A SUPERB GPS Unit
The Navigon 2100MAX is an EXCELLENT PERFORMER - well thought out and well executed.

An easy User Interface allows you to enter street addresses, for automatic point-to-point navigation - with turn-by-turn Voice guidance, if desired - and tailor a variety of settings to your individual tastes. A massive 'Points Of Interest' database allows it to show accurate locations of Gas Stations, Restaurants, and a whole 'laundry list' of other choices, wherever you travel. I live in an 'off the beaten path' small town, and every detail is well covered here.

Though it comes 'out of the box' quite complete, the Navigon 2100MAX also has Expansion Capabilities for some additional-cost services, for those who later decide they're useful. The first - which I highly recommend over the long term - is "Fresh Maps", a three-year subscription for updates to the Maps and Points Of Interest databases. There are also options to add Zagat Survey restaurant reviews, which would pop up onscreen when you touch the icon for a nearby restaurant -- and live Traffic Info for select metropolitan areas, which integrates to display on the maps and suggest alternate routing. Any or all of these can be added to the Navigon 2100 or 2100MAX at any time, by purchasing the appropriate access code cards. If you're rich and want it all from day one, look into the pricier Navigon 7100, which comes preloaded with all the options.

This is my second GPS unit, after having done Long-Haul Trucking for several years with an early (1998 vintage) Garmin StreetPilot unit. The Navigon, with its newer technology, is naturally vastly superior to that 'ancient' Garmin - with a simpler User Interface, much more Detailed Maps, true Routing capability (with early units, you had to do your own point-by-point route setting), and easy Updating capability (something I longed for as the Garmin aged).

To be fair, the current Garmin models also offer these newer capabilities - so there is no fair comparison between the current models and my old one. Every GPS now on the market is far superior to the early models - and, notably, at a fraction of the price. The evolution of the GPS products in the past two years, is directly comparable to the evolution of Personal Computers over the past 10 years or so.

ANY modern GPS unit is, basically, a 'task-dedicated' Computer - with its circuitry optimized for the intended primary function. (Portable DVD Players with their own display screen are another common, though much simpler, device that fits this general description.) The Navigon models, like many competitors, use a customized version of Microsoft's Windows CE as their basic operating system - augmented by a software package which includes the Map information, Points Of Interest, and the manufacturer's particular 'twist' on a User Interface (what you deal with, onscreen, to enter information and use the device). The Navigon units use a 2GB SD Memory Card to hold it all - which allows for an easy hardware upgrade (pop in a bigger Card) if the data-handling needs ever grow beyond 2GB. (In comparison, my ancient Garmin had a 32MB internal chip, and wasn't expandable.)

In raw computing power, modern GPS units put some older Laptop Computers to shame. With this Computer basis, it isn't much of a stretch to expand on the basic platform to incorporate MP3 Players, Bluetooth communications, etc. into a modern GPS unit - and many models do so, with something available for every taste and budget.

Navigon is a solid German company - a leader in Europe, but a distant fourth in the U.S. market - behind Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom (another European company) in market share here. There is NO shortcoming in their product, or the support standing behind it - just less money spent on advertising to build the brand into a household word. A classical German marketing approach, actually - concentrate on building a superior product, and let that product 'speak for itself' in establishing a reputation, over time. (Older folks can think back to the early growth of Volkswagen, for another 'textbook example' of how this works.)

Navigon is a solid contender, with a solid product, worthy of your serious consideration for your GPS needs. They won't disappoint you.

Great Unit for the money
I've read a number of reviews that say the 2100 max is slow to acguire satellites, or recalculate, hard to use etc. I bought the 2100 max for use in my Jeep. It acquired satellites fast and recalculates quickly. So, I thought it must be because of the soft top on the Jeep. To test that, I put the unit in my Acura TL that has a navigation system that cost over ,000. Granted the Navigation in the Acura has a lot of bells and whistles, but turn for turn, the Navigon kept up with the Acura. It acquired the satellites just as fast. Could living on the west coast have anything to do with it... Nah. On a recent trip to Philadelphia the performance was the same. The Navigon 2100max is not perfect, but it is a great unit for the cost.Navigon 2100 max 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech, Lifetime Traffic, and Fresh Maps

Navigon 2100 Max 4.3 ' GPS
There is not enough good things that I can say about this GPS sytem. The Navigon 2100 Max is a magnificant product which I found after extensive research of many brands and types of GPS systems. With its outstanding Reality view displaying an image of the green signs you come across everyday allows you to navigate with confidence. Text-to-spech is usually very clear, unless you turn the volume all of the way up then the voice is somewhat distorted. The clarity of the screen is tremendous with its large size of 4.3' you can read everything with ease even if you happen to be a back seat passenger. The only con to this system is it the distorted voice at loud volumes, and the menue setup that is difficult for some to maneuver through. In summary, this system is a brilliant buy with an intricate design. A 5 star rating for this product for sure. Thank you Navigon and Amazon for the speedy delievery!

