Amazon.com Review

Combining powerful performance-tracking features with a GPS receiver, the Garmin Forerunner 201 offers runners and hikers a unique way to track their exercise regimens and goals. Unlike Timex's BodyLink sport monitoring system, its main competitor, the Forerunner 201 integrates the GPS receiver into a single body (BodyLink has separate housings for watch and GPS).

At first, the device felt a little bulky on my wrist, both in weight and in size (it measures 3.26 by 1.71 by 0.69 inches). But it really is light enough (less than 3 ounces) so that it felt comfortable and transparent. I did, however, position the band a bit higher up my arm to ensure full mobility of my wrist, as the length of the Forerunner tended to get in its way.

The large display--with equally large, easy-to-read characters--helps you avoid having to squint at the readout. Just a quick glance at your numbers and you'll maintain your training concentration. The six rubber buttons on the front of the chassis are easy to access (unless you're wearing bulky gloves). I easily got the promised 13 hours out of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery. At the end of the day, I'd just recharge it for around two hours and it would be ready for me the next morning.

While this is definitely a workable GPS receiver, the Forerunner is slim on overall GPS features--which is not to its detriment (think of it as a performance monitor with a dash of GPS). That said, the Forerunner was able to pick up a GPS signal just about wherever I went outside (though it had very slight hiccups in the center of downtown). But if you're looking for a full-fledged tracking device, the Forerunner isn't for you. (You'll want to start with a basic GPS unit like Garmin's eTrex.)

The Forerunner 201 has a variety of helpful tracking, monitoring, and navigational features. The History function enables you to view your workout statistics broken down by individual days, cumulative weeks, or your entire workout history (if you track different workouts during the same day, they'll be broken out as different laps). You can even view a map of your route. And much like other GPS units, you can save "waypoints" (called "locations" in Forerunner parlance) to mark the coordinates of a place you want to return to later.

Auto Menu: Timer pauses when you stop running. Auto lap logs your performance over a predetermined distance. History: Review training history by day or week.

Map: Navigate back to the start or to a stored location. Virtual Partner: Set time, pace, and distance goals, and train with a "virtual partner."

Most interesting is the "Virtual Partner" mode, which enables you to set goals for a workout which will then be completed by a digital character displayed on the Forerunner's screen. You can then see how far off the time, pace, or distance you are of your virtual training buddy's; your digital character even stops when you do (though the buddy keeps on going). I found that, unless you've got a good idea as to your pace or distance, you'll have a couple of trial-and-error training sessions to get in sync with your buddy. I cut short my first attempt after my buddy got so far ahead of me that he disappeared off the screen (which I'd like to believe was not due to my woeful pace).

I was disappointed at not having the LogBook software, which enables you to keep a journal of your exercise activities (it was not available at the time of this test). But overall, the Forerunner 201 is a very useful exercise-monitoring system that will be prized by anyone involved in serious physical training. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Loaded with performance-tracking features for the serious athlete
• GPS functionality a bonus, especially in referring back to previous routes
• Virtual Partner feature offers a fun, competitive way to keep you concentrated on training

• Lack of Logbook software at time of test
• Virtual Partner feature takes some trial-and-error adjustments

Features

• Calculates precise speed, location, and altitude as you workout
• Integrated mapping functions display your progress on your favorite routes
• Stores lap times, distances, and calories burned
• Adjustable wristband and A/C desktop charger with PC interface
• Waterproof; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (103)

Excellent aid for running.
After giving it a full charge, 3 hours, I took it out for a test drive. For the first 30 minutes I could not pick up a signal in Miami. I did a hard reset and it picked it up within 3 minutes. Went for a 3 mile run around a local 9-hole golf course, heavily ligned with trees, and to my amazement never lost contact with the signal. Was extremely accurate in measuring the distance and having a pace time allows you to really push yourself. Backlight can be kep on during the whole run - great feature for night running - or 2, 1, .5, .25 minutes. Much smaller than I expected. Love the display. Would recommend to anyone who runs, jogs, walks for exercise.

