Magellan RoadMate 1340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)
SEE 8-29-09 UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF REVIEW:
I recently purchased a Magellan Roadmate 1340. This is one of the first new releases by Magellan since they were acquired by MiTAC (parent company of MIO)
I am using the Magellan 1212 as a basis for comparison, since I have been using that for the past 3 months and been very pleased with it, other than some occasional routing quirks.
The 1340 is very similar, but does add some significant extra features and improvements, for relatively little price difference:
1) "One Touch" Favorites menu offers quick access to many of the most used features and shortcuts.
2) Customizable route method lets you instantly view and compare and select the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways to customize your route.
3) The AAA TourBook is a nice addition that provides ratings and descriptions on AAA approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
4) Several other features such as Highway Points of Interest have more conveniently positioned shortcut buttons.
5)A new "Highway Lane Assist Signs" feature show highway signs to point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
That being said, the 1340 has 2 "glitches" that need to be corrected by Magellan:
First, in any kind of sunlight, the screen is very difficult to see! The 1212 is very visible in all kinds of light, but the 1340 almost seems as if there is some kind of coating on the screen that makes viewing very challenging in sunlight. I contacted Magellan support, and they indicated they were aware of this issue and would hopefully have a fix available at some point.
Second, of less importance but still a step down from the 1212 is the voice clarity on text to speech. When the voice announces the street names, the names are slightly "fuzzy" or "garbled". This is not a "deal breaker", but definitely does not have the excellent clarity of the 1212.
I tried 2 different units, and they both have the same problems in these 2 areas. In summary, I think the added features make the 1340 a better unit than the 1212, and an excellent value for the money. However, if these shortcomings could be corrected, it would be a GREAT unit!
UPDATE (5-19-09)

I contacted Magellan support about these issues a couple of times and they said they were aware of the issues and that hopefully a "fix" would be issued. Yesterday, a firmware update (to version 1.10) appeared on the Magellan website and I downloaded and installed it, thinking it was to correct the brightness and sound issues. However, I did not notice any difference in either problem, so I emailed Magellan support. They said that the update was to correct another issue, and did not address the brightness and sound problems. They acknowledged that "you are correct that there is a significant difference between" the 1340 and 1212, but could not tell me for sure when or if another update will be issued to correct these known problems!
UPDATE (8-28-09)
After it became apparent that Magellan was not going to do anything to correct the visibility and sound problems (which have also been stated by many others here and on other review sites), I decided to return the 1340 and go back to the Magellan 1212. True, the 1212 does not have some of the new features that the 1340 has, but to me, the screen brightness and very clear text to speech makes up for it! (There are also several features that I like better on the 1212 than on the 1340.) I got a recertified 1212 on another site for $65 (Dell just had it for $80) Then, there was a firmware update on Magellan's site.....and you can order the spring 2009 map update for just $10 shipping. So, for $75 total, I have a great GPS that is totally updated, and although lacking a few features, more than makes up for it in quality of performance!
I noticed that a couple of people indicated that they did not noticed the sunlight visibility problem. I cannot understand that, but when I got the 1212, I compared the 2 units side by side and the difference is VERY evident. Even in the shade, when I previously thought the 1340 was "OK", it had a much more faded, dull look than the 1212!


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The Magellan RoadMate 1340 device boasts the acclaimed OneTouch menu, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, and an ultra-thin design. Preloaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico make the RoadMate 1340 ideal for both business trips and vacations. Easy-to-use premium features give you confidence on the road and deliver a powerful navigation experience.

The Magellan RoadMate 1340 includes many premier features, starting with Magellan's exclusive OneTouch favorites menu, QuickSpell with SmartCity search, and highway exit point of interest (POI) search, to name a few. Magellan's attention to detail delivers a superior user experience.
Intuitive and Robust Navigation The RoadMate 1340 lets you bookmark your favorite destinations and searches with the OneTouch favorites menu so you can access them anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
QuickSpell with SmartCity search help you quickly enter addresses and narrow your address and city searches, making destination entry easy. Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want. Or, have the device optimize your trip for the most efficient route, helping you save time and money.
Safety First on the Road You can keep your eyes on the road as you drive, because spoken street name guidance announces the street name along with audible turning cues. Highway lane assist offers visual aids to point you in the right direction and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Should your vehicle unfortunately break down as you travel, the AAA locate screen provides your location so help will know where to find you. Get support fast with the AAA Member Roadside Assistance phone number and your location displayed on the RoadMate 1340 screen.
Ready to Roll You're ready to travel with pre-loaded maps and points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico that make the Magellan RoadMate 1340 ideal for both business trips and vacations. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.MagellanGPS.com.)
With millions of points of interest at your command, you can easily locate gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more. If you need more information or you want to save money, select the AAA search menu after your search entry. AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
When you're traveling down the interstate and need to find gas, food, or lodging in a hurry, touch the highway exit POI icon to see which upcoming highway exits have the services you need.
Do you often find yourself tied up in traffic? The RoadMate 1340 is Traffic Link-compatible, offering live onscreen traffic-incident reports. (The Traffic Link accessory is sold separately.)
Turn It on and Go! The Magellan RoadMate 1340 is loaded with premier features you'll need to get you where you want to go.

Magellan RoadMate 1340 Features
OneTouch favorites menu affords instant access to your personalized bookmarks of favorite places and searches anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite cafe or restaurant when you're traveling within any city.
3.5-inch color touchscreen provides powerful navigation that's easy to view and use.
AAA TourBook provides ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.
AAA Member Roadside Assistance gets you help fast with a toll-free member services number to assist you in finding an AAA-approved tow truck or repair shop. The menu also shows your exact GPS location so you can provide precise information about your location.
Highway lane assist signs show highway signs to point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, and ensure that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.
Spoken street names and directions so you can hear and see where you need to turn next.
QuickSpell with SmartCity search narrows your address and city searches, making destination entry easy.
Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want. Or, you can have the device optimize your trip for the most efficient route, saving you time and money.
Pre-loaded maps give you information and directions as you travel the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. (Mexico map activation available for purchase on www.MagellanGPS.com.)
Millions of points of interest (POIs) help you easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more.
Highway exit POI search shows you gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near upcoming highway exits.
Branded POIs display your favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and more by their respective logos.
Traffic Link provides live onscreen traffic notification updates. (This accessory is sold separately.)
Customizable route method lets you select the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways to customize your route.
Address book enables you to create and store contact information.
Auto night view adjusts your screen's color and contrast for easy night viewing.
Automatic re-route lets you quickly get back on track in case you missed a turn.
Plan route on map by simply touching a destination on the map screen and then directly routing to it.
Rechargeable battery gives you the freedom to drive wirelessly or plan your trip when your vehicle's engine is turned off.

What's in the Box RoadMate 1340 GPS receiver; pre-loaded maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; windshield mount; adhesive disc for dash mounting; vehicle power adapter; user handbook; USB cable; and user's manual on CD-ROM.

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