Viamichelin’s latest entry into the GPS market is the X-980T, the most
feature-packed in its range. In addition to standard navigation you get
subscription free traffic information thanks to the provided FM receiver, speed
camera locations and exclusive content from Michelin Guides, including hotels,
restaurants and tourism throughout the UK.
As well as full maps of Europe, there’s a voice feature that provides text to
speech for road names and locations, while Bluetooth navigation is available for
your phone. These are some good touches, but nothing particularly unusual for a
high-end device.
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Startup and GPS fix times are good, and setting destinations is well handled
thanks to a depreciating alphabet display that quickly narrows down your
search. However, the menu structure is pretty awkward to navigate once you're on
the move.
Dedicated controls take you to navigation options, history, POI (points of
interest) or traffic data, but returning to the main map involves navigating
back through the whole menu structure - certainly not the easiest we've ever
used.
The on-screen buttons are also fairly small, despite the generous 4.3in
display. The map is clear and accurate but not particularly easy to adjust,
mainly consisting of full-screen birds-eye-view or map/waypoint display.
The X-980T is also quite bulky and doesn’t really compete with today’s more
slim-line market. The suction mount is similarly large and is awkward to
operate, culminating in an unattractive setup that tends to flap around when
attached to the windscreen.
Viamichelin has built some nice
features into the X-980T; the Bluetooth phone pairing works well and the free
traffic reports and travel guides are a welcome bonus. In terms of the menu
interface and design, though, it falls down and isn’t very user friendly despite
the nifty extras.
At around £360 the X-980T is fairly expensive, and there are rivals that
offer similar functionality for less money.
Pros: Travel guides built in; free traffic data and module
supplied; straightforward mapping Cons: Poor usability and menu navigation; bulky and
unattractive design; limited in terms of features; expensive Overall: Despite efficient mapping and some nice touches the
X-980T is a distinctly average device that’s rather frustrating to use on the
move
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