Weak GPS, buggy software, too loose on the wrist
I am very disappointed in the Forerunner 201. It loses GPS signal far too frequently. I run in a golf course community with average to below average tree cover. In a 7 mile run the Forerunner lost GPS 20 times, including at an open-grass field retention pond. I checked one of my other GPS, a Garmin eMap, and it showed that there were 10 satellites available at the time. So I rate the Forerunner as a very poor GPS.

The most important feature to me was being able to see current pace. It was displaying 8:41 pace all the time, and I knew I was doing my standard 6:45. I imagine this error is due in part to losing GPS signal. I changed the pace smoothing setting to "least" to get a more instant value, but it's still not matching up entirely. 7:10 displayed when I'm doing 6:45's.

The autolap feature has been very buggy. You will often hear it beep at an autolap, and within a minute you'll hear it beep an autolap again. I left it at the default 1-mile setting, and the first day I used it it had autolapped 8 miles in a distance that it itself had measured to be only 3.3 miles!

There is also a minor rounding bug. If you set your training partner for 6:20/mile and later check this setting you'll see 6:19. This is probably due to 6:20 being stored as 6.33333 internally, which converts back to 6:19 without rounding.

The unit attaches to the wristband with short fabric. There's too much play in this fabric, 3/8-inch, and the unit flops on your wrist when you run. It would be better if there was 1/8 to 1/16-inch of play in the fabric.

Great for runners
I run is a USA Fit marathon program. Several members have the Timex GPS system, and several of us have the Garmin Forerunner. Everyone who has the Garmin loves it, and those with the Timex wish they had the Garmin. Screens are very easy to read and navigate. The computer program is very easy to download. Do not understand why they have a serial connection and not a USB though. For anyone doing a running training program, this piece of equipment is a must.

The perfect running companion
The Forerunner 201 is by far the best product I have bought this year, period. I bought it to help me get back in shape to run in long distance races. I used to be in the track and field team in high school, long time ago. In the last couple of years, I have been running in local/regional runs. I have been trying to keep the training routines that I used in high school: long, easy runs, threshold runs, intervals, etc. The Forerunner 201 has been essential in keeping me honest and at the right pace.

1. Long/easy runs. It is very easy and tempting to runs faster than the easy pace dictated in your training plan. Using the Virtual Partner feature, you can keep yourself at the right pace. The Virtual Partner will tell you how far ahead or behind you are from your virtual partner, the screen shows two icons: one for you and one for your partner. A large display tells you the distance between the two. Easy to read at a glance, the background indicates if you are ahead or behind. My goal is to stay within 20 feet of my virtual partner. That way I can assure the correct pace. This feature has been instrumental on keeping me from getting injured for running too fast.

2. Interval Training. Use the Intervals section to set the distances and pace for running. Once you set the number of intervals, distance, and resting time/distance, you do not have to worry about keeping time, just run. The Forerunner will keep track of everything for you. It will beep when you are done on each interval and will beep when you are 5 seconds or 20 feet from the next one. Unfortunately, there is no option to set the pace. I would love to use the virtual partner to do intervals, that way you can also keep to correct pace during intervals.

3. Threshold runs. Just use the Virtual Partner and set the pace to the correct one for your running threshold. Your Virtual Partner will keep you running at the right pace.

I take my Forerunner on all my business trips and do not worry anymore about measuring or calculating distances. The Forerunner may not measure distances to the inch, but it has proven accurate enough for my daily training.

The ideas above are just a sample of the many fun ways to use the Forerunner. I am sure the reader will find many other uses for the Forerunner.

