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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: 1719
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:
 Many things did not work August 3, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
The Wifi did not connect 90% of the time. The code to activate that was sent to me did not match the device. The learn a route feature is not in the menus. The unit is heavy. The screen is touchy (at best) and randomly changes from screen to screen. My Garmin works perfectly. I was looking forward to the learn a route feature. I have a feeling that this is a quality control issue, but unfortunately an issue that can easily show up after the money back guarantee period.
Not ready for prime time.
 The ONLY GPS worthy of commuters July 31, 2008
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
The Dash Express is the result of an idea that GPS units need to be smarter in order to give accurate routing for urban areas where local knowledge of traffic, time, and situations determine which route is the best to take. Armed with this live data, the Dash is the only GPS that is actually good enough to help you during your work commute.
The current unit, however, is very much function over form. The device (and its mount) is nothing less than giant compared to other current GPS units. The interface is a little slow, and there are various small detailed features missing that the more polished brands feature. But these things don't matter in the end if this is the only unit that can actually help you on your commute to work every day.
It is the only device that will record and display live and historic traffic and speed data for nearly EVERY road except for the smallest. It therefore has the best idea of the actual times of local roads.
I've tried traffic services from Garmin and others. They only cover the major highways, and data is much too delayed for it to be useful to you. Of course dash does depend on other dash users to give it better data, but it clearly has the best idea of current traffic and speed conditions of any GPS currently on the market.
If you factor in the cost of yearly map updates and inferior traffic services of the other brands, the Dash subscription is almost the same price. Certainly a steal once you consider time (and gas) saved with better routing around traffic.
The recent (June 08) addition of MyRoutes is what really made this useful. It learns your personal route home, which in my case was very different than any GPS or online map route), and then includes that in its route suggestions. Yes, to see the potential of this, you must tell it to route to Work when you leave in the morning and vice versa.
There are plenty of improvements to be made, as the possibilities of the 2-way communication and live data are endless, and perhaps the biggest benefit of Dash is its very active development. They have already made significant improvements (which automatically download to your device) and the developers show they are continuing to add features and improvements suggested in the excellent dash user forums.
I'm dashing around town! July 30, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
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Here's IRONY for you. I posted the review below the morning of July 30, 2008. Later that same day, when getting ready to drive home I turned on my Dash and it appears that the touch screen does not work. It boots up to the "Disclaimer" page that you have to AGREE to before the device operates. This screen only appears when rebooting or resetting the device; not every time you turn it on. I tried resetting it many times and both ways (holding the on/off button down for at least 8 seconds OR using the end of a paper clip by pressing it through a small hole on the side of the unit). Nothing worked! So now I have an unusable Dash that I will be returning for repair/replace under the warranty. I will update this review with my experience.
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I bought the Dash when it first became available. Since then there's been 1 major firmware upgrade (June) that has significantly improved it.
I love the unit itself and use it every weekday (sometimes more) for my daily commute in Atlanta; so I think I have quite a bit of experience with it under my belt.
Shortcomings of the unit USED to be:
1. Screen readability
2. Satellite lock-on
3. Routing
4. Screen drawing
The recent firmware update corrected or improved all of these issues for me. I especially like how quickly it locks into your location after turning it on. It used to take quite a while.
New routing feature now includes MyRoute. The unit now memorizes the specific routes that I take to/from work that the Dash would not normally recommend. This gives me the ability to compare traffic to "my route" and the routes that Dash recommends. The MyRoutes can be deleted at any time and will then re-learn them based on your driving.
Screen draws from one type of map view to another or from maps to the menus used to take too long. The recent update has corrected this and screen draws are much quicker.
Shortcomings of the unit STILL existing:
1. Routing. I've noticed that Dash does not like to route me off major interstates or highways. It's almost like it detests any minor streets about town. This applies to my 17 mile commute where 90% is on the highways. It does not apply to "in town" routing. Please don't misinterpret me as Dash won't route me 5 miles out of my way just to get me to a highway. It routes great if no highways are an option in your route. If I'm en-route traveling on the highway and I ask Dash for alternate routes, it rarely gives me alternate routing off the highway. If I exit the highway and get far enough away from it, the Dash finally "gets it" and gives me routing through town, off the highways.
