GPS Review: Garmin Streetpilot 2720 vs. Magellan Roadmate 760
A lot of people have been looking for a review on the Garmin Streetpilot 2720
and the Magellan Roadmate 760, simply asking "Which is best?" So here is a quick run down of the feature sets of the two new automotive targeted GPS receivers. 
They are two feature packed devices coming from two well regarded manufacturers, but here at the GPS Lodge, we were wondering what set them apart, and which one was worth buying.
Overall, the Magellan Roadmate upgrades the popular Roadmate 700 with some nice add-ons to make the Roadmate 760 a power packed piece of hardware. The new Roadmate 760 adds text to speech, Magellans SmartDetour feature to help get around traffic jams, and the ability to navigate to multiple destinations in one route. This is pretty cool; plug in your destinations, and let the Roadmate optimize the route for you. You can always set the order you want, if you need a specific routing, but a nice feature if you are in an area you don't know so well.
What's in the Streetpilot 2720? While it too has text-to speech to announce turns and upcoming streets, the big thing Garmin is touting is the ability to integrate traffic information through an optional add-on component that helps you re-route to avoid traffic congestion.
Getting Around Traffic Issues: The Roadmate 760 has a Smartdetour feature that automatically senses when you are stuck in traffic, and offers up a detour route for you to take. The GPS does this by sensing the amount of time you are sitting there, which is a customizable feature so it doesn't go off at every long traffic light. The Streetpilot 2720 takes a different approach, one that might cost extra in subscription fees, but if it works, it may just keep you OUT of those jams. The Streepilot 2720 has the ability to receive FM-based data feeds in some cities that will plot out where problems are, and help you navigate around them. Last I checked, this is the nirvana of the automobile GPS system, right? The proof is in how it works for you in your city, with the routes you use, and the data feed quality. Also, how well this travels from city to city, and do you have to have separate subscriptions, I do not know if it is too much to take care of, or if it is worth it.
Maps: Both come loaded with maps, maps and more maps. They also have more points of interest than you'll ever be able to visit (both give you over 6 million out of the box, no computer hook up needed). The big thing is which one has the closest gas station when you are running on empty? Garmin specifically calls out that users are able to add points of interest to their units, and program a proximity alert feature that goes off when you are getting close to that radar camera, maybe? Yea, Roadmate has this proximity alert feature too.
Screens: The Magellan Roadmate 760 has a slightly larger screen area, but both have the auto-dimming feature that senses lighting conditions and automatically adjusts the lighting levels accordingly. One feature that goes along with this auto-dimming screen is that when you go over 45MPH, the Roadmate automatically ups the volume for the announcements. Not bad, eh?
Auto Re-routing: See a great coffee shop? Grab a snack at a store off your route? You leave the established route for any reason and still want to get to your destination, it re-calculates and offers up a new one. Both have it.
Remote Control: Yea, a remote control is included in the Streetpilot 2720. Watch out for those back seat drivers now.
Beam your addresses: The Roadmate 760 is able to receive beamed addresses from your Palm, PocketPC, or smart phone (via IR) and store it directly in the address book.
External antenna available: Yup, both have them. Great for RV's where you want to mount it away from a clear view of the sky.
Predictive Text Entry: Both have it.
Price: Both are about the same.
Bottom Line: If you like the idea of the FM data feed service and want to avoid the traffic jams, take a serious look at the Garmin Streetpilot 2720. If not, the Magellan Roadmate 760 comes from a pretty well proven line of Roadmates, and has the features to take on most situations. Its SmartDetour feature is pretty cool. The bottom line is that they are both top-notch navigation devices.
Read More in: Automotive GPS | GPS Reviews | Garmin GPS Reviews | Head to Head GPS Reviews | Magellan GPS Reviews
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Posted by Scott Martin at July 25, 2005 10:50 PM
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