Magellan eXplorist 600 - North America - GPS receiver

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 7 stars

  If I only had known!!!

  by bcdouglas on May 7, 2005

  Pros: Great Form-factor, Nice Feature Set

  Cons: Screen brightness not consistent, Pressure Alt. and Temp. Sensors SUCK!!!

  Summary: I HAD to have this new toy, got one of the first available from a major web/outdoor store. In general, I like it, but looking back, I could have ...

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  Summary: I HAD to have this new toy, got one of the first available from a major web/outdoor store. In general, I like it, but looking back, I could have done without the extra features the 600 offers over the 500...and saved some money.
  
  My top complaints:
  1) The LCD brightness is very inconsistent. The bottom quarter inch is noticeably brighter than the rest of the screen.
  
  2) The "Weather" features offered by the 600 appear to be very inaccurate. The pressure altimeter is typically way off. Yes, as the manual states, it requires frequent recalibration. ...If so, what's the point!
  
  Also, the temp. gauge seems to react very slowly and often reads 12 deg F higher than other temp. references.
  
  MapSend software isn't really designed to work (read integrated) with this new USB based series of hand-helds. That's annoying. A user is required to save files to the hard disk then use Explosist specific utilities to upload to the device.
  
  So, play with one in a store first. Again, great features, nice form-factor. You may still end up buying this device...just look out for the gotchas.
  
  OH, I called to inquire about the LCD brightness and "Weather" issue; I was told these are normal.

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  4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  Great little thing

  by givemeaname on March 5, 2006

  Pros: Color LCD, rechargeable battery, takes SD cards

  Cons: - cons take like 2 days to charge & you have to take the battery out to take out/put-in SD card

  Summary: The other reviewer sounds like they got a lemon. My LCD is consistent all around on mine, the software (Maps) works the best w/ an SD card. I don't ...

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  Summary: The other reviewer sounds like they got a lemon. My LCD is consistent all around on mine, the software (Maps) works the best w/ an SD card. I don't like having to take out the battery to get to the SD card, but you can get a lot on a SD card, I have a 128mg card, but it will hold most of California. + you can get it wet an A+++++
  GPS is very accurate, I use the GPS for my telescope set-up (finding north Lat/Long elevation, temp. Ect) & Mt. Biking. The price has gone up, I paid $300 when it first came out.
  
  Updated on Oct 22, 2008

  Still going stronge, charging seams 'faster' as it has gotten used more, like 12-14 hours from 25% to 100% charge. The battery life last a very long time, I have never ran it down to 0% (that is with 4-6+ hours of use will get me to about 15-25% battery), but it helps to set the LCD back light too low & auto dim + sound off.
  
  Water resistance seal is still good, I have ran it under the tap, taken it out in the rain & snow with zero troubles
  
  still don't like having to take the battery out to take the SD card out

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 3 stars

  terrible software, support

  by bokonon on December 8, 2007

  Pros: nice display

  Cons: abysmal support

  Summary: The unit works OK, but it won't connect with XP as a result of MS security patches. To program it, you must unscrew the cover, remove the battery, remove ...

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  Summary: The unit works OK, but it won't connect with XP as a result of MS security patches. To program it, you must unscrew the cover, remove the battery, remove the SD card and program it via a card reader. And the software requires converting from one format to another. A waste of good money. Buy Garmin.

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