With the latest firmware update, I've noticed that this has gotten better and I expect with more time that the Dash team will continue to improve this.
2. Routing Options such as Highways Only, No Highways, No Toll Roads, etc. These options are available is almost all GPS units these days (I think) so Dash falls short here. Again, I hope the Dash team will incorporate these features in the unit sometime soon.
3. US based only. Being a Canadian living in Atlanta, I get up to Canada once or twice a year and would love the ability to use my Dash there. At the least, it would be nice to have Canadian maps built in. I can do without the connected features; just give me basic routing!
I've used the connected searching functions on a limited basis but what I have used I've been very impressed with. It's pretty great that you can search for places LIVE along your route (this was a part of the recent firmware update) or anywhere else in the US.
"Saved Searches" are also available via their web site. Many of these are user created and posted on-line for other Dash users to download to their unit and use. Examples are Weather, Police speed traps, Flight information, etc. You name it...if it can be searched online (in most cases) a Saved Search can be created for Dash. I've used this on a limited basis and will soon take the time to fully understand it and use it more.
All the other features you read about on their web site are A+. I especially like and use frequently the ability to send my Dash unit an address from any computer. This feature is incredibly easy and powerful!
After sending an address to my Dash, the next time I turn it on, a notification pops on the screen to tell me that it just received a new address. It puts it in my address book and gives me the option to view it if I want. You would not believe how quick this occurs. The first time I tried it, I had the Dash next to me at the computer. It seemed like the address arrived on my Dash as I was letting my finger off the Enter button!
For me, viewing traffic information on the screen around me was why I bought it. It's invaluable information that I use everyday for my often brutal drive through Atlanta. Dash has even shown me routes that I never would have thought to take (due to my perception of traffic congestion along these routes). This really surprised me!
Overall, I'm very happy I bought the Dash (even at $400). It's on a whole different level from other GPS units based on it's "connected" nature and all the functionality that gives it. If I could have, I would have given 4 1/2 stars! Dash on.........
 Best GPS Ever! July 29, 2008
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
In my line of work (Auto Sales) I get to see and use many OEM installed GPS devices and frankly was convinced that factory installed was the way to go.
The car companies can learn alot from this great GPS. First and most important it's easy to use right out of the box. I like nothing better than a product that is so well designed that you dont need to read any instruction manual.
Less than 5 minutes online account setup and I had sent 6 to 10 of my most important addresses right to the device. This is important because it's probably one of the best features of the Dash. No typing on a small screen while your driving. Download a simple browser plug in and you simply highlight and right click an address and the next time you turn the Dash on, all your sent addresses show up!
You can quickly see where the closest gas station is, and what their price is for gas. Movie theatre and the movie schedule with show ratings are three or four touches of the screen away!
It's simple and simply amazing. This is what OEM navigation should be at a fraction of the cost. Monthly service is affordable, but not mandatory. You will want it for all the great features it brings to this GPS.
 DASH - Lot of fluff not much meat! July 28, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
The dash has been an interesting and fun toy to play with but until it gets the basics of GPS right (autozoom on turn for example) I am returning it.
Dash seems heavy on the bells and whistle at the expense of basic GPS functions. I hope the product will evolve over the next few years into the "best in class" GPS they claim, but I can't see myself paying $13.00/month for the privileged of watching that occur.
Luckily Amazon has a much more generous return policy then Dash networks. If I had purchased the unit from DASH I would need to pay a $75.00 restocking fee to return a beta product. Frankly its an outrage and reinforces what I already believe. Dash knows they have a half-baked product that is likely to be returned by many of their customers.
I hope the device lives up to its potential but even my short experience with Dash Inc leaves me doubtful.
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