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 Lowrance iWay 500C Portable car GPS navigation with MP3 |
The popularity of both iPods and plug-and-play satellite radios has taught us something — the latest high-tech gadgets need to be transportable. Portable GPS navigation has been around for several years, but mostly in the form of small handheld devices designed for hiking, camping or fishing. These handhelds could be used in the car, but their small screens and even smaller buttons were not ideal for the mobile environment. Over the last 3 years or so, we've seen more portable GPS navigation units designed specifically for in-vehicle use. Even better, we've also seen the price drop dramatically, with the addition of more features.
One of the latest mobile GPS offerings is from Lowrance, a company known for its marine sonar and fishing navigation products. When the iWay 500C was released last November, it won the "Best New Mobile Electronics Entertainment Product for 2005" award at the 2004 SEMA Show.
What's so special about the iWay 500C? In addition to a super-bright 5" touch-screen display, the iWay includes a built-in 20 GB hard drive — 10 GB of built-in GPS mapping information, and 10 GB reserved for your digital music files. That's right — it'll not only help you find your destination, it'll keep you entertained on the way.
It's in the box
The iWay 500C comes packaged in a fairly large box, and upon opening it you'll see why. At a time when many manufacturers try to hit lower price points by reducing the in-the-box accessories, Lowrance pulls out all the stops and includes a slew of useful stuff.
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For starters, the 72-page owner's manual is excellent. I know it's a strange thing to be excited about, but it's actually written in easy-to-understand English, not the strange and cryptic translations of many consumer electronics product manuals. It also has lots of good graphics and illustrations, perfect for someone new to navigation.
 The iWay 500C comes with power adapters, a car mount, and a cloth cover. |
Then there is the GPS Navigation unit itself. Upon removing it from the box, the first thing you'll notice is the impressive build quality. Lowrance got its start in 1957 manufacturing portable fishing sonar equipment, and has always designed products to stand up to the elements. Though designed primarily as an in-vehicle navigation system, the iWay casing is sealed to protect from internal corrosion caused by moisture. Lowrance also knows that in real-world use portable GPS units get bumped, dropped, tossed, and otherwise mistreated. The case has been designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use, and is a perfect choice for busy fleet, delivery, or emergency vehicles.
Having designed products for fishing boats, Lowrance knows the value of a bright display that won't wash out in direct sunlight, and the iWay touch-screen is no different. Here's a nice touch — also included is a protective cover for the unit when not in use, and a small lint-free towel for cleaning the inevitable fingerprints on the touch-screen. The unit also features a simplified design, with only 5 buttons along the right side to access menus and features.
