|
| Magellan RoadMate 6000T Portable GPS Navigator | 
 enlarge | Brand: Magellan
Category: CE
List Price: $799.99
Buy Refurbished: $118.99
You Save: $681.00 (85%)
New (31) Used (10) Refurbished (4) from $118.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 11027
Media: Electronics
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 320 x 240
Display Size: 3.5
Battery: 1 Internal Lithium
Includes MP3 Player: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 4.8 x 1.4 x 3.8
MPN: 980874-01
Model: 980874-01
UPC: 763357115055
EAN: 0763357115055
ASIN: B000GE1QBM
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Great navigation, but unreliable February 23, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
It does a great job of navigating, but my first unit that I received for Christmas would not allow me to save my created addresses and system preferences to a back up memory card. As a result, I had to rebuild all of my data each time the unit locked up (fairly frequently). Additionally, the "repeat last instruction" feature didn't work. Called tech support, and they couldn't help me, so I exchanged the unit. When the second unit arrived, the "repeat last instruction" feature did not work on this unit either, but it would back up my data to a memory card. Three weeks later, that too quit working, so I've returned it for a refund.
Works Well But Has Flaws February 23, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Have had this unit for about 3 months now and have to reset it maybe once a week which is a pain and you lose your data at times when you do that. It locks up or a feature stops working like the voice commands and then you have to reset. The bluetooth is not worth the extra money since the speaker is too low at top volume. I can't see any benefit to the picture or MP3 options either, so I'd go basic if you get a Magellan RoadMate unit. This does work well and has great features when it is working.
 Excellent for the Price February 22, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This worked wonderfully right out of the box within 3 minutes. It is definitely worth spending the extra money on the street names function (instead of just "turn right"). Navigates extremely confusing Washington DC streets and circles with ease. It does lose contact from time to time in a long tunnel (as you would expect), but picks up right away when coming out. I haven't seen a need to get the antenna extender. The battery seems to last a long time (4+ hours). But you can connect to the car adapter and it charges while operating.
An additional bonus is the bluetooth hands free device. This works very well too. It is clear and easy to hear people on it.
The only complaint I would say is that it should come with a soft case for this price. You have to buy your own for $20 or so.
Basically if you have ever used Hertz Neverlost, this is the same thing.
Safe and Free February 15, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I did a lot of research before I bought this unit from Amazon. I read all of the product specifications and the customer reviews, both positive and negative. I read the same for other models and brands of GPS. I did research on the manufacturers' sites and at Consumer Reports.
This unit costs a bit more than I had in mind, but it is well worth the extra. The text to speech feature distinguishes this unit from the rest of the pack. It announces (in your choice of male or female voice) your turns by street name. It even pronounces my home street name better than most people I know. It oddly though pronounces Hwy. 92 as Hwy. 19 - 2. In other words, it says Hwy 19 and then rapidly two. Minor issue. No other such issues with any other street or highway.
The unit is easy to operate out of the box, but you will want to fully charge it before entering many addresses as it comes with only a low charge. I think that is usual for such electronic devices. The controls are simple to use. I remembered reading another review that said I needed to connect it to my PC first to register for use with the 3-months free trial of the traffic antenna. It includes a USB cable to do that and the instructions are easy to follow. Enrolling for the free trial is a breeze. I cannot say that it has helped me by having it since I normally travel surface streets and does not seem to have reports on traffic backups unless there is a reported accident. Some reviewers have liked this feature. I will probably cancel the subscription when the free trial expires. BTW, you do not need a credit card for the 3-months subscription.
I used the included window mount to mount it to my windshield in under a minute. Such things are usually difficult for me, so this was a plus. I don't know about other mounting options.
I am almost 60 years old and live alone. I drive alone most of the time. My eyesight is not getting better. I find it increasingly difficult to drive at night or in the rain. I have had near misses in traffic trying to read my printout of a Google map or look at hand-written directions. This unit may well save my life by keeping me focused on driving and telling me every turn.
It also gives me a sense of freedom. Since I am alone, I often would not try to go to places in the Atlanta area (where I live) because I was afraid of getting lost. No more. I put the address in before I leave, and off I go. The unit may not know every shortcut, but it will get you where you are going without worry. Seriously, this means a huge improvement in my standard of living. Plus, when I have to find a new doctor or dentist, I no longer have to get lost before I find it. Being a film buff, I can now easily find more obscure theaters to see the movies and films I want.
If you are getting older or have a family member who is, this may be something to save your life or theirs. Plus, the new freedom I have of not being afraid of getting lost is a bonus I had not even considered. You should consider this if you find yourself staying home more than you should.
