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| Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator | 
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| Brand: Dash
Category: CE
List Price: $299.99
Buy New: $299.00
You Save: $0.99 (0%)
New (1) Used (2) from $199.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  166 reviews
Sales Rank: 3497
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Display Size: 4.3
Includes MP3 Player: 0
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 2.8 x 4.8 x 4.1
MPN: 99-1000-001
Model: 99-1000-001
UPC: 892437002012
EAN: 0892437002012
ASIN: B0014CIBWC
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not for me, not yet (3 starts for effort) June 23, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I use my GPS on a daily basis for my visits with customers in the greater LA area. I ordered and received my Dash in April '08 and returned it after ca. 1 month.
I'm excited about what they're doing and am looking forward to seeing the device evolve: The issues I had were: Non-efficient routing, sometimes outdated or mistaken addresses and, the biggest one, the long start-up times: I normally rely on my GPS to provide me with Yellow-Page data: Most of the Yellow Page data is really only accessible once the Phone connection is established. I can't wait 5-10 minutes for my GPS to start up when I plug it into the car. I did use My Dash to find addresses and transmit to the GPS. The same limitations of having to wait for the Dash to be ready for reception apply. Leaving the Dash connected in the car or carrying it from the house to the car would be alternatives... Not the most exciting ones from a convenience and security point of view.
I was looking forward to seeing the traffic data really help me, especially for surface streets. I never got to that point, because too often the routing didn't work for me, because of time constraints, i.e. I'd find the same address quicker in my backup Garmin, or because that route hadn't been "scanned" yet. (Santa Monica BD in Los Angeles)
I would be willing to re-consider Dash as an intelligent alternative to the Tom-Toms and Garmins once these issues are resolved. For now it's not ready for heavy use.
 This is Smart Driving June 17, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've been waiting a while to get my hands on the Dash Express. I remember first reading about the technology about a year ago and have kept track of their recent updates. This is my first GPS nav system.
I am very pleased with my purchase thus far. I am not bothered by the size of the unit as I don't see myself needing to take it out on walks with me any time soon - just in my car. The one negative that I keep hearing is that it's routing abilities leave a little to be desired... I have found from experience and by hearing others that this unit has proven an ability to learn from mistakes. In time this unit will keep getting better. Initial reviewers target an infancy stage in the product timeline.. where no data has been built yet. If it does send you on the wrong route, it will be able to adapt the next time out. I don't know many other devices on the market that can adapt to traffic patterns and routing times, and make changes. The more Dash devices on the road, the better this connectivity will get - the better the routing gets, the better the traffic reporting gets.
It is an exciting experience to know that the data you create as you drive is being fed back and enhancing the Dash GPS network for the future. This is really the next step in Navigation.
The other really cool feature is that you are connected to yahoo for instant up-to-date search functionality - get instant gas prices around you, new restaurants... etc. You can even download dash apps that have been built for the unit - such as a weather app, twitter, etc. Menu system is very simple and streamlined.
I'm excited by the possibilities with this product.
 So far so good June 17, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I love this thing. I wish it was smaller, and the mount was smaller. It can be slow at times and has some weird routing quirks. I just go into the device, click the report a problem link. When I get home, I check my email, add comments to the problem report and it is sent back to Dash. They use the info to do a software update to improve the device. They seem to do much more often than other GPS's.
+Problem Reporting feature allows Dash to learn about routing issues or anything else and correct their software. I used a Garmin for a while and it gave me strange routes too. I had no outlet to contact them easily to help them improve.
+Displays Gas Stations based on Price or on location.
+Send2Car functionality makes it easy to get addresses into car.
+Traffic info is awesome.
+Searching info is awesome. Want to find a Wii? Type in Wii in the search and it will give you a list of retailers. (Of course doesn't know about availability.) Other GPS units would search for the names of business's with the word Wii in it.
+Major software updates. With a Garmin Nuvii, to get new features you have to buy another unit.
+Historical traffic updates monthly (of course real-time traffic is real-time).
-Strange routes sometimes. (June software update should help.)
-Prefers freeways (June software update and future traffic updates should help.)
-Can be slow to calculate a route.
?Some interactions feel like they could be accomplished better. I don't like to have to study the map when it finds a traffic issue ahead to find a different route. I'm driving. However, I am not sure how to improve this.
 Can't compare with the Garmin Nuvi's Series June 16, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I had a Garmin Nuvi 350 and it worked fine. But then thought I try the Dash unit out because it has the up-to-the-minute traffic routing. I was very disappointed with the Dash because it is so slow compared to the older Garmin 350. Slow on power-up, slow on calculations. The graphics are just not clear and are tiny. So I went and bought the new Garmin Nuvi 780, which was like 10X better than the Dash, lightning fast on calculations, the MSN live traffic on the 780 was better than the Dash. I use both of them side-by-side in my car since I have both. Sorry, but the Garmin Nuvi 780 beats the Dash unit hands-down. There is only 1 thing I use the Dash for, that it tells you how many miles until you have to change freeways instead of how far until you get to the next freeway split. I don't think the Dash unit will ever catch up to the Garmin Nuvi's. That's just my 2 cents worth.
 Needs work June 15, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I had high hopes for this item but was not impressed for several reasons:
It is missing many standard GPS features 1) no waypoints, you can't create a route from point A to B with a stop at C 2) No route avoidance, ours seemed to have an affinity for dirt roads and routing through housing developments rather than simply staying on the paved roads even if it was a block longer but much faster 3) No displays of simple information such as your current speed and direction
Since it comes with a USB cable one would logically assume that it came with software to create routes and such, this is not the case, there is currently NO use for the USB cable it's for "future enhancements".
Here in Minnesota (and California I understand) you cannot use the suction cup mount on the windshield legally so you are limited to the mounting plate on the dash, ours came loose after less than 24hrs as soon as the temp outside got to 75 degrees. Mounting options need work.
The internet features show great promise but it needs work on the basic functions people expect from a GPS.
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