Magellan vs Garmin

 

I have had numerous Garmin models most lately the Nuvi 680. Each have developed a problem within the first year so I'm now thinking of switching to the Magellan 4050. It seems based on the specs that the Magellan has less POIs built in 4.5m vs 6m. Anyone have any comment on the routing/mapping capability of Garmin vs Magellan? Also I have many custom POI files on my Garmin. Will these be easily transfered to the Magellan.

See also

transferring files - should be no problem

There are many freeware tools out there that will translate GPS files between different formats - I don't think moving files from a Garmin to a Magellan will be a problem. I've easily exported files from my Magellan Meridian to my Garmin 2720 and before than my Lowrance GM100. You can use tools like GPSBabel and many others to manipulate your files and make them compatible with other units.

Don't have any 4050 experience to share.

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___________________ Garmin 2455, 855, Oregon 550t

Magellan vs Garmin

gadler wrote:

I have had numerous Garmin models most lately the Nuvi 680. Each have developed a problem within the first year so I'm now thinking of switching to the Magellan 4050. It seems based on the specs that the Magellan has less POIs built in 4.5m vs 6m. Anyone have any comment on the routing/mapping capability of Garmin vs Magellan? Also I have many custom POI files on my Garmin. Will these be easily transfered to the Magellan.

I have owned the RM800 and now the RM860T. I played with the 4050T and several of the Garmin Nuvi models. The routing/mapping capabilities af all these units appeared to be very similar... I would give the edge to Garmin.

As far as which unit is best, I think that it is up to user preference. I can't save how Garmin is for tech support, but I can tell you first hand that Magellan is horrible. I don't think they understand their customers and I'm not even sure they understand their own products. Having said that, I still prefer the magellan interface (Probably because I got used to it first), I can search on a POI within a city that I was going to drive to... couldn't find that option on the Nuvi. It would search for the nearest only, not within another city. This is an option I used a lot.

When I went around Gaspe last fall, I would tell the GPS to find a gas station in the next city (on th main highway) and I would tell it to take me there using the least highways....gave me a scenic tour..... and I would repeat this for each city as I went along.

One thing that I HATED about the 4050 was it's method of indexing. That is where the 800/860 were really good. It would index on the name and not the prefix/suffix. The 4050 indexes on the whole name so if you are in Quebec where all the streets tend to precede by the type (ie: rue xxx)your need to know if it is a rue or blvd or boul etc and you have to search for "rue xxx" or "boul xxx".... can be a pain.

As far as POIs go, their editor is not the best and very poorly documented (and never, ever updated for existing customers) but it does the trick once you know what to watch for.

The way I see it, a GPS does not completely replace a map, it enhances it. I have always told my friends... my GPS may not always show me the best route.... it has always gotten me to the place I want.... so far -:)

Hope this helps you a little

Dom

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Garmin Nüvi 855 & 760, iPhone, Magellan RM860T

Magellan is OK unless you

Magellan is OK unless you need tech support! You can't beat Garmin's tech support.. I've owned a Streetpilot i3 for almost a year with no problems and considered buying another brand and in the end I stayed with Garmin. I expect my Streetpilot C580 will be here next week. I really wanted the new Navigon's until I was informed by their German tech support that it is not possible to add custom poi's! That was the clincher and why I stayed with Garmin. My wife will get my old trusty i3 and hopefully my C580 will be as reliable..

Good Luck,
Ray

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Garmin Streetpilot i3, Streetpilot C580 and Nuvi 265WT

Search in a different city

Perrdom wrote:

... I can search on a POI within a city that I was going to drive to... couldn't find that option on the Nuvi.

There is an indirect way to do this with a nuvi 350:
1. Start the nuvi with the antenna down and 'View Map'.
2. Zoom out (press -) until you see the area you're interested in.
3. Tap the screen and drag the map until the little white arrow is centered on the city you're intested in.
4. Zoom back in (press +) and keep dragging the screen (and zooming) until you have the arrow on the city.
5. Press the 'Set Loc.' button on the bottom of the screen.
6. Press 'Back', 'Menu', 'Where to?', and do a seach as normal.

