Product Description
The new - breed AVIC-N1 combines high - octane entertainment with information that's actually useful and fun to use. Intensely entertaining DVD movies, CDs, MP3s ad XM Radio are just the beginning; also at your fingertips is a powerful navigation database. And now for the first time, you can monitor your vehicle's performance with eight different Vehicle Dynamics Displays shown on the motorized touch screen.Feel like pushing boundaries? With new functions and new technologies, the powerful AVIC-N1 is ready to take you there
This is a great product and I would recommend it highly!
PROS:
- Great range of functionality. Navigation, AM-FM radio, CD, MP3 and DVD player in one system.
- Excellent audio quality and controls. Powerful amplifier! Much better than the AM-FM radio/CD system that came with my 2004 Honda CR-V.
- The navigation system is reliable and relatively easy to use. It does not have quite as many features as Delorme Street Atlas USA 2004 (an Intel/Windows computer based product), but as a result is much less complex.
- The multiple navigation views will probably satisfy most user preferences. There is even a Vehicle Dynamics view (speed, acceleration, angular velocity, slope of vehicle, alternator voltage, compass, clock), and a rear camera view (if you have the optional rear camera).
- If properly installed, the system is unobtrusive and appears to be a factory installed option. The dash mounted unit installs in a 'single-DIN' space (a DIN is a standard unit of measurement for dash mounting which as near as I can tell is about 7-1/4' wide by 2-1/4' high). If installing into a double-DIN space, a CD/DVD storage pocket is available to neatly occupy the other DIN. Although the GPS antenna and the Voice command microphone must be visible, all wiring leads can be hidden.
- Anti-theft feature. Front-panel can be detached (which totally disables the unit) and a blinking red light shows potential thieves that the anti-theft feature is enabled.
- Software upgradable. This is a relatively new product and the 1.1 version was just released. Although no details on the next upgrade are available, the manufacturer says that it will be coming in 2005. The software 'auto-installs' when the navigation CD-ROM is inserted so upgrading should be easy.
CONS:
- The Voice command icon does not appear on all displays. For instance if you are in the Vehicle Dynamics view, there is no direct way to activate voice command recognition. A hard Voice button on the dash mounted unit or even a 'Wake-up Voice' voice command, would be most helpful.
- The remote control has a Voice button, but the range and angle of operation of the remote is severely limited. The remote has to be aimed directly toward and can't be much more than about a foot away from the dash mounted unit. There is no documentation on the remote but I am guessing that it is an IR rather than an RF receiver.
- The Destination by Telephone Search is a great feature, but if you begin to input a number that isn't in the database (my own home phone number for instance) there is no error indication, the system just refuses to accept the complete number. I first thought that this was a bug or repair issue. An error message would be nice, for example 'Sorry, telephone number not in database. Please use another search method.'
- The Operation Manual needs some work. It should be in color, contain larger screen shots and an index. Also the Hardware Manual and the Operation Manual could be integrated into one document for better reading continuity. Usage documentation on the hard buttons and the soft buttons & icons could then be combined into one section.
