Magellan MAP 330x GPS

Very Good Compared with Garmin eTrex Vista
I purchased Magellan MAP 330X two years ago. That one was working really fine. But because its design was not as cute as I would expect, I sold it off eBay one year ago. Then I was searching for a replacement one, and it was found to be Garmin eTrex Vista. So I purchased it and used it during the 2002 Christmas vacation in California. To my much disappointment, it is really quite inferior to MAP330. The only reason I bought it was it it looks cute, easy to fit my pocket. However, on technically side, there are many problems. After making painfully decision, I decide to sell it and buy back the MAP300 again.First, Garmin's GPS does not come with the detailed city maps, which is sold separately for +. It is quite expensive. Magellan's city map comes with MAP330X. (Garmin's GPS is already sold higher than comparable Magellan's). Second, Vista's map on the screen is not floating. For example, if the street name is "Main St.", and the first two character "Ma" is happened to be cutoff on the left side, the screen only displays "in St.". Very bad, isn't it? MAP330X's text names are floating to fit in the screen. Third, very very bad, Vista is very slow and difficult to lock the satellite signals. And once it does lock, it is quite easy to get lost (see other reviews for any Magellan GPS). This is the main problem that makes me abandon it finally, even though I like its stylish design so much. Fourth, once it lost the satellite signals, it displays the message on the bottom of all screens and just will not go, which blocks the necessary information (such as elevator, distance, street name, etc.) that I will like to see even though the signal is off. Fifth, it is quite difficult to navigate the map to left, right, up or down. In MAP330X, you just move the cursor, using one hand only, can do it, whileas same functionality in Vista needs two steps and needs two hands. It is not likely to do it during driving. Sixth, although Vista outside design is quite cute, its button locations are very bad. It is very difficult to manipulate them using one hand during the driving. You may say it is not supposed to use it during driving. But using it during driving, so what, it is just a quite look on the screen, just like drinking an soda or eat a bite of McDonald. It does not cause any problem when using probably. Plus, it is only useful during the driving when one needs to figure out if he/she is in the right direction on highway, or if miss an exit, and how far it is needed to get the destination. Without the proper use of it with one hand, you bet how many people will be buying a GPS. Seventh, when Vista is first turned on, it locks the screen to scan the satellite frequencies (which is already quite long compared with MAP330X) and does not allow you to go to any other screen further. This is also very bad feature. Sometime I just want to see the map of last location, I don't really need to track the current location; or I just want to setup configurations, why should I have to wait the satellite signal? There're also other major issues such as not showing what's the version number of the firmware, how much memory is left, what kind of external map is loaded, etc. In this deflationary world, I make purchase carefully on high-tech gadgets. I understand the prices will drop quickly. So if I do buy it, I really expect to own it and consider the money is discarded. If a company does not provide a good product, it cannot expect to sell it too many, because nowadays there're on-line auction and trading sites everywhere. If a customer does not like the product generally after using it, he/she will sell it, say, at eBay. Therefore, the used ones get circulated again and again in the secondary trading market, making the new ones difficult to be mass sold.

Good unit
My review is based on a trial period of less than one month. I ended up returning the GPS to buy another of Magellan's models. In retrospect, after a year of use with the newer model, I believe the size of the MAP 330 makes it better suited for some uses, such as carrying it in your jeans pocket. With this unit, Magellan has recessed the power button so that it cannot be easily depressed as it is with newer models. On the downside, the screen and button size is larger with other Magellan models, which may be important to some individuals.

Excellent Unit, Limited use in SouthAmerica
This is my second Magellan GPS (Map 315 before), I think it is an excellent unit, very useful for almost every situation, works good with your computer. Things that need some improvement: Software mapping in SouthAmerica (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador), free software for jpg mapping conversion to upload to unit. Maps for outside USA.

Excellent product
This is an excellent product. I'm very impressed by it's capabilties.
As some of the other reviewers have pointed out, the one minor inconvience is the battery cover. I believe the fault lies in the fact the springs in the battery cover are located on the same end, consequently one battery's negative end is postitioned against the spring, while the other battery's positive end (which is too small) is postioned against its spring.If they could move the positive terminal spring to the opposite side, it would result in much better electrical contact.
If you have trouble closing the battery cover, check the positive terminal against the spring(it has a tendency to move out of position while loading batteries).
Make sure both batteries are securely in position, and you can firmly close the battery cover.

Great GPS for a Great Price
This device is great. I have only had it for a little over a week but I have been extremely satisfied. I originally bought it for geocaching... I have already found two caches in my area with very good accuracy. I dont know who wrote the review aoout how inaccuate it was, but that is false. His must have been broken or smething. I have also made wavepoints to show surrounding points in my area. It was very easy for me to learn how to do most things on it. The best thing about this product, is what comes with it. With the CD-ROM, and car kit, for very little extra cost this has to be the best gps for the money.