Magellan Maestro 4040 ultimate review
Published on April 11th, 2007 in gps navigation, magellan, reviews
Maestro 4040 the new personal navigation device from Magellan just got reviewed. The review is more than 12 pages and includes over 100 images talking about all the features and specs. If you are considering buying the Maestro 4040, then this is the review to read.
In my testing, the Maestro actually found many more POIs in my area than the more expensive nuvi 660, which advertises a larger POI database of 6 million entries. Maestro is also using a more recent NAVTEQ database than Garmin, and I noticed several new mapping improvements…
Review says Magellan 4040 has more pros than cons but…
It’s not a perfect unit, but it does offer good basic navigation along with some powerful features unique to Magellan, a wide screen display, SiRF, updated NAVTEQ maps, Bluetooth, multi-destination routing, and AAA TourBook data. With so much going for it, it’s just that much more frustrating that the Maestro falls short of being a great GPS due to irritating display issues and poor readability. I had really been hoping for Magellan to hit a home run with Maestro, but the product falls short of my expectations. Maestro is an adequate GPS that could be just a firmware update away from being a very good GPS…
but in the end he doesn’t recommend it.
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With my Motorola V557 in hand off to Circuit City. The sales rep was very knowledgeable re the Maestro 4040. Bluetooth paired up with my V557 phone but only downloaded the last five outgoing phone call numbers into the 4040 address book- I can live with that. Note the site does not state that the Motorola V557 is a compatible phone but it is. We then made a few phone calls completely hands free including dialing the call from the Maestro 4040 all went well. Next we typed in my home address and started the trip and it made all the correct turns and I found the spoken text was very good. As for the screen it was the brightest of all on display.
Here are a few “cons” I take issue with:
Release button on windshield mount is located behind the unit, making it hard to see what you’re doing when you want to release the unit from the mount (you have to look behind the unit to see the where the button it). Magellan should move the release button to the front of the mount so you can see it when the Maestro is docked. I had no problem with my arthritic fingers undoing the release button plus I like it where it is so not to accidentally release it.
Text-to-speech is all computer generated and sounds artificial (although it is improved over previous Magellan GPS devices). Might sound “artificial” but very understandable.
Text on the new map screen is too small and difficult to read. With my 20/20 vision had no problem with reading the text.
No “night” version of the “Calculating Route” screen. The bright blue screen is blinding at night in a dark car. Park the car as one should and turn on the interior lights.
Overly verbose announcing of full street names, would rather it be wordy that snippy.
Difficult to get the Maestro in and out of the included neoprene carry case. Easy fix just take some aerosol silicone and spray the inside of the case. What a stretch for a con.
3 hour battery life is less than average. That’s because of the bright screen-what a nice trade off.
I’ve notice the prices have already started to fall.
I will buy this unit and report back.
I RECEIVED A MAGELLAN MAESTRO 4040 FOR FATHERS DAY. I LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND HALF THE TIME IT WELL NOT LET ME PROGRAM CITIES IN THE STATE. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS THING TO WORK RIGHT?
IT’S VERY DISAPPOINTING THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE TOP OF THE LINE GPS THAT DOESN’T WORK.
IF YOU HAVE A MANUAL FOR THIS UNIT I’D LIKE ONE IT DIDN,T COME WITH ONE.
THANKS
I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO MY EARLIER QUESTION ON WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THIS UNIT WORK. I RECEIVED THE UNIT AS A GIFT AND WAS TOLD YOU DIDN,T NEED TO JOIN AAA TO MAKE IT WORK. SO IF YOU HAVE TO JOIN AAA TO GET THIS TO WORK WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO RETUN YOUR GPS. I DON,T NEED ANOTHER ROAD SERVICE.
I WOULD APPRECIATE A ANSWER.
THANK YOU
RICHARD DUNLAP
9724 ZILLA STREET NW
COON RAPIDS, MN 55433
763-757-2745
shut up
Why would you tell someone to “shut up”? Answer his questions instead of gargling up some minutia. What type of site is this anyway?
I have a new 4040 and have been unable to find the answers in the manual.
#1. How do you up-date the maps or down load new ones?
#2. It has a slot for an SD/MMC card but no instructions for its use.
Can anyone help?
HI,
To update maps first thing , you gotto check whether magellan has released any mapupdate for 4040 , if so yes , usually it carries a price, once u got it , it will be a dvd , u gotto to use the usb cable and connect the unit and then run the disk and follow the instructions , usually it takes about 2-3hrs .
and the second que , the slot is given for backing up your address book , reason for backing up address book is , when you try to upgrade any firmware or mapupdate , it would erase the exisiting address , so thats reason that u gotto to back it up all the address before to attemp to do any upgrade and to add more custom POIs , and also some time magellan firmware requires Sd cards , so thats reason the sd card slot has been given.
hi guys, i purchased a maestro 4040, but im not sure if it offers a map software for uae?
can anybody give a comment?
thank you
Help my Maestro 4040 started to verbally abuse me. Some one anyone please tell me how to destroy this device of the devil!!!!
Enhanced POI’s are points of interest user created by POI manager found on the CD rom that came with your Magellan 4040. After loading a POI file to the SD/MMC card and loading it into your 4040, you can then route to those custom POI’s.
To access the POI’s you saved,
Insert the SD/MMC card in the slot of your 4040.
From the MAIN MENU, tap ENTER ADDRESS,
then select ENHANCED,
then select MY POI.
Select CHANGE MY POI FILE
Select a POI file you saved, like (Starbucks) by tapping on the name.
All of this is on your CD-ROM that came with the Magellan.
I have never had any problems with my Magellans.