The RoadMate 1200 is an entry level GPS device from Magellan, which offers some advanced features that are offered by some expensive GPS models. At $149.99, the RoadMate offers you lot more than your expectations. The RoadMate 1200 sports a 3.5-inch screen along with a database of 1.3 million POIs and maps of 49 states. The device features a simple and easy to use interface along with features like route simulation, multi segment routing and Smart Detour.
The Smart Detour feature will help you reroute if you get stuck in traffic on highways. The main menu of RoadMate 1200 displays big icons for POIs, Enter Address and Show Map along with smaller Home icon and Tow Truck icon. The Tow Truck feature gives information about your current location. You can choose from various option of entering the destination address. You can choose ZIP code, city, previously entered destination or can choose from your favorites. Like other GPS navigation devices from Magellan, the 1200 also uses the Quick Spell features for entering the data.
The data can be entered using the touch screen keyboard. As you enter your destination, the 1200 provides you with numerous options for choosing your route. These routing methods include Fastest Time, Least/Most Use of Freeways, and Shortest Distance and avoid toll roads. The RoadMate 1200 offers the 2D-north-up, 2D and 3D-track-up views. With the help of turning arrow in the left corner of the screen, the 1200 displays the upcoming turn. Right next to it, it displays your distance from the next turn. The center display the Menu icon and to the right of the menu icon there are option to toggle between remaining time, remaining distance and estimated time of arrival. The upper left corner displays the GPS signal strength whereas the upper left corner displays the direction of travel indicator.
You can also zoom in/out of the icons as well as can control the volume. The split screen features provides the close view of upcoming maneuver. The RoadMate 1200 gives you option of searching the POIs either by specific names or from one of the 25 categories which include Shopping, Restaurants, Gas Stations and their subcategories. You can also search the POIs near an address by entering the address but there no quick option for doing that. The GPS device lacks the text-to-speech feature which is quite unusual.
