Omnitech - 15223 GPS Receiver Review

This item is my first GPS purchase and I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed. When initially reading the specs, the product seemed to offer many excellent options for an affordable price. Retailing for $299.00 at Staples, I was able to purchase mine for 149.99 on-line right before Black Friday.

•  User-friendly 4.3" touchscreen makes it easier to set your destination

•  320x240 pixel screen resolution

•  Easy-to-use large icons and a brighter display

•  Text-to-speech multilingual prompts actually names streets

•  Integrated MP3 player plays music or audio books

•  SIRF III receiver for fast, accurate navigation

•  Includes 1.2 million points of interest (POI's) 

When I received the item, it did not function to my level of expectations. The screen was not always responsive to touch, it was difficult to maneuver between functions, and the 3 map views differed very little from each other. When looking up POIs, I was not able to locate many places that are commonly used or available. it also does not reroute quickly and verbal prompts/directions are given too close to the given point. In order to know of the next prompt, you must look down at the screen. The window mount is useless. The mount is flimsy and does not adhere to the windshield well. It would be better to just use mapquest. When not connected to the adapter, the unit turns off quickly. The battery life is also horrible. The only bonus is that it has a 4.3" wide-screen touchscreen and text-to-speech capabilities. If I were the average buyer looking for ease of use in an affordable package, this would not be the device to get. Look at the name brand systems for durability and ease of use when comparing value to price.