The Magellan 1424 RaodMate GPS is a basic, portable entry level navigation system. For drivers like my self with little sense of direction on the road, the RoadMate makes for a great companion on business and personal trips. Navigating a new route has always been a challenge, but since I got this GPS as a gift my business trips have become more efficient.
Initially, the only reason I asked for this GPS was because I needed to hear the names of the streets when approaching turns, instead of a measurement in number of feet. I also wanted a wider and thinner unit for handling. For business road travelers comparing best GPS units to purchase, the Magellan RoadMate should be one taken into consideration.
The Magellan 1424 RoadMate GPS: Navigation Benefits for Business Travelers
I like easy to use and simple to handle portable electronic devices; these are two of the reasons why I chose this Magellan GPS unit.
Although there are other models with more bells and whistles, I just wanted the basic model for my travel needs. These are some of the features I most enjoy using this RoadMate GPS:
- It can be used as soon as it is taken out of the box with little preparation work. Just plug the unit in the car charger and go
- Obtains satellite signals very quickly and generally doesn’t lose this signal
- Voice provides street names
- Recalculates destination route fast when the driver has missed or made a wrong turn
- Provides a list of turns ahead of time for quick planning
- Entering street names and address on this GPS is very easy; the unit suggests a narrowed list of addresses before you finish inputting the full text
- Once the driver selects a destination, the unit suggests the shortest route
- Voice instructions are clear with minimal need to look at the screen while driving
- The screen is wide and easy to read with large road map pictures and choice of 2D or 3D view of the map
- It has maps of all of North America - great feature for business travelers
- Affordably priced, the RoadMate GPS currently sells for under $100 at many online and electronics stores
Shortcomings on the Magellan 1424 RoadMate Car GPS System
No home charger - The main drawback I find in this GPS unit is that it doesn’t come equipped with a home charger. The unit has to be charged while driving the car with the vehicle’s charger. The battery can last for up to two hours once fully charged.
No speed limits feature - Another disadvantage of this unit is the lack of speed limit data for highways. For business travelers who don’t know the speed limits on unfamiliar roads this information can come in handy.
No free updates - The maps update is an additional expense. Maps updates are important for travelers driving in a city with new roads. Updates can be purchased at the Magellan online store.
System requirement for updates - A PC with Microsoft Windows or Vista is required to download upgrades.
Users versus Experts GPS Review
This is a user review of the Magellan RoadMate GPS. For reviews performed by professionals and experts, consumers should check sites such as Consumer Search, CarGPSreviews.net and GPSmagazine.net. It’s always important to compare a few GPS units before purchase. Comparison should include considerations about price, reliability, how easy it is to use and brands.
Sylvia Cruz - Sylvia holds Bachelor and Master degrees in Business Administration with majors in Finance and Accounting. She is also a CIA - Certified ...
