Paul_Aris

Well I got mine tonight and have been playing for hours. It took me a few minutes to figure a few things out but now I like the interface much better than any GPS I have used. My Backlighting and screen is pretty dim unless I am in daylight. Then the Backlight is dim unless its good and dark. I have yet to upgrade to 2.4 but will soon. I downloaded a cache and really like the paperless feature as well.

I ordered mine from there and selected fed-x home delivery 2-4 days. It took 2 days. Came this morning. I haven't been home to open it yet. I canceled my order with pcnation. Their price is the best I just got impatient in waiting. I still got it with in $20-$22 of thier price.

If you just need to do waypoint transfer, you can use Bobcat, or one of the other freeware programs linked above. Now comes the problem. I like to view tracks that my unit kept on off road adventures on my computer. Also, I like to make routes sometimes to follow off road. So in order to do this I will probably have to use my PC with my old mapsource TOPO software? Also, does anyone know if the colorado usb works with Virtual PC. I currently use Virtual PC and my etrex legend with a usb/serial adaptor from iogear and work in mapsource topo just fine. I prefer this method over dragging my dell laptop home from work everytime I want to do something with my GPS. I have a G4 and G5 so running windows natively is out of the question. VPC runs pretty clean for me though. Seeing that you have VPC on your Macintosh, just install Garmin's MapConverter and convert your old TOPO's to a Macintosh format and use Garmin's Bobcat with your Colorado for the tracks etc. Instructions are here in a .PDF Is the map just an image file of some sort? You really have no mapsource functionality?

If you just need to do waypoint transfer, you can use Bobcat, or one of the other freeware programs linked above. Now comes the problem. I like to view tracks that my unit kept on off road adventures on my computer. Also, I like to make routes sometimes to follow off road. So in order to do this I will probably have to use my PC with my old mapsource TOPO software? Also, does anyone know if the colorado usb works with Virtual PC. I currently use Virtual PC and my etrex legend with a usb/serial adaptor from iogear and work in mapsource topo just fine. I prefer this method over dragging my dell laptop home from work everytime I want to do something with my GPS. I have a G4 and G5 so running windows natively is out of the question. VPC runs pretty clean for me though.

I also have the RAM on order ( just the GPS holder, I have the rest ) but am very happy with the Garmin mount, a nice and sleek-looking mount. I'm looking forward to trying out the RAM mount though, it looks interesting. Yes, I only ordered the GPS Cradle as well. I already have the short arm, suction cup base, and a ball mounted to my snomobile dash. I get my colorado 400T today. I hope the ram is not to far behind. Does the unit come with the garmin mount or did you buy one?

So If I have a colorado 400t and it already has the topo maps on it that I want to use do I just need Bobcat to get my way points to and from the 400t and my computer?

Coming from an old legend I always have to download maps before I go somewhere because of the 8MB the legend came with. So when I go to the Upper part of the state I load the topo map with those segments. When I go closer to home on the western side of the state I load those segments. Takes 15 minutes of my life. Now I have a 400T coming I will never have to remember or take the time to load the segment even If I go across the country.

When I went to Rams website a week ago it said preorder giving a do date in march. So today I preordered one from gpscity. I takes time to develop a product and bring it to market. I found ram to be upfront about it. I emailed them before the colorado was even out and they gave a good estimate then as well.

You think part of the problem is that there was a limited number of these released as exclusive to REI and the rest of us who has them ordered didn't get them yet because Garmin has not shipped them yet. You have to wonder why they did not ship them yet? Perhaps they are not done testing and finishing the software?

All shots look useuable. I can't wait to get my 400T.

I ordered my 400T online last Friday. I have a feeling it will be a few weeks at least before that one will ship. I am excited though.

Just a thought but if you are buying it mainly for geocaches why would you pick a unit that is know for having good maps. I would pick a unit that I could load topo maps on but had reallly good cacheing fuctions. I have Garmin Mapsource topo on my GPS and I have yet to get lost with it. I previewed topo 2008 and it has improved since the version I have. There are some of the most remote 2 tracks up by my cabin that show up on this map complete with street names. I don't know how you get any better than that.

Do you need some kind of OSX map viewing or mapping software to run your converted mapsource maps in? If so what are you using?

