Pharos Drive GPS 250 user reviews

3.0 stars

"A lot for a little but no support" on February 6, 2008 by tnewt

Pros: Very cheap plus tells street names

Cons: No response from support

Summary: Check online Dell coupons--I got $100 off! This makes it a very cheap GPS unit, not to mention with a large screen and voice directions with street names.

But there's no support. I had a problem with the unit. I called support--was on hold for over an hour with no answer. I then chose the 'leave a message and we'll get back to you'. I did this again a couple days later. No return call. I left an e-mail with their support saying that I'm returning the unit if they don't contact me. Nothing--no calls or e-mails. I really, really think that they don't have any support at all. Or maybe their only support person is on vacation this week!

The unit mysteriously started working again, so I'm wondering what to do--I'll never find another unit this cheap that has the basic features I need. I've got one week to decide.

Note that this company normally sells GPS software for Windows CE devices and phones. So this unit has a hidden Windows CE device underneath with their software loaded on it.

It also seems to dislike the major freeway in our area. It kept telling me to get off the freeway, but I wouldn't listen. (Did it expect me to drive for 50 miles on city streets rather than take the freeway?) Since I'm new with it, there's a chance I didn't hit the 'quickest' button, but still....

So be forwarned.

Updated
Addition:
I guess support got back from vacation

They finally called me back and resolved the problem I had with the unit.

A review update three years later. Amazingly, you can still buy this unit.

It is as if IBM were still selling 5MHz PCs with 64k memory and no hard drive for $5000.

4.5 stars

"Simple to use with an open OS" on February 18, 2009 by invictanewsletter

Pros: You can install multiple GOS programs fairly easily. I have Tom Tom, Destinator, and Mio installed and can choose whichever I want to use for a particular trip depending on the features I need (TTs, elevation, POI's, etc.)

Cons: It is a little slower than a Garmin, for instance, but it's a decent performer, certainly for $100 or so.

Summary: There are better, but if you don't mind getting into the code a little, this can be a very fun little GPS.

4.5 stars

"I'm very happy so far!" on July 21, 2008 by Pianoman54

Pros: Very easy to use, and many nice navigation functions, without all the extra needless "fluff" that many other companies offer.

Cons: I wish the voice was just a tiny bit louder, that's about it!

Summary: I've had my Pharos Drive 250 for about 3 weeks now, and being a "nerd", have put it through quite a few tests. After quite a bit of internet research, I decided to purchase the Pharos Drive 250 for the price, simplicity, and the fact that it came pre-loaded with maps of the USA and Canada. I read a ton of reviews at many sites, for many different GPS units. After reading many varying opinions concerning any single particular unit, I came to the conclusion that most people seem to expect their GPS unit to do absolutely all of the work, and that they shouldn't have to read up, or know really anything about the unit they purchase. I've been around technology all of my life, and this just isn't true. Every new "toy" you purchase will always work best for you, if you are patient to take the time to learn a little about it for your own personal needs! The Drive 250 usually takes about a minute to acquire the satellites when I first power it up (outdoors or in the car), and then it updates about once every second while I'm driving. It has amazed me by finding shortcuts that I never knew about, even close to my home! It has found just about every address I've entered into the unit with great accuracy so far, and also politely informs you at the end that "You have reached your destination..., your destination is on the left (or right)". Sure, it has a bit of a computerized voice, and doesn't perfectly pronounce every word phonetically correct, but it has not been a problem for me at all, because the street and road signs are always right there for you to look at after hearing the directions! Also, instead of mounting it on my windshield, I mounted it on my dash with a little square of velcro on the back of the unit. It is covering the display and clock for my radio, but I'm still able to utilize all the buttons, and also load and remove CD's, and I don't have to worry about it dropping and breaking. I love it there, because it's out of the way, and looks very cool in "real time" to glance at while you're driving down the road. It kind of looks like you are in a plane looking down at all the roads, and moves exactly how the roads look in real life! I'm sure this would also be a very handy function if you happened to be driving on a very foggy, rainy or snowy night, to let you know ahead of time which way the road is going to bend, and also for approaching intersections. The only few snafus I encountered were with my home address, and a few rural addresses. Even so, the Drive 250 still brought me within the distance of a house or 2 for these locations. If you want real accuracy, I suggest you try what I did after reaching these locations. I took my "stylus", and touched the spot where the GPS unit was showing me to be at the end of the journey. This opens up a little prompt that asks you to "Save as a Favorite", "Starting Point"....ect. When you save this point as a "Favorite" and give it a name (Bob's Home...ect), it actually uses a latitude and longitude number to remember the location, and is very accurate! I did this on July 4th for a family picnic at a local park, and whenever I go back there, the Drive 250 informs me when I'm at the actual parking space I was in on July 4th! I can't wait to see how well this works when I take it hiking with me! I'm in a band, and we travel to out of state gigs, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Drive 250 works for me on the road! By the way..., I'm glad it doesn't have all of those stupid features you don't really need anyway. First of all, I have a radio and a CD player, and I have a headset for my cell phone (to keep my hands on the wheel). Lastly, when you're driving, why in the world would anyone be watching videos or looking at photos!!?? Come on now...., seriously, are you kidding me!!??
Gerald Braden

2.0 stars

"Support after purchase is terrible" on May 1, 2008 by w003503

Pros: Inexpensive

Cons: No support after purchase

Summary: I would be careful purchasing anything from Pharos. Their after purchase support is non-existent. If you are lucky enough to actually talk to a support representative, they are unhelpful and even rude.