With the successor model, the RoadMate 760, Magellan has kept everything the same, while adding a few features that make this model a compelling upgrade or a great first-time unit for folks who are just joining the vehicle GPS craze.

Enter the destination address, select route method and the RoadMate 760 will calculate the best route for you.

Click to learn more about the RoadMate 760's layout.

A slot on the side of the 760 is provided for a memory card; Magellan says future expansion cards will be made available. A flip-up antenna is located on the back of the unit, but if you want maximum reception in all conditions, or if your windshield has a thermal coating, you'll want to spring for a wired external antenna.

Software
Simplicity is the name of the game with the 760, and in keeping with that, the unit's integration with a PC is minimal. The 760 does ship with a reasonably easy-to-use points of interest manager PC application. The software lets you add POI's to the unit's existing database and then upload them to the 760 via USB. With the 760, though, the days of planning routes on your computer and then uploading the necessary maps to your GPS's paltry memory are gone. We think this is a good thing, but we do wish the 760 shipped with an application that allowed users to upload contacts from their Outlook or PC-based address book to the unit's address book. Granted, the 760 does have an IR port for beaming contacts from a PDA or Smart Phone, but further integration with a PC in this one area would be nice.

Performance
Out on the road, the 760 performed flawlessly. After entering a home address and quickly acquiring a satellite lock on our position, we zoomed in on the neighborhood and tapped a few points of interest on the touch-screen, including a restaurant, an ATM, and a gas station. A friendly voice guided the way, announcing upcoming turns and even pronouncing street names. Meanwhile, a 3D representation of upcoming turns made it clear what maneuvers were next. We especially liked the split-screen view, which offers a traditional map view plus the 3D display. Keep in mind, though, that the points of interest database preloaded on the 760 does not contain everything--we found that it offered just a smattering of all the restaurants and businesses in our area.

Entering physical addresses on the 760 was a snap, thanks to the unit's QuickSpell technology, which anticipates the words you are trying to enter with surprising accuracy. Another great touch is the 760's ability to adapt to changes in your plans. Rerouting is as simple as hitting a few buttons on the touch-screen. The unit will also detect low speeds on the freeway and attempt to plot a detour around traffic. Very cool.

Although the 760's touch-screen interface is a little rough around the edges, overall, we found it straightforward and simple. Our only notable gripe was that it was impossible to edit an address once it was entered. Instead, the entire entry had to be deleted first.

Final Thoughts
While the RoadMate 760 is expensive, it packs a lot of utility and power into a single device. The integrated hard drive, coupled with stunningly intelligent and adaptable routing functionality, make this a must-have for those who need the very best in vehicle navigation.

Pros

• Excellent turn-by-turn navigation and rerouting capabilities
• Just turn it on and go. All the maps and points of interest are preloaded
• Solid and fast satellite reception

• Minor user interface and controls problems
• No integration with a PC address book

Don't worry, the 760 offers all the good stuff folks love about the 700. You still get the same WAAS reception that delivers accuracy to within three meters. And the same massive 20 GB hard drive is present, fully-loaded with detailed maps, as is the intuitive, user-friendly, touchscreen interface. With the 760, gone are the days of having to fiddle with selecting map regions from a CD-ROM and then transferring the data from a PC. Plus, if you keep your addresses on a PDA with infrared connectivity, you can upload addresses from your PDA address book to the RoadMate wirelessly and then navigate to them with ease. Each of the 760's three available user profiles are allotted space for 200 addresses, making a total of 600 addresses quickly accessible. Of course, the most important address, home, is just a few finger-presses away from any menu. You can select destinations by entering an address or intersection, selecting an address from the address book, touching a point on the map, or by choosing among more than 7 million points of interest such as airports, gas stations and restaurants, nightclubs, and more. And fortunately, all of this is ready to go right out of the box and the 760 also ships with the newest device firmware. You just affix the 760 to your windshield with the included hardware, plug it in via the included cigarette-lighter adapter, turn it on, and start navigating.