Magellan Maestro 4000 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Magellan
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List Price: Our Price: $24.99 You Save: $425.00 (94%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Magellan Maestro 4000 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Great quality but poor navigational skills
Summary: 3 Stars
I have not owned the Lowrance iWay 250C, Magellan Maestro 4000, and Garmin nüvi 200W. I began with the Lowrance 250 but unfortunately it was stolen and I was forced to replace the unit. I bought the Magellan 4000 but returned it in a short period to purchase the Garmin 200W. In an attempt to summarize my thought on these units, I'll summarize my observations in a 'pro / con' format.
As a summary of the following, I was extremely impressed with the Lowrance iWay 250C's dependability and price. The Garmin Nuvi 200W has good navigation tools and a clear, large display. Finally, the Magellan 4000 was built in a quality manner but lacked basic navigational functionality.
Lowrance iWay 250C -
Pros:
1) Fantastic routing sequences. This unit has great navigational features and never misguided me at any time.
2) Can add personalized POIs with symbols using street address.
3) GREAT price for a solid unit.
4) Voice and sound quality excellent.
5) Overall very dependable unit with intelligent navigation and outstanding value.
Cons:
1) Slow to locate signal.
2) Small 3.5 inch screen.
Magellan Maestro 4000
Pros:
1) Audible chime to signify upcoming turns.
2) Large 4.3 inch screen.
3) Extremely solid construction with MANY accessories included (AC charger, etc).
4) Large touchscreen buttons which allow for easy control.
5) Voice and sound quality excellent.
6) Clear display of menu funtions and user friendly.
Cons:
1) Hard to read maps and poor general map display. Most roads are displayed very small and the map background colors are poorly selected.
2) Poor selection of routing preferences.
3) Adding personal POIs requires separate interface using latitude/longitude only. It is impossible to add personal POIs with the simple use of street address.
4) Several times this unit provided routes which were incorrect. Most errors occurred due to its inability to know that road medians have turning lanes.
Garmin nüvi 200W
Pros:
1) Can add personal POIs with symbols using street addresses.
2) Clear and large display.
3) Large touchscreen buttons which allow for easy control.
4) Clear menus displayed with intuitive and user friendly functions.
5) Overall good unit with clean navigational tools and ease of use.
Cons:
1) Power connection in rear of unit can be frustrating to plug/unplug.
2) No AC charger included.
3) It is not possible to display the remaining trip mileage as the route is being displayed. The estimated time of arrival is shown but switching this to the remaining mileage is not possible.
4) Some routing has been incorrect. These errors seem to occur due to its inability to know that road medians have turning lanes.
5) Very short device for windshield mounting.
Customer Review: Magellan Maestro 4000 - Seems to be a great device.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have only been using this device for a few days, but have read the manual inside out and tested all the bells and whistles. I even did an update from the wesbite. That was the worst part yet. lol
So far - the device on right on target, and has proved seperior accuracy in showing me shortcuts that I would have never known. So far I am very impressed. As I said - the most difficult thing for me thus far was getting the update into the unit, but it finally did work. The other thing I am slightly confused about is the reasoning behind the SD/MMS card. When I was looking over instructions for the update - it said make sure you back up your address book to an SD card or the address book would have been erased. I went out and purchased card and backed up my address book as instructed...other than that - I am not sure I see a reason to even have a card in the unit. I know you are supposed to use it for some special features with POI, but when I put the CD in to check it out - I was totally at a loss for understanding ANYTHING. :(
If anyone can help - feel free to email me some advise here lbird64@comcast.net
So - all in all - I give this unit 4 stars for doing a great job with directions, shortcuts, and re-routing me when I want to go another way. I do not mind it not speaking street names in particular, and actually prefer the thing to talk less. It's distracting to have another "person" taking in the car with a 4 yr old in the back seat. I'd definitely rather be able to read it in large text right on the screen. Magellan was on the money there.
One note about the customer service - as I did see some negative comments about that. I called an 800# and they were pretty nice, but not SUPER helpful. I was getting an error with the downloading of the update, and the first guy said, "keep trying - your not getting the whole file...shut down your pc and start over", and basically rushed me off the line. The second time - the guy said that Magellan was updating the website, and I should try the download again Saturday...????? (This call was made today - on Thursday). Well.......I tried when I got home from work - on my own pc - and it was perfect and super fast. The site did appear to have a different design, so I believe the 2nd guy was telling the truth.
Recommended! Cool if you have AAA - get a free year warranty!
