Does The Magellan GPS Receiver Stack Up To Other GPS Systems?

It can be a dizzying proposition; trying to decide what the most important feature is when comparing personal GPS systems. There are plenty of features to decide on, depending on how sophisticated a buyer wants to get. And in reality, the decision may be more towards what the user plans on doing with it than anything else. However, bells and whistles definitely attract the buyer’s eye, regardless of the product, and cost sometimes takes a back seat to glitz.

When it comes down to basics, personal GPS systems can be divided by primary application. There is the hand held, and the vehicle mounted devices. So there…that was pretty basic. Magellan has produced a long line of product models that fall into one of these two basic categories, although the delineation between models and application can sometimes be a little blurry. Hand held models can work “in vehicle”, and some of the “in vehicle” models are capable of being used outside the vehicle. But just because it’s capable doesn’t necessarily mean that it should. These devices may seem semi-interchangeable, but they were engineered with specific uses in mind, and the user will find that staying with the initial intent will keep the performance of their unit well within their expectations.

Expectations can be tricky. Some people look at GPS units as toys that can help them pass the time while boating or driving to familiar locations, while others depend on their GPS to keep them from getting lost in the woods or on unfamiliar roadways. Depending on which of these categories users fall into, it’s safe to assume their expectations may differ widely. But for the most part, anyone laying down good money on a GPS device of any significance is probably expecting to use it for its intended purpose sooner or later. And when the unit is called upon to do its job, it should perform as well as it was designed to, which means that a user will probably not have patience to wait for his device to acquire a signal or look for a clearing to get an unimpeded shot at the navigational satellites that furnish information to the unit.

The Magellan GPS Receiver has developed over time to be as accurate as any on the market. And while some reviews of various models may site acquisition times or signal strength as reasons for concern, the overall performance of most Magellan models compares favorably with comparable competitor models. Optional antenna boosters can help Magellan units speed up their performance and accuracy, and other technological advances in hardware and software have made Magellan a leader in the personal GPS marketplace. For example, for units with pre-loaded map software, users can spot locations anywhere in the United States the minute they bust open the box. No memory cards are required. And computer interface software allows users to update information by way of a USB connection.

There are so many things to consider that it becomes easy to get confused. It would be a good idea for the GPS customer to thoroughly examine his needs and expectations before taking the plunge. If the unit is going to be used for kicking around, more like a toy, then cheap and less powerful would do just fine. But if there is the potential that someone’s well being could be at stake, spending a little more to get the most powerful receiver is worth the investment. And accessorizing to make that device even better would be money well spent.

With options ranging from additional mapping capabilities all the way up to MP3 players and photo displays, many consumers will find it difficult to stick with their original plan. But what’s the worst that could happen? Besides, the world is full of $500.00 toys.