Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS by Magellan
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List Price: Our Price: $164.99 You Save: $235.00 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS
Digital camera Review: Poor quality product
Summary: 1 Stars
I really wanted to like this unit. The graphics were nice, features were nice, my family had a lot of fun with it at first. Then the memory went out on it and I called Magellan (long wait time) and they said to send it in. After 2 months I got it back and it didn't work at all right out of the box, then I noticed it wasn't even my unit, they had exchange it for a different one that didn't work! Of course I had to send it in (again at my cost) and after another 6 weeks wait they send me back the second unit in working condition - well it worked for about a month, which, for me included using it about three times. No, I didn't mishandle any of these units. I am very disappointed with it.Digital camera Review: Read before you rip
Summary: 5 Stars
Finding my first GPS was tough! I have never found such a wide range of +/- reviews on any other gadget. I knew I wanted 5 things. 1. It had to be small enough to pack around. 2. It had to have enough memory that it wasn't obsolete in 5 minutes. 3. It had to be well built. 4. It had to have available software to upgrade the maps. 5. It had to look decent and be easily readable. In my opinion this unit does all this very well.
It scared me that so many people were having trouble with the software. This almost ran me off, but I honestly couldn't pass up the $50 rebate on this. Before it arrived I read the manual that was available at magellangps.com. It explained how to fix all the problems that people seemed to be having. The fact of the matter is that GPS units are complicated. These have tons of features and you will have to read how to work them.
I was also worried that the display was too small but I was shocked how big it was when I took it out of the box. If you have poor eyesight any smallish LCD screen is going to give you problems. If you can't see very well do not go the cheap rout and get one of these.
For people with good vision, and the optional DirectRoute software these work just like the 600 dash models, and it saved my skin last week driving through Seattle this week. The Topo3D software is very good too and the screen has great resolution.
I am very happy with the 500. I think it is the best looking portable GPS and has the great features too, just remember to study up before you get it.
Digital camera Review: Slower and full of problems!
Summary: 1 Stars
I had the sportrak color for about a year and loved it before I lost it. I got the Explorist 500 as a replacement. At first, I didn't like it because they took away alot of the menus and I was afraid of having a proprietary rechargeable battery. Then I got used to it although it navigates/zooms more slowly than my Sportrak did. What I liked the least was the compass didn't correct itself when I turned without walking like the Sportrak did - the Sportrak moved like a real compass! I kind of got used to that but after about 8 months of use it started giving me "Invalid Basemap" errors when starting up most of the time. I have tried the online support with Magellan and they have been very slow and haven't helped at all. I will be calling them shortly to see if I get any help there. There are a few other minor things I dislike such as not being able to modify geocaching waypoints without connecting to my pc. I am considering a Garmin replacement if Magellan can't help me resolve this issue.Digital camera Review: Small, bright , light wt, simple, rugged, versatile
Summary: 5 Stars
I looked at the Garmin 60cs and eXplorist 500 as I wanted a GPS with that has a bright and colored screen; was small enough to fit in my pockets (being 3xl helps); and was not too complicated. The Garmin shape was funky, the eX500 was perfect for hand or pocket. The eX500 had a memory slot, which I stuck a 1gb card in verses the 56 mb of memory for the G60cs. I got my western Oregon map for keeping it local; I got my whole Oregon map for travelin' about; I got my OR-WA-ID-W.MT for visiting the relatives. Switching maps only takes minutes. I was a little concerned about only having a lithium battery that might go dead, so off to Radio Shack for a 4-AA battery box (4x1.2v per battery=4.8v, close enough to the 5v from a USB port). I clipped the end off a USB cable, spliced it into the leads from the battery box, and simply plugged the USB cable from the eX500 into it. Battery box in pants pocket, eX500 in my hand, but on a leash, so to speak. I am clumsy, so I have given it repeatedly the drop test, the crash test, and it takes a beating and keeps on ticking. It does work in the truck with the suction cup mount, and zoomed in it shows the streets ahead, and how to find grandma's house. My wife calls me "navigationally challenged", but with the eX500, we go the long way because we choose to explore. Putting in wayoints / points of interest was tedius at first, now I can do it in my sleep. All in all, I am very happy with my eX500.Digital camera Review: SteveB10
Summary: 1 Stars
I encountered problems installing this product on several windows XP computers. I spoke with their tech support.... What a joke. The software caused a problem with my computer. It constantly asked for new hardware installation. Tech support said it was not their problem I must contact my manufacture. Magellan technical support had no interest in helping me. I don't know it they understood me as they had a heavy accent and had trouble understanding my name (Steve). Do not buy!!!!!