Editorial Review
In the U.S., German-based Navigon may be the biggest name in gps you've never heard. Navigon has long been a major provider of navigation software to automotive manufacturers for in-dash gps navigation devices, but only recently did they introduce portable navigation devices under their own name. What they offer up, however, demonstrates immediately that this is a company that knows navigation inside and out.
Navigon...James Navigon The first thing you notice about the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator is, well, the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator. It's
beautiful. It's the kind of device you'd expect an international spy to have in their rocket car. It's less than an inch thick, and its shiny black casing will go well with just about any car interior. Paying the same attention to every detail, Navigon's included car mount raises the bar even higher, with a design that is not only easy to use, but echoes the 7100's in a way that makes device and accessory become one, adding a touch of style and elegance to any vehicle's interior.
The Navigon 7100 offers a premium navigation experience in a sleek package. View larger. |
Intuitive, animated menus offer predictive text input, helping you select your destination quickly. View larger. |
The lane assistant provides guidance to the optimal lane for your route. View larger. |
The reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions. View larger. |
Packed with Features When you stop ogling the outside and really start using the 7100, what you notice is that Navigon has decided to avoid media support and instead has focused on navigation-based features. This means the 7100 is packed, offering an array of features that are, at the time of this writing, unmatched at this price point. It provides you with turn-by-turn directions, including actual road names via text-to-speech. It includes built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hands-free mobile phone integration, which not only increases driver safety, but is fast becoming a necessity as states pass laws against talking on a cell phone hand set while driving. It warns you when you are exceeding the speed limit. It offers 2D and 3D map views with incredibly precise road visualizations (more on that below). Its Navteq data contains millions Points of Interest (POIs) such as restaurants, hotels, golf courses, gas stations, banks, etc.
Reality View and Lane Assistant
The 7100 has two features that are a great help in negotiating unfamiliar or complicated road systems. Lane Assistant recommends the best lane for you to be in relative to the proposed route, so you won't find yourself trying to move over three lanes when the freeway splits.
Reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions, complete with actual sign text and exit ramp guidance. This makes translating what the navigator is telling you to what you see on the road instantaneous.
Free Traffic for Life
This is a biggie. The Navigon 7100 comes is the first GPS device to offer subscription-free, real-time traffic information via the integrated traffic receiver with no additional fees or setup for the life of the product. Be advised on traffic flow and incidents, as well as the best alternate routes. The traffic info starts working as soon as you get the 7100 out of the box.
Zagat Ratings and Branded Icons for POIs
All of Navigon's gps navigators offer Zagat ratings and reviews for their POIs, so while this device may not get you a beer, it can tell you where to find the best one. Branded icons displayed on your map make it easier to navigate to a familiar location of your choice.
Superior Software and Hardware
The features and functions of the Navigon 7100 are controlled via intuitive, easy-to-use animated menus that use predictive text input to quickly and easily select your city, state and address. Maps and menus appear on its extra-large and elegant, high-contrast 4.3-inch, full-color touch-screen display with an easy-to-read 16:9 aspect ratio for an exceptional view of the road. The Navigon 7100 includes a powerful Samsung 400 MHz processor, a fully integrated SiRF Star III GPS chip, 64 MBs of both RAM and ROM built in, and a rechargeable 1,200 mAh lithium ion battery that is rated for 4.5 hours of continuous use. All this is housed in an ultra-thin, sleek piano black housing that weighs only seven ounces, and measures just 5.1 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D). The Navigon 7100 even comes pre-loaded with complete maps of the U.S. and Canada, providing you with superbly accurate, seamless door-to-door directions wherever your vehicular travels might take you.
Note that the 7100 runs on the Microsoft Windows CD Net 5.0 operating system. A PC is required to use additional map data, and in such cases users require Windows 2000, ME, XP or higher, as well as a CD ROM drive and a USB port. An SD/MMC card reader is recommended as the 7100 not only uses SD cards, but also comes with a 2 GB SD card in the package.
What's in the Box
The Navigon 7100 preloaded with North American maps, 2 GB SD card, car charger, wall charger, car mount, USB cable, CD and user manual on DVD, quick installation guide, and warranty information.
