By Mel Beckman
I owned a TomTom 510 that died. I could have purchased another TomTom but they are all quite expensive compared to this unit. The Navigon 7100 is a slightly older model, but now on sale due to Navigon’s recent updating of this line. The advantage is that you get the Zagat Ratings, large brand-badged POI database, and lifetime traffic reporting. Map updates are pretty cheap too. That makes the 7100 package a no-brainer if price is a factor.
This unit is more navigation-feature-rich than my aged TomTom 510, but not has fewer user-configurable settings. You can’t choose voices or screen themes for example, and there is no computer interface at all. The screen, however, is stunning and bright — brighter and sharper than the TomToms, which I’ve seen side by side at Frys. It’s not as colorful, choosing pastel tones over the TomTom’s bright urban-yellow landscapes, but I think I prefer the subdued imagery.
After a month of use, Navigon’s routing and traffic reporting has proved more reliable than that of my older TomTom — not surprising, since Navigon makes the maps for everybody’s GPS units. The Navigon is also easier to route around obstructions, but I gather TomTom has improved its interface in that regard. Spoken instructions are clear, although the female voice is a somewhat strong New York accent.
