seamus

Seriously, Garmin? Nickels and dimes?

Garmin, by far, is the world's leader in GPS but apparently feel the need to run roughshod over it's clientele.

While I've obviously gone over the top with the GPSMap 495, I wanted to combine devices again as I look to replace my TomTom stuff (they'll get their own thread thanks to non-support in the US). So the 495 has the ability to provide air and land navigation (marine also, if you're into that) and if you upgrade a number to the 496, you get XM Radio and Weather.

But why the need to not mention that your proprietary memory card is needed to upload road maps? And why only a max of 512mb when the North America maps in full is 1.1gb?

I get it, Garmin. You're the king. But why the nut punch after I've cleaned out my wallet? All you had to do was say so and I would have ordered the rest at the same time.


Fortunately, www.gpscity.com came to the rescue. Not only was I able to knock almost 70% off the Garmin prices found anywhere else, but when I ended up placing two orders in 3 days to unfunk my initial gps order from another site, they were able to save me money by combining orders and pulling backordered items to speed up shipping.



Damn you, Garmin. But I'm hooked. This thing is awesome.

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For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci

SomeStrangeGuy

They like to have all the info on this keen page...

From the "specs" page
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?...14751#specsTab

It was probably there before you ordered

The proprietary memory sucks and is expensive, thats why I am holding out for the 6's to drop in price

Glad you're on a Garmin though...you should be able to get a decent mount for the bike too.

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Baketech

Yeah, Garmin is kinda like Ohlins...you just grin and bear it because the bum raping is worth it in the end...

On the plus side, the stuff flat out works, and service, should you need it, is generally very good...

As you have already found out, discounters are your friend, just make sure you are getting new stuff, or that there is disclosure when it's a refurb.

Marine mode is actually really cool, if you like I can send you a track that highlights all the nekkid beaches in the USVI...

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tigerblade

Now that's my kind of geo-caching...

SheepOfBlue

Thought those were on sale at the airport?

Oh and Garmin has pretty decent Mac support though I need to ping them again and ask for a feature and rip them for change it from Bobcat to Road Trip

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SomeStrangeGuy

I haven't been able to successfully replicate my Garmin experience on my Mac yet, don't feel bad.


Though I have to say I am Garmin's biggest supporter and they sort of let me down recently. The Zumo 660 froze a couple weeks ago and wouldn't reboot. I emailed CS and they told me to upload the newest firmware and cited a version #. I ran the updater and no dice, had the current version, hmm. I called CS and they asked me where I got that version # from because it was a beta and wasn't available for the public. I said I didn't really care but my Zumo didn't work. The dude I worked with was Garmin cool as always, but essentially told me I could send it back and get it repaired but I might be better off just waiting as there was a new firmware being released.

That was like 3-4 weeks ago, no new firmware since 05/06/09. I just fixed it myself...grr

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seamus

I understood that it could accept additional memory but tell me that I specifically need it to be able to use the device. That's all I ask. Tell me what I actually need so when it arrives I can do what your marketing team wrote: Fly a direct route across the country, hop in a rental car and drive the wrong way down a one way street into a lake.

I read "Ability to add maps: yes; Ability to add memory: yes" as just that, the ability. Not the need. It even says to navigate turn by turn, you need to purchase additional maps. I was cool with that, ADD TO CART. But it doesn't say the maps can't be added to the memory already in the device. That's what threw me.

Then, the maps are 1.1gb and you only offer 512mb. I have an 8gb microSD card that cost me $40 and you can't get more than 512mb out of your Nintendo DS cartridge sized proprietary memory box? That's an uppercut. From a midget. Right in the noots.


As for the mounts, they're already on order From gpscity

__________________
Ducit Amor Patriae

Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci

Baketech

Not that it matters now but there's somewhat of an explanation to the data card thing. The physical architecture of that series device is pretty old, and pre-dates the use of more ubiquitous memory cards. In other words, it's a legacy flea....

The 600 series breaks from that, and uses SD memory...it's still a portable, but is purpose built for aviation, and doesn't shuffle from boat, bike, car and plane.

If you look at the product offerings, you might deduce that they will move away from "multi-mode" functionality for portable aviation devices. (but retain it within the marine product line) This means that the last of the multi-mode portable aviation units will use the older chassis until they are disco'd...

Personally, unless the advantages of the 4XX chassix outweigh the disadvantages for you, I'd consider a look at the 6XX series, and buy an el-cheapo consumer unit for cars and bikes...

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seamus

I had a full comparison list going for about 4 months. In terms of dedicated aviation gps, the FlightPrep ChartBook beats the 6 series hands down and, had I not purchased the 495, would have bought that. Bendix has a model (AV8OR) that does air nav for half the price.

The tipping point for purchase was the multi-mode navigation.

__________________
Ducit Amor Patriae

Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci

Baketech

Dig it...

Fwiw, I'm in a similar situation. I'd like to upgrade my 276C which is approaching 6 years old now. Not sure if I want to get another multi-function or bite the bullet and have two units. Trouble is, while I don't use it in marine mode very much, but when you need it, you need it...so it's a massive compromise.

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SomeStrangeGuy

Hey if any of y'all wants to try switching it up, I have a Small Garmin army I'm willing to loan to ya's as long as it comes back to me

For the cost of a 760 or 2720 today (<200$) it's becoming unwise to spend $$ on expensive mounting solutions and just buy one device per vehicle or whatever.

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seamus

I've gone straight RAM Mounts now. Instead of having to replace everything each time, I just have to change a couple pieces. $18 to replace to top end of the cycle mount. Then I had to pick up a car mount (never had one) and a yoke mount for the plane.

I'll compare RAM's setup with what came with the GPS and sell whichever one I don't want. Surprisingly, the yoke mount and car mount that came with the GPS are actually pretty decent. The RAM just gives more ability to fine tune angles.

__________________
Ducit Amor Patriae

Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci

SomeStrangeGuy

I have full RAM for every GPS and nearly every Gadget I own as well as full OEM whatevers too. I find the OEM stuff is nice when you're using one...but when you start packing and stacking...the RAM pays for itself very fast

(ie: I agree)

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Come find yourself - GPS Discussion Forums
Time is the ultimate currency.
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