Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
by Magellan
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List Price: Our Price: $62.97 You Save: $537.02 (90%) 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 4040 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Gets me there, easy to use. Compare to NUVI before buying.
Summary: 4 Stars
THe MAgellan Maestro 4040 gets me where I tell it to every time. IT does not always take me the way I would have chosen, but it usually is worth listening to; when I override its recommended route, I usually regret it.
It has an extensive database of points of interest, including many campgrounds, which is important to me. I am a full time RVer, so I am usually in unfamiliar areas, and it is essential to finding the nearest grocery store, gas station, auto shop, library, museums, etc. We really like being able to find the nearest hospital if we have an emergency.
It has the capabity to give audio directions, including street names, as you approach turns, and gives a chime when you reach the intersection or exit, so you know when to turn without looking at the screen.
A bit more pricey than the equivaent Garmin GPS, so compare them before buying. I borrowed a friend's Garmen NUVI before I bought this, and now I am thinking I would have been better served by the NUVI. I looked at a Magellan in a circuit city and I liked the wider screen, and the larger array of points of interest available its database.
Although the wider screen is better, I am not sure it was worth the extra $$$ compared to a NUVI. I initially bought the Maestro 4000, but exchanged it for the 4040 when I discovered that the 4000 did not have Canada in its database, and I could not upload it from the web. The NUVI includes Canada.
The 4040 has Bluetooth, which is not something I use. If you dont need that feature, or dont plan to go to Canada, I recommend the 4000 model.
Good features: extensive database of backroads and various points of interest. Audio directions. Excellent re-routing if you miss a turn. Included phone numbers on points of interest. Includes AAA approved campgrounds, with descriptions and features, and AAA service centers. Saves previous destinations so I can find my way back.
Bad features: Audio remains on even when typing in addresses and selecting points of interest, which gets annoying. I have to mute it when typing, then unmute it if I want audio directions during navigation. Poor logic for searching for various points of interest around a destination; I have to retype the destination each time I select a different point of interest.
Overall, I recommend it, but it compare it with other brands to make sure you get the one that suits your particular need. The other brands have these same problems I think. The guys designing these need to spend more time using them to get it right.
I recommend making a trip to a box store to compare them, then order it cheaper off Amazon.
Customer Review: It's okay.... when it works.
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought the Magellan 4040 because a friend of mine loves his older Magellan GPS unit. When I was shoping for a GPS unit, I wanted one that has a 4.3" screen as the 3.5" screens are far too small, in my opinion.
Because there are so many other reviews stating the good features about this unit, I'm just going to cover the negative things about the unit. I really wanted to like this GPS, but these negative aspects really were a deal breaker for me. So you decide whether or not these things would bother you... then weigh in the good and bad to come to your own conclusion.
First off, let me say that I bought the Magellan after selling my 2006 Honda with Honda GPS. There really is no GPS as good as the Honda system. Alas, I bought a BMW and the GPS Navigation in the BMW is very inferior with no touch-screen technology so I opted not to get it in my new car and go with a portable.
Okay, on to the bad stuff about the 4040...
So the first problem I encountered with this unit was with it's misdirection in voice prompt. This happens only once in a long while but for some strange reason, it happened to me twice. The voice prompt told me to turn LEFT but the arrow on the map was telling me to turn RIGHT. Obviously, I followed the arrow on the map screen since that's where the highlighted road was following.
The next thing I didn't like about the 4040 is when you go off-course. There are times when it will take a good minute to realize you're off course. Again, I guess I was spoiled by how amazing the tracking of the Honda navigation is.
The biggest disappointment, however, is the length of time it takes to sync up with the satellites and know your location. I'm a wedding photographer and usually, I'll need to go from the ceremony site to the reception site. Because the events of a wedding day happens fairly quickly, I need to get to the reception site as quickly as possible. However, it usually takes AT LEAST 2 minutes for the Magellan to know your location so unless I know the general direction to drive towards, I have to sit in my car and wait until the thing syncs up. At one wedding, I was sitting in my car for close to ten minutes waiting for the darn thing to sync. That is totally unacceptable! Anyways, if you don't see yourself using the GPS when you're pressed on time, then maybe this may not be so much of an issue but ten minutes is an insane amount of time to sit and wait.
Other than that, when the unit is synced up with the satellites and you don't accidently make a wrong turn, it does what it's supposed to do so it gets 2 stars for that.
Customer Review: Wide Screen with needed options
Summary: 4 Stars
Specifically bought this GPS, as this has a wide screen compared to 3.5". Also, this GPS doesn't have JPEG Viewer or MP3 player, which is appreciable. I would not need a JPEG viewer, as all digital cameras have this in-built function. Also, when you have a 6 Disc In-dash changer or a single disc MP3 player (or iPod connectivity), you wouldn't prefer to store the songs in an SD card and play it on the GPS..!!
Well, Used this GPS for the last one week and the experience was good. Intentionally skipped 7 exits on highway and GPS was quick to re-calculate the route and suggesting new/alternate route before every exit. As couple of other reviewers said, this GPS is not slow in re-calculating, for sure.
