Customer Reviews
Now I can't get lost! 
2006-12-28
Bought the other Dual portable GPS but they sent me this one. It's supposed to be better, and it's $200 more expensive so I decided to keep it. (I did not pay the extra $200) Got it out of the box, read the quick start directions and I was off and running. No problems! If I can figure it out anyone can. It's well worth the $550 price tag. ($350 for me!) This is no harder to run than an MP3 player. You won't need your kids to teach you how to use it.
I Can Get Anywhere Now (I Think!) 
2006-12-26
An unexpected pre-Christmas surprise: This DUAL portable GPS navigation system. Something I might never have bought myself - but a marvelous piece of technology - both a useful device to have, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas - as well as a toy to play with, experiment with all the things it will do and to enjoy in the months and, I hope, years to come. Never having had a GPS before, the only things I have to compare it with are 1) a man's admittedly limited intuition for directions, 2) road maps - I never seem to be able to find the one I need when I need it, or 3) stopping to ask directions which tend to be about as unreliable as #'s 1 and 2!
The device itself is about 5" long by 3" tall by 1" wide. The visual screen is a 3.5" (measured diagonally, of course) LCD. Small speakers are mounted on each side and there is a jack for headphones. While driving, it is plugged into the 12v plug on the dash and when used as a portable unit, it runs off a rechargeable 830mA Li-polymer battery that recharges whenever the unit is plugged in. One structural oversight seems to be the complete lack of an AC recharging option for when you are at home - and in the house - and need the thing charged.
In the first several days of playing with it, I have found it relatively easy to program and use - at least as far as it's navigational features. You can program in your own home address so it can always guide you home! It gets it's information from a network of 28 satellite processed by the on board GPS computer and a national map, that comes preloaded on a 1GB Secure Media card. Other cards can be used to carry additional regional/worldwide information or to provide the material you would need to use it's several other possible functions which include: Playing MP3 files and movies, viewing photos or gaming. The audio output jack is a 3.5mm. I have not tried it yet. It also contains a worldwide clock and multi-function calculator. My intended use is purely for it's navigation function so I will focus there and leave review of it's other capacities to those who are more apt to make use of them.
An antennae unfolds from the rear of the unit and connects with the GPS signals within a minute or so after the unit is powered on. Selecting the Navigation function from the initial menu, allows choices that include the two basic ones of 1) programming in an address you want to get to - whereby the device maps your most direct directions per the most current information available to the satellite network (like having MapQuest in the car!), 2) Indicating you preprogrammed home address from wherever you happen to be, yielding your way home without having to find crumbs you dropped on the path along the way. The feedback on the screen is a little distracting and takes some getting used to. An arrow indicates your car: streets (and stores) that you are passing or approaching all show up and, when a turn is coming up that the directions think you should take, left or right directional lights flash on the unit along with, should you choose to program it this way, a verbal cue that a left or right turn is coming up. 2 or 3 dimensional view are both available as optional settings and day/night viewing is controlled, automatically, according to a build-in clock that you program for your own locations. Any or all of these customizable presets can be quickly over-ridden when circumstances require it! (A dark day, or driving through a dark tunnel, etc.) The screen options/selections are touch controlled - either with fingers or, for smaller items - like entering an address via the screen type board, a small stylus is included and has a home in the device itself. The screen offers 9 degrees of zooming in and out.
I tried fooling around with it. I deliberately went a different way than it suggested. Immediately, the GPS compensated for my action and reprogrammed the directions for the remainder of that drive having taken my spontaneous turn(s) into account. It IS a reasonably complex piece of equipment and I expect my learning curve will develop with it over time. I already called support one time to find out if the unit needed to be powered on or off while charging the battery. I have yet to receive a reply - but it IS just after Christmas!
The unit comes with a windshield suction mount device, a soft carry case, the necessary 12VDC adapter and the 1GB SD memory card ... which I hunted through the box for before discovering that it was already placed in the slot it resides in.
My experience with technological things that appear quite wondrous at the outset is that, with time and experience, they seem a bit less wondrous and more apparently imperfect. In this instance, this DUAL portable GPS navigation system and I are off to a very good start!
I'm not sure what 'artificial intelligence' is - but this might come close!
Good Value product for First time No Frills GPS Buyers 2007-11-11
I have used this GPS for about a year now.
Directions are Excellent, Right & Left LED is a great feature.
Things I Miss in this GPS
Itinerary for Directions, More Routing Options, Choice of Voice, More Locations details (like phone # etc).
I guess I will have to spend little more to have all those options.... ;)
Pleasant Suprise 2007-07-08
I got this unit at Sears while shopping for a Garmin. This (seemed) to be an entry level unit compared to the more expensive garmin and magellan choices. One of the salespeople urged me to try it because it was a great value and he had used it before. I expected the unit to be a flop because ive never heard of dual....on the contrary....two 300 mile trips later and i was really impressed. Some of the things i think are great: It redirects you if you change course, the led turn signals on the side blink one color as you get close to the turn, then another color when its time to turn, night mode highlights the route and darkens the background so its easier to see and doesnt shower the interior with bright white light at night so passengers can sleep without being distracted. Nice Voice. Im glad the salesperson was honest, i really like the dual.
