Magellan GPS

Introduction:

The world always adored the brave and one of the manifestations of this mindset is the GPS receiver named after the Portuguese navigator who commanded an expedition; it was the first expedition that circumnavigated the world. Taking all these into account, what else could have been more appropriate as a name if not Magellan?

An overview of the Products:

Along with an account of the child, it is a basic courtesy to introduce the parent. The child in question is the range of Magellan GPS products spanning from entry-level handheld to premium vehicle navigation systems. Thales Navigation, the manufacturer, is a multinational that also happens to be one of the leading innovators of navigation and positioning solutions in the world. Magellan®, the consumer brand was introduced in 1989; since then, it is providing individual consumers the security that comes from knowing where they are heading towards.

Product Range:

The product range of Magellan is categorized under specific names, which also form a series. The latest one happens to be the Magellan Marine GPS, while the eXplorist and the ROADMATE series have three and five different models respectively packed with specific features. And in the domain of the latest handheld devices, it is the
Magellan GPS 2000 handheld 12 channel GPS (waterproof) and the Magellan GPS Lazer that’s creating a whole lot of buzz.

Another stunning product from Magellan is the SporTrak Pro GPS Receiver. Unlike the others, it is not a standalone device; therefore, the company supplies it with the Magellan GPS Companion along with two AAA batteries. The GPS Companion functions with the Palm m500 series PDA; however, for outdoor activities, the standalone devices from Magellan are always given an upper hand.

The Roadmate line of GPS units are the most popular ones among the plethora of GPS units brought forth by Magellan; the device offers totally accurate directions to the destination through its internal speaker; the most recent Roadmate 800 also features color 3-D maps. Besides, the high-end Roadmates (360 and later ones) also feature Avoid Area Routing, Odometer and Route Planning with Re-Routing facility, speedometer, Touch screen controls, turn-by-turn navigation and voice guidance and are WAAS Enabled. But if anything earned public appreciation in galore, it’s nothing but the RoadMate 3000T, though it has its own share of shortcomings.

Pros and Cons:

According to the users worldwide, Magellan GPS units are the highest rated ones when it comes to the overall user interface; the devices are also accompanied by high-end mounting hardware. The StarIII chipsets (by SiRF's) provide excellent GPS performance and state-of-the-art accuracy with the NAVTEQ mapping data. However, the arrangement of the buttons on the front panel of the units often results in accidental pressing. A special mention must also be given to the buttons marked (+) and (-); even a light touch is sufficient to trigger off the assigned functions. The Magellan devices are not Mac compatible; neither do they feature any Bluetooth support. Nevertheless, there’s one ray of hope - the RoadMate lineup has recently been announced to be made free of all those blemishes that existed in the former models.

Conclusion:

Although some of the GPS units from Magellan have their own share of shortcomings, but people’s expectations still run high when it comes to the brand name. Fact remains that Magellan used to be the sole owners of the automotive GPS navigation market space and if they want to gain back the monopoly (read glory days), they have to concentrate on the basics of innovation. Else, it is a competitive market and the consumers have their own set of preferences.