Magellan's new Triton series seeks to reinvent the handheld GPS by combining extreme ease of use, rugged durability, and a unique direct-upload capability for National Geographic TOPO! maps The high-end Triton 1500 and 2000 also feature the first handheld touch-screens and multimedia capabilities that can be used to accentuate geocoding.
Want to know which Triton is Right for You?
Click here to see a feature comparison of all Tritons.
 See More, Hear More, Capture The Moment
The Triton 2000 has a big 2.7-inch (diagonally) full-color touchscreen display, and a rich array of multimedia features. View photos and listen to MP3 files via the embedded speaker or headphone jack.
Use the integrated 2-Megapixel camera to shoot geocoded pictures in the field.
An integrated speaker and microphone let you record audio files to associate with geographic locations Accurate Bearings
A simple-to-use, 3-axis electronic compass delivers stationary heading and bearing at any altitude—without having to be horizontal to the ground, even in uneven terrain and high altitudes. An embedded barometer tracks atmospheric pressure changes to give more accurate altitude readings and indicate changes in weather. An embedded LED flashlight helps you find your way at night. 
First handheld GPS compatible with National Geographic TOPO! maps
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Use Magellan Vantage point software to add, store and manage optional maps, tracks, waypoints, routes, geocaches and other user-generated content | Incredible Map Versatility
Pre-loaded base maps and uploadable detail maps identify major roads, rivers, lakes, cities, and other geographical boundaries, and its SD card slot offers unlimited storage possibilities. Every Triton includes VantagePoint software to manage maps, view saved routes, and more. Through an exclusive partnership with the National Geographic Society, Magellan Triton series devices are the first and only handheld GPS units configured to directly upload National Geographic’s award-winning TOPO! maps. TOPO! Maps provide five layers of the best maps available—from National Geographic Atlas maps to the most detailed USGS topographic maps. View the maps in 3D on your PC, select the map areas you want, and upload them to your Magellan Triton—the industry's easiest-to-use handheld navigation device! Takes a Licking
Rugged and waterproof to IPX-7 standards, the Triton 2000 defeats harsh environments; it can withstand a drop to concrete and immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Easily replaceable AA batteries ensure you'll always have power when you need it most, while its integrated antenna enables clear reception—even in heavy cloud cover and deep canyons. What's In The Box
Triton 2000 GPS receiver, USB data cable, 2 AA batteries, VantagePoint software, Quick reference guide and CD Optional Accessories - Bike mount
- Swivel mount
- Windshield mount
- Vehicle power adapter (12-24 watts)
- AC power adapter
- Carrying case
- NMEA cable
Product Specifications - GPS Chipset: SiRFstarIII
- Processor: 400 MHz
- GPS accuracy: 3-5 meters
- Antenna Type: Patch
- USB: 1.1
- Internal Memory: 128 MB
- External Memory: SD card
- NMEA Output: Yes
- Product Dimensions: 5.75 inches H x 2.5 inches W x 1.13 inches D (14.6 cm H x 6.6 cm W x 2.9 cm D)
- Product Weight with Batteries: 7.9 oz (224 g)
- Screen Size: 2.7 inches diagonally (6.86 cm)
- Screen Resolution: QVGA (320 x 240)
- Battery Type: 2 x AA
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Type of Backlight: LED
- Water Resistance: IPX-7
- User Interface: Touch screen/keypad
- Barometer: Yes
- Compass Type: Electronic 3D
- Camera: 2 Mega Pixel
Advanced Software Features - VantagePoint: Yes
- Software Compatible: Topo Canada, Topo Mexico, U.S. Topo Basic, U.S. Topo Premium, Lakes USA; Mountain Dynamics; National Geographic TOPO!; BlueNav
- Pre-Loaded Base Maps: Contiguous 48 United States, Alaska, Canada, worldwide geographic boundaries
- Fish/Hunt times: Yes
- Sun/Moon Phases: Yes
- Vertical Profiles: Yes
- Localization Mean: MSDK
- Language Support: English (default), French
- User Grids: Yes
- Coordinate Systems: Latitude/Longitude and UTM
Which Triton is Right for You?
