magellan roadmate 360 GPS navigation system review

Saturday, October 13, 2007

After 2 years with Magellan Roadmate 360

This is to update my experience after 2 years. After a year of purchase, my Magellan at startup complains that the maps are obsolete and I should log on to magellan web site. But there I found no information whatsoever on how to upgrade the maps on this model. I still use it, but sometimes I am a little annoyed by it.

Here are my biggest complaints, I am not sure if the later models have it or not

1. There is no way to upgrade maps installed on this model at least does not appear to be a packaged upgrade solution.
2. Startup time is a little bit too high. I have seen it take more than 5 minutes to get the signal and start directing. Since I tend to leave it turned off, this is very inconvenient. Typically I tend to use it in downtown areas to find the nearest way to get to freeways, unless it already knows the way, it ends up wasting time.
3. Sometimes I found it does not give the shortest path to the destination. Yahoo/Google directions seem to be more up to date and more friendlier.
4. I would also have liked an option to turn off the volume. It is a bit annoying after a while.