About Navigon
NAVIGON has been a leader of GPS navigation since 1991, and has a long history of industry innovations. NAVIGON created the world's first dynamic personal GPS product in 1996, launched the industry's first navigation software for the Pocket PC in 2000, and unveiled the first Traffic Message Channel-based (TMC) avoidance feature on mobile navigation product in 2002.
NAVIGON has helped revolutionize how consumers get from place to place with software products for practically any navigation-ready hardware. Personal navigation devices (PND), smartphones, and in-dash navigation systems directed by NAVIGON's award-winning MobileNavigator (MN) software delivers reliable information on millions of destinations in an intuitive, easy to use format. NAVIGON is a valued partner to the automotive industry, and in 2006 strengthened its category competency by acquiring NAVTEQ's navigation software business.
NAVIGON is a privately-held software company based in Hamburg, Germany, with NAVIGON USA headquarters in Chicago, IL.
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Customer Reviews
Great features, but unreliable 
2008-07-16
I purchased a 7100 7 months ago. It has been plagued with software problems. Fortunately their tech support is readily available and helpful. I have over 50 hrs. into troubleshooting on my own and with their help. They replaced the unit twice and the SD card twice. The earlier problems have not resurfaced, but the third unit locks up during route calculation/recalculation. That really messes me up when in heavy Seattle or Portland traffic.
Even though they cannot fix it, they absolutely refuse to refund my money. Don't buy it.
If they had the bugs worked out it would be a great GPS. The features are fantastic. I have not experienced the functional problems that others have reported.
Cool, yet frustrating! 
2008-07-09
We purchased our first GPS unit, the Navigon 7100, a couple of weeks ago and there's a few things I'd like to share.
1) It's not a user-friendly, out-of-the-box-and-start-using-it unit. You can't be lazy -- you really have to read the user guide. Unlike other units we tried in the store, such as the Garmin -- it's not intuitive. The user guide/instructions, which are on an accompanying cd (I would rather that it was printed) also doesn't really cover everything (like the problem I have with its Bluetooth capabilities actually working with my iPhone).
2) The keyboard buttons are TOO SMALL. Frequently, I am frustrated to find my finger on a "J" and it types "O". Sometimes, it doesn't even register my tap at all and I have to tap over and over and over again. Very very frustrating when you just want it to type where you want to go and not have it take about 30 minutes to do it!
3) Like another review, the pronunciation of the street names are off, but that's okay.
4) I like the widescreen very much, it's very easy and clear to read and the volume is loud enough for me to hear, even when I have the air conditioning and the radio on.
5) It takes a little long to load or "recalculate" routes. I guess this is due to the maps being on the SD card and not pre-loaded.
6) It's already frozen on us once in the few short weeks we've had it.
7) I like that it has the Zagat ratings -- that is very helpful when you have no idea where to go or what's good.
8) We were in San Francisco and where we wanted to go was on Post Street. We were already on Post Street about 8 blocks down, and it kept telling us to make a right off of Post Street. It's taken us the "very long way" to our destinations. I'm not overly concerned about it as long as it just gets us there, period.
So, I have never had another GPS unit, so I can't really compare, but I have to say that at certain points, I've wanted to throw this out of the window. Maybe it just takes some getting used to, and I hope that Navigon works on the major issues.
Ahhh- Its ok,But not Great.... 2008-07-06
The mount sucks, its wobbly and no adjustment to tighten it. Can not buy anything as far as a gravity mount or anything of the sort because of the unconditional way it attaches to the unit. Nav itself is ok, but again not great, cant type in a directory by name, and have it search.
You can only scroll thru what is in the unit itself, which kinda sucks.
All in all, wish i would of bought something else, oh and by the way, dont buy from RCS Experience, unless you want to wait 2 weeks to recieve your product, and have rude comments sent to you, if you ask about the 3-5 day shipping estimate........
NAVIGON 7100-EXCELLENT VERY SATISFIED 
2008-07-05
I am very satisfied with the purchase, I love my new Navigon 7100. However the only thing which is questioning my decision to purchase this item is the fact that iphone and many other cell phones have assisted gps applications. However I am still keeping it because it is accurate, easy to use, and in my opinion the best GPS you can buy on the market.
Where? 
2008-06-25
Has great features and is very advanced. Not for beginers per say, but techno geeks will love this. A little off on nav sometimes. Voice pronounciation could be better. (sounds like she has a speech impediment) Life time traffic for free amoung other features cant be beat.