It isn't clear how big of a deal this really is. I called REI last week and they expected to start shipping 400t's on 1/27. Best case they might have an exclusive deal for 2 weeks if Garmin ships on time. GO$Rs What is exclusive about it?

If my order does not go for advertised price I will get a hold of you for one. What kind of time frame are you thinking for the 400T?

Highly unlikely, but I love wishful thinkers. Actually more hoping it would come true for the other guy. It's not all that important of a feature for me. I only do a few caches a year. I need it more for Snowmobiling and Jeeping out in the middle of no where so I can find my way back.

I spoke to a saleman at pcnation and they said the price is not guaranteed since they do not even have the units in stock at this time. They don't know when they will receive the units and they have no idea what their final price point will be. In other words, the price they list means NOTHING at this time!! BTW: Illinois residents will have to pay sales tax. I called to make sure the price is legit. The saleman stated the same price I saw online. He said they are hoping around the beginning of February. I said thanks. Then later that day I ordered a 400T online through their website. I have a receipt with what I am paying. Once you have that the price is locked it. Zero for shipping zero for tax. Well, good luck with that. The saleman I spoke to specifically stated that the listed price is not a guarantee since they are in a pre-order/back-order status. You credit card will not be billed at this time and if the price changes, an e-mail would be sent to advise of any changes and to alllow you to give the change the thumbs up or down. If you lived in Illinois, you would see the listed price means nothing. Illinois residents are required to pay sales tax on top of the listed price. Does you "receipt" say anything about a price guarantee?? First of all I am not in IL. When I talked to the salesman he asked where I was located and assured I would not have to pay sales tax. Second. I don't know how you can order something and get a receipt and then have them change it on you before it ships. Why even put a price on the item then. That does not make sense. I have yet to ever in my lifetime have an order price change on me before the item shipped or after. I'm not even sure if its legal. I own my own ecommerce web store and I don't operate in this manner. If I did I probably would not have much business for very long. Third, They must have a slight idea of what price to charge based on MSRP. If not they are complete idiots. I think what he is telling you if Garmin decides to change their price before they are released he will have to in order to cover themselves. That is understandable. There is no guarantees when it comes to that. IF they do not, well the price should stand. Fourth. I could care a less. I don't have to have this thing right now. If they pull the email price change on me, I still have option to say yes or no and look elsewhere. At a price that low I will take my chance. I will let you know how it turns out. First. I'm glad you don't live in the state of Illinois. Entirely too many Bears fans. Second. Pcnation is not a distributor. Their distributor may change the price they charge pcnation at any time. Furthermore, you have not yet paid for anything since they have not even received the item to sell you. They don't know when they will get the items to sell. They don't know how many units they will receive. You did not exhange money for any good or service. You gave them you credit card number in order to be near the front of the line if and when they receive the item. Legality has nothing to do with anything since no money has yet exchanged and you have no written price guarantee. Your receipt is not a guarantee since it is only a receipt for future consideration. Bait and switch is not an issue since their site states they do not have the item in stock and it is in a pre-order/back-order status. Third. They are selling the 400T at $7.00 over the distributor price. I know a distributor and he simply shook his head when he saw their posted price. They are not charging for delivery. So, they are essentially selling the item at either no profit or at a loss. They may be hoping for piggy back purchases, like mapping software and micro SD cards. I can't comment on their intelligence or lack there of by posting a price so close to the distributor cost. Fourth. I'm glad you are in a position to take a chance on the price. If everything goes well, you will have made a great purchase. If things go bad, you have options. Pcnation is not a fly-by-night operation and you have consumer protection through your credit card company. They may be forced to increase their list price, but they may honor the price you pre-ordered at. Effectively, you have nothing to loose. Fifth. I did not invent what I was told over the phone by the pcnation salesman. Good luck and keep us posted. Right. I by no means am saying that you invented what you posted. It is hard to say we guarantee the price when the units are not even delivered yet. I'm just saying it would be dumb to advertise a price and have people order with that price and then have them come back and say " just kidding you really owe us this much more". After shipping and CC processing they are not going to make a dime if the price is that close to cost.

I already ordered my 400T as well. If they have not fixed it by the release date I am sure by the 1st software update release.

