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xsBusiness - Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator
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List Price: $299.99
Our Price: $299.00
Your Save: $ 0.99 ( 0% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Dash
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Dash
Color: Black
Display Size: 4.3
EAN: 0892437002012
Feature: Get true up-to-the-minute traffic data from the most reliable source--other Dash devices
Includes Mp3 Player: 0
Label: Dash
Manufacturer: Dash
Model: 99-1000-001
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Publisher: Dash
Studio: Dash
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Features
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Get true up-to-the-minute traffic data from the most reliable source--other Dash devices
Find anything you need right from the driver's seat using Yahoo! Local Search
Automatically and wirelessly receive updated software and new features
Send addresses straight to your device from any computer via your Internet browser or Microsoft Outlook
Interact with your device and other Dash users on my.dash.net
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Dash Express
Comment: This device was easy to setup, is easy to use, gives very good navgation aids and is extremely easy to download new addresses to using the SendToGPS commands. The real time traffic is quickand accurate. I am very pleased.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dash service offers unique features, makes this gps really great
Comment: I have been a GPS user for many years, originally the Garmin GPS V and more recently the Navigon 5100. I originally got a gps for hiking, but have found it invaluable for driving navigation while at home and while traveling. Once live traffic info became available at a reasonable price (lifetime on the Navigon 5100), I got that, but have found it disappointing, because that live traffic service is way too vague and incomplete, generally ignoring anything off-freeway, which is most of my driving.
The Dash service is what makes this gps unique, due to being connected and user-configurable:
- It delivers live traffic from other Dash users in the area
- If there are no recent Dash data, it delivers traffic info from the web, which is much more detailed that the traffic service used by the Navigon, and historic traffic info.
- It is connected to the internet over the cell phone system, so that you can query all sorts of things, nearby gas prices, weather, factoids of whatever town you are in, locations of traffic cameras, and do any local.yahoo.com search that you want (my understanding is that searches on the dash go through local.yahoo.com). Once when I was driving some traffic incident occurred and a yellow box came up on the screen warning me of the new situation, along with speech generation.
- If you are not connected (e.g. no cell signal), it still has an internal database of points of interest as do other gps receivers.
- when routing, it offers you a few routes to choose from, and you can see the traffic load on each one.
Besides being continually connected to the internet while driving, it has some other features that no other gps has at the moment:
- it is configurable, I can specify what apps of interest to me available at the dash website I want to have on the DE.
- At their website, I can create my own custom searches, give them names, and have them downloaded to my DE.
- It is an open system, so anyone can write a "dash app" and make it available.
- By aggregation of driving data from dash users, they have the potential to offer better and better driving help as their system develops.
It is in these last two aspects that the Dash service provides more than you can get from looking at internet traffic info on the web using alternative connected devices (cellphone, etc.)
They have recently announced that they are going to quit making the hardware receiver but continue the service, licensing the service to other platforms. So I expect using the DE to just get better and better (they are going to continue supporting their hardware, just not make more of it).
The drawbacks:
- The DE is clunky and heavy. But I am enjoying using this so much that it does not matter to me.
- After the trial period, I will probably have to pay a monthly fee to use it. I would prefer a lifetime pay-once special price, and I may not be able to justify it in my own life (I don't drive for a living).
- Some but not all of these features are available on other handhelds connected to the internet.
- When routing, it doesn't give me as many choices as I would like, and sometimes there are minor route glitches, but nothing major. Currently it has a preference for freeways over surface streets, but I can force it to change by just going on a highway that looks sensible and it reroutes from there. Since users have been complaining about this, I expect the algorithms to be improved.
Based on today's functionality, I would give it 4 stars if it were static, but because of the user-configurability and open system dash apps and continuing developement of the service, I think it is worth 5 stars.
p.s. I have no connection to the Dash company, I'm just a very satisfied user intrigued by the possibilities of this platform.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best GPS Device
Comment: I love the Dash, let me count the ways...
1) It has internet access for live search results!
2) It helps me find the closest and cheapest gas available!
3) I can send it address info from my computer & cellphone!
4) It has real-time traffic info from state/national traffic databases!
5) It has real-time traffic info from other Dash users!
6) It has tons of custom "Dash Apps" and other custom searches that I can add from the Dash website!
Ok, so I think you can tell that I'm a Dash Evangelist... I love it! You will too. I've used it in Los Angeles, Chicago, Iowa, and soon Miami and Key West. Traveling with the Dash is so much easier than worrying about printing out directions and fumbling with paper maps.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding GPS...People, read the instructions carefully!!!