I found my true love!
Since knowledge is power and the Forerunner 201 is full of information, I am now running with power.
Look, this is the best thing to hit the market for a runner since shoes. I can finally start and stop running anytime and anywhere without the dreaded "how far have I gone, guess I'll hop in the car and check". I no longer drive around to get distance information, ever. Not to mention, I can't drive on half the places I wanted to run and wouldn't run those places because I couldn't drive it to determine how far I was running. I've heard others complain of GPS signal strength and I did have a problem once, but I was running about 1 foot away from a 15 ft wall and on the other side were 2 story townhomes about 30 feet away with huge trees overhead, so I think the GPS works fine. It took about 3 minutes to get a signal after I opened the box and charged it up. I can't imagine why you would not buy this other than you don't exercise. My wife commented that she couldn't believe all the features it had and the information it provided for the price, and she is not an easy sale. No comment on bike problems that people have had. Garmin has been great with software updates. The logbook could have more options but that is no reason to not have this. I LOVE IT! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

There are now enough handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers on the market that you can be choosy when it comes to price, features, and design. Garmin--a leading manufacturer of car, boat, and personal GPS receivers--has a complete line of eTrex handheld receivers, with our Legend falling about midrange.

With WAAS support, the Legend offers extremely accurate readings (rated to within two to three meters). (For more on WAAS, see the Frequently Asked Questions section.) A good-sized screen--288 x 160 pixels--makes it easy to see location details, and the Legend redraws maps quickly when zooming in or out of a position.

Its 8 MB of memory means there is also plenty of room for waypoints, routes, and saved tracks. The Legend will hold up to 500 waypoints, complete with a name and graphical symbol, 20 routes with 50 waypoints each, and it contains slots for 10 saved tracks. You can also download maps from Garmin's MapSource CD-ROMs (thorough but expensive accessories for the GPS receiver) to see street-level or topographic detail (depending on the CD-ROM title).

But one of the most striking attributes of the Legend is its comfortable and efficient design. While it rests easily in the palm of either hand, it's most suited for the left hand, where its handy click-stick can be manipulated with the thumb. The click-stick works like the pencil-eraser nubbin on laptop PCs and is handy for moving through screen icons and menus. It also works as a button when pressed down.

The Legend is coated with a waterproof, rubberized plastic shell that grips nicely. Weighing in at only 5.3 ounces, it fits into a pocket or clips onto a belt loop, going almost unnoticed.

The internal trip computer of the Legend provided a range of data about our hikes and drives, including current speed, average speed, trip distance, and time traveled (both moving and stopped). For those interested in checking out their foot pace and distance traveled, it's a handy GPS to have in hand.

Our only major beef with the Legend is that the receiver sometimes seemed to grow weak. Even when it wasn't in WAAS mode (which can be tough to maintain a signal in), it dropped the signal from time to time. We even lost the signal once while walking along the streets of San Francisco--it seems that the medium-size buildings were enough to interfere with the reception.

But this only happened on a few occasions. Most of the time the well-designed Legend was able to keep us in touch with up to 12 GPS satellites for a strong-enough read to maintain a tight handle on our location. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Comfortable, compact design
• Click-stick for interface navigation
• Bright backlight
• Handy distance-traveled feature

• Sporadic reception within urban areas
• Can take several minutes for a cold fix

Features

• Global positioning system (GPS) receiver with built-in Americas basemap
• 8 MB of internal memory for map and data storage; PC cable included
• Accuracy to less than 3 meters with WAAS correction data
• Rocker switch on front panel for quick and accurate map panning
• Compatible with optional Garmin MapSource software; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (91)

Excellent GPS
This is my second GPS and the 4th I have operated. I have had plenty of experience with GPSs and my occupation requires their use extensively. Having traveled to many foreign countries, I can attest to this unit's ability to give you tons of info on where you are. I prefer simple electronics with minimal buttons, and this unit offers a tremendous amount of data with six buttons. If you are looking for the easiest to use, I suggest the Garmin E-trex. It is the most basic unit you'll find and still provides plenty of info.

