HugoOne

The transfer of 450meg even with USB 1 only takes about 10min. The big time consumption is still because of the compression and indexing of the maps, you can put your SDmini memory card in a fast card reader (Mapsource can write to a memory card, just select "send to device" with a card connected to your PC) and you'd still be waiting for the indexing. When you use a cardreader Mapsource (not mapquest) does not erase the other data on the card (it does erase the maps that were there already but you could give those another name to save them) I don't know what it does when you transfer it via the GPS itself but I would assume it's the same principal.

Or the yellow Garmin eTrex?

You forgot: be small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, last at least 48hrs on a single battery (regular batteries! no proprietary cells), accept all memory cards, oh, etc... And most important, not difficult to use, not too much menus (but still allow full customisation and access to advanced features off-course!) Right Wing Wacko ditto, have 60C (think I) want 60Cx

Couldn't you also do it straight from Mapsource by using "save as..." and selecting the GPX format?

When I bought my 2610 it could only route to 1 waypoint and could only do a basic detour. After about 6 months they added multiple waypoints, custom avoids (regions and specific streets), they added custom fields like elevation, ... During the 3 years that I have it it is now a completely changed device than the one I bought thanks to the new features added by Garmin. IMO Garmin will add the improvements if they are important enough and if it is technically possible.

Yes, they are not changing the devices just making mac versions of the software that now only runs on Windows. Edit: they're starting with the fitness software (the Forerunner software and Motionbased etc.) and by the end of 2006 everything should be in Win and Mac (including nRoute and Mapsource)

It could be a good idea Ardfarkle but I think Garmin is moving to supply the maps that have locking with the GPS. Still if I were you I'd put that in an email to Garmin, they do have a history of listening to their customers. Klemmer & TeddyBearMama, TOPO maps of Garmin also do not require unlocking: "Only the City Navigator, City Select, BlueChart, Fishing Hot Spots Version 3.00 and 4.00, MetroGuide Australia, and Minnesota LakeMaster ProMap CD/DVD products require unlock." http://www.garmin.com/support/faqs/faq.jsp?faq=255 OT: Ardfarkle, the activation for Windows XP does not mean that you have to buy a new XP box when you upgrade, you should have called Microsoft (when you do a manual activation you get a phone number) I have upgraded a few computers and they always supplied me a new code when I gave details about the upgrade I did.

It still is another unlock policy and invariably somebody will run into it and say "why?????? I hate it!!!! I'm never buying xxxx again...."

Good luck with Magellan's unlock policy Be prepared to use the datacards that Magellan approves for you and I believe you can only use 2 cards without forking over extra $$$ to Magellan ...

For full City Nav. (City Select is being fazed out as we speak) you'd need 2GB (maybe more with later version) However you could get a few 512mb cards (or even smaller) and put the regions you want on them and switch them when needed. I think (quite sure) it will be more economical to get the CD's (DVD's?) and load blank cards yourself than to get the preloaded cards, those are primarily for people who don't like PC's

It's not just 8mb, you can put in as much as you like (or as you can buy )

Did you get a full 3D lock in the time it took you to go to the satellite screen? I was not trying to discredit the poster nor the brilliance of the SiRF III chip, just saying that Garmin's buildings are equiped so that GPS works inside them. Do you get what I'm saying?

From the Garmin service tech I talked to the Sirf chip will make acquiring much more reliable and fast. In a demonstration of another product that uses the Sirf chip we were not able to power up the unit and switch to the satellite screen before the unit acquired a 3d lock, very impressive and we were inside the main lobby of Garmin. I would guess that with the new 60cx you wouldn't need the external antenna, and would still have great reception. Not to discredit your experience but I think that Garmin has repeaters in their buildings so that GPS works indoors too, so that 3D lock in the lobby of Garmin HQ might not be the best realworld example

Can't comment on actual side by side but the screens of the VistaC, LegendC, 60C, 60CS, 76C and 76CS are the same type: 256-color, transflective TFT Perhaps the resolution and screen dimensions makes the noticeable difference, VistaC and LegendC have 220x176 on a 1.7x1.3 screen, that is 38,720pixels on 2.21inch² the others have 38,400pixels on 3.3inch² But again, I don't think the screens are different in the new models they are also listed with a 256-color, transflective TFT with the same dimensions

IMHO it would be difficult for Garmin to improve the screen of the current 60C, it has the best color screen I have seen and I think the x-series will have the same screen. But I'm getting confused, are you speaking of the B/W versions? The old Vista did not have a color screen, B/W will always have a better readability but that does not have much to do with the screen itself. I don't know if there is a difference between the B/W versions, they are not among the ones updated.

Garmin site also shows them now: http://www.garmin.com/whatsNew/

Usually first in the US but lately they have been pretty quick with the EU introduction too.

They've been announced: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060103/cgtu020.html?.v=36 So the X stands for eXtreme Looking good Garmin, I might put my 60C on eBay...

I don't think the type of antenna matters to the SiRF chip.

The image is a regular 60CS I'd wait for official word from Garmin.

Marketing.

The 28+ GPS satellites twirl around the globe day and night, the system is setup so that you should get at least 4 in view anytime anywhere (I'm not sure about the polar regions). Their radio signal is invisible and not affected by light or dark environments. Some things like solar wind (1) do affect the signal but it's more likely that your problems were due to down to earth interferance, wet leaves, your body, GPS orientation ... (1) http://solar.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html

Exacly I have the 60C and a 2610. Before the 60C I had a Geko 201, now I wish I hadn't sold it ... snif. hmmm, the 2730, tempting, ... PS. the Quest2 will have the detailed (City Select NT) maps built in not the basemaps.

If interference was a real issue then there are devices that can detect it and they can be used to force people to turn everything off. But that is too expensive and the risk is too low anyway to justify the hastle so corporate heads decide to instill the fear of the unknown and put up little rules to hide behind. In the mean time real dangers don't grab the attention because they're booring. I've used my Geko 201 in my sleeve pressed against the window from entering the plane until exiting the plane at the destination, got plenty of pretty tracks, too bad my 60C is much bulkier, now I ask and use it during flight when all the laptops get turned on etc, I'm sure the wifi and bluetooth signals fill plenty of planes and we're gonna be able to use cellphones pretty soon here in the EU too.

A GPS with one of those flexible roll-up screens, the size of a magic marker when the screen is rolled up. Should have all the bells and whistles, memory card bluetooth, wifi, usb, waterproof, cellphone, camera. And last but not least, the perfect OS that handles all the functions (geocaching/autorouting/phone/camera....) flawlessly, effortlessly and intuitively without an overdose of menus and settings but still allowing access to customize all advanced features. Oh yeah and a Google Earth like interface, yeah gotta have that. Off-course it would have to run on a fuel cell (and money being no object I wouldn't have to care about airline regulations as I'd have my own plane ) Not gonna happen, guess I'll just stick to my 60C and 2610 for now ...