Magellan RoadMate 3055 ReviewHow much to spend on a GPS device is up for debate and the decisions are beginning to toughen as manufacturers come up with more advanced models for people that have extra to spend. This is good news for those who have not bought a GPS yet since the most basic GPS devices are dropping in prices. Newer models are introduced at a frenetic pace with useful features that make them better products. Even Magellan announced 10 new GPS devices in May 2010 to cater to different budget levels. The Magellan RoadMate 3055 rests in the middle of the pack which may end up being the worthy choice. Latest Update: The
Magellan RoadMate 3055 is Now On Sale at Amazon.com
DesignLike the other Magellan RoadMates, some minor changes were made to the design so it looks a bit more rugged with some elegancy as it remains thin. Although there are no sweeping changes, the RoadMate 3055 does boast a large 4.7-inch display which means expanded map visibility. User Interface
Going to the map or planning the route is easy to do from the main menu and the map view itself displays all of the important data on the top and bottom of the display. In highways, important signs are displayed and zooming in is made possible by the onscreen buttons. The OneTouchTM favorites menu introduced in the previous generation of RoadMate devices stays in the same upper right corner where drivers have easy access to some of the places that they frequently visit. Since this is customizable, assigning locations to this menu reduces the time needed in forming a route by keying it in manually. In fact, keying in the route isn't much of a daunting progress either thanks to the QuickSpell feature which introduces a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard. Unlike other onscreen keyboards by competing GPS devices, the QuickSpell feature highlights recommended keys that will be used to complete a place or POI in the device's database. Key Features
NavigationThere are over 6 million points of interest stored in the device by default and are all laid out in the three NAVTEQ maps covering the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. With the ability to add custom POIs and add them to the OneTouch Favorites menu, route planning is extremely flexible. Planning a simple route already shows the RoadMate's flexibility as several routes can be generated based on the driver's needs. For instance, a route going home can be calculated with the time as a priority or an entirely different route can be formed with the shortest distance in favor. More complicated routes can be made using the multi-destination routing where another route can be formed immediately after the first resulting to a series of destinations. Some routes may require drivers to take the highway and this is where the Highway Lane Assist feature plays a useful role. It tells the driver in advance to stick to this particular lane so he or she can make the exit or interchange turn as instructed. Since the maps are very recent, the database should be updated with the major lanes as well. As an exit approaches, the area can be searched for any POIs near that location in case a short stop in these small areas is needed. The text-to-speech feature serves as a nice guide for assisting drivers while they stay focused on the road. Other FeaturesThe RoadMate 3055 is also filled with solid extras making it comparable to a Maestro device. It supports Bluetooth connectivity with mobile phones to allow hands-free calling or phone book synchronization of up to 1000 numbers. The built-in microphone isn't just for making calls, but it is also for utilizing the Voice Command feature to make the entire navigation experience hands-free. Simple commands like "Go Home" do the requested task without touching the screen. Bottom LineThe Magellan RoadMate 3055 costs around $250 which is similar to Maestro devices, but with the free lifetime traffic alerts, the savings are actually larger. List Price : | ||
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