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Magellan is a long-standing leader in GPS, especially famous for its award-winning RoadMate series and the Hertz NeverLost car navigation system. Though not as dominant as it was several years ago, Magellan continues to produce quality GPS units for the field and the car. Demonstrating their ongoing commitment to innovation, Magellan has rounded out their popular Maestro line with the 3250 and wide-screen 4250, which were among the first aftermarket vehicle GPS systems with voice recognition capability to reach the consumer. Drawing from Magellan’s lengthy track record in the business and building upon the proven Maestro platform, CNET says, "Maestro 4250 is a solid mid-level portable navigation system." We agree.
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Note: The Magellan Maestro 4250 (pictured above) is the wide-screen edition of the 3250. The 4250 also has a slightly higher-capacity battery. Other than that, the two models are essentially identical. This review and associated ratings include both models:
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While competent and reliable but unremarkable in standard vehicle GPS functions, we see Maestro 4250/3250 as a stand-out in two distinct ways:
First, as mentioned earlier, both models include voice recognition. It’s important to note that you can’t do everything with your voice, but you can access most of Maestro’s basic functions. You can not speak an address, however. Say "Magellan" to activate the unit’s speech recognition function. You can then say, "Go Home," "Nearest ATM", "Nearest Restaurant," "Nearest Gas," "Where Am I?," etc. and the screen will display a numbered list of your options. Just speak the number corresponding to the option you’d like and the Maestro will guide you there.
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Second, like a number of other Maestro units, the 4250 and 3250 include pre-loaded AAA (American Automobile Association) tourbooks, a terrific resource and convenience, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas.
The Maestro 4250 and 3250 both include integrated RDS-TMC Traffic Receivers and are capable of real-time traffic monitoring and avoidance, but require a subscription to the over-the-air traffic service. Purchase of the unit includes your first three months free.
Owners have given both units strong marks, citing a strong mix of features and good value at their price. Some owners cited occasional slow performance and/or lock-up, requiring a restart. Overall, however, the 4250 and 3250 are welcome additions to Magellan’s Maestro family with solid performance and voice recognition that works. [Review Date: 3 July 2008 © 2008 Rated4Stars.com]
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Accessories & Related Products
| Additional Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4250: 6.9 oz (196 g)
3250: 4.94 oz (140 g) |
| Dimensions |
4250: 5.64" W x 3.61" H x 0.79" D (14.34cm W x 9.18cm H x 2.03cm D) 3250: 3.65" W x 3.25" H x 0.7" D (9.26cm x 8.25cm H x 1.78cm D) |
| Screen | 4250: 4.5" WQVGA color touch screen
3250: 3.5" QVGA full-color, anti-glare, touch-screen |
| Chipset | SiRF Star III with 20-channel all-in-view; WAAS |
| In the Box | Magellan Maestro 4250/3250 GPS receiver, Adhesive disk for dash mounting, Basic cradle, Vehicle power adapter (12-24 watts), Quick reference guide and CD, Windshield mount |
| Warranty | One Year Limited Warranty |
I have just been on to Magellan’s technical support center and had a most disappointing experience. I bought a Maestro 4000 just over a year ago – in fact 2 weeks outside the 12 month warranty period, and it has broken – the electrical port will not hold the electric lead and it falls out of the socket after a few seconds, the result of this is that the unit cannot be recharged. The help center offered me a replacement unit at a 20% discount on the full price which I found to be a TOTAL insult considering the one I have is just a year old and they have not offered to fix it!! Please Please be aware of this very poor standard of customer service before you purchase from Magellan as it is not worth the trouble when something goes wrong. I now have to buy a new unit – & guess what – Magellan are the last company on my list.
My wife worked as a Homehealth nurse for a brief period in 2007 during which, we bought a Magellan Maestro (I think it was 4240; if not, 4000). During the two or three months we actively used it, there were no problems at all. However, when we took it on a trip tp San Antonio, it just kept going into sleep mode right in the middle of the highway, a function that occurs only when you turn your car off and the power supply to the unit is, thus, disabled! Of course, we had charged the unit through our wall unit at home before the trip and also, after we had been through the mid-highway tragedy. Later we spoke to Customer service, and tried the various methods they suggested, but to no avail. Finally, we returned the unit back to Costco from where it was initially purchased. Bless the Lord, we got a full refund for the system. I do not think I will go for a Magellan again.
I would agree with KMac. I wasn’t even offered a new unit at any discount. Basically I was out of luck because Magellan does not deal with out of waranty problems. I had it just over a year though I had called just before the year was up. Unfortunately I did not have the receipt and knew there was not enough time to get a replacement receipt. I told them that the port construction was faulty and I was willing to bet that other units had failed in this manner. I had or have a 4040 Maestro series.
We hardly used the unit except for a week’s trip to Santa Fe. Magellan has problems
Faulty Port!!!
I must agree. I have had my magellan 3250 since summer of 2008. I use my frequently for my job as a case manager. The machine initially kept going into sleep mode and then the original adapter broke. I purchased an I-Go charger and the problem persisted .
Other problems:
I didn’t like that it would take minutes for the machine to figure out where I was when I turned it on after being in an area different from where I last had it on.
The bluetooth speaker phone wasn’t loud enough to hear people while driving.
It was difficult to save a location from the map.
The port stopped working Feb. 2009. I am going to have to by another GPS.
I currently own a Navigon 7200T. It gave me a totally incorrect direction to travel to a destination. I am considering the purchase of a Magellan Maestro 5310, 5″ screen. Do you have any info on this unit?
I just purchasesed a Navigon 7200t GPS. How does this compare to the Garmin nuvii and the magellon maestro 4250 in ease in use, reliability