Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices were expensive luxury items only a few years ago. But with advancements in technology, these devices have become far more powerful and much less expensive these days. Because of these factors, GPS sales are on the rise, and the major GPS manufacturers are scurrying to cover all the bases and offer all of the desired features at attractive price points. While some of these devices also act as MP3 music players, show picture slideshows, and even offer Bluetooth connectivity with your cell phone, not all of us desire these frills or want to pay for things we really don't need. For those of us that just want a simple GPS navigation aid, to help us get to our intended destinations, and don't want to overwhelm our bank account to acquire such an item, Magellan offers the low cost RoadMate 1210; a no-frills pocket-size navigation device with a 3.5-inch color touch screen.
The Magellan RoadMate 1210 comes preloaded with maps and points of interest for the contiguous 48 United States, as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It offers a OneTouch favorites menu, providing instant access to your favorite places and searches, and makes it easy to search for your favorite points of interest, such as a restaurant, hotel, store, etc. Entering your destination is easy with the touch screen keyboard, although it is NOT a standard QWERTY style keyboard like most of the higher end GPS devices offer. With Magellan's "QuickSpell with SmartCity search" feature, the device will simplify your address entry by auto-completing your address and city searches based on matches in its built-in database.
The 1210's accuracy is rated at 10-16 feet (3 to 5 meters), and the built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery will last from 2 to 3 hours, based on brightness setting of the display. The unit measures roughly 3.1" H x 3.7" W x 0.7" D, and weighs merely 4.9 oz. Of course the outer case is made of "high-impact" plastic, which is pretty common among most GPS devices manufactured today. The box contains the following: RoadMate 1210 GPS receiver, windshield mount, adhesive disc for dash mounting, vehicle power adapter, and a very basic user handbook. The handbook is more of a quick start guide, so if you want detailed information and instructions for this device you will need to download the full operator's manual from the Magellan website.
After using this device for a couple of weeks I had some real mixed feelings. I have tested and used several different GPS devices over the past few years, from many different manufacturers, so I have experienced everything from the most basic to some very feature rich models. The RoadMate 1210 is closer to the bottom of the barrel when it comes to included features. No bells and whistles here folks. The 1210 will get you there but it does so in modest style. Powering up the device and waiting for it to acquire satellites typically takes between 30 to 60 seconds, which can seem like an eternity when you are in a hurry. Entering addresses into the 1210 was a bit tedious, as I am so used to using a QWERTY style computer keyboard every day. Still, the auto-complete address feature worked nicely, usually requiring me to just start typing a few letters and it would discover the correct street name and/or city for me. Navigating with the 1210 was just as easy. The somewhat smallish 3.5" display is bright, colorful and easy to read. The voice commands are clear and easy to understand, with simple "turn left" or "turn right" type audible navigational direction. Since the 1210 does not include Text-to-Speech technology, this device will not read off street names. As with any GPS, this device will not always take you to your destination in the way you feel is most practical. But in the 12 test trips I made with the RoadMate 1210, it always got me to the correct location.
For the price I feel that the Magellan RoadMate 1210 is a pretty good buy. Although you can't expect the feature set normally found on higher priced models, Magellan still should have at least included the specific USB cable that is needed to hook the device up to your computer. This cable is needed for performing software and map updates, as well as adding more points of interest. When a cable is required to perform necessary updates to keep the item current, I think that cable should be included with the product. There is just no excuse for this exclusion. If you wish to take advantage of live traffic updates then Magellan makes you buy a special adapter, which lists for roughly eighty bucks. Ouch, that adapter costs nearly as much as the GPS device itself! Overall I think this particular model is aimed at those looking for their first GPS. While I prefer a larger LCD display, the 3.5" display of the RoadMate 1210 is adequate, provided you have it mounted fairly close to you. However, the lack of text-to-speech is a big issue for me. I don't like to have to take my eyes off the road to look for street names, and the majority of GPS navigation devices today include the text-to-speech feature, which announces the street names for you. This device will simply tell you things like "Turn left in 100 feet." Well what if you experience multiple cross streets in a busy city; which one are you supposed to turn left onto? Well for a few bucks more you can get a GPS that speaks the name of streets for you, and I would highly recommend that upgrade to everyone. For instance, the Magellan RoadMate 1220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator is the next model up from the 1210, and it includes text-to-speech street name announcing for just a few extra dollars. While not a perfect 5 star product, the Magellan RoadMate 1210 is a decent performer and will help guide you to your destinations reliably. Get more detail about Magellan RoadMate 1210 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.
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