| 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 | 1500 | 2000 | Screen Size
diagonal | 2.2 inches
| 2.2 inches | 2.2 inches | 2.2 inches | 2.7 inches | 2.7 inches | USB Data
Cable
Included |
|  | | | | | SD Card
Slot |
| | | | | | Internal
Memory | 10 MB
| 10 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB
| 128 MB | 128 MB | | Barometer |
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| | | | Touch
Screen |
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| | | Speaker &
Microphone |
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| | | AA
Batteries
Included |
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| | | LED
Flashlight |
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| | | | Processor | 266 MHz | 266 MHz | 266 MHz | 266 MHz | 400 MHz | 400 MHz | | Camera |
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| | Dimensions
(H x W x D)
inches | 4.65 x 2.16 x 1.22 | 4.65 x 2.16 x 1.22 | 4.65 x 2.16 x 1.22 | 4.65 x 2.16 x 1.22 | 5.75 x 2.5 x 1.13 | 5.75 x 2.5 x 1.13 | Weight
ounces | 6.6
| 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 8
| 8
| About Magellan
Magellan is a leader in the consumer, survey, GIS, and OEM GPS navigation and positioning markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the Company is the creator of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate series and the Magellan Maestro portable car navigation systems, the Magellan eXplorist and the Magellan Triton outdoor handheld navigation devices, and the Hertz NeverLost car navigation system, the best-selling single frequency GPS survey product line on the market. The Magellan Maestro series includes such unique features as built-in AAA travel information and voice command and control driving—which no other portable GPS manufacturer in the U.S. or Canada offers. The company is recognized worldwide through its Magellan brand and has experienced dramatic revenue growth as GPS technology has proliferated across a range of consumer and commercial applications. The Company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with European headquarters in Carquefou, France. |
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 Magellan Triton 2000: not ready for prime time |
| Review Date: January 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: John Williamson, Bucks County, PA USA |
I was excited when first offered the Magellan Triton 2000 Handheld Navigation System, since I had been looking at a number of hand-held units that could be used for cycling. Had considered the more basic Magellan Triton 500 and the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx, but had ruled it out the Magellan product due to its mediocre reviews here. Then came the offer to get it as an Amazon Vine participant, and I figured that I would try out the Triton 2000 GPS, figuring that maybe some of the reviewers just hadn't taken the time to check out the documentation and learn the product.
Must admit right now that I was wrong, and that most of the reviewers got it right.
Opened the box when it arrived, expecting to find a product that lived up to the specs listed on the product description. And it did, after a fashion. Immediately noticed that the documentation was a bit sparse, so I went to the Magellan site, registered the product and downloaded the most recent 66-page manual in .PDF format and sat down with a cup of coffee, GPS in hand, and proceeded to read it in its entirety. And upon following the directions is when I found two things that became quickly apparent: (1) that the Magellan 2000 really loves to eat AA alkaline batteries at a surprising rate, and (2) what other users and reviewers had reported about the unit crashing was an understatement, as it did lock up or completely crash... a lot.
Still I wasn't going to be deterred, so I installed the CD and its programs on my PC, and then hooked up the GPS with the supplied USB data cable, a device that was quickly recognized by the PC. Updated the supplied VantagePoint software and the unit's firmware to V1.71, as per the suggestions from the manufacturer. All went well there except that the unit locked up again immediately after installation, so I reinstalled the firmware upgrade, and all was well... for the time being.
First Impressions:
Other than the observations already noted I found that the Magellan 2000 appeared to be very well made. It had a rugged rubberized orange and black case, and had a number of interesting features that to a mountain bike cyclist were appealing. It's said to be water submersible, and though I didn't want to try dunking it in a sink to test that feature, a subsequent sojourn in unexpected rain proved that to be seemingly true. I have no doubt that it's shock resistant and not flimsy at all. Its built-in LED flashlight adds to the list of handy features, as do the integrated 2Mp digital camera and the MP3 player. They included a few spare stylus units, which I felt was a nice thoughtful touch.
Field Use:
If you buy this GPS, my suggestion is to take the time to read the sometimes confusing documentation before you go out, as you'll likely be lost without a bit of understanding what the unit will do and how to use it. You'll also need to buy and download a few maps and load them before you go, as the pre-loaded base maps are about useless for a beginner. You can get uploadable detail maps which will identify major roads, bodies of water and various geographical boundaries and features, and the best of these appear to be the TOPO! National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (Pennsylvania, for example).
