Many of the top GPS device makers are attempting to improve their GPS devices. The manufacturers are offering more up-to-date features to make finding one’s way easier for travelers who use engines, hiking boots, or any other method of transportation possible. Although these manufacurers are really trying to render most of the GPS devices accessible for the middle-class consumer, the effect of all the technology available in the product will predictably be larger price tags. The best that many manufacturers can do for those of us who can’t pay for all the new gizmos is to offer absolutely basic versions of the GPS devices which are affordable for mid- to lower-income drivers. Another great model to consider is Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.

Magellan GPS devices are slightly singular since Magellan has always designed their top-performing models to be affordable and convenient. The disadvantage of affordability, of course, is that cutting edge technology is rarely found at reasonable prices. As a result, the quality of Magellan’s devices has earned mixed reviews. Magellan answered this shortcoming through several high-end products for the more dedicated GPS users.

Magellan Maestro

When you are in the market for a reasonably priced navigator for your car, the Magellan Maestro series provides quite a few models which are particularly for vehicle navigation. Magellan Maestro models are found in the 3000, 4000, and 5000 classes. Each of the 3000 models are remarkably low priced with some like the Maestro 3100 priced at under $200 which is wondrously cheap for a GPS device which offers 2-D and 3-D mapping capabilities. Most likely their most convenient option is the QuickSpell feature, that enables simplified input for road names.

Every other measurable quality, as well as the performance is less than inspiring and hanging is all too constant. With the exception of one or two of the 4000 and 5000 models, the Magellan Maestro is simply not exceptional, but the price is still reasonable.

Magellan Roadmate

As suggested by their name, this group of Magellan GPS devices have been made for cars as well. Although they are distinguishable from their Maestro cousins when it comes to appearance. Roadmates are intended to be less bulky to tote, having a slimmer profile yet keeping the same interface. The outcome of these improvements is the Roadmates are just as easy to navigate with and even easier to pack than the Maestros. A nice option is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.

In the area of performance, the Roadmate is a bit improved with one or two of them like the Roadmate 1212 offering the Centrality Atlas III Processor. If you are fond of exploring the menus, you would observe a rather annoying wait while using the buttons. The battery capacity isn’t all that great either; it’s usable for about 3 hours before a recharge is necessary.

On a happy note, the Roadmate is regarded as superior to several of the Maestro budget GPS units, displaying many more POI’s than the Maestro 3100 with its meager 750,000 points of interest. The Roadmate closes the gap with other brands by including over 6 million points of interest. Text-to-speech, which is always a handy feature, is also included in several of the reasonably priced models. The price isn’t prohibitive either, which is remarkable for a slim device. Another good item to look into is the Magellan Roadmate 1470 Portable GPS Navigator.

Although there are just two collections to select from, those sets provide at least 10 models for your consideration, all with different prices and features. The cheapest of the bunch aren’t very useful for frequent users owing to the occasional crashes, but more expensive models are quite satisfactory and should be enough for drivers to be satisfied with.