This is my first navigational system, and after doing research I thought it would best fit my needs. So far it has done the job - the screen is comfortable to view and I love the turn by turn directions. I was looking at other models and find this has a good combination of features. It is very easy to use - would recommend it.
br /The only reason I am rating it 4 stars is because sometimes seems slow in acquiring my GPS location and when I am in a hurry, I don't have the time to wait.

Safest GPS - you do not need to look at the screen to see where to turn or to read street names. This GPS talks to you - tells you where to turn AND tells you the street name out loud. fantastic. slight error margin (new streets or streets which no longer cut thru), but overall very reliable.

My first GPS was a Magellan 700M so I was comfortable with this new system. It's easy to learn and set up. The screen is big and easy to see when driving. Voices are clear. Best of all, it's easy to just pop it in your purse if you have to travel in a vehicle that lacks a GPS. I recommend it highly. However, although the system can work without it, the system should come with an external antenna. The external antenna, by the way, is difficult to connect and disconnect. I had to buy a second one when the first broke off at the base when I was trying to remove it.

The product has some very good features, but the written documentation is poorly written and incomplete. Acquiring the GPS signal takes too long if you are in a hurry and can't sit still. Not sure if I will keep it.

The Magellan RoadMate has become quite affordable compared to a few years ago, and it still remains very powerful. Occasionally it will say a street address is in the wrong part of the street, but this seems to happen rarely, and is still pretty close to the actual address. This is also made up for by the ability to search (and receive directions) for parks, gas, and places to eat all while in-transit. The Magellan's an amazing asset for long trips due to this ability alone.
br /
br /The RoadMate 860T has software built-in to monitor traffic, but I don't have the proper accessories to take advantage of this. I imagine this would be great for daily use to and from work or school, but even without this the Magellan has suggested that I search for a detour while stuck in slow-going traffic on the freeway. Unfortunately, I don't know if this works off the freeway, but the Magellan does seem aware of how fast it's traveling versus how fast it should be moving, so I assume it would work for backroads as well.
br /
br /The Magellan kit includes all the accessories required to get up and running without any extra purchases, like a winshield mount, and a recharger that connects to the car's cigarette lighter. The quickstart instruction manual does not go into as much depth as I would like, but it does a good job of teaching the basics, so users can quickly solve the questions that may arise.
br /
br /All in all a great buy.

I would recommend this GPS to anyone that is looking for the Top of Line Magellan Portable GPS with all the Bells anyone might need.
br /
br /Don't go any further than Amazon for the Very Best Price on the Internet.
br /
br /Kenny G

Once you get past the abysmal instructions on how to use it, the unit works reasonably well. I have disagreed on numerous occasions with how to get from here to there, but the instructions would have been OK for someone not familiar with the area. Unit mounts well in my cars. Volume not loud enough to use ear pieces on my motorcycles. Am trying to hook sound into the cycle sound system.