I spoke to a saleman at pcnation and they said the price is not guaranteed since they do not even have the units in stock at this time. They don't know when they will receive the units and they have no idea what their final price point will be. In other words, the price they list means NOTHING at this time!! BTW: Illinois residents will have to pay sales tax. I called to make sure the price is legit. The saleman stated the same price I saw online. He said they are hoping around the beginning of February. I said thanks. Then later that day I ordered a 400T online through their website. I have a receipt with what I am paying. Once you have that the price is locked it. Zero for shipping zero for tax. Well, good luck with that. The saleman I spoke to specifically stated that the listed price is not a guarantee since they are in a pre-order/back-order status. You credit card will not be billed at this time and if the price changes, an e-mail would be sent to advise of any changes and to alllow you to give the change the thumbs up or down. If you lived in Illinois, you would see the listed price means nothing. Illinois residents are required to pay sales tax on top of the listed price. Does you "receipt" say anything about a price guarantee?? First of all I am not in IL. When I talked to the salesman he asked where I was located and assured I would not have to pay sales tax. Second. I don't know how you can order something and get a receipt and then have them change it on you before it ships. Why even put a price on the item then. That does not make sense. I have yet to ever in my lifetime have an order price change on me before the item shipped or after. I'm not even sure if its legal. I own my own ecommerce web store and I don't operate in this manner. If I did I probably would not have much business for very long. Third, They must have a slight idea of what price to charge based on MSRP. If not they are complete idiots. I think what he is telling you if Garmin decides to change their price before they are released he will have to in order to cover themselves. That is understandable. There is no guarantees when it comes to that. IF they do not, well the price should stand. Fourth. I could care a less. I don't have to have this thing right now. If they pull the email price change on me, I still have option to say yes or no and look elsewhere. At a price that low I will take my chance. I will let you know how it turns out.

Funny thing is the garmin communicator works through VPC and Windows XP on my macbook but would not recognize my GPS through OSX with safari or firefox.

Anyone have any luck with a Garmin Etrex Legend serial with Garmin Communicator plugin? I can use load my tracks with my etrex with a iogear usb/serail adaptor but communicator will not recognize it.

I checked their rating on Price Grabber. 4.62 stars out of 5 the last 6 months. I probably would have been a 5 but one guy doesn't understand what your credit card wouldn't go through means.

I spoke to a saleman at pcnation and they said the price is not guaranteed since they do not even have the units in stock at this time. They don't know when they will receive the units and they have no idea what their final price point will be. In other words, the price they list means NOTHING at this time!! BTW: Illinois residents will have to pay sales tax. I called to make sure the price is legit. The saleman stated the same price I saw online. He said they are hoping around the beginning of February. I said thanks. Then later that day I ordered a 400T online through their website. I have a receipt with what I am paying. Once you have that the price is locked it. Zero for shipping zero for tax.

No, it's not the same. Assuming you do need the maps that are in the 400x model you buy, you then have a Colorado with these maps, and still have the SD card reader free for a card with other maps. If you get a 300, you have to use some of the space on that card for the maps you got internally on the 400x. Even if there's still space on the card for more maps, it doesn't help, if you want some other maps, that are available on pre-programmed cards only. That kind of maps don't run from any other card than the one they were delivered on. On a 400x, such a card easily co-exists with the pre-loaded maps. On a 300, you have to select a part of the maps you are missing from the 400, install them in internal memory, take your SD card out and put the pre-programmed card in the card slot. Doable, but less convenient. So it's not the same, even if it still works. So if you know you want the topo maps it may be best to buy the 400T vs. the 300 and mapsource 2008? I want to view the maps on my computer also so I will probably end up buy Mapsource 2008 anyway. The question is with the 400T you have the entire US loaded at once. But in the Memory big enough in the 300 to Load the entire us with the topo 2008 disk? Or is it possible to buy a blank memory card and load us topo 2008 on that and insall it in the 300 and still load portions of the US with another mapsoure product in the 300s free memory? I guess I want the topos but still not sure which colorado unit.

The roads alone look like a huge improvment in rural areas. Up by my cabin the old version didn't even show my road. The new version not only shows my road but all the 2 tracks connected to it and their names.