Seem like fairly equivalent units . . . anyone have any thoughts?

wow nice find me likes

well i know what my next toy is going to be

but i wonder what software they used for nav

It uses NAVTEQ which is the same as google maps and GARMIN

I have been looking at this unit also, though I am skeptical about a panasonic head unit.

DOES look as thought the nav interface is definitely based on the MP3Car type platform... Looks good

Get the Panasonic.

The Z2 does not have a bypass and is next to useless if the car is rolling and you need to change destinations

If your destination is already programmed, it's not useless at all.

If your destination is already programmed, it's not useless at all.

Come on man, thats a lame reply. You just trying to up your posting count? I hate that.

Panasonic bypass: Ground green parking brake wire, enjoy. No headache.

Down fall to unit is that storing music to the hard drive slows nav features down.

If your destination is already programmed, it's not useless at all.

 

Come on man, thats a lame reply. You just trying to up your posting count? I hate that.

No, of course not. Since 90% of my driving is local, I've programmed the places that I go to the most. Therefore, I can just call up the destination I want.

My Z1 IS bypassed, but I rarely need to use it. So sorry if I disagree that an unbypassed Z2 is not useless. I just thought that since he was asking an opinion on the differences, he might like to know all of the differences. One person's "useless" might be good enough for him.

My Z1 is bypassed too. My buddys D3 is not. I ride with him and it really blows not having it bypassed. Honestly.... If I lost my Z1 bypass I'd get rid of the Z1. I use features that are bypassed so often that it would not be worth my while. This really comes down to different strokes, different folks then eh? Moving on. Let's get back on topic.

If your destination is already programmed, it's not useless at all.

 

Come on man, thats a lame reply. You just trying to up your posting count? I hate that.

No, of course not. Since 90% of my driving is local, I've programmed the places that I go to the most. Therefore, I can just call up the destination I want.

 

My Z1 IS bypassed, but I rarely need to use it. So sorry if I disagree that an unbypassed Z2 is not useless. I just thought that since he was asking an opinion on the differences, he might like to know all of the differences. One person's "useless" might be good enough for him.

The only thing I cannot find at this point is a TV tuner that is compatible with the Strada (I actually haven't looked in detail at the Strada's specs to know whether or not it accepts a TV tuner input, to be honest).

No Nav traffic either.

No Nav traffic either.

I thought it stated that it had it via Sirius Traffic (well XM and Sirius Merged, so eventually it'll all be one in the same)

You can get XM Traffic if you get the GEX-P10XMT receiver.

They have not merged, they want to merge. Will still be many months before we know if it will receive government approval

 

I thought it stated that it had it via Sirius Traffic (well XM and Sirius Merged, so eventually it'll all be one in the same)

You do realize that the Panasonic doesn't store music to the HD right? The hard drive is only for the nav

Panasonic bypass: Ground green parking brake wire, enjoy. No headache.

Down fall to unit is that storing music to the hard drive slows nav features down.

Pro's--Cheaper than the Z2, couple cool background pictures, NavTeq

Con's--Looks cheap in person, Sticks out of your dash WAY more than a Z2, Can't store music to the HD, Requires a $150 "hub" to add any accessories besides the ipod, Menu and mapping are eerily similar to Eclipse--Not good in my opinion

Seem like fairly equivalent units . . . anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks . . . funny how we (me, actually) make product capability assumptions based on competing products. I had TOTALLY missed the fact that this unit (based on your post) does not store ripped music to the HD. What in the world is this unit DOING with 30 GB of space for Nav only?

Thanks . . . funny how we (me, actually) make product capability assumptions based on competing products. I had TOTALLY missed the fact that this unit (based on your post) does not store ripped music to the HD. What in the world is this unit DOING with 30 GB of space for Nav only?

well that isnt much of a worry to me as its hardware downsides, the strada is Panasonics first HU so you have to think of it on par with Pioneers first HU's things like music ripping can always be added later with firmware updates so thats not much to worry about and the ipod takes care of mosts music needs since ppl usually have mp3's which the z2 cant rip to the hdd either. the only downside i see to the strada is the hub at that price it basially means if you want to buy 2 addons for it, it will run u about as much as buying 3 addons for the z2 and as far as i know navtraffic still isnt available on the strada. also the z2 seems to be the only unit that has text-to-speech for fps where as the strada and kenwood dont.

CNET has a good review for the panasonic strada.

http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigat ... 50650.html

They gave it normal scores cause it didn't really offer anything ground breaking.

While the Avic Z1/Z2 got the CNET editors choice award at the CES 2006 when it first came out. Pretty impressive.

But still it needs a lot of work to be considered the best. [/url]

Mine has been by-passed since I installed it. Though I generally only use it for entering destinations when moving, everything works moving or not.

Man, if it has NAVTEQ than it's the one for me.

My Z2s maps are not even close to some details shown in a Garmin Nuvi and the Routing in the Nuvi is 10 times better.

NAVTEQ is guaranteed to make it a better Navigation system and I can live with whatever other shortcomings the Pana has.