You view these first (in 3d, no less) on your PC, opt for the map areas you want, and then upload them to your Triton 2000. Be warned that you'll spend an hour or two doing this the first time, and that since this is optional software, be aware that you can spend a few bucks (about $100 or more, depending on the maps you get) doing so. You'll also need a Flash Memory Card on which to store your maps, MP3 music and any photos you may wish to take. As I said, be prepared to spend a few extra bucks before you hit the trails or roads, and that's with out considering a case (or Magellan Triton Handlebar Mount if you're a cyclist such as I am).
Now let's get down to some specific issues regarding the Magellan Triton 2000:
Screen:
The unit's 2.7 inch touch screen is a good feature; it's bright and easy to see, though in bright sunlight it often doesn't seem quite bright enough. It dims automatically to avoid draining the batteries, and you can adjust the screen timer if you find it dims too quickly. A simple touch on the screen makes it brighter. I was able to use a fingertip for many selections. The protective bezel surrounding the screen doesn't allow for selection of some items in the corners, but the included stylus takes care of that. It can be tricky to pull the stylus out of the base of the case, but as noted above, Magellan included a few extras in case one is lost.
User Interface:
The user interface is somewhat clunky to operate. The navigation buttons on the unit don't provide feedback, so it's tricky to know if you pushed the buttons or not. I also had repeated issues with the unit locking up and/or rebooting. It's not particularly user-friendly, but it does get the job done. The data transfer speeds between the PC and the GPS are respectable. The supplied VantagePoint software for loading maps is just adequate, and is PC only, so Mac users might wish to check with Magellan before purchasing this unit. In fact, according to Magellan's support site when queried in January 2010 about Macintosh compatibility, I received the following response: "At this time, Magellan products do not support Apple or Macintosh. It may be possible to connect your GPS to a Macintosh computer by searching [...] for connectivity plugins under COM ports or serial ports."
Sensitivity:
The sensitivity of the Triton 2000 is said to be improved over some Magellan models, and this is attributed to their use of the SiRFstar III chipset. While overall sensitivity is improved, it's said to be not quite as good as that in some of the newer Garmin GPS units which uses the same chipset. The Magellan's smaller antenna may be the cause of this, but the difference probably won't be a nuisance for most.
Batteries:
The product specs simply call for 2x AA batteries, so I installed a fresh pair of AA alkaline batteries. The specs also list "Battery Life: 10 hours." I have an issue with that, as I've never gotten half of that, even without using the LED flashlight, the digital camera or the MP3 player. I was confused by this, until I read of quite a number of other users having the same problem, and more expensive high-capacity lithium batteries only gave me an extra hour over the alkaline cells. Surprisingly I got the best life out of a pair of Sony AA rechargeable NiMH batteries rated at 2500 mAh, but whichever you choose, be sure to carry some spares.
Maps:
Most GPS units of this type come only with base maps, which are maps that only have major roads listed. In the case of the Triton 2000, it's only capable of displaying your location on the base map between interstate highways. These are really out of place for true navigation, especially in this case, as there are no street names. I really got this unit to use for cycling and casual walking, and found that if one wanted to really make use of it for such purposes, then it requires the extra purchase of map software such as those from National Geographic as noted above. And in truth, those are not as detailed as I might like, though some may be satisfied with them.
Geotagging:
In truth I never looked at this unit for geocaching or geotagging, so it's not fair for me to comment on something I've never tried. Just being honest here, but there does seem to be a strong focus on this built within the unit. Others will offer more valid opinions on this topic that this reviewer is qualified to do.
Compass:
The electronic compass is a nice feature, and is visually appealing in all of its ways of display. However if you change the batteries, you must recalibrate it by placing the unit "on a flat, horizontal surface away from any metal objects," then follow the instructions displayed on the screen. That's also true for finding the true north (or magnetic north) on the GPS. It's a nice feature, though it does take a few moments for the compass to find north, and if you use the compass many times, you'll drain the batteries even more quickly. The directions tell you to disable the compass if a GPS fix is available. Go figure.