Its just "okay" 
2007-06-06
I had been using an old Garmin Street pilot which you can only choose a region of the country. I upgraded with this Dual model. It's small, compact, nice design. It comes with a car cigarette lighter kit,but NO DC adapter so the only way to use it is to plug it in the car!! Why? I dont get this. The screen is hard to see in the daylight. It has no compass so you wont know which direction you are going. A unique feature is the light indicator on both ends of the unit which is like a turning indicator. Im glad this unit is less than $240 otherwise, its not worth it. Not upgradable also. Im contented but not really happy about this unit. It will get me from point A to B with its simple navigation style.
disappointed 
2007-05-05
I recently bought this unit at Sears (i'm returning it tomorrow) after reading great reviews from Amazon. I also have recently used the Mio c310x, which was great but it wasn't mine so I decided to buy my own but a different one.
One of the few things that bothered me with this unit is the loading time could sometimes take forever. And lastly, searching for POI's doesn't really search what you actually look for. It also searches anything while you are typing which is annoying because it would lag or slow down because its loading searches. The maps are also not updatable, not that you would every week but it would be a nice feature. I don't see how Dual could get seriously into the GPS business.
The ONLY thing i like about this gps is the way that its designed. Not very many gps gets designed a different way. Also a plus is the 2 led indicators (the ones on the side of the unit) of where you need to go, left and right. It is a cool idea but when you're driving while the sun is out, you barely notice it because its not very bright at all. Overall I would have to say its an OK gps. I would definitely recommend testing this out FIRST before you buy it.
A Good Friend..... 2007-02-03
Bought this on Thanks Giving and set the course from Chicago to NY. Sailed, flew on the 800 miles voyage as if I have been trucking on these routes all my life.
What does it do for me?
A. Enhances Safety. B. Better Driving. C. Saves Effort. D. Gives Knowledge. E. Allows me to listen to music on car system. F. Acts like a radar display /infrared vision goggles at night. G. Makes me see the road, bends, contours for 2 to 3 miles ahead. F. Has LED turn indicators.
Main Lesson. It takes about 1 week to learn to listen and be friends with the machine. Where I have local knowledge, I tend to show off to the machine & quarrel with it, when I do not know, I follow the machine. In the beginning, I tended to look too much at the display, now I look outside in front, only listen, glance at the display and obey. It helps. I have stopped mixing of the routes i.e. my knowledge + machine knowledge. If I know, I drive my way, if I don't, I follow the machine. This is peaceful safe driving for me.
1. Directions A to B. If I take a wrong turn because of my mistake, it puts me back on route. The routes that need a Left U Turn mid way on road if permitted and away from traffic lights, amaze me most, as I always hug right most lane.
2. Advisories. 2 miles to a maneuver, an announcement as well maneuver indicator arrives at the left bottom corner. Same is repeated at 1 mil, 1500 feet to go. right till 30 feet with executive "order" to turn.
3. So one is ready, looking out for the exits.
4. Maneuver Progress Meter. At 600 feet to go, the Left or Right LED starts blinking BLUE, the progress meter stars filling up vertically.
5. Executive Command. At 300 feet to go, LED starts blinking RED (from Blue Color). At 30 fet to go the voice prompts the maneuver. Example "Turn Right". One gets notice at 2 miles, 1 mile, 600 ft, 300 ft, at 30 feet an executive prompt. I can not make an error!
6. Accuracy. Plus Minus 10 meters but amazing. For example as the Progress Meter is showing an approaching Y shaped Exit Right, the execute voice command, filling up of the Maneuver Meter, all synchronized as one just touched the throat of the Y.
7. Voice Prompts. All major roads, turns, bearing right/left, sharp left/right ( if more than 90 degrees are announced at 2 miles to go, which give 2 mins notice to adjust speed, change lanes, start looking out for the exits,
8. Maneuver Pictures. At the same time at left bottom corner the maneuver is shown graphically i.e. 45/90/145/180 turn right/left.
9. Multi Maneuvers. If there are more than maneuvers, they are shown sequence in the left bottom corner.
10. Voice Quality. Crisp and humanly. I call the machine prompts "Natasha's voice". Very good voice compared to other machines,
11. Main Benefit. One can see a route up to 2 miles ahead. All bends, contours, woods, rivers, lakes, exits, bends, minors roads adjacent but not visible to eyes, townships are on the screen. The driver is well orientated. 2 miles notice is very good to plan the maneuver. All this makes driving relaxed, safe. The scale of display changes automatically. When cruising along, no immediate maneuver, I can see map for about 3 miles, all curves, intersections, rail lines, woods, lakes, rivers, exits, Points of interest ( Food, Gas, etc). As the maneuver approaches, the scale expands and after the turn/exit, reverts back to cruise mode.
12. Night View. The mode is good, looks like "Infrared" picture, with loops of exits, highways, and heaps of info that is not visible to eyes.
13. Points of Interests. Yes, well defined, help full for travel, airports, shopping, foods, leisure, and emergency. Detailed sub categories. One can seek them around 1, 3,5,10 miles.
14. Recent Destinations. One enters the address, or selects previously chosen destinations. Stores very large number of destinations. Helps a lot.
15. Go to Home. Hit "Home" to run home.
16. Routes: Mostly match with Google maps, since it has NAVTEQ on board. Where it differs, is still OK.
17. I have not used the MP3 or Video options, because I did not buy it for these.
18. I recommend DUAL Elect 3.5 NavAtlas personal GPS to my friends.