RT

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"Internet: As Yogi Berra would say, "Don't believe 90% of what you read, and verify the other half."

You can also click on "Near"

You can also click on "Near" and search for your city of interest and then go and find whatever you are looking for near that city.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Thanks

asianfire wrote:

You can also click on "Near" and search for your city of interest and then go and find whatever you are looking for near that city.

Thanks, asianfire. So much easier.

RT

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"Internet: As Yogi Berra would say, "Don't believe 90% of what you read, and verify the other half."

I think it,s the luck of the draw!

gadler wrote:

I have had numerous Garmin models most lately the Nuvi 680. Each have developed a problem within the first year so I'm now thinking of switching to the Magellan 4050. It seems based on the specs that the Magellan has less POIs built in 4.5m vs 6m. Anyone have any comment on the routing/mapping capability of Garmin vs Magellan? Also I have many custom POI files on my Garmin. Will these be easily transfered to the Magellan.

The first GPS I bought was a tom tom I think it was one of the more expensive ones. After one week after working great I could not shut it off. I brought it back to Best Buy were I got it from and they could not shut it off. You had to let the battery run dry then charge it and it would work, but you still could not shut it off. I exchanged it for the garmin C550, I took it all over for five weeks, New York, N.C. Maryland delaware and new jersey it worked great.Then after the second month It froze up, back to best buy and they could not fix it.I exchanged it for a garmin 2720 I think or a 2730 and I had trouble with that one.I Finally, I got my money back and bought the garmin #7200 over the internet. I hate to say it but I have had it over a year and have taken it all over and it has been running GREAT! The only thing I don,t like is that it really runs hot. It,s so hot that I hate to put it back into its case when I take it out of the Car, but then my computers run really hot.

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Richie

well, My nuvi doesn't run

well, My nuvi doesn't run that hot, but my Radar Detector does and so far, after 2 years, the heat doesn't seem to have hurt it.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Garmin NUVI 680

I have a Nuvi 680 and a Magellan 2200T. I have had nearly every brand and model made. I think the maps on the Garmin units ( 2008 version) are the best. I liked my tomtoms OK but garmin is ;I think the best. The Nuvi 680 ROCKS !!! The Traffic alerts are a good thing on my 680. I haven't tryed the traffic on the 2200t yet but I have the FM reciever for it. The 2200t fits right into the traffic reciever. Very nice idea. The only thing about the 2200t I don't like is the out of date map with no date for a new release yet.

Garmin vs Magellan

Most of the comments seem to steer me towards sticking with the Garmin. The Magellan requires you to load US and Canadian maps separately although they promise that routing between Canada and US works fine. The Magellan has voice commands a real neat feature if it works well. I may just try one of the new 700 series Garmins but I'm still researching the two units. Thanks for the comments all who contrtibuted

I simply got a garmin cause

I simply got a garmin cause everyone on here said that they were the best and everyone had them. So I knew I could get support.

I love my Garmin, just get a freaking qwerty keyboard and play movies, perfect GPSr

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Interesting Comments

Interesting Comments from everyone ! Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones BUT I've owned my Garmin C330 for 17 months now - made numerous long distance trips including a 11,500 mile 34 state trip last year. The unit has only let me down a couple of times and I'n not sure it wasn't my fault. My responce from Garmin CS has been quite good - not perfect but quite good. Presently working on a minor glitch with directions near my home which cropped up the 2008NT mapping update. Working that issue with Navteq and Garmin CS.
Count me as a member of the Garmin Happy Camper Club !

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MrKenFL- "Money can't buy you happiness .. But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery." NUVI 260, Nuvi 1490LMT & Nuvi 2595LMT all with 2014.4 maps !

Garmin - is by far the better unit

I have purchased 3 garmin units over the past years (IQue 3600, M5 and nuvi 660)

before every purchase I review all the current models and garmins always comes out on top

User reviews of Maestro 4050

gadler wrote:

Most of the comments seem to steer me towards sticking with the Garmin. The Magellan requires you to load US and Canadian maps separately although they promise that routing between Canada and US works fine. The Magellan has voice commands a real neat feature if it works well. I may just try one of the new 700 series Garmins but I'm still researching the two units. Thanks for the comments all who contrtibuted

Mike L. provided the following link for me during my inquiry into the Maestro 4050. I thought you may find it useful.

