Magellan Maestro 3100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Magellan is not as well known producer as Garmin or TomTom but there are a lot of very interesting and cheap GPS devices from this manufacturer that one should at least consider when looking for a navigator. Especially if you could get it for just $146 (it’s about 58% less than the proposed price) one could get a book that costs this!
Maestro 3100 uses SiRFstarIII™ navigation system allowing connection even to eight satellites simultaneously allowing the highest GPS accuracy. This device routes you in a clear visual user interface and at the same time using voice by the built in speaker. The SmartDetour™ feature is something new it automatically asks if one wants to change the route when the GPS senses that you are moving to slow (e.g. slow traffic on a freeway), and proposes the new route that you could select or just stay on the current one. The upcoming turn notification is clearly presented on the screen so one should not miss the turn. And of course there are also the two popular map views: the standard 2D and a 3D perspective one.
The map included has routes of 48 states of continental USA and has 750,000 points of interest (POIs) it’s not much comparing to the 6 million of some Garmin products but for this is costs at lest 50% less than those. The “Where I am” button displays the current location, street name, nearest intersections and the geographical position, nice if you are in an emergency situation. And while at the user interface, it is very user friendly and intuitive so it helps when entering the street address and getting the right route.
Unfortunately this device doesn’t have an AC power adapter so one has to charge it up in the car, and at the same time battery life is not that great, but hey, it’s at least cheap.
The Magellan Maestro 3100 is one of the cheapest GPS devices available on the market, it was released in mid 2007 so it has all the needed features that were developed to this date. If you are new to the whole GPS thing and want something entry-level than Maestro 3100 is the way to go.
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