Wednesday, August 11, 2004
A Road Warrior's Best Friend - the Holux GR-230 Bluetooth GPS Receiver Reviewed
Posted by Dave Potter in "HARDWARE" @ 09:00 AM
And Away We Go!
(...queue Willy Nelson's "On the Road Again" :rotfl: )
I tested the GR-230 using iGuidance V2.0 (stay tuned for a review!) and with MS Streets and Trips 2004. The GR-230 performed consistently well with both applications. Start-up time and accuracy were both excellent and were consistent with competitive GPS units. Battery life was also excellent especially considering the unit's compact size and weight. The unit's rubber feet held tight to my dash alleviating my concerns about 'dashboard ice capades'. The units four colored LED display provided ample diagnostic feedback regarding GPS, Bluetooth and battery status. I particularly liked the simplicity of the one switch operation - just turn it on and place it on the dash. Also worth noting is the unit's water resistant exterior and the connector for an external antenna - both of which I imagine would prove useful for marine applications.
Conclusions
All in all, the Holux GR-230 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is a solid, well constructed piece of hardware that performs as it should - well. Its size and weight are ideally suited to the rigors of being a Road Warrior. Best of all it works with any Bluetooth capable Pocket PC or laptop. So, as your hardware changes (it's inevitable), your GPS doesn't become obsolete. Price vs. features vs. quality - the GR-230 performs extremely well.