Pros:
1) The map data installed in the unit is very detailed (for N. America).
2) The ability to pre-plan routes via waypoints or corrodinates is fairly easy (esp. with the user guide)
3) You can program what data you would like to see based on what you want to know
4) For fisherman and hunters, this unit has special info for you (I didn't find this useful for me, but...)
5) Again, relatively simple to use compared to other GPSs
6) The ability to download map info from CD-ROM (invaluable)

Cons:
1) If you are going to use this in a car only, maybe you'd be better off with something that offers an exterior antenna
2) Significantly more complex than the E-trex (but still easier to use than most)
3) Be prepared to study in-depth the method of downloading from the CD-ROM

Overall, this GPS has gone beyond my expectations. If you do any significant traveling (esp. in N. America), then you will find this GPS vital.

A Good Start
I bought my Legend and the topo MapSource software last fall at a great price. I've used it for deer and turkey hunting, hiking, biking, and fun in the car. This unit takes a bit of getting used to but its operation is reasonably intuitive. (I'm an engineer.) I have down and uploaded weigh points, tracks and routes using the MapSource software. Before I bought my unit, I read some complaints about lack of topo detail. I find it adequate for my purposes. Be advised that the base map (which comes hard-coded in the system) does not correctly list the recently renumbered Pennsylvania highway exit numbers. Hopefully, Garmin will correct this promptly. Also, the topos are a bit dated but then so are the paper topos I usually carry. My suggestion is, if you like electronic toys, go for it. If these GPS manufacturers were smart, they would put software on the Internet that allowed open sharing of routes, waypoints, etc. Every trail in America would wind up electronically documented and these little critters would sell like popcorn.

Overpriced
I don't understand why this item is priced $80.00 more than anywhere else I've found it. You might as well not even carry it. It's a disservice to your customers. Target usually has good prices, and I do a lot of shopping there.

Bought one for the second time.
My wife and I got into Geocaching last year. We had a blast and had great results using our eTrex Legend. We ended up getting other distractions that kept us from GeoCaching so we decided to sell our Legend.

Well a year later we decided to get backing to caching because of some friends so we went looking again for GPSr units and after looking nothing seems to have topped the Legend in the value section.

I have read complaints about people losing sats but honestly from my previous experience, this only happened to us when the tree cover was almost completely blocked out the sky. I often used the unit indoors (near a window of course) and never had a problem using it in the car.

There are a few items that I buy a second time around, the only one that comes to mind off hand was a FujiFilm FinePix 1300. I tend to like value and items that retain a resale value, and from experience, the Legend fits both of those categories.

If you are looking for a sub $200 unit to Geocache with, this is the unit for you. With EasyGPS you can easily store and download Geocache waypoints to your Legend.

Also I don't think anyone mentioned it, but the Legend has a ton of different waypoint icons you can use, it even has GeoCache and GeoCache Found icons.

If I don't get the same results of the 2nd unit that I just ordered I will post it, but until then I am happy I stuck with the Legend.

Great GPS at an Excellent Price
Overall the Garmin eTrex Legend is a very good GPS receiver. Reception although not perfect is much better then what some of the reviews led me to believe. I lost tracking once on a 60 mile interstate trip for about 15 secs. Considering that is was cloudy, there is a reasonable amount of trees around the interstate and the GPS was on the passenger front seat I was pretty happy with the result. I managed to get a satellite lock indoors as well but only when in proximity to a window and even then it was sporadic. Average accuracy for me was about 20-30ft. When WAAS satellites are in sight I got as good as 7ft and you could actually see the car changing lanes on the tracking log.
The 8MB memory is for the most sufficient for a detailed street map of a single metropolitan area. Although no where nearly as detailed the built-in base map is also useful.
Battery life is good although not as good as advertised. WAAS does drain the batteries a little more so that may be the reason for my results.
Interface and features are as good as can be expected from a device that size and in this price range. The click stick can be a bit uncomfortable for right handed people but nothing you can't get used to.
Although I have not owned the device long it seems to be well built. I have not managed to put any scratches on the screen yet and I have taken few precautions.
Overall this is a great GPS with reasonably good reception and accuracy. Features are excellent for the price range. The eTrex Legend is moderately useful on the road ( no auto routing on the GPS ) and very useful for hiking, marine and aviation applications. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Portability meets capability in Garmin's pocket-sized Quest portable automotive global-positioning system. The easy-to-use device is loaded with the high-end navigation features from Garmin's most popular GPS navigators. Use it in multiple vehicles or simply slip it in your pocket for handy street-level directions when you're navigating on foot.