I gave it 4 stars, as I observed, it was little late in sensing I missed the route. one point in time, I skipped an exit an continued on the high way. GPS thought, I have taken the exit and suggested me to make right on the end of ramp. However, with in few seconds, route re-calculation was performed quickly and new route was suggested. GPS manufacturers say the accuracy is 10 meters or so, but it is not..(In some cases, could be a small issue).
Also, this GPS is little bulky, given the fact that the maps are stored on SD Cards. (Magellan Roadmate series have a 4 GB Micro Drive and the bulkiness is justified) Compare with Garmin Nuvi, tiny and easy to carry in a shirt pocket, but maestro series need a Laptop bag or an office bag to carry.
For this GPS, buy the Dash Mount (Magellan 702223 RoadMate 700 Dash Mount) which is good and pleasant compared to the Wind shield mount that comes in the box.
Finally, Magellan Maestro series is not pricey compared to Garmin (Nuvi series). And these provide the advantage of bigger screen. I would think, 3.5" is too small for MAP display. Also, Except for Road warriors, all others use GPS during week-ends or during vacation / long drives. Given the bigger screen size and the price (same as Nuvi 350) with advanced feature of Blue-tooth connectivity, I would suggest you can try this GPS..!
As of June 30 - Took a long trip from Hartford CT to Williamsburg VA. In the 1040 Miles round trip, GPS performed flawlessly. Especially commands like "Stay on the Current Road" and Also especially the "Automatic Map Zooming" during road/route change providing more clarity in the direction, 0.5+ miles before road turns or bends (With voice of Slight right turn, slight left etc...). I am happy with the purchase..
Customer Review: Good - at first.
Summary: 2 Stars
This was the first GPS unit I purchased. I thought with all of the online reviews I had read that had good comments (even though there were some with unfavorable remarks about Magellan customer service) & the AAA features this unit had this was the unit for me.
For the first week this 4040 worked great. I agree about the darker night mode and other menus not in night mode being a real issue - this unit worked very well for me in the upper midwest getting me to my destinations and all. Then within a week this GPS couldn't find/locate where I was at. Calling customer service was terrible. Using the typical phone menu of Push 1 for: Push 2 for: etc. the selection for the 4040 NEVER was available - I tried for several hours at different intervals. Finally I tried a different selection for a different product model - and got through on that one with no problem. However when the tech got into my problem and realilzed this was a different model, he transfered me to the 4040 tech line.
1). The 4040 tech was very hard to understand through her English. 2). I went through each of her directions of trying to get the unit to function - usually asking the direction several times to understand her. 3). She kept telling me that that will fix it - I kept telling her it doesn't and the unit doesn't know where it is at. And so she had me go through it once again. Finally I just agreed with her - and disconnected the call. I went back to the Best Buy where I purchased it and they exchanged it for a new one - determining this one was bad.
My 2nd 4040 worked great for another 2 1/2 weeks when now the right side of the touch screen wouldn't respond to touch. I tried reaching tech support over a two day period and could not get through.
I went back to Best Buy and they let me exchange this unit for a Garmin.
I think that the Magellan Maestro 4040 "could" have a lot going for it if it would work - and IF Magellan would get their Tech Support up to speed. I understand a lot of companies have moved their tech support to other countries - but that ISN'T ANY excuse for not being able to reach them and/or not having technicians that whoever is calling can understand and fix or take care of the problems.
My last comment is that I liked the way the Magellan Maestro 4040 worked & functioned. But I need a unit that is going to work & continue to work - and so I continue to carry on with my Garmin.
Customer Review: Magellan GPS over TomTom
Summary: 4 Stars
I returned my TomTom ONE XL after being led on wild goose chase with the directions the TomTom gave me and decided to go with the Magellan 4040. I was a little skeptical due to all the bad reviews about the wrong clip. I purchased the unit at a local electronics store(not sure what Amazons policy is on posting other retialers names). I opened the box and made sure th clip fit and it was perfect. The unit was on sale and it was the same price as the TomTom ONE XL after a bunch of sales/rebates. I then decided to see how it compared to the TomTom. Here are my findings
TomTom ++ = easy to use menus and sensitivity when you touch the keypad. Also the unit just seems a lot cleaner in design, fast re-calculations of routes, display has a lot of info like speed, time of arrival, etc..., I like the display colors and these are changeable.
TomTom -- = Lost trying to get home (mapquest had better directions) , unit wont let you touch POI on the map screen to direct you to it. POI (Points of Interest) are not up to date and they always seem wrong, Unit told me to make a left turn on the FDR drive in NYC in the middle of the expressway, maps dont have much detail and they seem to be missing some roads. I was told this unit is the mewest with the newest maps. New maps coming out in January '08
Magellan 4040 ++ = unit is widescreen, price, bluetooth speakerphone that works with the blackberry 7250!!, POI that you can touch on screen, AAA spots, very detailed maps, accurate routes, list of turns when you loose the GPS signal ( ie. Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnels, etc), awesome holder!, unit automatically prompts a detour icon if you are not moving for a little bit.
Magellan 4040 -- = So far some negatives are the map sometimes seems to loose its coordinates and the arrow starts to drift. I have seen this mostly in the city. Maybe GPS signals are bouncing. Unit re-calculates new routes only after you upgrade the firmware, I personally dont like the green higlight for the route your taking.