Magellan announces the $699 RoadMate 360

Today Magellan announced their RoadMate 360 — a 14-channel GPS receiver based on the Hertz NeverLost system. The device features pre-loaded street maps for Canada, Puerto Rico, and "all 50 United States, including Alaska and Hawaii" (just in case you forgot they joined the 50 back in 1959!) for what Magellan likes to call 'turn it on and go" ease of use. The 360 sports turn-by-turn voice prompts, a 3.5-inch high-res TFT color touch screen showing 3D graphics for upcoming turns, and an optimized QuickSpell keyboard with a new Autofill feature for snappier address input. They don't offer expansion to add new maps, but then again, what do you want for a $699 MSRP?

[Thanks, Allory]

[NotGood @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

I have had horrible experience with the older Roadmate 700. In SoCal, when june gloom kicks in, I hardly was able to get any reception... this is after testing out two units. Garmin's product on the other hand appears to be solid.

[Old Number 7 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

I'm not sure if that last comment is a joke or not. If this thing does in fact have full maps of Canada, Puerto Rico, and �all 50 United States, including Alaska and Hawaii� then it has a HUGE amount of memory for a portable GPS unit. That memory is probably on some kind of ROM chip instead of the expensive flash chips used in most portable units.

Also, Mr. Editor, it is important that they mention it covers Alaska and Hawaii because some maps only cover CONUS and not other states or territories and islands. It is important they draw the distinction because the US does have ownership of quite a few other pieces of land besides the states proper.

[Old Number 7 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

By "last comment" I am not refering to NotGood's comment but the last line of the article. "They don�t offer expansion to add new maps, but then again, what do you want for a $699 MSRP?"

[STP/SaturdayTechPodcast GUY1 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

Assuming the GPS unit is effective at acquiring signal / not losing signal - the most important aspect of a Navigation unit is the user interface. I have used the "NeverLost" system as well as numerous other GPS navigation systems and was thoroughly impressed. It is intuitive... unlike the clunky Garmin systems. I would definitely purchase a Magellan over any of the other nav systems on the market... that is IF I had an extra 7 hundred laying around the crib.... sigh... what to do... the Nano... the xbox306... I need mo' MONEY!

[JSM @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

then again, if it's on ROM then it's REALLY not upgradable, ie. you have to throw it out in 3-4 years when the maps are too out of date. Not really that optimal for something that costs $700. How does this thing differ from the recently announced 330?

[Philip Hutchins @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

I completely agree with comment #3, for $700 and the maps cannot be update??? What a joke, I don't care how clever the UI is, I bought a refurb HP, added CoPilot bluetooth system I have upgraded twice and it works great. And the grand total is no where close to 7Hundies.

[DK @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

I'm sure this thing is upgradeable, just like the 700 was. What it can't do is upload NEW maps (like for new areas)... but when you already have all of North America, what new maps do you need?

In the case of the 700, you can download map updates from the Magellan site and then upload to your unit. This captures any new streets or changed names, out of date waypoints, and the like...

[Iy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

What is this about ROM's it would be enormously stupid of Magellan to put the maps in ROM.
Most good GPS systems have all of the US (52 states), Canada and Puerto Rico.
Garmin's new N?350 comes with all that loaded and 700MB free for extra maps AND an SD card slot for adding extra features/maps. And I've already seen it on sale for $679 !

[Iy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

To DK, euh Europe maybe? Don't you travel?

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

"all of the US (52 states)". Iy, you are both ignorant and have poor reading skills. The US have 50 states, which is also stated in the article above.

[jagadish @ Dec 29th 2005 7:49PM]

I have pleasant experience with this. my review is at my site. The only annoying thing for me is the continue on the current road (whenever there is another freeway intersection)