Smaller than a standard television remote, the Quest provides ample screen viewing area, but won't demand a lot of room on the dashboard or in the briefcase. The device sports a bright, 256-color, sunlight-readable display. You'll love the Quest's automatic routing with turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance to get you where you're going A high-speed processor means fast automatic off-route and detour recalculation, and the unit's internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 20 hours of use between charges.

A USB data connection ensures fast map downloads from Garmin's entire line of MapSource CDs, several of which are included. The unit ships with fully unlocked MapSource City Select CDs, providing full coverage of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, including more than 5 million points of interest like gas stations, ATMs, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. With 115 MB of internal memory, this small-but-powerful GPS navigator has plenty of built-in map storage. A unique antenna folds flush with the unit when not in use, and you can connect an optional external antenna as well.

For weekend warriors using the unit on a camping or fishing trip, the Quest is waterproof and fully compatible with the entire line of MapSource outdoor cartography, including U.S. Topo, 24K Topo, Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots, and BlueChart.

What's in the Box
Quest GPS with flip-up antenna, a PC/USB cable, an AC power adapter, an external speaker with 12-volt adapter cable, a vehicle suction-cup mount, a quick-reference guide, a user's manual, Americas autoroute basemap, MapSource City Select North America CD with full coverage and full unlock, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS with flip-up antenna
• Features 115MB of internal memory, for MapSource data
• Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, MGRS, user grid and other standards
• Trip tracking computer provides a large speed display, odometer, stopped time, max speed, average and other important information
• 10,000-point track log retraces your path; includes USB interface

Amazon.com Product Description

The Forerunner 101 offers athletes an easy-to-read display and integrated GPS sensor that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data--all in one compact unit that straps to your wrist. It’s a lightweight, accurate training assistant with performance tracking, auto-lap, auto-pause and more. And because it is a high quality Garmin GPS device, you get many of the features GPS users have come to rely on, such as precise latitude, longitude, and altitude data. The Forerunner 101 is easy to use right out of the box and it delivers the benefits of GPS technology.

Although it lacks the rechargeable battery and PC connectivity features of the Forerunner 201, the 101 retains all of the other great features of the 201, at an even more affordable price. The Virtual Partner feature allows you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner’s pace and workout distance. You'll get a graphic perspective of your performance by viewing your pace in relation to your Virtual Partner’s pace, so you can always see at a glance if you're keeping up or falling behind.

Almost as important as the training device itself are the accessories to integrate it with your active lifestyle. If you're into cycling, the best way to keep an eye on your GPS while you ride is with a bike mount bracket that straps to the handlebars of your bike, motorcycle, or whatever you're traveling with for easy viewing.

	 
 	 	 
Auto Menu: Timer pauses when you stop running. Auto lap logs your performance over a pre-determined distance.	 	History: Review training history by day or week.
 	 	 
	 
 	 	 
Map: Navigate back to the start or to a stored location.	 	Virtual Partner: Set time, pace, and distance goals, and train with a "virtual partner".

Other Forerunner 101 features:

• Mark specific locations, and then look-up and navigate to these points using an electronic map.
• Amount of calories burned can be tracked and calculated over the course of a workout.
• Lap history--such as lap time, lap distance, and average pace--can be stored for 5000 laps.
• Performance data can be automatically archived and calculated to provide an accurate record.
• Automated stopwatch provides auto-lap and auto-pause features.
• Pace whistle sounds alert when you begin traveling slower or faster than your desired pace.
• Time and distance whistles can be set to sound when you reach a specified duration or distance in your workout.

