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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Fine Digital FineDrive 400 Portable In-Car Navigation System
PCWorld Rating, March 22, 2006
5 User Reviews Add your own »
$206.23
From 1 Vendor
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Fine Digital FineDrive 400
FineDrive 400 Portable In-Car Navigation System Review, by Tracey Capen March 27, 2006
I've owned half a dozen MP3 players over the past few years, so the built-in digital music player in Fine Digital's $500 (street) FineDrive 400 GPS device caught my attention immediately.
My verdict after using this product: Its digital music capability is not a good reason to buy it. Unlike the Lowrance iWay (which I also looked at for our recent roundup of GPS devices), the FineDrive can't simultaneously play music and provide voice directions. And while the product works well enough as a navigation aide, some design shortcomings limit its usefulness.
Looking up addresses and services was relatively easy, but even on the 4-inch display (the largest in the roundup), the on-screen alphanumeric keys were too small to permit accurate typing with my largish fingers. That might be why the device comes with a small plastic stylus; unfortunately, there's nowhere to store it.
With visual cues and a speaker for loud, clear voice prompts, the FineDrive's turn-by-turn navigation got me everywhere I wanted to go, though one of the routes it directed me on was a much slower path than I'd normally take. Also, my position on the digital map seemed a bit behind my true location, a lag that was especially noticeable when I passed through intersections. Finally, the map graphics, while perfectly readable, seemed a bit cruder than those of competing devices.
The FineDrive 400 comes with an SD Card preloaded with maps of the 48 contiguous states and Canada, including millions of points of interest, a windshield suction-cup mount, and a power cable that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter. The unit's color LCD touch screen is bright and easy to read.
The FineDrive 400 provides workable, if not particularly elegant, GPS navigation. But it's pointless as a digital music player for the road.
Tracey Capen
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: coolrin1
Strengths: it get you there
Weaknesses: a little out dated
Overall: for the price you cant beat it and it works really good unless you want to pay from 3 to 5 hundred dollars.over all i would buy this product again
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Reviewed by: hulkhogan20
Strengths: everything works on this device
Weaknesses: no mount but i already had one
Overall: this product is working good, it clear the design is cool, lots of options to use, has good meaus and other items that help you organize stops. this is a good deal
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Reviewed by: Jimmyboy
Strengths: Large LCD Screen, great accuracy, and easy to operate
Weaknesses: A bit slow compare to the Nav system that comes stock, but all the add-on Nav system are all slow. Not a ture portable, since it does not have a battery and need to be plug in at all times.
Overall: The adjustable display is great in all lighting conditions. The mapping system is amazingly accurate, knowing what street and hundred block I am on within 10 feet or so. The navigation section guides you to a location via voice command and on-screen display. It has preloaded maps of USA and Canada with major attractions like parks, museums, hotels, restaurants by the thousands. No monthly cost associate with the service.
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Reviewed by: storm1628
Strengths: simple to use, 4" screen, strong mount, MP3, good price
Weaknesses: does not have rechargeable feature or battery option for portability
Overall: I was looking for a navigation unit prior to Thanksgiving 2006 and was hoping to see if anything would come about on black friday. Obviously there was, but quantity on specials are always limited. A week or two has passed and I notice the FINEDRIVE 400 in one of my shopping places. Purchased it as there was a rebate. Took it home and set up the unit using the quick set up guide. Relatively simple as screen menu was straight forward. Good to know the unit can act as a MP3 player when navigation purposes in not in use. Window mount works perfectly as I prefer not to 'stick' anything on my dashboard for the dashboard mounting option. Navteq software is apparently up to date; unable to create a false address. Overall, decent unit for a very reasonable price.
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Reviewed by: shouyi
Strengths: Large display. fast GPS lock.
Weaknesses: Map is not very accurate for rural area. Map seems older then census tiger file in some cases. Missing a lot of points of interests.
Overall: The unit does not have internal battery, not a huge deal. but it would be nice to be able to use it outside of a car every once in a while.Turn by turn voice directions is good. Volume is loud and sound is clear. Re-route calculation is pretty good as well.My unit maybe newer and it started lock on to GPS satellite connected under 30 seconds. When I first tested it with a 2-year-old $5000 Trimble unit, the FineDrive started faster, run more reliable. Though we think the trimble unit is on its last leg though.
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Discussion: Car Navigation System: London Taxi Company
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alexpnn - Wed Nov 18 01:33:12 PST 2009
HI ,
We are a taxi company Hummingbird Cars in London. We provide Airport Transfer service from all london airports.
We have recently started our new business and we require to buy Car navigation system or Tom Toms for our taxis . Can anyone suggest which type of navigation system and company is the best and where we can get the best deals.
http://www.hummingbirdcars.com
Thank you
Respond to: Car Navigation System: London Taxi Company
