Magellan Maestro 3250 Review

The Magellan Maestro 3250 is a portable GPS device which was on show to the industry at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas which was held on the on the 31st of October 2007.

Perhaps one of the most striking features of the 3250 is its thinness. Indeed it is currently the slimmest GPS device on the market.

This thinness doesn't stop the Maestro 3250 from sporting a large 3.5" color display. From this display a user accesses a simple touch screen menu that enables them to get an instant route to virtually anywhere in seconds. The 3250 has the fastest satellite acquisition time on the market.

The innovative SayWhere text-to-speech system lets the user hear street names at every turn if so desired.

The Magellan Maestro 3250 includes built-in maps of the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, while many other models of GPS only provide details of the contiguous United States.

The 3250 also comes preprogrammed with an amazing 6 million Points of Interest. The user needs simply to select s nearby point of interest via the interactive menu (or via voice command) to be presented with full details of it. If so desired the destination can then be selected and a route plotted to it within seconds.

The  3250 distinguishes itself from other models in the Maestro line due to its voice recognition capability. The user simply speaks any of the most commonly used commands, and the 3250 will perform the action. Users can also ask the 3250 for details of distance to destination, estimated time of arrival and details of their current location. Such features are invaluable for keeping important appointments, or letting loved ones know precisely where you are.

Hands-free operation is also extremely useful feature in terms of safety.
On other models of GPS the user might need to fiddle around manually to find destinations. This, clearly, has an impact on the users ability to watch the road. With the 3250, however, by saying any of the following commands, the user would be directed to the destination:

• "Go Home"
• "Nearest Coffee"
• "Nearest Restaurant"
• "Nearest Gas"
• "Nearest ATM"
• "Roadside Assistance"
• "Where am I?"

The user can also select from several sub-categories. For example after saying "Nearest Restaurant" further selections would be possible, such as "Italian Food".

Built into the 3250 is the ability to provide live, on-screen traffic reports. A free 3-month service subscription to this facility is bundled with the 3250 so that the user determine its worth to them.

The 3250 also taps into the AAA TourBook® guide and can provide members with Roadside Assistance details.

The 3250 also allows the user to make hands-free phone calls with their Bluetooth®-enabled phones.

For times when power is unavailable the integrated rechargeable battery provides navigation for up to three hours.

The Magellan Maestro 3250 is a simple yet sophisticated device which is suitable for users of all ability levels. The innovative voice command technology sets it apart from other GPS devices on the market. The intuitive display via the colorful screen also makes the 3250 a joy to use manually.

The 3250 is currently available from Amazon.