Just a heads up for anyone that may be in the GPS market, REI has a sale through May 10 and the top of the line Garmin Oregon 400T is marked down from $549 to $399 and there is a $50 rebate. This GPS has the 100K topos loaded already for all of the US and Garmin has recently released 24K maps for certain areas including Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico on the Southwest DVD for example.
I bought one, but haven't had time to start exploring its features too much. So far it seems to pick up signal much quicker than my original eTrex Vista and it seems to be able to keep signal when the other might not have worked. The screen is much larger than my previous GPS, but the GPS itself is not that much larger or heavier. I like the touch screen control so far and the menu system is more user friendly than any GPS I have used before.
To sweeten the deal you may be able to get an additional 20% off using Codes OUTLET20GM or ANNV9 (members only code). I haven't tried but it would be worth trying if you are looking.
Actually, I don't think you'll be able to get the extra 20% off for being a member. All bike racks are currently on sale, so I tried to buy a sale-priced bike rack, then apply the discount, but it turns out the extra discount only applies to non-sale-priced items (among other restrictions.)
Mel, I would look at some reviews for this, as long you are only going out for a few hours you will be fine otherwise you are going to need to carry a lot of batteries.
I'm aware of that battery issue and its one of the reasons I don't much care for GPS devices. My Dad (who is a GPS addict) bought one of these right when they came out and he mentioned that was an issue. He had the same issue with the equivalent Colorado model too and returned that one. I think that is why he never handed down his 60CSx. I've always gotten his GPS hand-me-downs in the past.
I've been printing my own maps from National Geographic TOPO or Delorme or using Trails Illustrated or USGS quads. Epson makes a cheap thin and foldable "photo quality paper" in 11X17 that is great for printing your own maps and with a pigment printer the maps don't lose their info when they get damp. I'd given up using my old Vista GPS and gone back to just using a map and compass. But I think this one has enough functionality to convince me to take up using a GPS again (with the paper map of course).
Another thing worth mentioning is that the Garmin GPS models only include the 100K level topos and these are full of inaccuracies and have many missing features (lakes, common trails, jeep roads, streams). Recently Garmin has started to create 24K versions of MapSource including one for the National Parks and ones for some of the western states and they resolve alot of those issues. I plan to buy the Southwest 24K software which includes Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico (and you can use the 20% coupon for this).
I have a Garmin 60 CSx and recently bought the "Oregon 400T". Returned it the next day because, while the screen was great in the store, it was very difficult to see in the daylight (sun). If you Google this product you will see many people have the same problem with this unit. I have called Garmin about this issue and one of their "Techs" in the map department said they are working on the problem.
Am thinking they may be discounting them to deplete their inventory to make room for a possible new unit with a better screen.
I'm aware of that problem too. The transflective LCD screens are great in full sun, OK when backlit in a dark setting, and kinda difficult to read in between. Somehow the transflective screen on the 60CSx worked much better in the in-between.
You might be right about the discounts and a "fixed" model. Still its an incremental step forward in regards to design, user interface and feature set.
Since someone speculated that there was a new model coming out, I can report that there is... Its the Oregon 550t, which includes a 3.2MP digital camera so you can leave your SLR at home.
Discussion
8 repliesI bought one, but haven't had time to start exploring its features too much. So far it seems to pick up signal much quicker than my original eTrex Vista and it seems to be able to keep signal when the other might not have worked. The screen is much larger than my previous GPS, but the GPS itself is not that much larger or heavier. I like the touch screen control so far and the menu system is more user friendly than any GPS I have used before.
I've been printing my own maps from National Geographic TOPO or Delorme or using Trails Illustrated or USGS quads. Epson makes a cheap thin and foldable "photo quality paper" in 11X17 that is great for printing your own maps and with a pigment printer the maps don't lose their info when they get damp. I'd given up using my old Vista GPS and gone back to just using a map and compass. But I think this one has enough functionality to convince me to take up using a GPS again (with the paper map of course).
Another thing worth mentioning is that the Garmin GPS models only include the 100K level topos and these are full of inaccuracies and have many missing features (lakes, common trails, jeep roads, streams). Recently Garmin has started to create 24K versions of MapSource including one for the National Parks and ones for some of the western states and they resolve alot of those issues. I plan to buy the Southwest 24K software which includes Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico (and you can use the 20% coupon for this).
Am thinking they may be discounting them to deplete their inventory to make room for a possible new unit with a better screen.
You might be right about the discounts and a "fixed" model. Still its an incremental step forward in regards to design, user interface and feature set.
It was released at the same price as the 400t.
No, I'm not kidding.