Magellan Triton 1500 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)OK, so I try to avoid being an early adopter, but I've been waiting a long time for the next step in GPS technology, so I jumped at the chance of buying a Triton 1500.
FYI, the 1500 is the same as the 2000 minus the camera. I carry a Canon on top of my pack so I did not need it.
The User Interface rocks, totally intuitive, easy to understand and the touch screen is awesome. I laugh a little at the micro stylus, that's going to get lost on the first 5 miles on the trail. Magellan includes a bag of extras, probably because they exepect this to happen. Good news is that a finger or a twig will do just fine.
The ability to add voice notes is great and one of the reasons I bought it. You'll need to add an SD card to take advantage of this excellent feature. Same deal if you want to add some MP3s. I can see myself listening to Dave M or a good book on tape while in camp.
The LED flashlight is ok. Enough for an emergency but it will not replace my head torch.
I'm not sure about the choice of colours, I'm sure its rugged but it looks a little cheap.
The cicular navigation button offers too much resistance. Maybe it's designed that way to avoid unwanted data entry, but I don't like it.
Now onto the not so good. The software/PC set up is far from plug and play. In fact I'd go as far to say I've never seen anything so complicated.
The biggest selling feature is the integration with National Geographic's Topo maps. In order to take advantage of this feature you have to sign up for and download Magellan's VantagePoint. If you don't do that you don't get the drivers.
Once you have done this you have to download a patch for the NG maps that adds Triton support. This also provides more of the drivers you need for your PC to recognize the Triton via a USB port.
I've done all the steps above, achieved connectivity with VantagePoint and my Triton, but I have tried everything execept voodoo magic and I cannot get NG Topo maps to see my Triton. This raises a good point.
Magellan make the GPS but NG make the maps, who do I contact for support?
I emailed both Magellan an NG for help. Got some very responsive support from NG but all they could do was refer my email to their development team and I have yet to hear anything from them. Magellan have yet to respond in any way.
I'm sure this problem will get resolved soon and as Colorado is sitting under piles of white stuff I will not be needing my GPS until the spring but it's more than enough to take the shine off a great product.
In summary:
Good:
Great UI
Intuitive
Fast
Not bad:
Flashlight
MP3 player
Micro stylus
Needs work:
NG Maps interface
OMG the set up is COMPLICATED


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