Asus R700t

Instability overshadows unique features



THE $315 ASUS R700T GPS NAVIGATION DEVICE offers an array of features in an attractive yet portable package. There are too many glitches, however, to make this a compelling product, especially when there are far better options in this heavily saturated sector.
The R700t comes preloaded with Tele Atlas maps, and offers real-time traffict updates via the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) service.
Once you get a GPS signal and enter a destination, the unit displays easy-to-follow 3D maps (including 3D representations of landmarks) on a large 4.3-inch touch screen in crisp 480x272 resolution.
The unit offers many useful points of interest (POI)-not only the closest gas stations and airoprts, but also nearby railroad/subway stations, sport stadiums, and concert halls. This came in handy during one road trip. When we missed a turn in our route recalculaton test, the R700t caught it quickly and gave us a new direction in a very timely manner. The navigation system also offers a helpful feature; upon approaching a turn, the angle of the map automatically changes so that it's easy to tell exactly where the turn is to occur.



Overall, the interface is very user-friendly. On the downside, the R700t doesn't have text-to-speech functionality, a feature found in many competing GPS units. Reliability is also a problem: Although many navigation units lose their GPS signal when passing through tunnels, the R700t managed to conk out while passing under a highwayoverpass. It's a bit frustating to lose the signal so easily, especially when it takes to 10 minutes to regain it. The device also crashed occasinally when we simply zoomed in on a map. -Shawn Calo

Computer Shopper October 2008

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