gallet

good point EScout, I'll do some side by side's with some new eneloop 2100's.

One last (probably) question. I have a 300, I presume the 384Mb of internal memory includes the 90Mb basemap, leaving approximately 290Mb. My question is, if I send a map file to the internal memory and it is slightly too big, does it say so before attempting to install, or does it just stop when it runs out of room. Also does it matter if the internal memory is filled with maps. Can tracks and waypoints still be saved to their own protected memory?

Oh, I get it now. Mapsource looks for a folder called 'Garmin' and just replaces the enclosed file, I was under the impression that it replaced the 'Garmin' folder. Thanks.

Thanks, The reason I was puzzled is because there is a 'Garmin' folder on the Colorado and I thought if I send maps that they normally get sent inside a 'Garmin' folder that overwrites any other 'Garmin' folders.

Is it safe to send maps to the Colorado internal memory without destroying the basemaps or causing any other problems? Can I back up all the data on my internal card and recopy it back in case of something going awry?

For long life non eneloop would be better if they are used regularly. Forget about the batteries and concentrate on the charger. My previous mid priced 'smart' charger, ruined my batteries. After 50 cycles they were down from 2500 to 1200 mAh. So if your batteries start out better but your charger destoys them you are going backwards. After a single breaking cycles with my new MaHa and a pair of Sanyo 2700's I got 30 hours from an HCx with heavy backlight use.

Cases really cut down on usability. Maybe you'd be better off with an invisible shield and the belt clip? You definitely should try any case before buying.

You don't need maps. You can make your own route with maps.google and transfer it to your gps. check out www.takitwithme.com

It works but the features are almost non existent yet, but they are coming. Slowly. Can't edit tracks yet.

After breaking in my new Sanyo 2700's NiMH with my new MaHa (a single slow charge, discharge, charge), and testing them in my Vista HCx (rated by Garmin at 25hours) I got 30 hours use and the battery still had not shut off. This is with the compass on full time and heavy use of the backlight. Beat that! You get more charge from the normal NiMH batteries rather than the 'eneloop' style which are more for batteries that are used intermittently.

In my opinion the 60CSx is out of the equation. it's really a choice between an HCx and a Colorado. I'll be doing a hands on 'gallet' test (myopic and opinionated) soon to dispel "weasel words" like '2. The CO battery life is shorter - quite a bit shorter according to some reports.' I wonder if the people or "report" these things know whether both batteries on the Co were at full capacity. Because I've just had a Colorado running for 12hours while using the backlight on full half the time and it was only down to 2 bars. So all this talk of 7 hour battery life (even with the latest firmware) is a bit suspect. Text input is a massive pain, but the HCx is better than the 60 in this regard. For driving, the Co graphics are so much better that there really is no comparison. The Co feels great in the hand the 60 is a bear.

I hate that magenta colour Garmin uses for routes. I use a bright blue for my HCx.

@tcaddis, can you check a button shortcut on your legend that I just discovered on my hcx, I'm curious to see if it was there in those days. When you are entering an address in the keyboard, and you see a list containing the word you are looking for, does the 'Zoom In' button function like the 'OK' key on the keyboard?

The GPSMap 60Cx has a SiRFStar III chipset, the Legend HCx does not. AFAIK, the SiRF chip is better, (more accurate) and I still regret the day I sold my 60Cx on. You are right in that the Legend HCx does not have the sirfstarIII chip but you are wrong when you say the sirfstar is better than the media tek (chip in the HCx), the Legend chip is at least as good as the 60CSx and my tests and every other test I've seen put the Media Tek chip in front by a whisker. But the point is that the Legend chip is not inferior. The button layout and the spongy buttons themselves and the bad ergonomic design make the 60CSx a bit of a bear to use. Notice that the new Colorado uses a bigass version of the eTrex click stick, where the 'enter' button is in the centre of the scroll stick/wheel. You know it makes sense. The screen on the 60 is 10% bigger but there are 10% more pixels on the hcx so it's much of a muchness. Hold the HCx one inch closer and it's the same effective size with better resolution and a much much brighter screen with better battery life as well. You can now see how unnecessarily large the 60CSx is because the screen on the Colorado is twice the size whereas without being a larger unit. So the HCx makes more sense, it has a screen effectively as large as the 60csx but in a smaller, lighter overall package. Not looking like a dork with a walkie talkie, when navigating in a city, is a nice bonus of the etrex too!