What's in the box:
Forerunner 101 unit, wrist strap, manual, and quickstart guide ... Read more

Features

• Calculates precise speed, location, and altitude as you workout
• Integrated mapping functions display your progress on your favorite routes
• Stores lap times, distances, and calories burned
• Waterproof
• Adjustable wristband

Reviews (8)

The Most Useful Fitness Computer You Can Buy
I've purchased heart rate monitors, altimeters, and computer software as training aids in the past. Their quality was always subpar, and their utility was limited to a small set of variables. Inevitibly, I was still required to use a pen, paper and calculator to figure out much of the training info I needed. In addition, few of these gadgets were helpful in motivating me. I purchased the Forerunner 101 so that I could track my distance and my pace accurately while I ran. Because it is so incredibly accurate, I can run on any of the trails around my house and still know how far I've gone. The unit has been designed extremely well. The numbers YOU want to see are large. The readability of the LCD is excellent. The price makes the product a GREAT value for the money. The quality overall is outstanding. The unit itself is well designed--The Garmin design team needs to be congratulated. Yes, it's a bit heavy, but for the functions it performs, it's well worth it. The Virtual Partner is a waste of time for me. But when I run an official race, I'm sure I'll use it. Like many of the other reviewers, I wish the Forerunner 201 was equiped with AA batteries, as I simply don't trust ION batteries to hold out for much longer than 3 years. This is one of the best fitness products that you can buy!!

Very satisfied
First let me say that I am not an avid runner and to be quite honest I have hated the sport of running. (sorry) Because I am in the military we are required to run so I have had to take up the sport. The biggest problem I had though was finding a way to pace myself and train. Everyone has their own suggestion but to follow most regimens you had to know exactly how far and fast you are running.
Now to the forerunner. Since I have purchase this running has become enjoyable. It has always worked very well even in wooded areas and only takes a short time to lock on. It gives you so much information and can do so many things to help one train and pace!! It is very easy to use and to download to the computer. The log book is also excellent and allows one to keep track of distance, time, pace, calories, etc. It has allowed me to run where ever I want and not have to figure out beforehand how long of a run it will be. Only once did it miscalculate my speed (ran a 5 minute mile; I wish).
The only problem I had was when I first got it and had trouble following the instructions for set up. Also one needs to download the new software for the forerunner and log book which fixes freezes.
Again from a non-runner, I would highly recommend it!

love, love, love, love it!!!
That being said, I only give it 4 stars because I kind of miss the ability to link to my computer (I'm an ultra geek). Still, Lion batteries ONLY have a life of 3 years max - don't let anyone tell you otherwise - and 3 years it won't be NEAR it's original life. EVEN IF it were brand new out of the box, Lion chemistry starts to decay the day after it comes off the manufacturing line - do some research on the internet - that's why the whole slew of ipods are all dying right now.

Enough said - AAA batteries was the primary reason I bought this. Truth is, I rarely keep gadgets long enough to worry about the batteries, but I like passing them on to family and friends and I'd like them to get something that they can use for a couple of years too... Plus, I like putting in a fresh set of batteries every week and not having to worry if it's fully charged... (I use rechargeable AAA's).

All the other reviewers have already covered the basics of the watch. Very easy to use, backlight is amazing at night. History and data compilation are interesting.

What I really wanted to convey is that I was on the fence about this for over a month. Was it worth the money? Would I use it enough? Without a doubt - YES! If it broke today I'd buy a new one tomorrow. The best thing about it is freedom.

I'm pretty anal - most serious runners are. I stick to the exact same path so I can get statistics, make sure I'm sticking to my pace, make sure I ran the distance I intended, compare my run with previous runs. After a while though, it can get a little boring. All of a sudden, I put this on and I'm free from all that. I can run anywhere, I run spontaneously - but a glance down at my wrist and I know how far I've run, I know I'm keeping pace, EVERYTHING. And that little training buddy is pretty cool too - although I usually just like the raw data screen...

I hope in future versions they'll integrate a heart rate monitor. I have one now but can't bring myself to wear two devices at a time...