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=84161&
whichpage=1

POI is not much useful

POI is not much useful unless it's online and live.

personal choice

i think both are pretty good GPS
i was really debating on these 2 gps

but i bought the 650 at the end
why?

First because the price
650 was on sale at that time
4050 wasnt

second
the battery life and weight big difference
650 was 7 hours 6.2 ounces
4050 only 3 hours 8.5 ounces

third
after doing lots of research on the net
most users have recommended the 650
even i went to futureshop(canada) or bestbuy, they recommned Garmin or tom tom

fourth
map update
they said that garmin and tomtom update their map more offen
(this point i am still waiting and see) because that is what salesman said, but i dont know yet becuase my map is 2008 so i have to wait

but on the other hand
i was very close to buy the 4050
because bluetooth
also easy to use too

but as 650 user
i am very happy
light weight, specially when i go to the state for shopping, i dont like to leave it in the car ( affraid of break in)
so carry it with me is no problem
also easy to use, can upload anything

Don't get what you are saying.

wellcum wrote:

POI is not much useful unless it's online and live.

I don't get what you are saying. Whatcha mean?

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Magellan vs Garmin

After all the research it seems that I will stick with Garmin. I plan to return the defective 680 and buy the Nuvi 760. The pricing is a bit confusing though. The 680 is priced higher than the 760 yet the 760 seems to have more to offer. Anybody have comments on this issue??

well, it has longer battery

well, it has longer battery life by 2 hrs.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Im thinking the 760 might have the same battery as the 680.

But the longer battery life might be due to the fact that the 680 has a flip up antenna and when it's placed in the "off" or down position, I would think less of the battery is being consumed when the GPSr is not communicating with the satellites.

This allows the user to search around and input settings without depleting the charge so fast. The 760 does not have an antenna that can be "turned off", thus uses up the charge in a shorter amount of time. Thats my story, and I'm stickin' to it:)

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You can walk a horse to water, but a pencil has to be led.

Magellan vs Garmin

I don't see too many Magellans anymore. My first sarcastic reaction was, "Do they still make Magellan?"

My apologies.

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nüvi 750 & 760

Yup

My best friend has a Magellan he bought about 3 months ago and he's very happy with it. Not sure of the model number but it has some capabilities my Garmin C340 doesn't.

Garmin 760 battery

Plausible but I don't really need a very long battery life 3 hours is plenty. I didn't realize that there was this difference. Maybe it is a smaller battery

3 hours isn't enough for me.

3 hours isn't enough for me. But I use the power cord most of the time anyways. And if it is like my C530 and Nuvi 350, it won't last 3 hrs. The two that I had said 8, but I usually got around 5 or so.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

garmin batteries

I can't understand why they couldn't put a battery into the Streetpilot 2820. It is twice as big as the Nuvi. If it had a battery I'd choose it for sure.

searching POI's at a specific city

Maybe I'm not understanding your question, but the NUVI 350 makes it really simple to find a POI within a specific destination (city).

first instruct the nuvi that you want to go to that city. One of the options under Where To is Cities

Once you have established the desired city as a destination, go back to the main menu. Tap on Where To. On the next screen look at the bottom of the screen. You will see a menu item that starts with "Near". Tap on this. Then select the option: At My Destination. Once you have done this, the Nuvi only searchs of the POI at your selected city.

I hope this helps.

Bob

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Bob Hedges Deerfield Beach, FL 561 305 7655 cell bobhedges@usa.net www.bobhedges.com

Searching POI's at a specific city

I'm glad to see it is something that you can do. When you are "testing" out the features in a store... you don't always have time to "find" everything. It is too bad they did not make it simpler and more straight forward... like at the point of looking for a custom POI, why not ask for "Near what City" as an option.... Just a thought.

Thanks for your info.

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Garmin Nüvi 855 & 760, iPhone, Magellan RM860T

With the Nuvi and the

With the Nuvi and the antenna down, you can browse a location and "set loc". Then you can look for whatever you want around that area.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -