Clarion's N.I.C.E. is, um, pretty good

Like most gear in the ride-pimping department, it's not all that much to look at but Clarion's N.I.C.E. isn't joking around—it's a 7-inch touchscreen LCD GPS navigation system with 2D and 3D view features, FM transmitter, Sirius satellite radio, an integrated 20GB drive with MP3, WMA, and WAV playback features, and a USB 2.0 port. Okay, we'll admit that's pretty, uh, nice, but we're still going to need to know what N.I.C.E. stands for. Sorry, just have to.

[Thanks, uber-review]

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Navigation In-Car Entertainment

[geekmorgan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I'm guessing its Navigation & In Car Entertainement.

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Guess if I have to ask the price I can't afford it, eh?!

[JC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I will just re-iterate what the other two people said.

It stands for Navigation In-Car Entertainment. And comes with a hefty price tag of over $1,000. Ouch :(

$1,299.99 on Outpost.com

What would be really cool is if you can "use" the monitor for something like a pc or mac mini in the car as well as switch back to the navigation when you needed it. Then it truly would be NICE!

[LP @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Man thats Fugly, shame so much good tech and it just looks like a slab of plastic, would look good in a bus!

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

no, it would be S.W.E.E.T

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Holy Crap Packages! GIMME!

[Art B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Navigation and In-Car Entertainment System
What's cool about this is that, according to Clarion's website, this unit is removable/transportable, handles MP3/WMA and videos stored on its 20GB hard drive, you can download/view photos from your digital camera using the USB port, and you can connect a rear-view camera and a video source (DVD/XBOX/PS2/etc.). This is as close to a great carputer as one can get - especially considering the touch-screen. Now, if they only made a double-din (or single-din) cradle for it that makes it easy to snap in and out, this thing would rock.

[Art B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

To clarify: only 10GB is usable for your MP3/WMA/JPG, and you load them by connecting to your PC via USB 2. Also, after looking at screenshots on http://www.clarion.com/usa/innovation/index.html, I don't think it plays video natively, but only through a connected video device. Having to get your sound through FM, as opposed to cabling, also bites. Until they come up with a wired cradle for all car connections, enable volume control and a wired connection to external amps, allow a cellular connection for traffic data, and add native divx/xvid playback off the hard drive, I'd pass in favor of a real car PC and a 7" touchscreen monitor.

[Droo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

It also supports Sirius sat radio, by using a special Sirius tuner that plugs into the unit. The entire unit can be pulled out of the vehicle pretty easily and put into another.

I think for what it is it's a pretty slick device. I just think the screen is too damned big for most vehicles without obstructing the windshield.

It is definitely NICE, thats for sure. Since it can be used as a screen for in-car Xboxing, even better.

[Reggie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I think it is still cheaper to mount a Mac mini in the car and use a Xenarc LCD.

[Jayson Elliot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

#10 - you mean for $1,299 plus tax you STILL have to buy MORE accessories before you can use Sirius?

That's not very (eh, you know).

[hayato ogawa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

its better than dropping that on a roadmate 600 or any other portable car nav out there

[raven @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

okay lets consider the existing transportable GPS devices folks. i think its a nice piece of work compared to $800-1000 Garmin or Magellans top devices or AvMap. it would be nice if the screen was a little smaller. days are ahead with devices that can be a part of macmini. but until that happens this is a nice option.

[Rod @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

This is a true DIN in-dash carpc SUMOCOM, that can do all! BIOS Playnow! DVD/CD/MP3/DIVX on startup. Boot to windows or linux and do navigation, internet, OBDII, back-up cam, AM/FM, etc. Check it out! Comes with free software for OBD II and custom interface, front mounted 20 X 2 character display VFD or LCD, full function remote control, start-up/shut-down controller included, AC adapter included for home office use. $1,200.00 retail just add OS of choice and map software GPS antenna and away you go....

[diem @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I can't believe so many people are asking for a smaller screen size....
I just went + looked at this first hand at a local frys.. If I had $1299 to blow I woul dblow it on this system. It is a very simple + clean design. I didn't get to see it in actio nhowever, as I did with the cobra unit + the I way 500. The cobra unit was live and it sucked. The I way unit had the best screen + controls + it was touch screen. with decent response time.

