Figure 2: Magellan Maestro 4040's Retail Box, Opened

Figure 3: Everything That Ships With the Maestro 4040

Everything that's included with the Maestro:

• Magellan Maestro 4040
• Windshield Mount
• Basic Cradle
• AC Wall Power Supply/Charger
• Cigarette Lighter adapter
• USB Data Cable
• Adhesive Disk for Dash Mounting
• Nylon Protective Pouch
• Instructions / Quickstart sheet
• CD-ROM

Figure 4: Maestro's Windshield Mount

The Maestro 4040 shares the same mounting hardware as the RoadMate 2xxx and CrossoverGPS units.

The mount consists of a large suction disc that attaches to your car's windshield (you can use the adhesive mounting disc if windshield mounts are illegal in your State), and a dual-axis joint arm that can be articulated into the desired viewing angle. The two large knobs on the mount allow you to tighten the mount once its in the correct position.

Figure 5: Maestro's Docking Cradle, Front

The cradle connects to the end of the windshield mount, and serves as a quick-release mounting bracket for docking / undocking the Maestro from the mount. The two alignment tabs on the lip of the cradle guide the unit into the mount. Pressing the button on the top of the cradle releases the Maestro from the cradle.

Figure 6: Maestro's Docking Cradle, Rear

The rear of the included mount has 4 screw holes in case you want to use an alternate mount from a third party, or Magellan's Flex-arm style mount (such as in a large SUV or truck, where you need a longer, flexible mount).

Figure 7: Maestro's Windshield Mount & Docking Cradle

Here you see the cradle connected to the windshield mount, and the mount extended into the appropriate position for mounting in the car.

Figure 8: Included AC Adapter & U.S. Plug

The included AC adapter has interchangeable plugs for using the adapter in various parts of the world. Only the North America connector ships with the unit (if purchased in North America), but additional connectors can be purchased for world-wide travel use. This adapter looks identical to the Blackberry travel charger, so if you've already got a Blackberry travel charger, you can use the same connectors for Maestro's charger.

Figure 9: Assembled AC Adapter & U.S. Plug

Snap the included North American wall outlet plug onto the AC adapter and the plug is ready to use.

Figure 10: Included RoHS Complaint 12v Cigarette Lighter Adapter

The Maestro 4040 ships with a RoHS compliant 12v cigarette lighter power adapter. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) basically just means the product is lead free -- I'm not entirely sure why it's worth advertising that on the sticker, but hey -- I'm all in favor of lead-free manufacturing!

Figure 11: Included USB Cable

Magellan includes a standard USB data cable for connecting the Maestro to a Windows PC. The included software is PC-compatible only, so Mac users are out of luck if they want to use Magellan's POI Manager software or update the firmware when future updates are released on Magellan's website.

Figure 12: Magellan's Adhesive Mounting Disc

If you happen to live in a State or country where it is illegal to mount anything in the windshield of a motor vehicle, you can use the included adhesive mounting disc to mount the Maestro on your dashboard instead.

I'm personally not a huge fan of this method, as it is a much more permanent commitment than a simple suction cup on the windshield glass. Nevertheless, local laws may dictate that you use this method, and Magellan includes it in case you need it.

Figure 13: Included Neoprene Cary Case

Magellan includes a neoprene carry case to protect the Maestro when traveling. Including the carry case is a nice touch, but I found the case hard to use. The opening doesn't extend the full length of the case, so you have to stretch the neoprene over the Maestro. That works fine getting the GPS into the case, but removing it from the case requires considerable force, and it's easy to accidentally apply pressure to the LCD screen during the removal. I'd prefer to see a velcro flap, zipper, drawstring, etc.

Figure 14: Included CD-ROM, Reference Card, & Warranty Card

5. Hardware Design: Maestro 4040

The Magellan Maestro feels solid in the hand. About 30% heavier than a Garmin nuvi 660, the Maestro 4040 feels like a sturdy piece of hardware that isn't going to fall apart the first time it's dropped. The Maestro series is Magellan's first wide-screen GPS and the design looks good. Simple, elegant lines combined with quality construction make this GPS at home on any dashboard.

One minor downside to the extra heft is that the unit vibrates slightly more than a lighter GPS when mounted on the windshield. For example, the Garmin nuvi is a very light-weight GPS, making it sit more securely on the mount and less susceptible to vibration while driving. However, the Garmin nuvi is also less solid in it's construction, and will break more easily if dropped or mishandled, so it's a trade-off.

Figure 15: Magellan Maestro 4040, Front

The Maestro 4040 sports a 4.3" (diagonal) display. The small hole in the lower right area of the black faceplate is the internal microphone, used for Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone.