The Dash Express was released a few weeks ago. Got my new 2008 Prius without NAV so I ordered one to fill that void. Received my Dash Express GPS on Tuesday and installed it. Been using it this week. Pros: Maintains a continuous cell connection to the internet (subscription) Searches are through Yahoo Local in real-time New addresses and lists may be added to the device from the my.dash.net website or a slick browser plug in. I shows not only where nearby gas stations are but what their current prices are. Nearby theaters with showtimes. Shows airports with flight delay info. TruTraffic displays the most real-time traffic info available on a GPS down to the street level. The latest features, maps and traffic are added automatically. $399 is not a bad price. Cons: Its bigger than your shirt pocket. Slower to connect than my Nuvi. Connection subscription is $10-$13 a month. Bottom line: Dash Express works as advertised and is worth a look. Anyone else here have one yet?
The demo video has a Prius in it! Anyhow, would like to hear how well Dash works over time. Since this is such a new product, I expect it to have a few bugs and usability issues that will be ironed out as the product matures. My wife's been looking for a new GPS tool, and this may fit the bill. BTW, how much did you pay for your unit?
Did you get a packaged 1-year subscription rate? Or are you only using the 3-month free trial for now?
Interesting unit and definitely brings some of the Toyota G-BOOK or GM's OnStar features into a portable unit.
Did you get a packaged 1-year subscription rate? Or are you only using the 3-month free trial for now? BTW, how did you mount your unit? Any photos?
Using the 3-month trial for now. I envisioned mounting the Dash so it could be viewed through the steering wheel but it did not have much clearance and it was awkward to use the touch screen there. So i mounted it to the left of the MFD by putting the stick on suction cup pad on the dash in front of that position. The mount is surprisingly sturdy. More so than the Nuvi mounts. Will post pics later.
After using the Dash Express for nearly a month now I have to say it's a GPS that demonstrates innovation worthy of the Prius. Its hard to say which features I like best, the uncanny ability to estimate accurate arrival times based on existing traffic or the real-time internet info like gas prices and movie show times. The routing gives you three choices with travel times based on actual traffic. Being able to manage and add everything from a web page from home or work is very handy. An interesting benefit is other Dash users create search lists that they share online. But its one of those things that you can describe to someone all day and they really don't get it until you demonstrate. So if you are curious, check out Dash: The Only Internet Connected Automotive GPS - Drive Smart! and watch the demo. PS: I like the mounting position shown. The viewing is great and the controls are easy to use from here. Its easy to slide out of the mount and store in the center console. The only complaint about this mounting is my fingers sometimes touch the top to steady touchscreen entry and that sometimes switches the screen between menu and map modes. Texnet
