Anyone have a view about this?

[tonygamble]

As above:-

http://www.the-electronics-genie.co.uk/geniestore/index.php/gps-sat-nav/car-portable-gps-sat-nav/1-din-7-inch-touchscreen-detachable-front-car-dvd-player-with-fm-radio-tv-3d-gps-bluetooth-mic-rear-camera-comp-usb-sd-4-x-50w.html

Is this a good buy?

Tony

[briwy]

I don't think so, primarily because the TV is only analogue which is no use now in the UK.
The navigation software says its a trial so you may have to end up paying for it when the trial ends.
There are plenty of these units around with digital TV and free navigation software.
We have had a couple, got one now in our camper van and it works well. It's not state of the art and some of the graphics are a bit clunky but everything works. The one we have is an Erisin unit bought off ebay. It uses Igo satnav which personally I love.

[tonygamble]

briway,

Thanks for the reaction.

What worries me about these devices is the price. The one I have picked is showing around £300. There are similar looking machines on eBay for half.

It is going to cost me £300 to pay someone to fit it. Money wasted if it is unreliable.

What appeals is that it will work as a radio, as a pickup for my Sony MP3 player and it will replace my Garmin Nuvi that sits on a rather tacky support with wires coming in all directions.

This is where it would go.

I picked this device as the display goes downwards rather than above the din slot and thus hides fewer of the instruments.

I worry aboiut the reliability of the machine. I wonder about the retailer who has said he would phone me today and has not. Indeed yesterday he wondered whether he had one in stock. Odd ?

You folk know much more about these machines than I do. How can they sell them at this price?

Tony

[AliOnHols]

Moved from other post--

I have no knowledge of either device so can't say Yay or Nay but combining briwy's reply with your need for a single DIN with drop down screen, how about this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ERISIN-ES1046B-7-HD-CAR-DVD-PLAYER-GPS-3G-WIFI-BLUETOOTH-USB-SD-IPOD-RDS-TV-BMW-/160990670298?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item257bcaadda

Although it still has Analogue TV, it's in stock, cheaper and, dare I say it, prettier.
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

[cjay2412]

i see that underneath the radio is a cassette holder would it be possible to cut this out and be able to fit a double din unit. the screen then wouldn't block some of your instruments

[tonygamble]

AliOnHols,

Thanks for the suggestion.

I wonder if it is intended for a BMW matters? I'll ask them.

The other worry I would have would be if it didn't work. The guy I discovered is in Teeside - this one is coming from the Far East.

Finally, the T E G one had a detachable screen so it looks less tempting when the car is parked.

But thanks anyway for getting the conversation going again.

Tony

[AliOnHols]

[tonygamble]

cj,

That area is a ventilator and not for casettes. However that is a brilliant suggestion.

The car goes in for an MOT and service on the 3rd June. I can ask then.

Thanks.

Tony

[tonygamble]

And we never use those air vents.

There are those round 'jobbies' on the main panel and they produce plenty of air. So getting rid of the ones you spotted would not worry me as long as it was possible.

Tony

[sussamb]

I wouldn't touch Chinese 'knock offs' with a barge pole, seen too many complaints on various forums/reviews. A genuine BMW one though ... that should work

[tonygamble]

"A genuine BMW one though ... that should work"

But it probably isn't ? If it is coming from "HK Japan".

You are right about the Chinese knock-offs. I have an Android cheapo and it is so clunky compared with my genuine Samsung.

I am not pushing anyone to endorse the one I spotted from T E G but another thing I liked was that it seemed, as it was Windows CE, that one could pick lots of different satnav alternatives depending on which seemed to be ahead of the pack at the time. They are loaded using a card slot:-
http://www.the-electronics-genie.co.uk/geniestore/index.php/catalog/product/gallery/id/158/image/760/

Considering it is going to cost quite a bit to install, especially if we convert the slot to a twin DIN there is no point in cutting corners on the device - so I am happy to buy a good well known make that is properly supported.

[sussamb]

[tonygamble]

" Call me a cynic "


Never. That is why I am here. Because of you folk.

I have just been to measure the distance between the top of my existing radio and the bottom of those vents. It is around 10 cm. I need to do some googling to find out whether that would take a twin din.

As far as I can see the leather separating the radio and the vents will come out easily.

So maybe my question is as to what are the best two din radio/gps combos - with particular respect to updatability.

Tony

[AliOnHols]

[tonygamble]

"Not much help I know but maybe a little food for thought."

Certainly a help.

I know I keep going back to that T E G site but the single din device he was suggesting came with iGO.

He also has Android based devices. I have been exerimenting with an Android Samsung 7.7 which has Google Maps and also some software called OsmAmd+ that I have just loaded.



No way would I expect a passenger to tolerate this intrusion - but it worked fine this morning as a satnav issuing instructions.

I see little point in going for Android rather than Windows CE - but it shows the flexibility one has.

I am not sure how popular Sygic is but here is a mapping system for Europe

http://www.the-electronics-genie.co.uk/geniestore/index.php/gps-sat-nav/car-portable-gps-sat-nav/original-brand-sygic-gps-map-card-with-4gb-tf-card-for-wince-format-uk-western-europe-only-fully-upgradable-easy-install.html

My reading yesterday suggested that some of the big boys like TomTom and Route 66 also do software on RAR files suitable for Win CE

Lot's to learn.

Tony

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