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Whew, thanks Miragee, everything works! I have a lot to learn about GPSing but I'm pretty excited. Can I ask one more question: How can I pan on this map? Like, on Google Maps you can click and hold the screen, then drag off so that you see areas to the N/E/S/W. Do you just push the pointer off the map, or is there a more elegant way of doing this? Thanks

Wow ... when there was about 5 minutes left in the transfer, the laptop computer (plugged into AC) went to sleep. Oh how I love Windows ... So I had to restart everything, deselect more maps, and am restarting the transfer. How silly for the Garmin software to not let its activity be known to the OS (if that's it). But this leads me to useful questions: 1. How do I know the maps are confirmed/transfered? 2. How do I access the CN maps on my Garmin? On my eTrex I looked through what I could and saw no way to select maps (from the base map to the CN). Presumably it wasn't transfered (even though it was 95% done) but if it goes through this time, how can I be sure? Unplug the Garmin from the computer, and then how do I access CN on the handheld GPS? Thank you

Ahh, thanks to you both. This is my first time using it so forgive the idiot question. After deselecting the places that I'll probably never visit, I started up the transfer ... seems like it'll take a little less than an hour for 700+MB of data. Such a shame City Navigator "North America" doesn't include Mexico (I live in Los Angeles, drive into Mexico from time to time)

Hi, I just bought a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx with the City Navigator DVD. I'm a mac user but am doing this on a friend's Windows/Vista machine, which I have to return in 2 hours, so I'm in a bit of a rush. Basically I can't figure out how to transfer the City Navigator maps to the unit. Since I have a 2GB SD card and City Navigator is only about 1.x GB, I figure I might as well transfer the whole thing. So I run Mapsource and click on "Transfer" ... "Send to Device..." but it tells me I have to select maps or create waypoints in CN. But I want to transfer ALL of the data -- as if I had bought the entire CN on an SD card. How can I do this on Windows? (At the moment I'm converting the maps using MapConverter, hopefully that will be able to make it Mac-accessible, though it's taking forever) Thanks!

Thanks for the helpful responses separating the benefits of MicroSD vs. DVD installers. Wouldn't it be nice if Garmin explained all this on their website instead of letting customers figure it out themselves? Following your advice I just ordered a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx, City Navigator NT, and a 2GB MicroSD blank card. Now for the challenge: getting it all installed step by step -- and on a Mac! Since you mentioned that one can install just the parts one needs from City Navigator NT, I guess I can just install for my part of America. But as I understand it I have to load this on Windows, then run a conversion utility? (does this convert all the City Nav maps, or do I have to select the region and convert one by one if I'm doing a partial install?) I figure I'll have to borrow a friend's Windows computer for the first installation (does it have to be connected to internet to be activated? I have a Windows XP machine in the garage and maybe that'll do). And aside from the installation, does City Navigator work on Mac at all? Or does it need Parallels? I'd rather not install Windows on my Mac, especially for just one program. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the prompt reply Coggins. That's a pretty compelling list of advantages for the preprogrammed MicroSD maps. So if they are so good: 1. transferable / ability to be resold 2. convenient (no need to load/convert/install) 3. cheaper (MicroSD preloaded map costs less than the DVD version + purchased blank MicroSD) Why would anyone buy the DVD version? Is there additional software that comes with the DVD version? Perhaps someone would be kind enough to list the DVD's advantages? Again thanks ...

Thank you everyone for the useful information. I have one question that nags more than any other now since I'm about to buy: Should I buy the City Navigator NT in DVD (010-10816-00) version? Or is it better to just buy the MicroSD (010-10679-50) City Navigator NT? It seems if you buy the MicroSD preprogrammed version you don't have to hassle with loading up maps and converting etc. However, a possible disadvantage is there won't be any extra free memory on the preprogrammed MicroSD? And if there are extra PC features on the DVD version ... so this selection is utterly confusing to me. What's the advantage of buying a blank 2GB MicroSD and loading it with City Navigator NT rather than just buying the preprogrammed version? Please advise, thank you!

Hi everyone, I'm on the verge of buying a new, first-time handheld GPS. There are many compelling models, but I think I've settled on the small and light Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS. I've spent hours reading as much as I can on handhelds and for now I believe the eTrex with the City Navigator USA map will suffice. My principle question lies with loading maps onto the eTrex, especially on Mac. I understand that maps come on microSD cards, but isn't it better to buy maps on DVD then load/activate them via computer? So one can: 1. load multiple maps on a larger SD card (is 2 or 4 GB sufficient?) 2. to have more memory for POIs, Geocaching, etc? So I should probably get an SD and DVD maps. Can these be loaded via Mac? Evidently Garmin is working on Mac software but a year after making promises it has released an underwhelming patchwork of apps. Still, does this MapInstall software succeed in loading up City Navigator maps? (My understanding is that City Navigator is both a computer program and a mapset) *MapInstall for Mac* So long as the map loading is feasible, I'll buy it ... with the hope of getting a computer-based City Navigator for Mac in the future. If there any tips or experiences you Mac users can share with me, especially on the point of SD/DVD maps, I'd appreciate hearing your advice. Thanks! PS I'll use it for a mix of functions, sometimes in the car (when I'm lost, as a map, not every day) -- and for walks and travel. Maybe one day for sailing ... and geocaching.