Computer Foods

Review by Yogurt-fan for Magellan Maestro 3225 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Rating: I recently purchased this from C—-o for $150 because of their more liberal return policy, but I don’t think I’ll be returning this unit unless it fails. Some background: I’ve been using a GPS unit via my HP iPaq running OnCourse Navigator for several years, so I’m familiar with GPS units in general, and have been looking for a replacement for a long time because the OCN software seemed to quit at the most inopportune times. I’ve also had the opportunity to play with my dad’s Nuvi 350, which is a very nice unit, but costs at least $100 more. Because of my experience with OCN, I had a minimum set of needs that had to be met, and the 3225 has done this in spades. In particular, I see these units as mostly disposable, because once the maps get out of date (important if you live anywhere where new streets may be added), it’s not very cost effective to pay for the map updates vs. buying a new unit, especially at this price point (as an aside, I will be keeping an eye on the Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator because it overcomes many weaknesses of all the current units — for a price).

The set of requirements I had for a replacement GPS were: 1) small form factor (needed to fit in a shirt pocket) 2) TTS (text to speech, ability to say the actual street name) 3) fast satellite acquisition (most units can do this) 4) low price point 5) good POI database 6) intuitive interface. Note I did not include good customer service as a requirement, which would have eliminated Magellan. However, I am tech savvy enough that I do not foresee any need for service, other than if the unit fails. After using the 3225 for about a week, here are my observations:

Pros:

Low price given capabilities

Great POI database (if you “upgrade” to the 6M POIs, just Google around)

True text-to-speech, says a synthesized version of actual street names, that, even if mangled, helps significantly in navigating

Nice bright screen

Fast satellite acquisition

Fast user interface response (very little lag when entering info)

Gives good advance warning prior to turn (“turn right in 0.5 miles followed by a left turn”)

Very portable — fits easily in pocket

Most accessories included (AC adapter, USB cable, mount, car charger)

Cons:

No Bluetooth, mp3 or video player (these don’t matter to me, but shouldn’t expect these features at this price point)

No external battery charge indicator (in order to see charge state, need to power on, go to System Status, and view the status on the screen, which slows charge since screen is on)

Maps may be getting a bit dated (mostly fine in my area, but others have complained; I’ve read that this is not Magellan’s fault but Navteq, the map-making company, and that the next major map update is due this summer)

Relatively low battery life (3 hrs vs. many other units at 5+)

Routing may not be as good as Garmin (but YMMV)

No carrying case (but you should be able to find something acceptable for not much at your local Target or Walmart)

I’ve mounted mine on the Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad because windshield mounting is illegal in California, and that has worked great. [[Update]]I just took delivery on a very cheap case, the Caselogic JDS-6 USB Drive Shuttle 6-Capacity (Black), which works quite well for the 3225 (and I imagine many other 3.5″ units); it’s not a perfect fit, but at $5, I can’t complain, and it’s nice looking to boot. I feel like if I accidentally dropped it onto the concrete, it would probably survive unscathed.

Again, if you’re looking for a unit with all the bells and whistles, look elsewhere (and open up your wallet wider). If you’re looking for a great entry-level unit with a decent feature set, I think you could do a lot worse. Use it for a few years, and then buy a new unit (maybe the next generation Dash).

Review by David for Magellan Maestro 3225 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Rating: My experience with car navigation systems is from factory installed systems in an Acura and a Toyota, both of which were 2 thousand dollar options. I bought this Magellan unit for my new car. Since the new car has Bluetooth built-in, I am only interested in basic GPS functions, which this unit does very well. The text to speech feature is remarkable at this price point.

While the screen is only 3.5 inches, it is adequate, and also makes for a very compact unit. So far the routing logic seems to be at least as good as the factory systems. Spoken instructions are clear and timely.

Due to the price, Magellan has reduced the POI to just 1 million. But I am intrigued by the previous reviewer’s comment about upgrading it to 6 million for free.

In summary, I do believe a factory installed GPS system is better because of the larger screen and always being right there at the center console. However, for people who seldom use the GPS or who want to save some money, this Magellan unit cannot be beat for the price.

Review by Daniel Will-Harris for Magellan Maestro 3225 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Rating: THIS WILL GET YOU THERE.

