Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

I am just an out of work driver right now and found this thread yesterday and read the whole thing. It is amazing to me when someone responds like you do. What do you think you are supposed to get for $500? A system that can look at every inch of roadway in the US - keep up with changing construction - changing names - changing truck routes - account for truck configuration that affects routing and rules that apply by weight, length, hazmat, doubles, triples, etc. ???

I think your expectations are way too high for reality. Your world would be a nice place to live but I don't see that it exists anywhere. I do agree that it is not always a good idea to buy the first generation of anything. As you pointed out there are always bugs to work out and given that you know this why are you upset that this first generation item is having a few bugs? They have folks in the right places working their butts off to respond and make it right as quick as possible. That's about as good as it gets because at some point no matter how much beta testing you do the thing has to go live and things will be found that need fixing/improving/revising.

At $500 a pop let's look at the return that RM gets (even though they don't get all that $500 if it is sold by a reseller). At 1,000 units sold they get $500,000. Man that sounds good. But let's say they have just 5 designers, software engineers, manufacturing engineers, etc working on it - not even looking at production costs. If these folks worked for one year at an average of say $60,000 a year ??? That sucks up $300,000 then let us add a factor for benefits and overhead on these folks - from my time as an Industrial Engineer in several industries this would be ultra-conservative at 50% so add another $150,000 to make the total $450,000. So before they even sell a single unit they are down half a million dollars for product development....

This does not include any development costs of the touch screen, the case, the hardware, the packaging, etc. I would imagine that they have more folks and much more time in it than that. Mark has testified that he has been working as a beta tester for about a year. We don't have his time or the other beta tester's time in this little model.

From this it can be seen that your "disgust" at this product is misplaced. This is a product that is a GPS like the $50 units you like so much but the driver/brain/software behind it is new and not comparable at all.

Sorry for the long post. But it is one of my pet peeves when folks make blanket statements that have not been thought through. I just have to say something.

 

xr7conv has said something that needs saying, look how long PC builders have had Operating systems on the market and they are still not bullet proof. Lets give this unit a chance before we go off the deepend.

 

Way to go!!! I just got done reading ALL 23 pages of post and I agree 100%!!

I am also a Beta Tester for RM and we have busted our butts trying to HELP RM come up with the FIRST REAL TRUCK FRIENDLY GPS. I have worked with the designer on other projects and I know for a FACT that RM will listen to ALL complaints AND suggestions. There is no such thing as a 100% perfect anything and everything changes. This is why RM ASKS for everybodys input. This is how RM will have the most truck friendly unit ever!

The bottom line is that RM has been working on this for quite some time and they will work out any problems that may be found. The biggest thing is THEY LISTEN!!!!

As far as the unit being 'too complicating'. Did you know EVERYTHING about your truck when you first got it??? Prob not not you can get around in it blind folded now. Heck look at when you get a new cell phone. My Blackberry is still smarter than I am!

Well I will close for now but I will try to help as much as I can also.

Adrian

 

All, This question was posed on Sunday, I forwarded the post to RM, I got this response early this afternoon. I just back from a doing a store demo and am now posting RM answer. This came directly from RM's internal truck database team.

"It depends on the state DOT and what source material they send us. Some states give us posted heights, while others give us the actual heights. New York has typically given us the actual clearances, and that is what we have been using. New York typically posts their clearances at least 12" less than the actual clearances"

Now for those who doubt this came from RM, nothing I can do to convince you. For the rest, this hopefully shows you what I have been saying all along. I have the inside track. What other navigation unit can actually show up on an open forum and converse with you the professional driver, the consumer of their unit?

Thanks,
Mark

 

I don't understand how this gps unit came out with so many bugs?
A lot of beta testers out here but yet this is the worst gps unit yet.
When the other gps came out they didn't have as many downs as this one. i'd take any other gps out there over this one, or "until the bugs are fixed"

 

I see that the only difference with the RM unit and all the other "truck specific"
gps units is that you all have someone to talk with an vent your frustrations
to about the unit.

When the 465t and the PC miler came out everyone that got one also complained
about the bugs for a few days and then the thread stopped because no one that
could do anything about it was listening.

The only reason the thread about this unit is still ongoing is there is someone
that is actually representing the company here to answer questions, try and
solve issues, and all together make a better unit.

Just about everyone here on this forum complains that no one ever tries to help
us truckers have a actual voice on issues. Well I say this is one time where your
voice is actually being heard by the company through Mark .