Customer Review: Great product for price
Summary: 4 Stars
Recently purchased the Maestro 4000 for a trip to Philadelphia from Boston. I considered other Magellellan products (3100, 4040) and other brands but liked the screen size, AAA database and price ($335 when purchased, now down to $299). Overall the product worked very well.
Navigating the menus is relatively easy, Magellan keeps your options simple, Entering an address, looking up a AAA Point of Interest, setting or canceling a route is a matter of point, listen, click. In fact my wife, not a gadget gal, found it easy to locate tourist sites in Philly without any help.
I found the system to be very accurate, particularly when directing me through confusing freeway on and off ramps. The split screen visual when taking a compound off-ramp is very helpful. The AAA database is extensive though it doesn't contain every listing you might like (for example, I could not find a single Friendly's Rest. listing...though many other chains are located).
Did not have any problems with freezes over a three week period, though you will need the in-car charger (included) since battery life seems about 2 hours. Voice is friendly and clear (particularly like the female reminder to safely make a u-turn when I miss a turn). The windshield mount worked better than I expected.
Things to improve:
1. Software to map route on your computer then upload to GPS. I have not been able to find any software that will allow me to do this on the 4000. This means you must rely on the GPS routing software. They include some software on the CD (pc only) but it is primitive and I couldn't quite figure it out.
2. Need to be aware of the differences between Routing Options (e.g., Fastest Route, Shortest Route, Most Freeways). Fastest route sometimes took me off freeway through the boonies...just need to be aware of this.
3. Related to #1, manipulating the automatic GPS routes is cumbersome. If you just go with what they program, you are good.
Overall, the 4000 is well worth the (declining) price. If you don't need BlueTooth and Voice Command you can save over the more expensive 4040 and 4050. I do think the AAA database is worth the investment. I would just like the option to map a route on my computer and then upload to GPS.
Customer Review: Fairly well pleased
Summary: 3 Stars
This GPS has one shortcoming that -- had I realized it at the time -- might have kept me from buying it. When you are approaching a turn, it does not name the street or road onto which you should be turning. However, the street name is displayed in fairly large letters at the bottom of the screen. Some feel this is a driver distraction, but then, so is looking at any other part of the screen.
This Maestro is slightly better in this regard than the Garmin unit we rented recently in Phoenix. At least the Magellan dings a chime at the precise point where you should turn. That particular Garmin simply announced a turn was coming, but lacked any precise indicator; more than once we found ourselves staring into two rows of oncoming headlights at what turned out to be the freeway OFF ramp. I understand other Magellan and Garmin models do have the street naming feature.
The selling point of this Maestro 4000 -- since my wife and I are AAA members -- is that it is purported to be the only one linked to the entire AAA trip information data base. It takes membership in the auto association, though, to gain access. You can go into the AAA link and download detailed lodging and restaurant information for any location. And it's not just dollar signs and diamond ratings. You'll get paragraphs of descriptions written by the owners of these establishments.
As we have become acquainted with other features about our Maestro (automatic day/night screen adjustment, routing options, address book, etc.) and learned to listen for the time-to-turn chime, the lack of street naming has become less of an issue. At the outset, though, that was a not happy surprise.
Here's a freebee suggestion. No matter which GPS you get, DO NOT set up the Home feature -- unless you want the bad guy who steals your GPS to follow you home. Instead, just add your street address to all the others in your address book. Make it harder for them figure out where you live.
Customer Review: nasty people!
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased the unit right before Holloween. Within the last month, I've found a lot of routing errors. "Fastest time" takes me to some pretty wacky places, including highways that don't even connect to where I'm trying to go.
It would tell me to follow a road (which is completely straight) and then tell me to turn around.
POI are not updated and I can't tell you how many times I tried one and it was closed for a long time.
I loaded all of the updates and so on to make sure my unit is optimal.
I decided because everyone says how great theirs is to call customer service when it tried to take me up a one way street.
I could not understand this Indian. I also know he couldn't understand me. Instead of trouble shooting my unit, he proceded to plot routes on his computer. When I asked him how this helps my problems, he ignored me. He asked for streets where a particular problem occured and streets that connected to it. Okay...If I knew all this information, including connecting streets, Why would I need the GPS to get to where I'm going??!!!! When I asked to speak to his supervisor, he told me "no" because there was only one on today and that he was busy. I said he wasn't helping me and I don't mind waiting on hold. He told me that my calling them was very expensive and he didn't want me on hold. I told him it wasn't my fault he's in India, and that I would hold. He hung up on me!!!
This unit is worthless, and if followed could get me killed quite often. I want it fixed, or I want my money back! Outsourcing is not the answer for customer service. I can't believe after spending $400, they can't provide better CS. What good is a product that you can never get service with?!!!