@julianh ...but I have some concerns about warranty and service in Australia - something I have learned the hard way is actually important To get the normal aussie warrantee you have to pay double the US price so you can afford to buy two US units for the price of one AU unit anyway.

Were there ever any *real* hardware issues that have been fixed or is it all firmware patches? Can anyone suggest any hardware problems that they feel still need to be addressed, or are likely to be addressed.

I haven't read much more apart from the numerous early problems and I was wondering if I should give it another 6 months or if all the hardware/firmware issues have been solved. I'm particularly concerned with any hardware issues, have these all been fixed? like the leaky case thing. Does it display CN without problems any longer, I believe there was some issues with street names not showing up.

I recently bought and sold a nuvi because I prefer my Vista HCx in the car. I keep it around my neck in a car or motorbike, I can easily hear it beep on my bike. When a turn approached it beeps, magnifies the turn with extra info and also lights up and stays lit up until the turn is completed. What I like about the Vista is that the map page can have user configurable fields that display better info than a car gps.

Did you start with a new clean rubber band or were you able to use the McNetts over the old sticky? I'll Google McNetts to see if I can find it, was considering using automotive adhesive. Thanks This is the stuff http://mcnett.baron-co.com/page.cfm?pageID=549 I took the band off and spend about 3 days cleaning all the gummy muck off the rubber band and the etrex, using isopropyl alcohol. This is not fun. Leave the tape on that is under the band. The rubber band appeared stretched and a bit loose but I figured correctly that the seam sealer would pad it out and it did. Applied the band in two stages. first I put the seam sealer on the top of the eTrex only then plugged in the usb cap and sealed the top bit. This was to make sure that the position was good so the buttons would line up well. After it dried I then applied the sealer around the rest of the etrex and finished the band. Take care around the buttons.

I didn't know that and I've had my Venture Cx ~16-months. Hitting the OK is still obvious, so likely I'll still do that rather than trying to remember another trick. To me the bigger issue is on every eTrex, sooner or later, the rubber band comes loose . . . PITA. Garmin has been building it this way for a decade, their must be a solution. My error I should have said the "Zoom In" button is the 'enter button' not the 'Zoom Out'. It works for all fields including Waypoints and numbers in addressess too. I doubt many people know about this. Yes the rubber surround can be a problem. Usually when left in an oven, or a closed car in the sun. I just replaced the rubber surround on a friend's etrex using McNetts seam sealer and the result is far superior to the garmin muck.

As you say, once you get to know the buttons on the Vista, they disappear. It took me nearly a year before I found out that the 'zoom out' button is used when entering data, (like addresses for example) to exit the field, rather than using the 'OK' key. Pressing and holding the 'menu' button goes straight to the 'Find' menu. Starting up with the rocker button held down brings up the diagnostic screen. I also like the way that the 'zoom in' button is towards you and the 'zoom out' button is away from you. Unlike the 60 that has two buttons side by side in an unergonomic position. Have you also noticed that you need to use two hands when entering data with the 60CSx whereas the HCx scroll stick is also the 'enter' button. I really dislike the 'sponginess' of the 60CSx rocker as well. But I suppose it's horses for courses. After using your HCx for a few weeks, you should try the 60CSx then.

Yes, it can be done in unit. Connect gps via 'Mass Storage' mode. MainMenu>SetUp>Interface>MassStorage

Michael, I was only answering your question. You already said you know that the barometer could be useful to track an upcoming storm. So you are not really asking why is a barometer useful you are asking 'why is it useful to know a storm is coming'? Well if you are caving it might save your life from a flash flood.

No. You have avoided the mistake that so many newbies make, thinking that because they are new to this, they must need some basic unit and they can upgrade later. Big mistake. The difference in price between units with stripped down features and the HCx makes it ludicrous (expecially in the US) to get a lesser featured unit, unless the price difference really matter. Even if you sell it you will get the extra $'s back anyway. You can pretend you have a lesser unit by not using the features. For example don't use the removable SD card, and pretend you can't load maps to it. Wa la, you instantly have a VentureHC, then when you realise the error of your ways instead of losing money selling your HC...

You have that feature because it's there. If you don't know how it's useful to you then it probably isn't. There will be people who buy the Colorado that have no intention of using the geocaching features too.