I like the clarion NICE unit, but cannot afford it right now. If I were buying one today I would get the Iway unit. Its big + heavy, but if you're car mounting it maybe you dont care.

[cdnaudioguy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Further clarification for you guys..

NICE offers an built-in FM Modualtor as well as hard-wired, level adjustable stereo output. If your radio has an AUX input, you are all set.

NICE has two USB ports. A USB2.0 for connection to your computer to upload pictures and MP3/WMA files, and a USB 1.1 to let you plug in a Memory stick with music or pictures.

Opting for an in-car computer is a good solution for the tech-savvy user. But they need to know how to set up the system, boot it every time, launch the nav program, etc. For an out of the box solution, NICE is far more accessable to the average 'joe or jane'.

[Eric Hensen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Real estate people....load pics of all your properties. Memorize map points. Show clients the house and then take them there by voice direction and 3-d mapping! What could be better? Comes in a travel bag with everything you need to go from car to car.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Hey I have 1 n.i.c.e , I was selling it on ebay but stupid me I took a pic from someone else and now I am kicked off, I am paypal certified I am selling this unit for 850.00 US please email me at [e-mail] for info thanks

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

What is outstanding about this device is that when you want to enter an address, either for its permanent address list or for instant navigation, a large full keyboard pops up on the touchscreen. That is why the screen needs to be so large. You can enter addresses much, much faster on this device than on the ones that require point and click. I think that once this baby becomes well-known and popular, all the other makers will jump on the concept.

It does not have (yet) as many points of interest as most other units, but that didn't matter to me. Got one, delivered, for less than $950.

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Just ran into the first *potentially* serious limitation on mine. I say potentially because there may be a solution I am unaware of. In the phone book, when I want to find an address I stored, I have to scroll through the entire unsorted, unalphabetized list, four addresses at a time. It seems to store them in the order entered, period. Does anyone know if sorting is possible? If nto, is there an e-mail address for Clarion's tech support? Without a sorting capability, the 4,000-entry capacity would be a bad joke and finding an address among just 50 entries would be a royal pain.

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I should have added: nor, to my knowledge, is the phone/address book searchable. You have to scroll through four-up pages, in order of entry.

[SpudBoy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Page 41 of the manual.

"If the list is long, press the keyboard button (F5) and
use the onscreen keyboard."

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Spudboy -- thanks very much. With that answer found, I think this device is a real "best "buy right now.

[Roz Man @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I have the NICE and got it, with overnight shipping, for $900.00. It is a great devise. The large screen is great, and the largest I found in Plug and Play GPS units. The portable aspect of it is not great since you have to screw it to the window mount. I made an adapter that will make it slid off, and will make more if anyone needs it. But it is a great buy, just search for good pricing. A quick search shows $850.00 is the lowest.

[Roz Man @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I Have created an ANIT THEFT ADAPTER for the window mount if anyone needs one. I allows you to keep the window mount on the window and just slide the screen off. It works GREAT!

[Roz Man @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I have the NICE and got it, with overnight shipping, for $900.00. It is a great devise. The large screen is great, and the largest I found in Plug and Play GPS units. The portable aspect of it is not great since you have to screw it to the window mount. I made an adapter that will make it slid off, and will make more if anyone needs it. But it is a great buy, just search for good pricing. A quick search shows $850.00 is the lowest.

[Deluded @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

RozMan --

Can you contact me at [e-mail] about the ANTI THEFT adapter and where you got the unit for $900? Would love to find out more.

[Deluded @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

RozMan - Can you email me to let me know how to get a hold of the anti-theft adapter?

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Found it for $798 at 6ave, no ship costs.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

abe's of maine for $794

[Hd Power @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I just ordered one from 6AVE for $ 798.0 plus free shipping, I will report back how quick they ship it to me as well opinion on the unit itself.

[Hd Power @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

WOW 6AVE is extremely quick, I just got it...woohoo, now to figure out the weird windshield mount and where to put it then after that I will test it out.