Most of the major GPS device makers are attempting to advance their wares. These companies are developing more convenient features to make finding one’s way easier for travelers who use engines, skis, or any other method of transportation imaginable. While these makers are striving hard to render their GPS devices affordable for the middle-class consumer, the consequence of all the technology contained in the product will understandably be larger price tags. The best that most designers can do for the consumers who can’t pay for all the new gizmos is to make starter versions of the GPS devices that are affordable for Joe 6-cylinder. A nice option is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
Magellan GPS devices are rather singular because Magellan has always manufactured their top-performing models to be inexpensive and convenient. The downside of affordability, of course, is that the latest technology is hardly ever to be had at affordable prices. Predictably, then, the quality of Magellan’s products has earned mixed reviews. Magellan responded to this problem with several advanced models for the more dedicated GPS users.
Magellan Maestro
If you are shopping for an inexpensive tour guide for your vehicle, the Magellan Maestro line-up provides many devices made especially for auto navigation. Magellan Maestro models are found in the 3000, 4000, and 5000 designations. All of the 3000 models are quite low priced with a few like the Maestro 3100 costing not quite $200 which is amazingly cheap for a GPS device that has 2-D and 3-D views. Most likely their most appreciated feature is the QuickSpell feature, which allows uncomplicated input for road names.
Every other measurable quality, including the performance is less than inspiring and hanging is annoyingly regular. With the exception of some of the 4000 and 5000 versions, the Magellan Maestro is just not dependable, but the price remains reasonable.
Magellan Roadmate
As suggested by the name, this set of Magellan GPS devices are intended for cars also. However they are distinguishable from their Maestro siblings when it comes to appearance. Roadmates are constructed to be more portable, having a sleeker footprint while providing the same interface. Consequently the Roadmates are similarly easy to use and far easier to pack than the Maestros. A great unit is the Magellan Road mate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
In the area of performance, the Roadmate is a bit improved with some of them including the Roadmate 1212 using the Centrality Atlas III Processor. If you prefer exploring the menus, you will likely perceive a somewhat irritating pause after pressing the buttons. The battery power isn’t remarkable either; it’s able to run for about 3 hours at which point a recharge is needed.
On the bright side, the Roadmate is considered better than several of the Maestro budget models, storing far more POI’s as compared to the Maestro 3100 which has a measly 750,000 points of interest. The Roadmate catches up with other brands by offering in excess of 6 million points of interest. Text-to-speech, which is always a welcome feature, is also included in several of the affordable models. The price isn’t too bad either, which is extraordinary for a slim device. A good device to look into is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
Although there are only two collections to select from, they each offer at least 10 models for your consideration, with many different costs and abilities. The cheapest models aren’t recommended for regular users because of the regular crashes, but more expensive models can do wonders and ought to be sufficient for travelers to be pleased with.
