Magellan Maestro 4700 4.7-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review
October 21st, 2009
Magellan Maestro 4700 4.7-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review from James McGyver. Reliable GPS, With an occupation that keeps me on the road, a working navigational tool is a must have. Having gone through my fair share of slow and inconsistent GPS products ranging from Garmin, TomTom and yes even Magellan through the years, one must really do their homework. After researching several systems this model kept popping up on my radar screen.
Coming out of the box, this unit worked perfectly without the usual hiccups of other systems. Installation is simple. Powering up is a breeze. The download time for entering starting point to destination is about 45 seconds. The One Touch screen is on the money. The menu allows for editing for one’s own personal choices. I really have come to like the Predictive Traffic feature. In short, it creates alternate routes for known traffic tie ups.
The Maestro 4700 measures in at over 5″ wide x 3.5″ height and weighs about 6 ounces. The biggest draw for me personally is the large 4.7″ color touch screen, predictive traffic, and the lane guide arrow features. Unlike previous models that I have owned, the Maestro 4700’s screen is viewable in all lighting conditions. The user friendly one touch interface is definitely a winner.
Even though this system is primed for Bluetooth, not all mobile devices are compatible. The Maestro 4700 paired well with two out of three cell phones. As usual, my personal phone did not pair with this system. Granted, I am sure that it is a great working feature with the right phone. Even if it did pair up with my go to phone, I don’t see myself giving up my wireless ear piece anytime soon.
Like every GPS system before it, Voice Command is give or take at best. Without question, this feature alone receives a failing grade from me. On the other hand, Spoken Street Name Guide with text to speech is clear and precise. The 3D Landmarks add on is a nice touch. I have yet to use the Find My Car feature. The free, no membership required AAA Guide is loaded with great up to date information.
Quick Spell automatically fills in the blanks and makes locating a destination easy. One of the sweetest features is the lane guide arrows (Highway Lane Assist) program that sounds a bell when my next turn is coming up. It quickly guides me into the correct lane without the usual “Oops, how did I miss that exit?”
The Maestro 4700 comes preloaded with maps of the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. Additional maps can be stored on board via SD Card. Included accessories are a windshield mount, storage pouch, dash mounting disk, car power adapter, handbook, USB cable, and an informative CD. I recommend buying a good protective case. Magellan loses major style points for not including an AC power supply plug. Unplugged, the battery provided me a little over 2 hours of power.
As with most electronics, this system includes the standard 1 year warranty. If it is returned within the applicable warranty period, Magellan will replace the defective it. However, most likely the buyer will receive a reconditioned unit of the same model or at their discretion another model equal or of lesser value. I know this from personal experience not only from Magellan but Garman as well. Keeping that in mind, I strongly advise all buyers to think extended warranty packages.
I found that one continually overlooked offering is the warranty plan offered by most major credit cards. For me personally, my credit card warranty has been a worthwhile, cost effective investment. With pennies on the dollar, it is a warranty that backs up my products one hundred percent from the date of purchase.
Even with its minor flaws, the Maestro 4700 clearly delivers up to date, on time information. For me, that’s enough. Without reservation, I recommend this fine NAVAIDS tool.
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Tags: Alternate Routes, Color Touch Screen, Ear Piece, Gps Magellan, Gps Navigator, Gps Products, Gps System, Hiccups, Inch Widescreen, Lighting Conditions, Magellan Maestro, Mcgyver, Navigational Tool, Personal Choices, Personal Phone, Radar Screen, Text To Speech, Tie Ups, Touch Interface, Voice Command