Digital Camera:
The integrated camera is a pleasant addition, but it's not well implemented. It's a 2 megapixel camera, and the quality is reasonable for simple snapshots, but it is a bit difficult to take photos. You first have to locate the correct menu screen before you can take a picture, then you muse press the "enter" button, then pick the correct menu item to store it. It's a somewhat clunky process, and you can forget about taking quick snapshots.
MP3 Player:
The sound quality is decent, but to use the MP3 player, you'll have to navigate through several menu items first. Since the unit's battery life is so limited, you may not wish to add the extra load on the battery, but just take your favorite MP3 player along if you want music.
Flashlight:
The embedded LED flashlight may help you find your way at night, though it's not as bright as one might hope. And that's probably not really a bad thing, as this reviewer suspects that the flashlight function contributes to the units excessive battery consumption.
Summary:
The Magellan Triton 2000 is a seemingly capable GPS with a lot of nice features. The big 2.7 inch touch screen is a definite plus. It's easier to perform some functions than other GPS units that I played with, but the battery life is not good by any stretch of the imagination. The MP3 player and digital camera are good to have, but they're really not stand-ins for having a decent music player or camera with you. The basic functionality of the unit is OK, but the Triton's firmware could use a good bit of additional tweaking to make it operate reliably.
This reviewer is no GPS expert or geotagger, but just a casual GPS user. In fact, my BlackBerry Curve has a basic no-frills GPS package that responds faster for my basic needs than the Triton 2000, which really surprised me. This has made me consider the Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry package, which seems to have an excellent interface and good features, from what I saw in their trial version. The Magellan Triton 2000 with its rubberized housing is probably more rugged, but there are those of us who just don't need all that this unit seems to be capable of, if they would just get the firmware and software right. Further, the product did not come with a printed manual, only a condensed reference guide, and one that was woefully inadequate considering the price.
Have looked at a number of other GPS units over the past year, and some of these are excellent, highly rated products, as can be seen from some of the user reviews. But this GPS is not that usable right out of the box, and by that I mean that the software costs are steep to just get it to have major roads with street names as reference points.
I really wanted to like this product; in fact I held back on posting a review in order to try and use it with all of its features, but with its excessive battery usage and constant lockups and/or crashes, found it to be more frustrating than I might have ever imagined.
At this price point I have to imagine that you can do a lot better than this particular device, and in good conscience cannot recommend the Magellan Triton 2000 due to the price vs. the issues I have already encountered. All in all, it's a 3-star product, and that's the best that I can do.
1/28/2010 |
Don't buy this product!
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| Review Date: September 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kevin Barmish, Seattle |
| This is possibly the worst tech gadget ever made! I've played with other Garmin and Tomtom models and I generally find that I can figure things out pretty fast just by poking around through the menus and playing around. The Magellan Triton 2000 has possibly the worst user interface and is by no means easy to use. If you have an iPhone (and are spoiled with an amazing UI) don't even bother considering this product as you will get frustrated within a few minutes and want to throw it against the wall. Unfortunately, there is little to no relevant documentation to help you navigate this product. The document doesn't really define important terms such as "waypoint", "geocache," "route", "trail", etc... Sadly there is not much more information/documentation available on Magellan's website. The device is slow and in my first hour of playing with it, it crashed on two occasions.The unit is not ready to go right out of the box: it only includes a very basic US map. In order to get more maps (trail maps, street maps, etc...) you need to buy them from Magellan's website. |
Good features, but bulky, heavy and difficult to use
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| Review Date: September 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gadgester, Mother Earth |
According to the product description, "the Magellan Triton 2000 is so easy to use that its user manual may never make it out of the box." Alas, this statement is completely untrue. First of all, the included "manual" consists of a reference pamphlet and a battery installation sheet (the 2000 requires 2 AA batteries). There's also an electronic manual on the CD-ROM, but it doesn't cover many of the 2000's features.
A pity, because the 2000 has a lot of features good for hikers and wildlife lovers alike but the device is quite difficult to use. I consider myself pretty good at deciphering electronic devices without resorting to reading the stuff they call manuals, but with the 2000, I really couldn't figure out much on my own. Indeed, to this day (after a month of use) I still don't know how to access the built-in 2MP camera!
