Panasonic's Strada CN-GP50 is a decent looking piece of hardware that is undermined by the clunky and unrefined software, and lackluster feature set. Powered by Navigon's software, the CN-GP50 is as uninspired as it's name sounds. The Strada CN-GP50 is little more than generic hardware running a stripped-down version of Navigon's software on generic hardware. The screen resolution isn't great, and the software feels sluggish all around. When spelling out street names, or scrolling through lists of Points of Interest, the CN-GP50 is consistently 2 seconds delayed in responding to touchscreen input.

I also experienced frequent crashes and software bugs, including the "Fatal Application Error" screen shown in the above screenshot.

Despite the CN-GP50's larger-than-average 5-inch display, I found the on-screen text much too small to read in the car. I challenge anyone with normal vision to successfully read the ETA/Miles to Destination area of the map screen while driving. Almost all the on-screen icons and buttons are too small, and using the GPS in the car is a clumsy process that requires frequent use of the delete/backspace key.

The windshield mount is difficult to operate, and has four separate levers and dials that must be pulled or turned in order to get the mount into the desired viewing angle. That's a lot of tinkering compared to TomTom and Garmin's mounts, which have no levers or knobs at all.

I expected Panasonic to make more use of the Strada's large 5-inch display. However, there's no video input on the CN-GP50, so you won't be able to use the unit as a video unit for a DVD player or backup camera. Also surprising was the lack of a music player. Viewing photos on the Strada requires that the SD memory card containing the maps be removed, and a new SD card containing the photos be inserted.

Entering addresses and searching for Points of Interest (POIs) can be maddening on the Strada. For example, when entering an address in New York City, you have to scroll through a long list of every valid zip code in New York. Searching for a POI is difficult unless you know the correct zip code for the destination address. Successfully entering an address or searching for a POI on the Strada is more of a test of determination than anything else.

Spend a little time using the CN-GP50, and you'll inevitably begin to ask yourself: "why is this thing so slow?" (or possibly looking for the store receipt to check the return policy). The address entry system is so confusing it's almost comical, or at least it would be if it weren't so confusing, and all the GPS is always a second or two delayed. It's hard to imagine anyone at Panasonic used the Strada and was pleased with usability and performance.

The CN-GP50 does manage to eek out some successes with its powerful, crisp speaker, multi-language support, and strong Bluetooth support. But the sluggish, cumbersome, and confusing software is a death blow to a surprisingly disappointing GPS that doesn't deserve to bear the Panasonic name.

The Strada CN-GP50U has a suggested retail price of $499, and can be found online for considerably less, though you'd be much better off buying a Garmin, Magellan, or TomTom instead.