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More…Though it uses the same maps and GPS transceiver as the LG Electronics LN790, the Pharos Drive GPS 250 omits the LG's media player and other nonnavigation functions, to lower its street price to just $295. In this case, excluding the features unrelated to navigation makes the device easier to use, since you have fewer options to navigate through. It also seems to improve the navigation performance: When I tested both units simultaneously, the Pharos consistently alerted me to my next turn a second or two faster than the LN790.
Pharos Drive GPS 250
Pros
4.3-inch-diagonal screen
Straightforward navigation
Cons
No media player
Lacks Bluetooth connectivity
Bottom Line
Relatively inexpensive GPS device lacks extras and doesn't always by default select the fastest route.
Pharos Drive GPS 250
Drive GPS 250 Review, by Dennis O'Reilly January 2, 2008
The Drive GPS 250 does have a pedestrian mode, though the unit's limited battery life will restrict its participation in your extravehicular excursions to around 3 hours. The screen is big (4.3 inches) and easy to read, but the size hampers the device's portability and battery life.
Unfortunately, like the LG LN790, the Drive 250 plunges you into the heart of urban traffic rather than finding ways around it. On several occasions, the Drive GPS 250 recommended routes that may have been shorter as the crow flies, but that took much longer to travel. One example: Instead of directing me over a slightly longer set of surface streets with faster speed limits of 35 miles an hour, the device suggested a shorter route that relied on side streets with 25-mph speed limits. You can choose between 'Shortest' or 'Quickest' after entering the address and be fore selecting 'Go' ('Quickest' is the device default), but you can't instruct the de vice to use one or the other setting for all your routes. In the Turn-by-Turn screen, you can set up alternate routes by rejecting undesirable parts of the route Pharos recommends; the Drive GPS 250 will automatically reroute you.
If you're looking for an affordable GPS with a very readable screen, the Pharos Drive GPS 250 is worth considering, though slightly costlier devices (see "GPS Devices: Road Tested and Reviewed") suggest quicker routes and provide a media player and other travel-related features.
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: pnghiem
Strengths: TTS 4.3" GPS at a very affordable price; quick reroute calculation.
Weaknesses: No official support for picture and video viewing as well as audio MP3 playing; a bit thick; lack of traffic information.
Overall: Pharos PDR250 is a decent TTS GPS but it lacks the competitive features such as MP3 playing, video and picture viewing, bluetooth, and traffic information. However, it could be modified to add MP3, picture and video viewing since it is based on Win CE 4.2. The Pharos PDR250 which has also been shipped under the Omnitech brand, is more price competitive than any other 4.3" TTS GPS unit on the market at this time. Although the MCU is only 266MHz, its reroute calculation is fast and the unit is very responsive throughout the couple long trips I have taken. I wish that it could be thinner so that I could carry it around in my pocket.
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Reviewed by: simshyam
Strengths: Text to voice feature; nice 4.3inch screen; 20 channels
Weaknesses: slower compared to other brands
Overall: Great to have Text to voice feature for the price paid. This GPS has 20 channels. I am now used to the nice 4.3inch big lcd screen. very clearly presents the routes and markings. signal acquisition is definitely better than some others I have used. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a decent GPS unit with a budget in mind.
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Reviewed by: finleymac
Strengths: Large LCD Screen (4.3"), Easy to Use, 20 GPS Channels
Weaknesses: none to date, but map updates are unknown
Overall: Top of the line GPS at the price of many mid and entry level GPS. With 20 channels, it picks up the signal very fast. Voice to text works amazingly well. The LCD screen is the best I've ever used, 4.3" but still very compact. Pharos thought of every when making this GPS, and to date I very impressed. i highly recommend!!
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Reviewed by: edkiel
Strengths: Well made, bright very legible screen, many control options, includes a stylus and a nice case.
Weaknesses: Tinny and sometimes hard to understand "voice"
Overall: Second unit I have owned and although I have only had it for two weeks, I really like it. The stylus is the answer to the "fat finger" mis-key problem. Acquires signals well.
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Reviewed by: salemsivaram
Strengths: 4.3 inch screen, sleek design
Weaknesses: No future map updates(which is true on any other brands though)
Overall: I bought this GPS with rebate. So I feel that it's worth for it's price. It's work fine and it's sleek than I expected. I also like the "walking mode". It comes with the latest US & Canada maps. But any future updates are not available for free. That's the only cons with this model. Here and there there is always a rebate available for this model. So if you decide to purchase pls search for the rebate first.
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