A GPS unit is something that I have contemplated purchasing for a while. The only reason that I have held off is because I know where I am going (most of the time). Now, my husband would tell you that I am going insane, which is highly likely, but when Amazon had this unit on sale for $70, I jumped at the chance to own it.
Thus far, I am very satisfied with the device. I want to be clear: I have no experience with other GPS models, so my review is based solely upon this product.
Durability and Design
The Magellan RoadMate is a lightweight GPS device that is easy to install in your vehicle. The product comes with a mounting brace, a spare suction cup, a cigarette charger, and of course, the device itself. All are designed of a sturdy plastic, and feel durable.
In terms of the installation, the suction device also has a pressure lock to ensure that the holder does not fall off of your windshield. If you are not able to mount the device on your windshield (there are some states which have ordinances which prohibit objects being mounted on your windshield), the unit also gives the option of mounting to your dash. Unfortunately, my vehicle has a textured dash, so I was unable to place the holder anywhere except my windshield. However, the device is small enough that the mounting location I selected (to the left of my rearview mirror) does not result in a large blind spot.
Overall, the product is sturdy and well-made. I do not trust that dropping the GPS unit itself would be a good idea, but if it were to spontaneously throw itself off of my windshield, I do feel that it would survive the fall to my seat/dash/floorboard.
Function
The beautiful part of this GPS unit has to be the functionality. Obviously, the unit has maps. They are colorful and easy to follow. The top of the screen lists the name of the street/road that you are currently travelling; the bottom shows the direction (alternately, the time, distance, or your velocity), the ability to zoom in or out, and the menu button.
The menu button is where the power of this device comes in. In addition to being able to provide directions from point A to point B (eat your heart out, Google maps!), the device is pre-loaded with local restaurants, stores, and variety of parks/tourist attractions. You can even input your AAA membership to call for assistance! And, to top it all off, operation of the Magellan RoadMate is easy and intuitive. The touchscreen is responsive, bright, and easy to navigate (see the pun that I made? Navigate a GPS unit? I kill myself!). During the day, the maps are green with clearly labelled roads in brown/black/red. At night, the screen goes black and the roads dim a bit. I find this part especially useful; the unit will not blind either the driver or anyone behind me!
Programming frequently-visited locations is also very simple. You start out by typing the name of the city, and then the street, and finally the street address. The great part about this is it is virtually impossible to enter erroneous information. The GPS database locks out letters that cannot be used. For instance, we live in Painesville, Ohio. When entering the address for our local Taco Bell, I type out P-A-, and the keyboard locks out letters that are not possible, such as Z or Q (there are no cities in northeast Ohio spelled PAZ- or PAQ). Going further, once the city has been inputted, you cannot enter street names that do not exist within the named city. This may not seem like a "huge" thing, but for someone who is new to a location, this would undoubtedly prevent the user from obtaining incorrect address information. For this, I give the Magellan RoadMate high marks.
Finally, the Magellan RoadMate focuses on user safety. Whenever the unit starts up, a warning appears reminding the user to not use the unit while operating a motor vehicle. The device will not, however, lock the screen when the vehicle is moving (the device can detect velocity; it will display your corresponding rate of movement if requested). While I do not necessarily think that the unit should lock out when moving (the unit could be used by a passenger and not necessarily the driver), it is relatively easy to be distracted by the screen.
While I may sound like a broken record, I cannot stress the importance of paying attention to the road when driving a vehicle and using the GPS unit. If you are using the Magellan RoadMate to find a business, program the device BEFORE you pull out of your driveway/parking spot. If you need to access one of the menus on your GPS device, please do so when your vehicle is not moving; if necessary, pull off of the road. Finally, adjust the volume on the unit to ensure that the recorded voice is not overly distracting. Straight from the box, the voice for the unit is a bit loud and grating; I had to turn it down a bit to prevent it from giving me a headache. I do not recommend turning the voice off completely, though. This recorded voice will give turn-by-turn instructions to coincide with your requested directions, decreasing your need to look at the GPS unit. This, of course, helps a driver to focus on traffic and operate their vehicle safely.
Final Word
To be perfectly forthcoming, I highly recommend this GPS unit. It is easy to use, durable, and is chock-full of features. The ease of use and the AAA Roadside Assistance (and reviews of tourist destinations) really sealed the deal for me. If you want a device that does more than get you from point A to point B and ready to go out of the box, this is for you.
As a final bit of advice, make sure that you are familiar with your local laws regarding the mounting of a GPS device. I mentioned this earlier in my review, but some states/cities prohibit vehicle operators from mounting devices (GPS units/radar detectors) to their windshields. While this unit can be mounted on your dash, I find it a bit easier to read from the windshield.