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Old 08-21-2006, 09:20 PM
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Brian-bmw Brian-bmw is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmoura
I propose for now Nav Professional to be called Nav Dummies (means, for dummies to operate).
I am in the other camp, but it helps to have some history...

There are some very impressive things to consider about our nav systems. First, did you know that BMW introduced this system in 1995. That was the MKI system, and it is the same basic architecture that you have today in the X3.

Name any other auto manufacturer with navigation in 1995. In fact, there were only one or two aftermarket nav systems available in 1995. BMW caught the auto industry on its heels big time with navigation. It was many years before any other auto maker introduced a comparable system. Did you know that Audi did not put a color navigation system into the A8 until the 2004 model year? It took Audi 9 years to catch up to BMW

Second, the basic architecture of the MKI is still quite viable today with the MKIV system. BMW's original nav architecture is nearly 12 years old, yet it is still as capable (and better in many ways), than other systems on the market. Very few technologies last 12 years. I have used Honda, Lexus, Audi, and Mercedes Benz systems, and the BMW MKIV system competes well with those.

If I could pick and choose, I would take the way-point and route management available on an Alpine aftermarket unit, the touchscreen address entry of the Honda system, the joystick control of Mercedes Benz's old ML series, and BMW's graphics presentation (paired with Honda's immediate turn instruction graphics). But, since it is the graphics that I look at most, I would pick the BMW above all. No one else has anything that compares to the Perspective view.

In my opinion, you have to go to an aftermarket system designed for a nav/audio enthusiast, before you get the features on your wish list. Alpine has been doing that stuff for 5 years, but no auto maker has dared introduce it into a factory system.
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