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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: 3455
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:
 Dash service offers unique features, makes this gps really great November 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
Best GPS Device November 10, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
Outstanding GPS...People, read the instructions carefully!!! November 9, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
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!!!
 Great idea, but needs tons of work November 5, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
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.
 Nice device 2 years late; now discontinued! November 5, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Dash Express is now a collector's item. Dash is getting out of the hardware business and going to try to get their software on other devices. Maybe Garmin or Magellan will buy them. I am sticking with my iPhone personally.
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