Comment: I just activated my dash three days ago and I couldn't be more pleased. The traffic feature is right on the money. I could tell you so many things I like about this unit, but the review will be too wordy and it may bore some of you to death (especially if patients is not the individuals strong points). Speaking of patients; people...read the instuctions carefully (prior to using)or you will not benefit from this fine unit.
DO'S!
1. Use the Send2Car feature; this will save the aggrivation of planning your destination inside your car.
2. When you plan your route, make sure your car is OUTSIDE WITH A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SKY. If you don't do this, the Dash will certain to lag behind your car when routing.
Don'ts!
1. Do not do any routing while driving, make sure your car is stationary so the Dash can accurately route your destination.
I was skeptical at first, but after thorough reading (online instuctions first, then the actual unit copy), it just make more sense to purchase this GPS unit.
THE FACTS: Other GPS devices, you have to upgrade maps, traffic, and POI (which can cost up to $200;plus by the time you receive the upgrade, they are pre-packaged upgrades (PLAIN TALK: You don't know how old the upgade is and you're back to square one... spending more $$ or buying a new GPS unit with the same pre-packaged upgrades (did I mention spending more $$?).
Dash will continuosly upgrade and add more features to the unit throughout the year, at all time throughout each year (that's nice).
You will have to subscribe, but in my opinion it worth every dime (again , it always upgrade. Here are the cost(s) involved:
1. 90 day FREE trial
2. 2 year plan for $9.99 a month
3. 1 year plan for $10.99 a month
4. Month to month plan for $12.99 a month
Think about this while you are continuing upgrading and using those obsolete devices as paper weights.
[..]
LAST TIME PEOPLE, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great idea, but needs tons of work
Comment: I have used GPS from Tom Tom, Navigon, and also Garmin. All those units have been though a lot of development, and it shows.
The dash express has not, and it really shows. While the traffic monitoring idea is a great concept, this unit has too many other shortcomings to tolerate.
Basically, most other features on a low end $120-150 gps are missing. A glaring one is planning preferences like avoiding highways, another one is avoiding toll roads, it gets worse from there. While the concept is super-innovative, I do have to question how much the developers of Dash spent using other GPS devices!
The text to speech is the worse I've come across, and the lack of choosing a voice or making adjustments is missing--this is such a basic feature I have to wonder if it was ignored or skipped over in desperation to get this device out of the door.
The last insult has to be a $12-13 dollar monthly fee to use the connected features. While I don't particularly care for $80 or so bucks to update maps and POIs, I'm ok with it as a one time expense (or more depending on how up to date you want your maps). The dash has considerably fewer POIS in memory without being able to connect online via GRPS to download more, so without the monthly fee--its crippled.
And lastly, trying to route me during the route, on a light white map, the route marked on the road was...white...
For $300 you should be able to get a full featured GPS with a better feature set. Sure it won't have the innovative traffic feature...but...this needs to be a lot more than it is. Considering Dash just let a bunch of people go and changing their business model, I guess they might license their traffic technology to other GPS makers and this might be their first and last attempt at a gps device.
I had mine only for a few days before I sent it back and got my old tom tom one back...
Screen was real nice. Device huge though.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Stuck in traffic and want to know if you are going to make that meeting on time, or need to call and warn someone? Will you make it to your kid's recital, or be home in time for dinner? Wouldn't it be nice to know which route to work is going to be faster today before leaving your driveway, and be automatically updated if traffic changes once you're under way? Knowledge isn't just power, it's a time-saver, too. And Dash Express has the smartest, most advanced traffic solution available?the innovative Dash Driver Network. Combined with comprehensive historical and sensor-based traffic information, the Dash Driver Network provides Dash users with the most detailed, accurate and current traffic picture available today.
Dash approaches traffic in an entirely different way - by collecting it from other people driving real commute routes, during real commute times. Each Dash Express anonymously and automatically sends its position and speed back to servers at the Dash Network Operations Center. The Dash servers then update all other Dash devices in the area with current road speeds. That way, members of the Dash Driver Network always have the best, most up-to-date traffic information available. It's a growing network for better information. However, even the first Dash devices in an area get traffic data that's superior to other GPS devices. That's because Dash devices receive traffic info from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources through our partnership with Inrix, the premier traffic data provider in the U.S. Starting with the first devices in each market, Dash adds further value by using these initial cars to calibrate the sensor data. This lets Dash assign it a high (straight line) or medium (dotted line) confidence rating, giving you all the information you need at a glance. The Dash Driver Network provides coverage on nearly 2 million miles of US road, and provides the only source of live traf
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