Happy, But Not Totally Bought on it
After searching for a gps I decided to go with this unit. I read good rewiews and went with it. When I first used it I was impressed by the screen clarity and non cartoon looking maps like with other brands. It also aquired a singnal very quickly here in S. Florida. At first the unit was freezing up and driving me crazy! I was about to send it for a ride out of my window @ 70mph. But I gave it a chance to redeem itself do to computer gliches. I also think that if the gps is not fully charged for the first time ,you may encounter problems. Then after a while things seemed fine. I love the detailed view and the road signs and McDonalds and Gas station logos...How cool! The turn by turn directions have been pretty much dead on the money. eg. right Turn at SR7, and you'r right there. The womans voice tells me to turn. Although not the sexiest, but it will do. Most of the time you can't here the voice prompts cause the speaker is not loud enough. So I recommend cranking the tunes so you don't here her...LOL Anyway, sometime these units have to much to say Anyway. You can just follow the onscreen directions and you'll be fine. The only thing that I don't like is the POI. They are not updated to American cities! Or maybe because it's not made in the USA. I couldn't even locate the neerest post office or well known establishments. All and all I'm satissfied with the Navigon or I guess I would have returned it. Once you get used to it you will like it. Just takes some time getting used to.

Frank from Nj, recently transplanted to S. Florida and lovin' It

Comparison of Magellan 800, Magellan 1412 and Navigon 2100 max
I used to have Magellan Roadmate 800 and a few weeks ago I purchased Magellan Roadmate 1412 then I found a coupon for Navigon 2100 max. And here is the comparison chart; some of the entires are my personal opinions and might not reflect everyone's opinion... here it is:

M08- Magellan Roadmate 800
M14- Magellan Roadmate 1412
N21- Navigon 2100 max

Device specific features
M08- Heavy; can play mp3s; can store JPGs
M14- Slim and light
N21- Slim and light (not as light as Mag 1412 tho)

User Friendliness
M08- Yes
M14- Yes
N21- Not as good as Magellan - buttons can be too close to each other depeding on the menu and the screen

Volume
M08- Can set up the volume manually with a control on the edge of the device; Volume increases at certain speed
M14- Can set up the volume through the touch screen; Has only 5 settings; Volume doesn't increase over certain speed which can be hard to hear
N21- Could not find the volume settings; Volume setting for over a speed can be set (No increase / Low increase / High Increase); Voice can be staticy

Text-to-speech
M08- No
M14- Funny pronounciations on certain words; "in" sounds like "an" ... "Turn Left in 2 miles" sounds like "Turn Left then 2 miles" - "Freeway entrance" sounds like "Freeway an trans"
N21- Pronounciation is more accurate then Magellan 1412

Live Traffic
M08- No
M14- No
N21- Yes - Might have to be purchased seperately; reroutes based on the traffic

Zagat - Restaurant Ratings
M08- No
M14- No
N21- Yes - Might have to be purchased seperately

POI
M08- ~1 million POIs
M14- ~6 million POIs with wide range of categories
N21- ~1 million POIs with limited range categories; shows actual brand logo on the map

Lane Assistance
M08- No
M14- No
N21- Yes

Mount
M08- Easy to mount
M14- Easy to mount
N21- Hard to mount, hard to take it off

Password protection
M08- Yes
M14- No
N21- Yes

Compass
M08- Yes
M14- Yes
N21- Not by default, has to be modifed in settings

Recalculation
M08- Screen goes blue with a progress bar until the calculation is over
M14- Immediately
N21- Immediately

Vehicle Type
M08- Car only
M14- Car only
N21- Car / Bicycle / Pedestrian

Arrival Time
M08- Display approximate number of minutes the route will take
M14- Displays the arrival time
N21- Displays the arrival time and the minutes it takes to the destination

Distance left
M08- Shows the miles left until the next move; Shows the miles left until the destination
M14- Shows the miles left until the next move
N21- Shows the miles left until the next move; Shows the miles left until the destination

Turn by turn view
M08- Yes
M14- Yes
N21- Yes

Better for
M08- Within the city travel
M14- Within the city travel with better POI options
N21- Long distance travel with live traffic and lane assistance

Sluggy
M08- Smooth menu items, sluggy map over time
M14- Not sluggy
N21- Sluggy menu items, smooth map

Route options
M08- Fastest Route; Shortest Route; Most use of Freeway; Less use of Freeway
M14- Fastest Route; Shortest Route; Most use of Freeway; Less use of Freeway
N21- Fastest route; Optimum route; Shortest route; Scenic route

Tollway option
M08- Can not avoid
M14- Can avoid
N21- Can avoid or forbid

Allowing U-Turn (or not)
M08- Not modifiable (Allows)
M14- Not modifiable (Allows)
N21- Can allow or forbid U-Turns