ALDI alert - Portable GPS Navigator $699.00

[Omaroo]

Looks OK

http://www.aldi.com.au/images/data_product/12352778194431b4725a4ac.jpg

# Latest Co-Pilot mapping
# Full Pocket PC function including calendar, contacts, file explorer, Internet browser, Pocket Excel, Pocket Word, voice recorder, tasks and notes with desktop synchronisation
# Latest Microsoft Windows Mobile™ 5.0 operating software
# Bluetooth
# Powerful 416MHz processor
# Latest SiRF III in-built GPS receiver with a tilt and swivel antenna for speedy connection
# MP3
# 3.5" brilliant transflective screen
# 128MB Flash ROM
# 64MB SDRAM
# 256MB SD card (with pre-loaded maps)
# Desktop trip planning software
# Front mounted speaker for clearer voice directions
# 1300mAh removable/rechargeable Li-ion battery
# Includes: power mounting system with suction cup base, 12V in-car charger, 240V charger, protective carry case

[Knight]

Hmmmm, interesting......

Glad this topic came up -

Anyone bought/own one of these at all?
(If so, comments on it?)

Can anyone recommend a good CHEAP(ish) portable GSP?

at that price $699 - it seems a good price, but the quality?/the brand?
1 year warranty etc? are these standard things?

IF someone could educate me a little on bit on these 'gadgets' it would be MOST helpful.....

Looking to buy one for someone and i dont know a thing about these other than i dont need one cause: i can read a street map FINE!! 8O LOL! https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (tis true - but i reckon i need to update my street map - it's a 1998 UBD :roll: )

Thanking all in advance for the help.....

Cheers
Knight :wink:

[barney]

power consumption is a big thing with these. the cheaper ones tend to chew the power up real quick.
but really, $699 aint that cheap, you can get a Tom-Tom for that (the cheaper one). if you want to go a little higher, you can get a garmin one that'll work as both a street finder, with voice commands, and you can also use it as a real GPS and actually use it in the bush.
if you didn't want a street finder, but actually wanted a gps that would tell you where in the world you actually are, super cheap have one that has all the features of some of the lower spec models (ie without games and mp3 files) for around $200 bucks.
but, yes, they chew thru batteries

[Omaroo]

Well... it IS ASUS - a very much respected brand in desktop and laptop computers. As Matt says, the Garmin StreetPilot and others like it (Navman, etc) generally have their own well-developed feature sets and don't run vanilla-flavoured mapping software from MicroSoft as such. Given that I haven't tried this flavour of pocket Windows, I can't comment. It would be interesting to see what the power consumption was like, but given that it would draw power from the vehicle it probably doesn't matter much. You generally don't go walking around with something like this.

It's be worth looking at anyway...

ASUS - you gonna send me one to critique?

[barney]

might be ok then.
we'll never know unless someone buys one.
i'm just pretty dubious about aldi. you never get something for nothing, there's usually some sort of trade off for a cheaper price.
but that's just me

[Omaroo]

That's one thing about Aldi Matt - they don't muck around with failed gear and they are known for it. Being a German company I have every confidence that they'd treat you right in a warranty situation - with no questions asked.

[DeeJay]

I agree Omaroo,
I bought a couple of computer graphics pads off them about 6 months ago, they were half price of what was available elsewhere.
Buggered if I could get them to "talk" to the computers properly, and I ended up taking them back- I had opened both.
Got a full refund and they were quite cheerfull about it. If I didn't have a Garmin 320 - which is fantastic as I do a lot of country travel, then I would get one of these.
The 3d view is worth another $100 in my opinion, some of the "cheaper" street finders have de featured this.It looks as tho this is standard on this unit. Anyway there is a GPS section in this index.. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Knight]

Cheers for that Deejay....

Cant find the thread though :oops: Any idea what page it's on?


Thanks

Knight :wink:

[DeeJay]

Cheers for that Deejay....

Cant find the thread though Any idea what page it's on?

Yup,
Its a forum in this section,AULRO- second last -- GPS, i can post ya me old glasses if you like https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
Just click on AULRO Forum index

[amtravic1]

I run a Toshiba e800 with Bluetooth Navman setup. It is very good in the city and main country roads. Not much use away from the main roads however it is possible to run it as just a GPS so it gives position, height, speed etc.
I looked into the Co-Pilot mapping before I bought the Navman and at the time thought the Navman was slightly better for my needs.
Considering that Aldi are selling an Asus pda with Co-Pilot mapping I would buy one at the price advertised. You would probably be best to purchase a powered amplified in-car cradle as these work best if you use the voice navigation alot.
Suggest you buy a bigger card for it and do a full back up onto the card as when/if the unit goes flat then you can restore all data from the card instead of reinstalling. I know some people with the navman pda units and they regularly forget to charge the unit which causes all data to be lost.

Ian

[p38arover]

ASUS A636 reviews - this looks like the ALDI unit:

http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=2539

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ASUS-A636.htm

[p38arover]

I had a look in ALDI today. It is an ASUS MyPal A632.

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=8&l2...808&modelmenu=1 (http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=8&l2=0&l3=0&model=808&modelmenu=1)

Mapping is UBD/Sensis

review: http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=8&l2...808&modelmenu=1 (http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=8&l2=0&l3=0&model=808&modelmenu=1)

Ron

[incisor]

aldi are south african.

their gear is rebadged OEM gear from other manufacturers...

their computers are sourced from germany and are not bad stuff.

the warranty is excellent, i am a service agent in this area for one of the contractors that does it.

[Lucy]

Originally posted by incisor
aldi are south african.

Aldi is a private company owned bya couple of german brothers.

Perhaps you meant ASUS is south african?

[incisor]

perhaps the staff who set it up here were all expat south africans....

dont think i have ever spoken to an aussie in there....