For one thing, although the screen is touchscreen, it's not very sensitive. The physical buttons below the screen are also very difficult to press, resulting in many a frustrating moment, esp. when I'm walking and operating the 2000 at the same time. The 2.7"-diagonal screen is also not bright enough for sunlit use, and its resolution is lacking. The 2000 gives you lots of information (including a barometer) but accessing and using the information is quite an exercise in frustration.
Finally, I understand this is designed for hiking and geocaching alike, but it's still very disappointing that for the price point Magellan charges, they do not include a street-level map. I think you can buy one separately, but that's really like highway robbery given how cheap map data is nowadays. |
Nice unit with some minor issues to work out
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| Review Date: September 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: tall-latte, Sammamish, WA USA |
The Triton 2000 has a nice feel to it, other than being surprisingly heavy. The screen is very clear, and the unit got a signal very quickly -- even indoors, to my surprise.
There are a few issues that jumped out at me right away:
1. No Mac OS X support. This is not necessarily a show stopper for Mac users, since you can use the unit standalone. If you have Parallels with Windows, then you can simply connect the unit to your VM for updates. But come on, Magellan needs to support the Mac.
2. Uses AA batteries instead of a rechargeable battery. This may be a pro or con for you, depending on your preferences, but I strongly prefer a built-in, rechargeable battery. The benefit is that if you carry spare AA batteries with you, then you are always ready. But I prefer to simply charge up my device ahead of time and never have to buy batteries -- batteries are expensive! My Garmin devices all use rechargeable batteries, and this is what I am used to. Using AA batteries is so 20th century.
3. Usability issues. Overall, I liked the user interface, but it seems to need just a bit more usability testing. I tried to use the device without reading any instructions first, and I could not find the equivalent of an Exit/Cancel/Go Back button. I finally had to resort to the instructions, and I discovered that this button does indeed exist -- it is the ESC key -- but it is a soft touch button under the display hidden with the same orange color as the unit. Sure, RTFM, but I like to be able to figure out a device on my own and then RTFM later.
Because of the stunning screen, overall good user interface, and ability to quickly lock on to a GPS signal, I can recommend this unit. But the lack of Mac support, the absence of a rechargeable battery, and the weight earn it only 3 stars.
I'll update this review after I take it on a few hikes.
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So far, this is horrible....
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| Review Date: September 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: SkyeNoir, Bay Area, CA |
So I haven't had a chance to use this for it's intended purpose yet, but just in playing around with it, I don't expect it to be a winner. We intend to try it for Geocaching this weekend, but here are my preliminary takes on this product:
Cons:
1. Buttons are difficult to push. This may be due to not wanting to accidentally push a button if the unit is in your pocket, but they are unreliable, sometimes pushing buttons will make a feature work, other times not.
2. Sound is HORRIBLE. With the volume at the highest level, you can barely hear the unit, with or without headphones.
3. Camera quality is horrendous, my cell phone takes better pictures. We took pictures with and without zoom, and they all stunk.
4. Video, while somehow having a little better picture quality, doesn't record sound with the video. Why? I don't know, seems silly to me. We thought maybe it was just the poor volume quality, but nope, no sound even after we uploaded video to our PC.
5. The navigation buttons on the front of the unit do not provide feedback, so it is difficult to know if you pushed the buttons or not.
6. Touch screen was iffy at best. Included are several miniscule styluses which would be next to impossible to use if you were wearing gloves.
7. User interface was not intuitive.
8. Product did not come with a printed manual, only a condensed reference guide.
9. Flashlight feature did not work at first, then decided to suddenly work sporadically.
10. Within the unit's internal instructions, it mentions the "return button" but there is no return button on the unit, there is only an "escape" button, and that is what they are referring to.
Pros:
1. Well, it looks pretty and feels good in your hand.
2. I like the way the battery case goes on and off, with a pin locking mechanism.
Maybe I got a lemon, I don't know. I will update my review further when I can actually use the unit as it is intended. Will try out the Geocaching feature this weekend, but even if it works like a charm, I cannot recommend this product due to the price vs. the issues I have already encountered. |
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