user13371

I wonder why not? Feature parity for iOS and Android users (or lack thereof) is gonna be as big a grumbly point as the old Mac vs PC issue. In that realm, Garmin trounced other GPS makers and they could do so he also. Even DeLorme offers their "Earthmate" app for the inReach on both Andoird and iOS.

It fits more than that - they didn't make a unique cable for every single model. Here's reference information on yours -- http://primus.lowrance.com/icr/units/Lowrance/GPS/GM100pub.htm -- scroll down to the accessories table. --- Ps: Here's another reference, from this very forum -- http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=259114 -- you missed your chance, a few years ago someone was giving theirs away

Again, check eBay. Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lowrance-99-26-interface-power-data-cable/110674973126 If the several listed in eBay seem too costly ($30 seems to be the price point) Google may be your friend. Use Lowrance 99-26 or PC-D12BK as your search terms. Hope this helps.

Source of this estimate? Garmin blog, inside information, or just making it up as you go along?

Check eBay.

Darn it Stu, I was gonna mention Mr. Coffee next.

Okay Stu, if you insist. Proprietary cables! Your turn.

This is a generalization and not universally true. There's cheap disposable stuff but there are also waterproof and ruggedized smartphones. And it's still early in that market development. Look back over the years of posts here and you'll find a lot of comments and discussion of how to protect various GPS units that weren't especially rugged or waterproof. I remember in particular Lowrance - a company that originally made GPS and sonar device for fishermen - a lot of their early iFinder units weren't waterproof at all. I think the "iFinder H2O" was their first handheld device that was IPX7 rated -- and they named it that way to highlight the fact.

I don't know of these are shipping yet, but someone must have them. Stumbled upon the first firmware update already http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=6157

I usually wouldn't give a plug for a cellphone company, but as it's on-topic here, look at Republic Wireless. $19/month, unlimited everything, no contract. They only support one phone - the Motorola Defy XT, and it's moderately water-resistant. The point is (more important than mentioning a specific service provider), I think this is also a trend you will see - market saturation and competition pushes the price for services down along with the hardware prices. For that matter, I no longer carry a cellphone myself - I've switched to a table for most everything. $30/month to AT$& for more data than I ever use - and for the rare times I need to make a call I can use Skype, Talk-A-Tone, or Vonage. And before I ditched my phone, it was off contract and unlocked anyhow - andd I was able to get the same kind of data-only service on a month to month, no contract basis as well. So maybe the smart"phone" will be obsolete also, in favor of the pocket or tablet sized "everything" converged device.

Okay, let's see if I can split hairs here and get an answer most everyone can agree with: "Smartphones" - shorthand here for "multi-purpose, pocket sized computers that include location aware technology and can sometimes even be used as phones" - have already replaced dedicated handheld and automotive GPS devices for a lot of users. This trend will no doubt continue. This is true even in the miniscule market segment that is geocaching. If your caching environment is urban or only moderately rural, smartphones work pretty well. As battery life and ruggedness on smartphones improves, this trend will also continue, making them usable and attractive to even more cachers in more demanding environments. But will the dedicated GPSR ever become *completely* obsolete? Probably not. Consider the eTrex Legend (not Legend H-anything, just the plain old blue Legend) -- even though discontinued by Garmin -- is still sold for MSRP or higher by some suppliers. Why? Because for some users there are still reasons* to have one, and when an old one breaks that's what they need to replace it with. But most of us in this forum would call it obsolete, or at least not suitable to our own needs. The same thing will happen in the "great outdoors" niche. As smartphones get more robust, fewer and fewer folks will buy dedicated GPS units. They won't go away completely, but they will eventually be used by such a small number of applications, that most folks will use the word "obsolete." And the dedicated, hard core users will still argue over that word. --- * legacy hardware and compatibility, RS-232 connections, etc.

(Deleted)

Actually I'm waiting for the commercial applications of sapphire's relative, transparent aluminium.

Coming soon to a smartphone near you - but could also be applied to GPS or other mobile electronics that need to be ruggedized. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-57571618-78/

Basecamp Mobile Where's the Android version?

Ask DeLorme http://www.delorme.com/customerservice/contactus.aspx

To answer the title question: Yes, but not today and not for some time yet. To everyone who answered as if the question was "are they obsolete today?" - pfffftttt! Learn to read, folks!

I haven't seen it yet, but I might be looking in the wrong place. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

Schweady, you humorously bring up a very good point - on topic and less silly than quibbling over the word "unlimited." TIME. Even if some listing service - GC, OC, or other - allowed daily downloads of tens of tho.usands of caches... How long would it take to pull down from the host site? How long to copy to the GPS? And RobertLipe alluded to earlier, what does a huge data set do to startup time, sorting and searching? Wait and see...

Red90, even though I jumped into it, I agree with you completely. It's a non-issue and a silly argument. I'm tempted to call someone names or drop a dirty word in here just to get a mod (maybe even the same one who groused about "unlimited") to lock the thread down. With my luck though I'd probably just get a caution. -Lee

Care to read what I actually wrote? I pointed to the PRODUCT DESCRIPTION pages (which just says "load them all" and made a clear distinction between those specs and "blog" pages that do say "unlimited." You're pointing to the exact kind of blog that I said might need an asterisk.

Again: The word "unlimited" does not appear anywhere in connection with geocaching on the actual Garmin product pages for any of the Oregon 6x0 models. What it actually says is: I don't think that even needs an asterisk for clarification: If you're using their format and software or hosting sites that support it, there's room for all the caches you can get your hands on. Load them all is effectively, if not literally, unlimited. As for the the various blogs, blurbs, and reseller websites that DO use the word "unlimited" -- yeah, they need an asterisk. For the kind of people who believe everything they read -- or even try to read things that it doesn't actually say. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll buy one and wait for some yahoo to start a class action suit over that word. Then I can have the best of both worlds. I can enjoy the GPS and still claim that I was somehow harmed by a hyperbole.

Okay - now this is Lee just chatting semantics with Robert rather than the chief babel head or the grumpy moderator - but carping about this kind of advertising hype is like complaining the "All-You-Can-Eat" buffet kicks you out at closing time and doesn't let you take a doggy bag. Computer science doesn't enter into it. I'm sure you can find a way overload it, but in practice "more than you can download from GC.com in a week" is effectively unlimited -- for the vast majority of users this IS all they can eat. Of course, that's assuming the thing works even to published specs (which are semantically less bold than the advertising hype).

Good question. Have you thought of searching the FCC Equipment Approval website?