I have friends with $2,000 GPS systems built into their Toyotas, Infinitis and Benzes, and they are all overly complex and so difficult to program they literally never use them. Now–I have years of computer experience, I’ve written books about computers, and these expensive built-in GPS units were too difficult for me. One time when I did manage to get the one in a Prius to work, it took such a convoluted route it surely added a half hour to the trip.

So I avoided getting a GPS, even though I really needed one with all the driving I was doing.

INEXPENSIVE:

Then I saw this at Costco for under $150 and bought it knowing I could return it–but I won’t return it, it’s wonderful–easy to use, reliable, and so much better than the $2,000 built-in units (I have no idea why those have to be so difficult when this is so easy).

BLISSFULLY SIMPLE:

The interface is very simple, with big, easy to understand icons. It will even name the icons as you touch them, and the letters as you type them. Entering an address starts with the city (and any letters that can’t possibly be your next choice are blocked out–making it even faster). Then the street, then the number. It takes about 20 seconds to enter an address.

There’s a button to see a map of where you’re going–just to make sure it’s where you want to go–very handy.

Then you can choose the fastest route, shortest route, most use of freeways, least use of freeways. I find that the fastest route is inevitably the best one.

Once you press GO, it calculates the route in a couple of seconds and you’re ready to go.

There are some fancy features, such as one that lets you enter several addresses and have it calculate the most efficient ORDER as well as route–this is great if you are flexible and want to save time–and gas!

There’s an address book that’s easy to update and use, over a million points of interest including restaurants, gas stations, banks, libraries, and more. And an “exit POI” button to use when on the freeway–this will tell you what wonders await you off the next offramp.

While there are many features–the basics are so easy that if all you want to do is go from point A to point B, this is all you need.

POCKET SIZE DEVICE

rst–this is so small you can easily fit it in your pocket. That means you can carry it with you from car to car–even to the cars of friends with GPS units no one can get to work. It takes no space to pack when you travel so you can use it in rental cars.

EASY TO HEAR:

The voice in this unit can be turned up so loud I can hear it in a convertible with the top down. The voice is pleasant and never gets annoyed when it says “calculating route.” When I’m driving I rarely look at the map (I think it’s helfpul to keep my eyes on the road), so the voice being clear–and reading street names is very important to me, and this delivers.

This unit doesn’t have bluetooth or traffic reports, but it also costs half of what those units do, and the GPS part is great.

FAST:

I especially appreciate how fast it calculates a route, because if you do manage to take the wrong highway offramp (still possible, even with the device telling you where to go!), this will calculate a way back on track in just a couple of seconds, so you don’t have to stop and wait as you do with some other units.

PEEVE:

I have one peeve with this–if you don’t listen to its directions and take another route, sometimes it says, “When possible, make a legal U-turn.” Well, I don’t want to pull a uey, I want you to look at the next street and tell me where to turn.” And if you continue on, it finally will do that. I just don’t think it should ever tell you to make a u-turn unless you’re on a dead-end street.

BUT–This applies to basically all GPS systems. Sometimes they just give you screwy directions. You always get there, but not always in the simplest most direct route. That’s how these things work. If you don’t like it, don’t buy any GPS, because they all use similar routing systems. If you know where you’re going–don’t use your GPS “just for fun” as you’ll think it has chosen an idotic route. Just remember–it will get you there.

SUGGESTIONS:

Two recommendations: 1) don’t mount it in your car–thieves look for these mounts–or suction cup marks on your windows, and even if you take the unit out of the car when you park (as you should do), this tells them you have one. 2) Buy one of those “non-slip” silicone pads for your dash. They cost around $5 and will keep your GPS firmly in place when you corner–and they make the speaker sound even louder.

A correction on someone else’s post–you CAN update the maps using an SD card. The trouble is the maps cost $80, basically half the price of the unit (of course, this is still cheaper than the $300 to update the $2K built-in systems!).

As for map accuracy–I’ve only seen two times when it wasn’t accurate, and in both cases it had to do with current road construction. One was a moved onramp to the 580 going to Richmond, the other is the mess of construction that’s moved several offramps from the bay bridge going into San Francisco.

But remember, in both cases, even if you miss an offramp, it will quickly figure out where you need to go to get where you’re going–and the bottom line is–IT WILL GET YOU THERE.

I highly recommend this GPS.