - besides being cheaper?

This could become another cash cow for Garmin.

[Curious Cat]

Here's some pics I copied from another forum.

[Curious Cat]

2nd pic

[Curious Cat]

Last pic

[Curious Cat]

Looks to me like a built in Street Pilot with probably some tweaks like adding all the Chrysler Dealerships to the POI databases that aren't there already.

[JMckie]

Very sleek and stylish. Having long arms would be a plus.

[mavic-zap]

Looks like they are cutting costs by not putting an actual GPS circuit in it. If you look closely at all the screen shots it is showing the same map location in the city and in the forest.. :)

[apersson850]

Good eyes! Me thinks they are simulating the display in the pics, and hoped nobody would notice that they all show the same psoition...

[NewQ]

The map size looks to be smaller than the Q and being that far away, will make it pretty hard to see any details.

[apersson850]

I think I read about that it was supplied with a remote control, but nothing about binoculars.

[Curious Cat]

Compared to the built-in one's I've used this one seems more like an add-on. The nicer ones are integrated with the radio system and controls and placed where the radio would normally be. This is easier to see and use and the screen is larger too. My guess is that Garmin could easily do one as well but not at this price point which is very low for a built-in.

[0gopogo]

Thanks for the photos Curious Cat. The device appears to be fixed in one position i.e. looks like one cannot even rotate it. This will probably make it harder to read.

As far as screen size is concerned, yes, it does look small, but note that only half of the screen is actually map. The other half is text, and that is large and easy to read on the fake screen. The Navus will probably have different viewing modes - full screen landscape being one? Well whatever, at half the price or less compared to fully integrated car navs I expect that Garmin will sell a shit load of these anyway.

[apersson850]

The system which you can buy integrated in a Volvo today, has a screen that pops up in a location, similar to what's shown in these pictures. Control is via remote, or a manipulating device behind the steering wheel.

That screen allows several viewing modes, including a split map screen, where you can have different scales in the two halves.
Overview at one side, detail at the other.