miss_twilight

Wow, Harmony is that bad, eh? I've been out of town and not able to do anything on the computer anyway so I didn't order from them. Thanks for all of the replies. I don't know if I'll ever use the extra features on the cs, but I ordered that one anyway. I need all the extra fun toys I can get... Costco didn't have the cs, just the c, so I ordered from Amazon, which still turned out to be pretty expensive. At least I can go knock on their door if they send me a bad one.

So my boyfriend bought me an eXplorist 600 (from Frys, ouch! We found it on-line way cheaper at Harmony computers today thanks to reading the bug thread on the eXplorists!) but I've heard lots of good things about the Garmin GPSMAP 60CS (which is $390 at Harmony computers.) The eXplorist already seems to have some basic Washington maps. Does the Garmin come with anything or do I have to purchase the topography maps? If I have to purchase maps for the Garmin, which do you suggest? I only plan on doing Geocaching in Washington State, mostly on the West side of the Cascades but occasionally in Eastern Washington since my parents live there. It seems there are two options - the US Topo and the 24k topo (west). I'm assuming the 24k is more detailed.. is there any reason I should get one over the other? Anyone find the GPSMAP 60CS for a better price than $390 (plus $10 S&H)? Regardless, I'm going to take this eXplorist back (has to be back by Friday or it's mine forever or something), if I decide I want to keep it I'll order one from Harmony since they're only $289 instead of $450. What else should I consider purchasing to go along with either GPS? I know the eXplorist suggests an SD card. Do I need one for the Garmin? The eXplorist didn't even come with a belt clip, I read that the Garmin does. Thanks for any suggestions. (Last year he bought me a NavMan pocket pc, but you couldn't even enter Waypoints on it!! I took it back and have been looking off an on for a GPS since. Doesn't seem like prices have changed at all.) *EDIT* OK, I just read that Garmin doesn't do flash or SD cards. So is the 60CS' 56MB enough? Never done this before, so... <shrug>

I've called all of the Targets in my area and the only ones that carry them have them for full price. (Factoria and Southcenter don't have them; Issaquah and Redmond are full price.) *pout*

I guess part of my question about "which software" was.. should I get the US Topo? The Washington Topo? Or the national parks west topo? All by Garmin. I was curious if the Washington Topo is more detailed or includes more info that the US Topo? But if the US version has exactly the same info it seems like a better deal to spend the same money and get the whole united states... Are they all based off of the same 100k information? The National Park West looked to me like it ONLY had national parks and some of the response indicate I am correct in that. Thanks!

dang, I'll need to check some target out in my area. (Renton, Bellevue, Issaquah, Factoria...) Thanks!

So my boyfriend gave me the cash for a GPS as a birthday gift. He originally bought me the NavMan Pocket PC (the salesperson sold him on it and claimed he could do geocaching with it, hah!) but I took it back. Now I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the Garmin 60CS from Amazon ($387, free shipping.) How does this work in the Seattle area? Well? Or would I be safe going with something less expensive like the ones being sold at Target for $50? I haven't ever been geocaching but I've always wanted to. After hearing me whine about it for years he finally wants me to shut up. Assuming I go with the 60cs, which topo software should I get? REI has Washington TOPO by Garmin as well as the US topo and the National Parks West Topo (the last two are also on Amazon and are less expensive there). Or I can get some National Geographic software for Washington but I'll probably have to buy another piece of software with it to make it work on the 60cs. Do I even NEED topo software? So what do you guys use? How accurate is the software for the Seattle area? Thank you in advance.