I also had a customer service experience if that is something you want to consider. I could not find an address for a MARTA (subway) station. I was trying to enter Mount yada yada for the street. Customer service told me to enter it as MT and it worked. The zip code was a new one and not in maps yet, but I haven't found many problems entering addresses. Most are very easy to enter. I did have a 15 minute wait on customer service but they solved my problem, so I am pleased.
One final comment. I did not know the unit was made in China. I try to avoid Chinese products because of their horrible record on human rights. So I am eating crowe on this one because I like it so well.
UPDATE 29 May 2007:
I've been using this unit for several months now, and I wanted to report that I am still a happy user. I even extended the traffic service for one year after it helped me to avoid several freeway traffic jams.
BTW, the window mount is the bomb. Not only did it take me only two minutes to figure it out and mount it, but it also has a single button release to remove the unit from the mount, say to take in your house to add POI files. I did buy the AC adapter, which is useful during such times.
There has been one firmware update since I bought the unit and it installed with no problem. New maps are due later this year.
 Very Good, but not Spectacular February 14, 2007
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Since no one has designed and built the perfect GPS, you have to decide what features YOU really want and then go get the unit that most closely matches your preferences for the money you are willing to spend. For me, the Magellan 6000T is the best combination of features and price. What did I consider to be essential features?
1) A viewable display that gives me all the information I want.
I like how the Magellan displays all the key information for me. I like the satellite signal status in the upper right corner. I like the current road name displayed on top. I like the next road name displayed on the bottom. I like the distance to next turn on the bottom left. I like the time to destination on the bottom (some would prefer the display to show the actual time you will arrive, rather than the hours and minutes to arrival. In my mind, if you can't do the math, you shouldn't be driving...). I like the distance to destination on the bottom right. I like the easy toggle between 2D and 3D display (I leave it on 2D because it's easier to see the POI icons, and because maps are 2D and I'm used to looking at those) All of these are laid out logically to maximize screen use without seeming cluttered.
2. I like the redundant buttons in addition to the touchscreen.
Yes, you WILL accidentally press the Zoom buttons on top. It's just a matter of time. However, I prefer to keep the possible smudges off the screen and use the buttons, especially at night.
3. I like the ability to enter multiple destinations and have the unit optimize the trip.
For me, entering multiple destinations, especially from the address book, is easier than entering "waypoints" and having to start over again if you change your mind regarding a destination.
4. I like the Locate and Custom POI features.
5. I like the auto-dimming display and auto volume adjust at high speed features.
That said, there are some things that are annoying about the unit:
a. Magellan's tech support is in a sad state right now. Hopefully, now that a new owner has purchased the brand, they can improve in this area.
b. The menus are not as intuitive as they could be. The graphic icons could use some accompanying text to help describe what their function is in some cases.
c. The text-to-speech is good, but could be better (not too many choices available, no way to add your own).
d. It takes 10 seconds of holding the power button to activate the unit. I can understand wanting to make sure the unit is not turned off accidentally during use, but c'mon...
e. It takes 30-60 seconds to acquire your location and lock on to satellites from a cold start. It would be nice to be able to plug the unit into the cradle, start the car, program your destination and go without having to wait so long.
f. I wish it could learn a user's preferences. For example, when traveling from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento or Reno, when routing by shortest time it insists on taking me over 1 or 2 bridges (at $4 a pop). I'd rather drive east to I5 then head north to avoid the tolls. When I "override" the unit's route it insists on me taking a couple of exits to make a u-turn before it realizes I'm going my own way and recalculates the route. I guess toll roads are not the same thing to the unit as bridge tolls.
g. I wish we could update the maps more frequently. 3rd quarter 2005 Navteq data is good, but the maps and POI data should be no more than 6 months old. Where are the updates??
h. I really wish I could integrate my custom POIs into the main POI database. From what I can tell, only one database can be active at a time.
All in all, this unit works well for me. I like to fiddle with gadgets, so I don't mind reading a manual and having to take 3 or 4 steps to perform some tasks. This unit is probably not for the novice user. If you want to navigate somewhere in the fewest clicks possible, look at Garmin. Since I don't have the cash to buy a $2000 after-market unit, this gizmo does a great job for me. It got me to Tahoe and San Diego flawlessly and made the trip more interesting. I also felt confident that anytime I was in unfamiliar territory I could find my way out with confidence. Isn't that what you buy a GPS for?
|
|
|
Copyright
©
2006 Adminpal LLC | |
