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I also know how to use the "Rocker bar" thing. Wow.this IS NOT a product for anyone unfamiliar with anything other than basic computer software management. Forget about it. In short, this "Ease of Use" only gets two stars from me because I can turn this on and then turn it off. A huge disappointment.I'll go on enjoying the pretty colors and the fun trip odometers and stuff, but unless you have a computer science degree or infinite time to spend loading and unloading software, I don't see a reason why you would want this product if you want easy mapping features. I have spent days--literally days--trying to figure out how to fix some freaking.msi file and no success.
As far as meaningful use of maps and such. I like the pretty maps and knowing where I am (within 10-20 yards) on the planet is kinda cool, but the promised features such as connecting with services like Google Earth. Whoopee. Garmin support is primarily in user forums and that is a maze of options. Dealers haven't a clue. Zilch.
It is a drag.
and get the product in less than a week. Upon a close review of available products, the Garmin wins hands down because the 400i Colorado has all of the cadilac features of those of the Lowrance Endura products but at a price that will shock you. In the GPS realm, in my opinion their are only two companies to consider, they are Lowrance Electronics and Garmin. The Garmin has capability for easy downloading of topo maps and even turn by turn directions while driving. Both the Lowrance Endura GPS and Garmin Colorado 400i GPS lines retail around $500 from the factory and their foo foo outlets. Thru this site, you will find you can purchase a Garmin Colorado 400i for $312. This is my third GPS unit over a period of the last 15 years and it is by far the easiest to use. I highly recommend it to all.
I purchased a Garmin 400i from Amazon, it has been a excellent product, the shipping came to my home in and near the time frame that was mentioned. I used the Garmin handheld Gps for month and I must say it has been fun and useful, since I am a bowhunter. I use the Garmin to scout and locate my deer stand hunting spots. I thank Amazon for making the purchase a breeze.
This unit is basically the same at the Colorado 400t, with a different preloaded map set. Obviously this is an approximation and I won't report the details but there was a significant improvement with each step up in mAh. I wish that the unit ran longer on a set, that is a fact, but I will just carry spare high capacity batteries. Others have suggested using high capacity batteries. So far it is a great unit, better than my old Magellan. Both opinions are accurate. In the reviews for the 400t some folks have mentioned that the battery life is a tad short. It was measured in hours, not minutes.
I like to use rechargeables and I have tested Duracell NiMH with an 1800 mAh rating, Sony NiMH with a 2500 mAh rating, and Duracell NiMH with a 2650 NiMN. I turned on the receiver, left the back light on the low setting, and checked it periodically, noting when each set failed. I have not used this in the field but have practiced with it extensively here in my home area. The technology has improved over the years.
It's just a questionable tool for managing trips and waypoints, it says. This unit can not show the 3D images and has little detail.First impressions after one day of use. They really should have supplied a better map with a $600 GPS. The screen is good and the back-light makes it very readable at night. The supplied CD shows even less detail than the preloaded base map. It's just a case of pressing one of the menu buttons and selecting the appropriate item. In general the built in map is poor.
Normally the wheel is the zoom control.Calibrating the compass and altimeter was easy. The menu wheel/push button/rockers are easy to use, After a few minutes of use. And easy to find. If the maps had been any use I'd have given it 4 or 5 stars.
First, the pictures above are a collage from all the various base maps. It has little detail, few roads, few geographical features. Not enough detail in the lakes to know for sure that you are looking at the right islands. Useless. They seemed right, from memory, but the map detail is inadequate to be certain. But it would be a lot more useful if the map was any good.All in all, good product badly let down by bad maps. Fine without the back-light in the day. I expect they hope to rip-off the early adopters and then include the topo maps as a package later.The geocaching site allows you to transfer direct to the connected GPS, including the descriptions if you paid the subscription to the site.
All the setup seemed easy.The geocaching works well with the built in compass.I checked the navigation marks on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. They certainly don't show the whole picture, they miss shoal detail which is absolutely essential if anyone were going to trust this as their main navigation. Useful. But what's the use of a GPS that can't tell you where the there you are at is on a map.While the GPS is made in Taiwan the case and all else that I ordered with it, all Garmin, are made in China.
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