Medion GoPal 205

The GoPal 205 is the most affordable satnav we've seen to date. We weren't expecting much for this money, and in many ways the 205 proves you get what you pay for. But in others, it surprised us by offering features more expensive devices lack.

It's bulky considering it sports only a 2.8in screen, but the main reason for the extra depth is to accommodate four AA batteries. Only alkalines are included in the box, but you still get a cigarette lighter adapter and the GoPal runs for several hours on the alkalines. This is handy when you're navigating on foot or cycling - two modes of transport the GoPal is happy to provide directions for.

There's a headphone socket (although no MP3 player) and an SD card slot you can use for extra maps and photos, as there's a photo viewer. As standard, Navteq maps of the UK and Ireland are preloaded into the 256MB of ROM and copied into RAM when you switch the GoPal on for the first time. A bonus is that safety-camera locations are also preinstalled as part of the third-party POI-Warner software, and you can plan multidestination trips in advance without needing a GPS fix - something the Acer, Navman and Fujitsu Siemens can't do. Another decent feature is automatic switching of day/night colours.

Seven-digit postcodes are supported, although we found some postcodes were missing. There are other limitations, too: you can't edit a route, calculate an alternative route (to avoid a jam or roadblock) and there are only five POI categories. You can't preview a route as a 3D fly-over, but you can view the list of directions and look at the route in 2D. Another annoying trait is that the unit clicks wherever you tap the screen and, because the 205 is fairly sluggish, it's hard to know whether you've actually tapped a button or not. Finally, the glossy coating makes it hard to see the road when it's sunny.

But, once you're used to how the clunky menus work, the GoPal does its job well and offers a lot for your money. Bizarrely, there's even a city guide section, although it only has information on London. If your budget is limited, the Medion is the one to go for.

Author: Jim Martin