RNS510 cost-justified?

I was house hunting today around Melbourne and I was relying on my tablet (google maps) for navigation. I reckon it's probably the best mapping system there is (sat nav + 3g). Searching and navigation was a breeze. But.... it was such a cumbersome arrangement! I had to constantly charge it, fiddling it betwen the tablet and my radio (volume control), getting my partner to hold it and give me instructions (I obvbiously can't hold it or look at it while driving!). Once we park, we had to keep it inside the dash or bring it. Then get back in, set everything up for the next destination..

I got over it after the 3rd house inspection! I want full integration! It's just so much more convenient.

That said, google maps will always be a great back up, especially searching for specific stores/restaurants.

Note: I'm driving my corolla atm. I've got a jetta on order (missus got a polo on order).

Yeah, I only use Google maps on my SGS2 for finding houses/business, etc, if I'm not sure what the specific address is. I'm on Telstra NextG now which is mahoosively better than 3. In my old car I had a Nokia N96 with its maps (a main reason for getting that phone back in 2008) with a cradle holder for it.

I've got the factory fitted RNS510 in my GTI here are my thoughts

Cons:
* Maps are too old, when you can get up to date maps for your $200 tomtom, they need to release updates faster for the RNS510.
* It's slow and takes too long to start up. Frustrating when clicking next track and it takes a second to registry your press
* 2,000 song limit on the SD card - Not sure what the point of this is, but it makes the SD card option less useful than it should be.
* Hard drive is to small - 40GB? Been a while since I saw a 40GB hdd in anything...
* Radio text doesn't work yet it works in the RCD510 - what gives?
* The format/colour of the maps aren't great - google/tomtom is much clearer/easier to read/view.
* The UI is average - in the day and age of Ipads/gesture based UI, the UI needs updating.

Pros:
* The integration into the MFD is good
* Playing media/displaying mp3 info is good. (maybe could of use the mp3 tag info instead of filename when browsing)

Is it worth 2.5k? In my opinion, no. When you can buy something with technology much better (ie Ipad) for $600, 2.5k for this is way over the top in comparison.

When you click on next, are you accessing an iPod? Click on next on my USB key is pretty responsive.

Some of them, mine included, only has a 30GB HDD. But, you might be unaware, these are not standard HDD's but automotive HDD's (specifically, they are designed to cope with both vibration AND heat). At the time of the RNS510's release, 30GB was one of the larger models. Even today, the largest is only 100GB.

Radio text certainly does work. But it depends on your radio station broadcasting it.

UI - it could be prettier. But seriously... this is a car we're talking about, not an iPhone. You're lucky it's still legal to have a touch system, despite touch input being well known for being completely useless unless you're looking directly at it (as opposed to "hard buttons", which can be operated by feel). There is no way they should have "gestures" on a car-based system.

2000 song limit on the SD card?? I threw a 32GB card in mine which equals around 6000 songs...Certainly enough to get me to work and back :)

I'm just gonna throw this out there but my parents have a tomtom (which I borrow occasionally) and despite trying to update it it still does not have a lot of the roads (including the Lane Cove Tunnel!!!) but that's just my experience :)

Wow, I didn't know that. Learn something new everyday. Was about to pull the trigger to get a 32gb for the RCD510. Guess it's pointless now!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ferni

* 2,000 song limit on the SD card - Not sure what the point of this is, but it makes the SD card option less useful than it should be.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cookie28

I'm just gonna throw this out there but my parents have a tomtom (which I borrow occasionally) and despite trying to update it it still does not have a lot of the roads (including the Lane Cove Tunnel!!!) but that's just my experience :)

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Do you have map updates, or map corrections? As I understand it, "map corrections" only affect roads already on your maps (this is what I have). I believe you need to buy "map updates" to get new roads.

Yeah we got it a few years ago now, will have to try and buy the map updates for them

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Corey_R

Radio text certainly does work. But it depends on your radio station broadcasting it.

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The RNS510 shows the station names, but doesn't display the song/artist name and weather forecast like the RCD310/510 does, which is what I think he means.