Idaho Ron Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 I am sorry if this has been covered but here it goes. I saw that the vista has a new release. What is the Beta? is it a test version? Should a guy wait until the real version? What is the reason to release it like that? Ron Quote Link to comment
+Jacksons Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 Beta version is a test version,I would go ahead and load it,I have never had any problems with the beta versions,and if you do you can always back it off I'm a man and I can change if I have to,I guess. Quote Link to comment
+st_richardson Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 I believe this Beta release requires data to be cleared. Use map source or EasyGPS to backup your data points first. Quote Link to comment
+Harrald Posted January 18, 2003 Share Posted January 18, 2003 You might want to check THIS thread. There seem to be a few issues with the new beta firmware update. ==================================== As always, the above statements are just MHO. ==================================== Quote Link to comment
+rayt333 Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 Personally I would recommend you avoid the beta version unless you like to test new "buggy" software and do not mind the problems. With some beta versions you do not have any problems, but with others you will. Why do you think it is still in beta version? it still needs to be tested and refined before being released as working software. And yes I have had trouble with one of Garmin's beta releases, sure it was recoverable but it was still a pain is the @ss. not to mention it took me several hours to download and reload the data files again. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted January 19, 2003 Share Posted January 19, 2003 I wouldn't go off trail into the deep woods on a beta version. Alan Quote Link to comment
+apersson850 Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 A beta version is usually one that the support people hasn't been informed about yet. Still, Garmin's programmer want's it out of the door, so that he can get some feedback from users too. Gives him a lot of testers, that works without any additional pay. He just has to read what's in the inbox of the comment mail address provided. On the other hand, there have been official release too, which were replaced just a few days later, when a major flaw was detected. So, on the average, a beta version has more/better functions, without beeing inferior in any other particular way. Alan, do you go deep in the woods with just a little electronic thing to guide you back, at all? Anders Quote Link to comment
Idaho Ron Posted January 20, 2003 Author Share Posted January 20, 2003 I don't know about Alan, but I do. I both work and play in the Mountains and the desert at night. The desert I work in is 8000 square miles. It has a total of 7000 people. A lot of the areas I work in are over 100 miles to the nearest town! I have worked there without my GPS but it REALLY makes it easier. Ron Quote Link to comment
+st_richardson Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Idaho Ron:...I saw that the vista has a new release. What is the Beta? is it a test version? Should a guy wait until the real version?... You can always wait a few hours after the release for Anders' review. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 I've had no problems with the beta. It's worth getting, if only to boost the number of route waypoints from 50 to 125. No more having to break routes into smaller sections to get them to upload! However, installing this essentially causes a full system reset - you'll lose any stored waypoints, etc., as well as any setting customizations. Garmin states that almanac data will be lost as well, but after power-up, I was getting a "Ready to Navagate" message after only a few minutes. Quote Link to comment
+apersson850 Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 It's easy to see if the almanac is gone. When you turn on the unit again, see if the satellites shown on the sat screen are all from 01 to 12, and if they are all located at the "N" (north) of the circle. If so, you've lost the almanac. But regaining enough of the almanac to determine a position goes pretty quick. To receive the entire almanac takes longer, but the unit starts to work before that. That you loose everything in memory when you go to 3.01, for example, is due to the larger track log and so on. This moves all addresses in memory, so everything previously stored is now not where the new software expects it to be. Hence, you must back up your data, upgrade the firmware and then reload the data again. The new firmware will put the same data back in new locations, where it expects it to be. Personally, I think the longer track log is more valuable than the longer routes. Anders Quote Link to comment
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