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Posts: 46
(1/16/04 11:11 pm)
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Magellan SportTrak GPS Review
Manufacturer: Magellan
Model: SportTrak
Category: GPS
Purchase: After getting tired of losing my sense of direction when exploring the woods of my local lakes, I decided to investigate handheld gps units. I’m not what you would call a computer expert, so fiddling with an electronic positioning unit seemed intimidating. Seeing the huge selection of handheld gps units available was even more intimidating. But after taking a deep breath and with the helpful advise of a knowledgeable salesman I narrowed my search to two brands; Magellan and Garmin. I compared the Garmin Etrex introductory handheld units to the Magellan SportTrak handheld units. I mainly need the gps for hiking in my local uncharted woods and when traveling the major roads in my state. Pricewise they are fairly close, but in the end it was the Magellan SportTrak that fit my bill. I visited the Bass Pro Shop of Missouri and compared the Garmin Etrex to the Magellan SportTrak. The $159.99 price tag seemed about average and reasonable for the amount of features available in comparable units.
Likes: The Garmin Etrex series just did not feel comfortable in my hands. And the placement of the function buttons on the sides of the unit seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. The screen resolution was good, but navigating through the different screens was not as easy as I had hoped. The Magellan SportTrak, on the other hand, was a comfortable fit for my long fingers. The button placement on the front of the unit works great. And, again, I’m not that great with computers, but this unit is surprisingly easy to learn and use. I’ve only had it about a month now, so I have not tested or used every feature. So far I am impressed with the easy to read fonts and not very cluttered display. And the unit stays locked on very well considering the tall tree coverage that I usually hike in. So far I am very pleased with this product.
Dislikes: The only complaint/request I have so far is for the unit to last longer on two AA batteries.
Quality: I have dropped it a couple times on the hard wooded grounds and once on an embedded boulder and the unit seemed unphased. I am impressed with the resilient hard plastic casing.
Summary: To sum it up, if you want a unit that is easy to learn and use, the Magellan SportTrak series is definately worth considering in your search. You don't have to be a computer wiz to learn this unit.
Rating: 8
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