Quite a few of the major GPS device makers are continually working to further develop their wares. The manufacturers are adding more advanced functions to make navigation easier for travelers who use wheels, hiking boots, or any other form of transportation possible. Although these designers are striving hard to make these GPS devices accessible for the typical consumer, the summation of all the technology contained in the product will naturally be higher prices. The best that most designers can do for their customers who are unable to finance the new gizmos is to make stripped down models of the GPS devices so they are affordable for mid- to lower-income drivers. Another great model to consider is Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
Magellan GPS devices are somewhat distinctive because Magellan has always manufactured their top-selling models to be affordable but also convenient. The shortcoming of affordability, naturally, is that state-of-the-art technology is almost never to be had at reasonable prices. Predictably, then, the quality of Magellan’s products has earned mixed reviews. Magellan responded to this shortcoming by producing several advanced versions for the most demanding GPS users.
Magellan Maestro
When you are searching for an affordable companion for your car, the Magellan Maestro collection provides quite a few units made specifically for car navigation. Magellan Maestro models are available in the 3000, 4000, and 5000 classes. Every one of the 3000 models are particularly low priced with one or two such as the Maestro 3100 priced at not quite $200 which is wondrously cheap for a GPS model which offers 2-D and 3-D display options. Probably their most appreciated ability is the QuickSpell feature, that enables easy input for destination names.
Every other remaining feature, in addition to the performance is mediocre and hanging is all too constant. With the exception of some of the 4000 and 5000 models, the Magellan Maestro is just not reliable, but the price stays reasonable.
Magellan Roadmate
As explained by their name, this collection of Magellan GPS devices are designed for cars as well. Yet they are superior to their Maestro siblings regarding their appearance. Roadmates are constructed to be less bulky to tote, having a slimmer shape while keeping the same interface. The outcome of these improvements is the Roadmates are about as easy to use and far easier to keep than the Maestros. A nice option is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
In the area of performance, the Roadmate is slightly improved with one or two specimens such as the Roadmate 1212 benefitting from the Centrality Atlas III Processor. If you prefer navigating through the menus, you might perceive a fairly irritating delay as you are pushing the buttons. The battery power isn’t remarkable either; it’s good for about 3 hours until a recharge is required.
On the upside, the Roadmate is deemed an improvement over some of the Maestro budget GPS units, logging quite a few more POI’s as compared to the Maestro 3100 with its meager 750,000 points of interest. The Roadmate catches up with the competition by installing more than 6 million points of interest. Text-to-speech, which is usually a welcome feature, is also offered by some of the reasonably priced models. The price isn’t prohibitive either, which is notable for a slim device. Another good item to look into is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.
Even though Magellan has merely two collections to select from, both provide at least 10 models per group in a range of different price tags and abilities. The cheapest models aren’t a good idea for regular users because of the occasional crashes, but more expensive models can do wonders and will be sufficient for travelers to be pleased with.