Navigon 7100 2008-07-24
I have owned this GPS for about a month, I love it, the traffic alerts are really handy, I would recommend this to any one looking for a GPS the screen and graphics are so clear, I had and intelli navi which I thought was good this blows away the other and the price was great, delivery was quick, now the down side speaker could be better not very loud, I suppose you can play thru your car radio but I not that finicky, and last the mounting the GPS to the windshield is some times very trying,but over all, I give this 5 stars and easily recommend this to any one who is looking for a GPS, I am a sales rep for my company and I travel a 4 state area.( I see it is now lower in price)
unsatisfactory 
2008-07-23
Just took it out of the box and read very little instructions that came with the unit. Had to go on line to get manual of 100 pages wow what a disappointment. Have to use stylus to enter addresses etc. Sorry but not good for my use, put in back in the box and returned it not used. Ordered a garmin 650 I love it.
Navigon 7100 is a very good GPS 2008-07-22
I love my Navigon 7100 so much that I bought one each for my mother, sister and several friends as gifts. Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Its ability to show which lane to drive in to ensure you don't miss your exit is a handy capability. With other GPS systems, the GPS had to constantly recalculate because I would miss a turn due to the directions being unclear. With the Navigon 7100, if I don't understand the directions, I always have the screen to show me where to go. I live in a heavy traffic area so the free traffic routing is what made me switch from my Garmin Nuvi 660.Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Initially, the battery for my mother's Navigon 7100 would not hold a charge. After playing with the GPS for a day, I realized that my mother was not turning her Navigon 7100 off when she was not using it. She was inadvertently placing the GPS in standby mode. Once I told her to hold the power button for 7 - 10 seconds, she no longer had problems with her battery.
I prefer to use my stylus only when necessary. However, there are times when the Navigon 7100 will only operate when I use the stylus. I'm not sure what that is about, but I simply take my stylus out when my Navigon 7100 is being temperamental.
My only complaints concern the bluetooth operation and the difficulty obtaining a satellite signal when the sky is cloudy or I am in the city amongst tall building. I have read the manual from cover to cover, but still do not understand why I must set up my handsfree cell phone operation every time I restart the Navigon. All in all, I am very satisfied with my Navigon 7100. My family and friends have called me on several occasions to tell me how much they like the Navigon 7100 and how it saved them time on trips.
Navigon 7100 Widescreen 2008-07-21
After spending a lot of time looking and reading reviews for all the other types of navigation systems, this one had the least amount of complaints. I have found that most of the peoples complaints are because they did not take the time to read the manual or call Navigon for assistance. Very user friendly. There are some POIs that are missing, but through the Navigon website you can suggest to the company that Navigon works with to add the POI, also you can let them know when there is a wrong address for a POI, or the POI doesn't need to be on there.
Get something else 2008-07-20
Do not waste your time on this unit is my best advice. I purchased it from not from Amazon, but a club store (it was on sale). I was intrigued with free lifetime traffic support but it was not worth it. Here are my impressions:
1) The traffic support; although free; was poorly implemented as it would show you traffic alerts for areas that were not on your route. Sometimes they would be 50 to 60 miles in the opposite direction from where you were traveling.
2) The 'interchange' display (which is what is typically shown in the product image for the unit) is a Great idea. But, it holds onto that interchange for far too long. At one point on my way to work I pass 2 interchanges that are about 2 miles apart. I had driven past the second exchange and it was still telling me where I needed to be for the first exchange. If I was supposed to transition to the second exchange I would have missed it.
3) Its voice pronunciation of street names also leaves much to be desired. In some cases the name it pronounced was so strange sounding that I would not have known it was the street I needed unless I was already familiar with the area.
4) The most important thing was its poor navigation engine. Even though I checked the no U-turn button it would constantly (at every off ramp) want me to make a U-turn to take its directions even though I knew that traffic was much more congested the way it wished me to go. The final straw was I give it an address 3 miles directly ahead of me. Instead of having me go straight for 3 miles, I was directed to make a left turn, go 1 1/2 miles down to the next main street, turn right drive 3 miles to the freeway, enter the freeway and drive 1 1/2 miles exiting on the same street I was already on.
I ended up taking it back and getting a Garmin Nuvi 760.
