Unique Original Articles » Magellan Introduces Tablet for GPS

New from Magellan is a GPS designed for the hard-core travelers of us. The new RoadMate offers many helpful features, along with features that are standard in most GPS units. This new US travel GPS is different, in part, because of the size. A 7” screen provides lots of viewing room, as well as room for other features to be used. However, due to size, it is recommended for commercial trucks and RV's. There is an extension mount for use in cars.

The new GPS features spoken street names, a one-touch favourites menu, automatic rerouting, an address book, and an automatic night view to help see the screen while driving at night. Extra features are pretty neat, too. It provides free lifetime traffic updates, great to keep you from getting stuck in traffic, and helping you find the quickest routes to your destination.

Lane assist is great for when you're not familiar with your route or the areas you are driving. This feature lets you know which side of the road your exit will be on. It also helps you to successfully and easily navigate large interstate interchanges by letting you know which lanes are dedicated for the highway you are traveling on.

Multi-destination routing allows you to program in all your stops, and helps you plan the best route to reach all of them in good time. If you do get lost, there's advanced Bluetooth technology and hands-free calling to help you contact someone and get back on track. The QuickSpell feature will narrow down your searches as you type, making unknown spelling of road names not a problem.

When you're at your destination or just stopped for the night, it has A/V input for use to watch movies or listen to music. The Roadmate is compatible with PCs and Bluetooth, and has a USB port. If you're a AAA member, the phone number for Roadside Assistance and your exact location are displayed on the screen, should you need any help during your journey. Also, it has a AAA Tourbook featuring AAA-approved places to visit, dine and stay.

Consumer Reports tested the new GPS and found it to do well in all their tests. They said it was “rich in convenient features” and had an “intuitive interface”. They do, however, recommend it only be used for RV's and commercial trucking, due to the size of the unit.

An alternative unit, the less pricey RoadMate 1700, also shares many of the features of the new GPS version, except it does not come with lifetime traffic and map updates. It does have the OneTouch favorite menu, a 7” touch screen, AAA Tourbook, Highway Lane Assist, 6 Million Points of Interest (POI), Highway Exit POI Search, Branded POI (to find chain restaurants while on the go), QuickSpell, Multi-Destination Routing, spoken street names, NAVTEQ maps, USB port, A/V input and PC compatibility. However, the 1700 does not have Bluetooth technology.

No matter which way you go, you will get quality from these US Travel GPS units. If you want to save a little money, going with a factory refurbished unit could be a good way to go. Some factory refurbished units at drivengps.com offer a one-year warranty, others offer a 90-day warranty, so be sure to check this information while shopping.


AJ Best has articles on transportation and commercial gps technology and commercial electronics, saving money, and much more published on more than 100 websites and blogs, including: http://www.drivengps.com
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