Magellan Maestro 3225 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently purchased this from C----o for $150 because of their more liberal return policy, but I don't think I'll be returning this unit unless it fails. Some background: I've been using a GPS unit via my HP iPaq running OnCourse Navigator for several years, so I'm familiar with GPS units in general, and have been looking for a replacement for a long time because the OCN software seemed to quit at the most inopportune times. I've also had the opportunity to play with my dad's Nuvi 350, which is a very nice unit, but costs at least $100 more. Because of my experience with OCN, I had a minimum set of needs that had to be met, and the 3225 has done this in spades. In particular, I see these units as mostly disposable, because once the maps get out of date (important if you live anywhere where new streets may be added), it's not very cost effective to pay for the map updates vs. buying a new unit, especially at this price point (as an aside, I will be keeping an eye on the Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator because it overcomes many weaknesses of all the current units -- for a price).

The set of requirements I had for a replacement GPS were: 1) small form factor (needed to fit in a shirt pocket) 2) TTS (text to speech, ability to say the actual street name) 3) fast satellite acquisition (most units can do this) 4) low price point 5) good POI database 6) intuitive interface. Note I did not include good customer service as a requirement, which would have eliminated Magellan. However, I am tech savvy enough that I do not foresee any need for service, other than if the unit fails. After using the 3225 for about a week, here are my observations:

Pros:
Low price given capabilities
Great POI database (if you "upgrade" to the 6M POIs, just Google around)
True text-to-speech, says a synthesized version of actual street names, that, even if mangled, helps significantly in navigating
Nice bright screen
Fast satellite acquisition
Fast user interface response (very little lag when entering info)
Gives good advance warning prior to turn ("turn right in 0.5 miles followed by a left turn")
Very portable -- fits easily in pocket
Most accessories included (AC adapter, USB cable, mount, car charger)

Cons:
No Bluetooth, mp3 or video player (these don't matter to me, but shouldn't expect these features at this price point)
No external battery charge indicator (in order to see charge state, need to power on, go to System Status, and view the status on the screen, which slows charge since screen is on)
Maps may be getting a bit dated (mostly fine in my area, but others have complained; I've read that this is not Magellan's fault but Navteq, the map-making company, and that the next major map update is due this summer)
Relatively low battery life (3 hrs vs. many other units at 5+)
Routing may not be as good as Garmin (but YMMV)
No carrying case (but you should be able to find something acceptable for not much at your local Target or Walmart)

I've mounted mine on the Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad because windshield mounting is illegal in California, and that has worked great. [[Update]]I just took delivery on a very cheap case, the Caselogic JDS-6 USB Drive Shuttle 6-Capacity (Black), which works quite well for the 3225 (and I imagine many other 3.5" units); it's not a perfect fit, but at $5, I can't complain, and it's nice looking to boot. I feel like if I accidentally dropped it onto the concrete, it would probably survive unscathed.

Again, if you're looking for a unit with all the bells and whistles, look elsewhere (and open up your wallet wider). If you're looking for a great entry-level unit with a decent feature set, I think you could do a lot worse. Use it for a few years, and then buy a new unit (maybe the next generation Dash).

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Product Description:
Ultra-thin and stylish, Magellan Maestro 3225 offers amazingly easy-to-use GPS auto navigation at an affordable price. Travel throughout all 50 of the United States, plus Puerto Rico and Canada. With 1.3 million pre-programmed Points of Interest (POI) the Magellan Maestro 3225 makes it easy to find restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, the nearest coffee shop, and more.

Clear 3.5-inch QVGA color touchscreen shows your position, POIs, route, ETA, and more on the interactive map.
Innovative easy-to-use interface makes it a breeze to find the route to your destination in seconds--without even needing to read the instructions.
Click to enlarge.
Adjustable mount for your windshield or dashboard.
Exit POIs feature provides a listing of restaurants, gas stations, or hotels near approaching freeway exits. You can select one of the POIs presented and create a route to it.
Touch the simple menu on the large 3.5-inch color display to get an instant route to virtually anywhere in seconds. The intuitive interactive screen shows your route and position on the map, plus distance to destination, arrival time, street names and more. Turn-by-turn voice guidance offers worry-free directions without even looking at the screen.
SayWhere text-to-speech technology enables you to hear street names with each turn.
Magellan's QuickSpell feature intelligently searches and checks spelling while entering addresses and POIs, making it easy to find what you're looking for with just few touches of the screen. Search POIs by name or category, near your position or near any city. Interactive onscreen icons show nearby services. Touch an icon to see the address and phone number (when available) and get an instant route.
Store locations in the Address Book for easy navigation on recurring trips. Set the Home button to your house or any location to find your way back from virtually anywhere. And backup your personal data using your own SD cards.
The SiRFstarIII GPS receiver and built-in high-sensitivity antenna provide the fastest position acquisition in the industry for reliable navigation. SmartDetour prompts you to route around sudden slow freeway traffic.
Ultra-thin, pocket-sized, wireless and fully self-contained; take your Magellan Maestro anywhere for easy navigation.
Key Features Include

Ultra-thin and stylish combining style and functionality in a pocket-sized design.
Innovative easy-to-use interface makes it a breeze to find the route to your destination in seconds--without even needing to read the instructions.
3.5-inch QVGA color touchscreen shows your position, POIs, route, ETA and more on the interactive map.
Pre-loaded North American maps enable you to travel all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
1.3 million pre-programmed POIs make it easy to find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee and more. Search by name or category near your position or near any city.
Interactive POI icons so you just need to touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination to see name, address, phone number (when available), and get an instant route.
SayWhere text-to-speech so you can hear street names with each turn so you can concentrate on the road.
Exclusive QuickSpell auto-complete feature makes it easy to enter destinations with just a few touches of the screen and helps prevent mis-spelling.
SmartDetour automatically prompts you to route around sudden slow freeway traffic.
Clearly see your surroundings in 2D or 3D with Bird's-eye 3D view--choose between Map View, TrueView 3D split screen, and Maneuver List.
SiRFstarIII integrated chipset provides the fastest, most reliable GPS position acquisition in the industry.
Rechargeable battery lets you Navigate for up to 3 hours when power is unavailable.
Automatic re-route quickly gets you back on track whenever you take a detour.
Customizable route method: Select Fastest Time, Shortest Distance, Least or Most Use of Freeways, and Avoid Toll Roads.
Create and store personal Points of Interest to make reoccurring trips easy with the Magellan Maestro 3225 address book.
• Auto night view adjusts color and contrast for easy night viewing.
  SD-card compatibility lets you easily back up your address book.

What's in the Box
Magellan Maestro 3225 3.5-Inch portable GPS navigator, adhesive disk for dash mounting, basic cradle, vehicle power adapter (12-24 watts), quick reference guide and CD, windshield mount

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