MapMyIndia has been a pioneer in popularising GPS navigation devices in India and undoubtedly, there is still a long way to go. Reducing the price is one way to go and that is exactly what MapMyIndia did. With the RoadPilot, making it the most inexpensive and the only device priced under Rs 10k?has it lost out on performance? Lets find out.
The RoadPilot, even though it is priced lower than its siblings, comes in the same packaging as the expensive siblings. Inside a box, there is the navigation device, a car windscreen mount, a charger for the car, manual on the CD and the Quick Start guide in print. What is missing is the wall charger. But, you can use any MiniUSB cable to charge it from a PC or using a USB wall charger.
The RoadPilot comes with a 3.5 inch touchscreen and is loaded with 1 GB built in memory for maps and future map upgrades. The interface is easy and simple to navigate, and the touchscreen quality is good.
I told the RoadPilot to take me home in Ghaziabad from my office in Gurgaon. Left office, and the RoadPilot kept demanding that I turn off the expressway and head towards the MG road. I don?t know why, because that route is longer and slower, when compared to the expressway. Anyway, I kept on the expressway. Following the navigation in my head, I reached the central Delhi area, and all of a sudden, the previously confused RoadPilot suddenly found it?s feet and began barking out instructions with extreme precision. It again became confused as I reached Ghazipur, where it asked me to take a right turn where there is a constant divider, a ditch and no Ghaziabad on the right side!
Next morning, I asked the RoadPilot to take me to office. This time, the instructions were fine and much improved, despite it was urging me to take a right turn at the Akshardham crossing. Incidentally, that right turn has been non-existent for the last 2 years, and taking a right would have meant that I would have perched my car on the divider, inevitably damaged and; spent a day at the police station.
The RoadPilot managed to last till the Expressway Toll Plaza before it ran out of battery. This meant that the battery life lasted around 80 km, which is quite good. But, with the car charger available, there should be no problems.
As far as the drawbacks are concerned, we have heard horror stories about GPS navigation devices landing people in a messy situation, globally. And the maps need updates constantly to avoid this situation. However, there are certain strands of similar vibes here, as illustrated in the journey description above. Not good, considering that I was actually traveling just in the NCR area, and expected it to be well mapped. Secondly, the navigation instructions do not fall softly on the ear. Why did MapMyIndia need to hire someone with the voice like that of a jail warden to bark out instructions? Someone with a softer and more pleasant voice would have helped!
Third, the built in speaker is just not good enough. The speaker volume is low, and if you turn up the slider to max, there is a huge loss of clarity. Thus, it is necessary to look at the arrow on the device screen to know where to go next. The speaker, and the voice, need a complete overhaul.
Verdict: At a price of Rs 7,990, the RoadPilot is a good option for someone who needs a GPS navigation device in their car. However, if you have a phone which is compatible with the now free Nokia OVI maps, then give that a try. Because, the road mapping does need a lot of upgrades before it becomes bulletproof.
? CyberMedia www.LD2.in
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