Magellan RoadMate 1470 Video

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Magellan RoadMate 1470
Created: 11/06/2009
Video description: Our issues with the Magellan 1470 were but minor speed bumps. Overall, we've enjoyed the Magellan interface and the snappy performance.

Magellan RoadMate 1470 Video Transcript

[ Music ] ^m00:00:03

>> When most of us think of GPS, their minds immediately rush to Tom Tom and Garmin Nuvi; but there are other brands out there that also deserve a closer look. I'm Antoine Goodwin, let's take a look at the Magellan RoadMate 1470. Now the first thing you'll notice about the 1470 is it's huge screen. At 4.7 diagonal inches, it's significantly larger than the 4.3 inch displays that you'll get for the same amount of money from a competing Garmin or Tom79 Tom model. The screen is bright and glare resistant enough to be viewed clearly in direct sunlight, and the touch sensitivity is responsive enough to keep with most of our quick inputs. However the inability to switch to a qwerty keyboard slowed down our typing speed considerably, and sometimes out of complete function, caused the address entry to hang for a second or so. Now in edition to Magellan's POI's the 1470 also includes Triple A's database of approved auto repair shops, Triple A branch offices, tourbook destinations, and POI's that offer discounts to Triple A members. Now it doesn't include traffic monitoring out of the box, but that can be upgraded with an add on FM receiver. Besides it's snappier than average performance when booting, positioning, and routing; we especially like the smart usability features that are built into the 1470's interface. For example, in the top right corner of almost every screen is the one touch menu, where users can add up to 6 custom links to frequently access POI's and searches. For example I've created a search for the nearest gas station, my favorite fast food restaurant, and a link that'll navigate back to the office. Another nice touch is the addition of route options to the destination screen. Instead of having to leave the selection process and dive into options menu, to for example avoid highways or choose the shortest distance, Magellan puts all of these options right where you need them; and allow users to quickly compare them. If there's one thing that we can criticize the RoadMate for, it's poorly thought out card cradle. Because of the 90 degree bend in the USB charging cable, the device can't be mounted while connected to the 12 volt charger. However, because the USB port's located on the bottom of the device, connecting the charger to an already mounted device is equally frustrating. At the end of the day, my issues with the Magellan 1470 were but minor speedbumps. And I've been surprised by how much I enjoyed the Magellan's interface. Check out our full review for even more details. Until then, I'm Antoine Goodwin. This has been your first look at the Magellan RoadMate 1470. ^m00:02:32

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Magellan RoadMate 1470 Review

The good: The Magellan RoadMate's OneTouch menu puts the most commonly accessed destinations and searches at a user's fingertips at all times. The smartly designed destination confirmation screen gives users a good deal of flexibility as to how they get where they're going. Large 4.7-inch touch screen gives users more real estate for maps and menus.

The bad: Poorly designed cradle interferes with power cable when mounting. The onscreen keyboard cannot be changed from its alphabetical layout to a more familiar QWERTY layout.

The bottom line: The Magellan RoadMate matches the competition's performance and ease of use, while providing a larger screen at a lower price.

Read full review

Magellan RoadMate 1470 Specs

Manufacturer: Magellan
Part number: RM1470SGXUC

Product Specifications
  • Product Specifications

Read full specs