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It may be frill-free, but the GoPal PNA465 is as up to date as they come
It may be relatively frills-free, but the GoPal PNA465 from Medion is an otherwise excellent option.
It has a large 4.3in widescreen display that allows you to see more of the surrounding map while travelling. The GoPal uses the very latest in GPS technology, which helps to make the PNA465 quick to locate itself and helps to maintain a good lock on the satellite signal.
Unlike some of its competitors, both UK and European maps come preinstalled and traffic alerts are available for free straight out of the box.
The only minor drawback with the latter is that traffic alerts are received via FM radio, so a special antenna (provided) is required. This then adds further to the spaghetti-style mess of cabling that sat-nav devices so often generate.
The GoPal Navigator software was also very easy to use, although you’ll need to learn the meanings of the symbols and icons.
This article is part of a group test of satellite-navigation devices.
See also:
Garmin Nuvi 310
Magellan
Roadmate 3050T
Medion GoPal
PNA465
Mio Digiwalker
C510E
Navman N40i
Navsure 300i
Novogo S700
Sony Nav-u Nv-U5
0T
TomTom One Europe
ViaMichelin
X-950T
When sat nav goes
wrong
Galileo project
A table of features can be read via our pdf download above.
Read more reviews
Our verdict
Good pointsLarge screen European maps included Free traffic alerts Bad points Relatively few extra functions
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re: Only half the story
Have to say I disagree with you. I've used a couple of Medion sat navs and found them to be very good. I used one to drive all the way from the UK to the bottom of Croatia, and later up the other side of Croatia and back to the UK. We had no problems with the unit, and found it be be extremely accurate in its instructions. Finally, this product was reviewed by Computeractive, not PCW as you suggest. But reviews are as extensive as they can be, given the amount of time we often have with these units. So while we can always check accuracy over a number of journeys for sat navs, companies generally give us units to test over a period of weeks, not months, making it hard for us to paint an indepth picture or reliability.
Posted by Rob Jones, online editor in chief, 15 Mar 2007
Only Half The Story
The Medion has achieved 5 stars and is the Ed's Choice. However, in researching Medion GPS products elsewhere, including an independent user forum, I have formed the distinct impression that, as one comment had it, 'there's a reason that Medion units a so much cheaper. They're unreliable due to poor quality build.' Also, transfering user-generated data into Medion units involves third-party s/ware which is barely compatible with Medion s/ware and proves extremely difficult to implement. Points like these should form some part of the review routine of PCW. Extensive use over a period of time and follow-up comments based on this experience should be part of the reviews of technology that is, to a large degree, only assessed by purchasers at the point of purchase via a description and brief demo by sales staff.
Posted by Mr. C. Nation, 14 Mar 2007