As the others have said no product will be 100% perfect and is not to be relied upon
as such and should be used as just another tool in aiding us in our jobs and every
day lives.

So Thanks Mark for helping to make something better that can be of great help to us.

 

I have a question for you. It is certain you do not own this unit. So based upon other posts whom I tend to think that do not own a unit either, then based upon that you can offer that comment?

Have you looked at other threads on other GPS units under electronic connections?

approx 100 testers to 3 million drivers... the beta testers will not find everything.

How do you really base your comments? What testing have you done besides reading a few posts?

The few posts, that tend to flame the unit, I have given an E-Mail, I have asked for details, yet they do not respond with any information. So, I tend to think that they are here to simply post and stir up the pot, so to speak.

Where do you keep your Cray computer in your truck? Do you even know what is involved in writing code? Have you written in code? Do you have a working knowledge of every street in every state and Canada?

If you have read this thread from page one, then you will see that I have been honest with all who post. But, since I have a life also, I will still watch the posts and when a true owner of a unit has a question then I will respond. When someone asks a question of a function or other question of the unit in respects to possibly buying one then I will respond. I will not respond to such posts as this.

I am sure you would not like to have to pull over each time I called you while you are driving, this would affect your pickup/delivery schedule, as such responding to posts like this takes away from my time to do productive things.

IF you have a question or issue, My E-Mail is rmleadbetatester@gmail.com

I hope no one takes offense to this, but I have things to do, besides responding to posts like this.

Thanks,
Mark

 

In one of my previous posts, I wrote that I have an "inside track". This is not to mean that only I have this. ALL Beta Testers have the same "Inside Track" as I do to the same person.

This was a general use of the term to show you the user that YES, your voice is being heard and responded to.

AND YES, I am still here for the professional driver to improve this unit to make it the best tool that you have. This was long overdue for those who ride the endless roads. Your time is money and if you can find a tool to make your trip more productive with less problems, then that is what RM is here for.

I feel passionately about this unit as do the other Beta testers. We are all professional drivers such as yourself.

I wish to take the time to say I really appreciate the time you take to read these posts.

$500 is lot of money, but a professiona driver should realize that since the unit is a TOOL, then present the bill of sale to your tax preparer, They should be able to include it in your professional supplies/tools.

Thanks,
Mark

 

But you are doing such an outstanding job mark!!!
Look guys its REAL SIMPLE it is not possible to find ALL the bugs! But look at the big picture. RM has come up with a system that will make ALL of our jobs better. The ONLY way to make a system good is to improve it. RM has updates almost on a weekly basis as needed, SO instead of just griping about it why not try something that hasn't been done in well over 20 yrs and work together!!!! RM WANTS TO GIVE THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WHAT THEY WANT!!! So work with them. Give them your CONSTRUCTIVE feedback and see if they don't do something about it. Alot of the other system are just like they say "same system in a new box" This one is not. its from the ground up with some stuff they has NEVER been offered before.

Just think about having the chance to help fine tune a system that will set new standards in the industry. Drivers ALWAYS gripe that they have no say WELL.....HERE IS YOUR CHANCE.

ADRIAN

 

Thanks Adrian, and btw, I have never met Adrian before today. I have met 9 other Beta Testers in the past 10 months. RM does this for a reason. One's input is not influenced by anothers.

RM is still working on getting an answer to the ODOT issue of the detour around Cleveland,OH.

A few reports of weight stations posting warnings on wrong side of freeway... Need to know where, database needs to be corrected. Prob a weigh station used to be there.

NYC was posted, Input is directly from NYC and that is what is in the database.

If you find the unit routing you on a truck restricted road, use common sense, but also let RM know where, so databases can be corrected.

For example, where I live the contractors used a back road to get rid of excess dirt from road construction, end result, BIG potholes, road was not build for the weigh, three weeks ago DOT posted signs restricting the road to 13,000lbs per axle. I reported this change so RM can update databases.

Wrong ramp exits, RM turned over to GIS database folks,, waiting on answer back from RM.

Given the right information RM can correct the databases and get them into updates.

I had a actual driver come into the truck stop where I was doing a demo, updated their unit for them and she told me about an address they could not find, when they got to the customer they found out the road name was changed. RM cannot control states, but based upon your information RM can correct databases.

I posted my E-mail, I would love to hear from you the professional driver. All the Beta Testers are here for you.

Want to know more about the unit? I have offered in the NC/SC/upper GA and Eastern TN areas to give you one on one training if you desire...

Have not seen other navigation companies even attempt to let your voice be heard.

Thanks,
Mark