Magellan RoadMate 2045 ReviewPeople are often confused with Magellan's RoadMate and Maestro series especially since there are many other manufacturers offering capable GPS devices at reasonable prices. In general, Magellan RoadMate devices are slightly less expensive than Maestro devices since RoadMate devices do not pack as many extras as Maestro devices. Some features like Bluetooth are more common in Maestro devices, but that does not mean that Magellan RoadMate devices are less capable. Unlike Maestro devices, RoadMate devices can be converted to crossover devices since they support topographic maps. Even with this fact, picking from the many RoadMate devices can tough as well especially if budget is in the equation. The new Magellan RoadMate 2045 is a balanced pick having all the essentials for everyday drivers along with free lifetime traffic alerts. Latest Update: The Magellan RoadMate 2045 is Now on Sale at Amazon.com!
DesignFrom the front, the Magellan RoadMate 2045 design looks polished compared to older models. The bezel looks curvier and the overall model is thinner. The 4.3" display is just enough for Magellan to put a friendly interface without sacrificing portability. User Interface
The QuickSpell feature is still being used in modern Magellan devices including the 2045. It displays a QWERTY keyboard on the touchscreen allowing users to input an address. Keying in a few letters will return a list of possible destinations that have these letters. It will also highlight keys on the onscreen keyboard to assist users in keying in the complete destination faster. Another way to access places is by bookmarking them so users can make use of the OneTouchTM favorites menu. From its name, it is very easy to bring up a route once a favorite is requested. Key Features
NavigationLike other GPS devices, the RoadMate 2045 has all the basic navigation features complete with 2-D and 3-D map views. Even if the One Touch Favorites menu isn't used, you can still plan routes by touching any of the points of interest shown on the map. A "Home" point can be set so the best possible route can be calculated going home from any location. The navigation experience isn't hampered during the night time because it has an auto night view for optimized contrast. The RoadMate 2045 is preloaded with the latest NAVTEQ maps covering the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada with over 6 million points of interest scattered across these maps. The POI database is completely searchable and categorized in common categories such as hotels, restaurants, ATMs, gas stations, and others. Drivers that frequently drive in highways will benefit greatly from the device as it offers two highway-specific features - Highway Lane Assist and Highway Exit POI Search. The Highway Exit POI Search is a feature commonly found in RoadMate devices where users can easily search for any nearby POIs as they approach highway exits. The Highway Lane Assist is found in recent models and should save some frustration as it keeps drivers in the correct lane to help prepare for a turn as indicated in the planned route. The RoadMate 2045 also supports trip planning with the multi-destination routing feature. Multiple stops can be set and reordered to fit any ideal trip. The RoadMate does the internals in calculating the most efficient route as well as showing how long it takes to reach each stop. It is also backed with text-to-speech support so the street names are called out whenever a turn needs to be made reducing the possible mistakes on the driver's side. Drivers can avoid further mistakes by taking advantage of the Lifetime Traffic Alerts which appear in real-time without any subscription or registration fees. Finally, the AAA TourBook guide shows a list of good places to stay and eat along with comprehensive ratings from the American Automobile Association. Bottom LineFeature-rich devices are often priced above $200, but the Magellan RoadMate 2045 keeps it at below $200 because it gives up the extras that not everyone uses and goes for the real essentials that bring convenience to everyone. List Price : | ||
 |
 |
||
 |
MENU |
||
 |
 |
BlinkList
Blogmarks
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Slashdot
Spurl
Stumbleupon
Technorati
Yahoo My Web
Google Bookmarks