Magellan RoadMate 1340 Review

The Magellan GPS maker is actively finding ways to convince regular people that drive their vehicles every day to rely on their GPS devices. They began their attack by introducing the Maestro series, but the low budget models didn’t perform too well and the higher-end models had too many features that not everyone needed. Now Magellan focuses more on the car owners market with the new Magellan RoadMate series. The Magellan RoadMate 1340 is among the midrange models effectively balancing the features with the price.

Magellan RoadMate 1340 GPS Navigator

Design

The Magellan 1340 has a nice 3.5 inch color display that is ideal for both 2-D and 3-D views. What makes it a bit different than the Maestro is that it has a thinner profile making it ideal for taking around with you despite its RoadMate name.

Interface

Both new users and users that have tried the Maestro in the past will be impressed with the interface improvements. There is a favorites menu called “OneTouch” that can give you access to all the main features in a single touch. You can also add any bookmarks leading to your favorite places no matter where you are located.

Navigation

You should be able to navigate just fine with the RoadMate 1340 because of its customizable route methods. You can set different routes based on the fastest time, shortest distance, and most or least use of freeways and easily compare the results. Multi-destination routing is also supported allowing you to set multiple stops in any given order and then let the RoadMate do the rest.

One of the highly praised features of the entire lineup is the QuickSpell feature which basically makes it easier to type in street names by highlighting the letters that can be used to complete a known name. This is great for searching for other streets or names to plan your trip. If you are on the highway often, you can take advantage of the highway lane assist signs feature that guides you to the correct exit without missing a turn.

On the maps side, millions of POIs are included in their preloaded maps including locations of restaurants, gas stations, coffee shops, ATMs, banks, and other places to check out. Some of the POIs are take the form of their own logos making them easier to spot while driving. Maps can be browsed in 2-D and 3-D with a nifty contrast option for night viewing

Actual user review:
• "The first time I started it up, it took a while to find the satellite, but every time since then it was nearly instantaneous. In my office (3rd floor of a large 3-story college building) it takes about 8-10 seconds to find the satellite signal. I also want to highlight the AAA tourbook and the user interface. I find the user interface more elegant and more intuitive than those of the more popular brands. The AAA tourbook is fantastic if you are a tourist, because it contains reviews and descriptions (not just location info). " - W.Brinkman (OH,USA)

Extras

Both directions and street names are spoken with its Text-to-Speech feature, but the volume could use a bit of improvement. Another interesting feature is the AAA TourBook which describes different places that you can dine, stay, or check out complete with ratings so you can save and make the most out of your trip.

For a GPS device under $200, the Magellan RoadMate 1340 stacks up pretty well against the competition. The visibility isn’t so great in direct sunlight and the sound could use some improvement, but all the other features make it a fantastic value.

Technical Specifications

Display: Color LCD, 3.5 inch widescreen
Pre-loaded maps : United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico
Antenna: Built-in
Battery: Lithium ion
Battery Life : Up to 3 hours
Dimensions: 3.7"(W) x 3.1"(H) x 0.7"(D)
Weight : 4.9 ounces
Expansion Slots: SD card
GPS Accuracy Position: 3-5 meters
Voice Capabilities: Yes, navigation instructions and street name announcements

More user reviews:

• "First up, it is very very simple to use. There are a number of great features - the voice instruction clarity is great and the instructions are spoken clearly and in plenty of time to complete each manoeuvre. Particularly impressive are instructions on entering / exiting interstates! We have found it to be incredibly accurate - last week we took a drive into the North Georgia mountains and the directions were inch perfect, in an area where even the hotels do not recommend relying on GPS systems! " - P.L.Hanson (Atlanta,USA);

• "I love this GPS. This does just about everything that I expect a GPS to do, although it doesn't have features such as bluetooth for any power users out there. Features I especially love that were new to me? The pop-ups that show you what the road signs look like when you are approaching your freeway exits and the text-to-speech is pretty spot-on. Satellite acquisition is fast, and it even worked in downtown Houston when I was surrounded by skyscrapers. Highly recommended. " - D.Woodruff (TX,USA);

Average User Rating :