Customer Reviews:
 Some good, some bad August 31, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I'll summarize my review as follows: This product has some good features and some bad ones.
I bought this product specifically to reduce the amount of time I spend in traffic during my daily commute (in NJ near NYC). The good news is that it has helped. While I do not yet get as much "real-time" traffic feedback as I would have hoped, I expect that once the Summer ends, this should get better. After a couple of months of use, I have only gotten stuck in 2 traffic jams that the Dash did not forewarn me of and neither of them was very bad.
The bad news is that as a regular GPS, the Dash stinks. The way directions are provided and the way they are displayed are inferior my Garmin...they are even inferior to the mediocre nav system in my GM truck! You really should not plan on using the Dash for anything other than commuter help until they get better on this.
 Only one star for me! August 30, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This unit is only good if you are going to work and home and you would like to see how long it is going to take you because of traffic. It also has a cool search function that works well. BUT if you need to go to three or four places a day like I do THIS IS NOT THE UNIT FOR YOU!!!
Hope August 28, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've used this product since the day it was available to the public. I'll continue to use it, mainly because there's hope that it will one day live up to its potential, and it's functional now. Most of the reviews here are good at listing the pros and cons. I thought I would select out the ones of particular importance to me in comparison to my Tom Tom 700 and my TeleNav account:
Pros:
Internet connectivity is great and helpful
Working from my computer is also helpful (though I can do some of the things they offer with my TeleNav account)
Updates without having to log on are a big advantage
Cons:
Voice is annoying to listen to and mispronounces many names
One doesn't have flexibility on what one sees on the screen. I'd like to see my speed the whole time. Instead I have to see arrival times which are almost alway inaccurate.
Routing is at times comical: I've been told to get off the highway and then get right back on again; to go past the street I need and then make a U turn back to it; to turn onto one road and then immediately back on to the one I was on, etc.
Traffic reports are uniformly inaccurate (that is, there's often no traffic when such is indicated and traffic when such is not). I suspect this is because there are not many owners near me.
In conclusion, most of the problems I have seem relatively easy to fix, even if they have not been fixed to this point. The mechanism for improvement, given this unit's connectivity, is right there. That's why I continue to have hope for this product!
 LOVE my Dash Express August 27, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
I can not speak highly enough about this product! I simply love the device and all its features. Being able to add additional services and "applications" to it only makes it that much sweeter. Even when driving around town, I feel naked if I don't have my Dash with me to find new places to eat, drink, or be merry.
There have been complaints about routing problems- I have only experienced an inability to find a route from Manchester, NH to a small town in Vermont that borders Canada. These issues are being addressed by Dash developers, and each map and software update shows significant improvements.
One of the biggest strengths of this device is the fact that the software is updated regularly. If there is a feature that a Garmin or TomTom has that isn't present on this device, it can be added by Dash. This is a huge plus in my book! In addition, you do not have to connect the device to your computer for updates- they download automatically over WiFi!
If you are in the market for a GPS device, I can not suggest this unit strong enough. Though it does not come with the bluetooth or contact-management features that other GPS units have, it is made up for with strong navigational features. After all, a GPS that doesn't navigate well isn't worth anything.
Fantastic Connected features August 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Overall, this device is merely average. If you're looking for a basic GPS, move along--you'll find an inexpensive Garmin unit much, much more to your liking.
However, if you like gadgets, this is the GPS for you.
I waited until after the first software update to purchase one, and it's still not ready for mainstream, sadly. There are a few interface quirks and bugs to work out. However, the connectivity features of this unit are totally worth the price. Again, this is if you're an early-adopter gadget freak type (like me!).
My biggest love of the device really is the connectivity--the best part of which is *not* the traffic (although it's wonderful), but the "search along my route" feature. Want to stop for ice cream along your route coming home from work? No problem! Just input your destination, and perform a connected search--voila!
My biggest complaint is that the routing engine consistently guides me along routes where it knows traffic information, rather then more direct routes. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it often doesn't even offer me the "direct" route as one of the options, of which it will offer you up to four. However, I've used the "report problem" button in the settings menu, and the support staff has always gotten right back to me within the day--a pretty amazing feat, if you ask me. It is obvious that they really care about improving the device, and taking advantage of the connectedness they have by performing updates--it's almost like GPS as a Service (GaaS!).
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