Navman N40i

...know your way there, but Navman are one step ahead here. They have created an online database with everything from pubs, restaurants, shops and hotels to historical landmarks. This is great because you can download a picture onto your GPS and then rather than type in a postcode or address, you simply select the picture of where you want to go! Another advantage to having a camera is that you can take photographic evidence of accidents. In some cases ...
...are rather hopeless, whereas the Navman N40i produces clear images. The company's new photo sharing service 'NavPix' allows you to upload and share your images with whoever you choose, thus you can share the GPS location of anywhere you wish, with your friends and family. Clearly not an essential of a GPS device but nonetheless a nice touch and the fact that Navman haven't charged a huge premium for the inclusion of this feature mean that this will ... more

GPS or Global Positioning systems have become an essential in my life as I travel around the country a lot and visit a range of locations. These vary enormously and I frequently find myself visiting places I'm not sure I've even heard of, let alone could actually locate on a map. Couple that with missed motorway junctions, dodgy map reading and poor road signs and as I'm sure you can guess, you find yourself hopelessly lost. So for me the decision to buy a GPS was an investment rather than simply just a desire to have the latest gadget.

There are various brands producing GPS systems, boasting various different features, but all essentially performing the same task. One such company is Navman, who produce the N40i GPS receiver which I am reviewing. The one difference between this and conventional GPS units, is that on the back, it also has a digital camera. Initially I wasn't overly bothered about having a camera or not, in fact I actually wondered why such a device would need one. But then again, we have cameras in our mobile phones now, so it stands to reason that they would eventually appear as a feature of GPS systems.

For the style conscious, the N40i certainly has potential; the device is thin and relatively small, with all the buttons easily accessible down the right hand side. Most importantly it has a 3.5 inch touchscreen display which produces excellent image quality. The buttons allow you to quickly access the information you need without having to trawl through a whole load of menus. The nearest car park or petrol station can be found at the touch of a button.

The whole concept of having a camera in the unit is actually rather clever. The idea is that you can take a photo of anything you want and the N40i will remember its exact GPS location for your future use. You may be thinking that this seems a little pointless, as to take a photo, you will have to already have visited the location and thus are likely to already know your way there, but Navman are one step ahead here. They have created an online database with everything from pubs, restaurants, shops and hotels to historical landmarks. This is great because you can download a picture onto your GPS and then rather than type in a postcode or address, you simply select the picture of where you want to go! Another advantage to having a camera is that you can take photographic evidence of accidents. In some cases this could ensure you are not wrongly accused of being liable for an accident. Most people don't normally carry a camera around with them and many cameras in mobile phones are rather hopeless, whereas the Navman N40i produces clear images. The company's new photo sharing service 'NavPix' allows you to upload and share your images with whoever you choose, thus you can share the GPS location of anywhere you wish, with your friends and family. Clearly not an essential of a GPS device but nonetheless a nice touch and the fact that Navman haven't charged a huge premium for the inclusion of this feature mean that this will be an appealing choice to many.

The other features of the N40i are fairly standard and are seen on any GPS. You can monitor the traffic ahead and locate fixed speed cameras, there are multiple view options or 'instructions only' if you prefer. Another advantage of GPS is the warning that you are approaching a fixed speed camera. The N40i is very easy to use and even if you have never seen one before after playing around with it you quickly discover all the essential features. (Or you could read the comprehensive instruction manual, but where's the fun in that!)

While driving, the Navman always performs well. I like the map interface, it's really clear and warnings or notices about petrol stations etc are clear but unobtrusive and don't block your view of the map itself. I've found the battery life to be very good, so no worries about it dying on long journeys at inconvenient times.

Overall I'm really impressed with the N40i and it seems to tick all the right boxes. The camera is not an essential but could come in useful and the fact that the price of the unit is not hugely affected by this feature makes it a nice bonus. This is an impressive piece of kit and once you have discovered GPS, you won't look back! It is definitely worth the investment. Highly recommend.
 

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