Who is using a Mac?

[+basscat5]

I did some searching but really didn't have much luck finding much info...I am sure it has been covered on here a ton, I probably am not using he best search keys...

I am looking at buying a new all in one desk top for at home..... I am thinking about going with an IMAC unit....What issues and what steps will I have to take to be compatible with my Garmin 650, Download PQs, Upload Field notes, etc etc.....

 

I have always been a PC guy because of compatibility issues at work....but looking at trying something different...Thanks...

Edited November 24, 2014 by basscat5

[+Bear and Ragged]

Garmins usually 'play nice' with Macs.

Can't use GSAK on a Mac. (You can, but not easily, Intel Macs can be 'Partitioned' and you use an emulator...)

Edited November 24, 2014 by Bear and Ragged

[+Mineral2]

I did some searching but really didn't have much luck finding much info...I am sure it has been covered on here a ton, I probably am not using he best search keys...

I am looking at buying a new all in one desk top for at home..... I am thinking about going with an IMAC unit....What issues and what steps will I have to take to be compatible with my Garmin 650, Download PQs, Upload Field notes, etc etc.....

 

I have always been a PC guy because of compatibility issues at work....but looking at trying something different...Thanks...

The steps are no different than on a PC. Connect your Garmin, it shows up as an external drive for you to browse. Drop in your PQ files, grab your geocache_visits.txt for field notes, install Basecamp to manage your tracks and waypoints, install Garmin Express to manage your maps and firmware updates.

[+andyfee]

I have used a MAC for a while now, and have had my Laptop at hand if required, which I have never fired up.

 

I use iCaching, to chuck my caches in and then sent to my Garmin if required. Not really had any issues.

 

I have played with adding a windows emulator to have GSAK to play with, and use improved cache filtering, this is a little clunky as the windows side had one or two issues picking up my Garmin.

 

All in all, I would never look back at Windows anymore. I hate going to work and having to use the dreaded Vista machines.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

The steps are no different than on a PC. Connect your Garmin, it shows up as an external drive for you to browse. Drop in your PQ files, grab your geocache_visits.txt for field notes, install Basecamp to manage your tracks and waypoints, install Garmin Express to manage your maps and firmware updates.

This ↑↑↑↑

 

GSAK itself is completely unnecessary to load caches to the unit. It is, or can be, extremely helpful at managing caches, data, filters, screening and the like.

 

One thing you need to know in using a Mac, is that when deleting data from the unit... you MUST empty the trash can BEFORE disconnecting the unit -- or else it remains loaded in the unit. A small tid-bit, there.

[+basscat5]

The steps are no different than on a PC. Connect your Garmin, it shows up as an external drive for you to browse. Drop in your PQ files, grab your geocache_visits.txt for field notes, install Basecamp to manage your tracks and waypoints, install Garmin Express to manage your maps and firmware updates.

This ↑↑↑↑

 

GSAK itself is completely unnecessary to load caches to the unit. It is, or can be, extremely helpful at managing caches, data, filters, screening and the like.

 

One thing you need to know in using a Mac, is that when deleting data from the unit... you MUST empty the trash can BEFORE disconnecting the unit -- or else it remains loaded in the unit. A small tid-bit, there.

So if I am deleting PQs or any other GPX or WPT data from the Garmin through the garmin file I need to empty the Trash bin before I disconnect the USB???

 

Thanks for all the info........

[+Bear and Ragged]

 

So if I am deleting PQs or any other GPX or WPT data from the Garmin through the garmin file I need to empty the Trash bin before I disconnect the USB???

 

Thanks for all the info........

 

Yep.

In the bin/trash, empty, disconnect.

[Pacific NW]

One thing you need to know in using a Mac, is that when deleting data from the unit... you MUST empty the trash can BEFORE disconnecting the unit -- or else it remains loaded in the unit. A small tid-bit, there.

 

Excellent advice. And this will keep your blood pressure lower, too!

[+basscat5]

Thanks alot for the info..I have been getting hammered by Adware and Malware on my PC devices and I haven't even gotten into the OS issues with 8.1..Looking hard at MAC all in one.....Probably a Xmas present..

Edited November 26, 2014 by basscat5

[+GrateBear]

I've used a MAC for quite a while now. I do have a couple of netbooks that I use for GSAK purposes, and used to use GSAK to load up the GPS. But then I realize instead of going through all those steps, I could just drag the PQ to the desktop, expand it, then drag it into the GPS file. Very easy. But as others have noted, you have to empty the trash before ejecting the GPS, in order to get rid of the old caches.