Remember traveling with the family – not that long ago – when getting around in unfamiliar locations meant several road maps in the glove box, tucked neatly along with the owners manual and maintenance records?   Road-weary travelers were likely to have a large and cumbersome road atlas tucked beneath the driver seat or buried in the trunk, from where it could be summoned at the slightest hint of trouble.  But this was back in the days of inefficiency, before technology stepped in and delivered travelers of every kind from the dark ages.

While maps and atlases got drivers through many years and helped them arrive at their uncountable destinations, they were difficult for many people to read and understand. Then there was the problem older drivers encountered trying to read the small print.  And as maps were unfolded and refolded, they tended to wear, especially in the creases.  There were many problems associated with paper maps, and besides the obvious, the plain fact is that their information was becoming obsolete as the buyer approached the register to complete his purchase.   What was needed was something, anything that could help a driver find his way, a system that was updateable, relatively inexpensive, and reliable in varying conditions.

As luck would have it, Magellan came along and delivered the technology that travelers needed.  A Magellan GPS device could replace a nation full of maps in a small dash or windshield mounted unit.  Enter the RoadMate Series, which was designed to allow drivers to permanently retire their maps and make navigation easier.  The RoadMate comes in several different models and feature enhancements that separate one model from the next.  Easily mounted, the RoadMate comes with an easy-to-read color display that allows drivers to see where they are and where they’re headed.  To make life even easier, the Magellan RoadMate GPS units also feature turn-by turn voice prompts that make finding your destination almost idiot-proof.  TrueFix technology is combined with  powerful 14-channel GPS  capability that helps to pinpoint locations with accuracy to within about three meters.  The turn-by-turn voice prompts guide you to your destination, and will automatically adjust directions when you deviate from your route.  Users can choose routes based on the most direct, by the shortest overall route, or even by routes that will avoid road tolls.  Destinations can be selected by entering an address or intersection, touching a point on the map, or by choosing from millions of points of interest like airports, gas stations, and restaurants.

As time passed, RoadMate models began to add comfort features that had little to do with guidance and more to do with comfort.  Some of the most recent models include MP3 players and photo viewers.  How these additional features will appeal to the average user remains to be seen, but the key feature that makes this series a winner is the accuracy, which is what GPS units are all about.

What the RoadMate delivers to the individual user depends on his needs.  However, the overall positives far outweigh the negatives.  For example, the cost of an average unit is still in the $300.00 range.  This is truly a reasonable price considering the well-being that comes along with the knowledge that the user will not likely ever be lost again.  There is also the benefit of reduced gas usage, which is a common byproduct of being lost.  Your friendly voice prompt will guide you in turn-by-turn fashion until you arrive at your destination, assuming you entered the information correctly.  The RoadMate is durable and lightweight, and will fit almost any vehicle décor. Installation and disconnection are a snap.

It’s simple.  There is value to comfort and security, both of which are afforded by a solid GPS unit. The RoadMate is a Magellan GPS device that can be counted on day in and day out to give that comfort and security.

Tagged with: Gps Device • Gps Units • Magellan Gps • Magellan Roadmate Gps • Maps And Atlases • Paper Maps • Road Atlas • Road Maps • Weary Travelers

Filed under: GPS Navigation   Sunday, November 8th, 2009