Netropa intros Intellinav 2 and 3 GPS devices with focus on value and safety

This is the second time in about a week that a relatively unknown GPS manufacturer has made us stop in our tracks and take notice of their product. Last time it was Navigon, and now it's Netropa. The company's Intellinav 2 and 3 portable navigation systems caught our eye not so much for their design (though compact and shiny) but rather for their pricing and safety features. The Intellinav 2 retails for just $279.99, and unlike some similarly priced systems, it includes text-to-speech functionality, so it will speak actual street names instead of giving you generic directions. Other features include Navteq maps of the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, 2D and 2D views, a detour function, a trip computer, and MP3 playback. Its sibling, the Intellinav 3, costs $329.99 and adds myriad safety features, such as a fatigue alarm, fog assist, and a car locator, and Canadian maps. Of course, this all looks great on paper, but the real test will come once we hit the road. Stay tuned for our full review of the Intellinav 3. The Intellinav 2 will be available starting in August, while the Intellinav 3 will ship in September.