-jr

Why AAA Batteries (101) Best Internal Batteries (201)
I chose to buy the Forerunner 101 rather than the 201 precisely because of its power system. First, rechargeable AAA batteries are relatively cheap, and they last forever. They are also small, and while traveling I'd rather lug around two extra small batteries than a recharging cord. Moreover, in a pinch, you can always find a store that sells standard AAA batteries. Additionally, who wants to wait for the internal batteries to recharge - I'd rather always have a fresh set of rechargeable AAA's on hand.
With this said, it was a tough choice deciding between the 101 and the 201. If only the 101 came with the uploading capabilities of the 201. That, in my mind, would have been the best of both worlds. In the end, I opted for the 101.

The Forerunner 201 for those on a budget
The Garmin Forerunner 101 is exactly the same as the popular Forerunner 201, with a couple of small changes. Being the case, I won't review the actual product since everything that needs to be said about it's GPS features can be found in the reviews for the Forerunner 201.

The most notable difference with the 101 is that it uses 2 AAA batteries istead of being rechargeable like the 201. At first I thought this was a big detraction to buying it, but it's really not that bad. Battery life is decent, although not as high as with the 201, which gets up to 13 hours of use on a full charge. But if you're not a marathon runner and just run a few miles on your runs, this shouldn't matter much. The only hassle is having the batteries go dead during the middle of a run, which really sucks if you're into knowing exactly how far you've gone. You have to keep an eye on the battery life before going out. The batteries don't really effect the weigh or size of the product though.

The second major difference is that this unit does not interface with your PC. This also isn't too big of a problem because, currently, the Garmin software is really lacking. Hopefully they will improve on it with time, but the PC software is nowhere near as nice as it could be at this stage. You can view a graph of your altitude for your run, and graphs of your pace and speed, and that's about it. Otherwise the software is really crummy. You can't even zoom in on your map like you can with the actual unit.

If you're serious about running, I would highly suggest the Forerunner 201 over this product, mainly because the price difference is so negligible. You can find the 201 for only about $20 more than this model, and the extra money is well worth the rechargeability of the 201 and freedom from the batteries. But if you really can't afford the cost, you're not going to be hurting too much with the 101. ... Read more

Product Description

GPS unit with built-in antenna and protective cover * 20-gigabyte hard drive (10 for navigation, 10 for MP3 file storage) * industrial-strength casing sealed to prevent internal corrosion * 5" diagonal, color TFT display offers exceptional visibility * Map Mode accesses detailed road maps of the United States and Canada, with over 2 million points of interest * ... Read more

Features

• Stores up to 5,000 MP3 files depending on compression rates and song lengths
• Measures 6.1 x 4.5 x 2.15 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
• Combination vehicle GPS navigation system and MP3 player with 5-inch color TFT display
• Built-in 20 GB hard drive with 10 GB for maps and 10 GB for MP3 files
• Built-in precision GPS WAAS receiver with 12 parallel channels

Reviews (5)

Brilliant!
This unit does everything I expect it to do and does so effortlessly straight out of the box. You don't have to load maps or install software- it's all pre-loaded. It's a high technology product your mom can learn to use in 10 minutes (from you, not the manual) even if her VCR is still flashing "12:00".

I like the fact that the iWay is waterproof (submergible 3 feet for 1/2 of an hour) because mine will spend some time on motorcycle handlebars in questionable weather. The iWay seems extremely well made and rugged. It's surprisingly heavy for its size and definately a "form-follows-function" product rather than a stylized one. It seems kind of "military specification", if you know what I mean. It does draw a lot of current (the heat sink on the back runs quite hot to the touch), if your cigarette lighter stays active when your engine is off make sure that you shut your iWay off when you leave the car or you'll risk having a dead battery.

If you get "off route" for any reason the route recalculation is quite fast.

It has a default "safety mode" that prevents you from making entries while you're moving- I guess it figures that you've got your hands full driving whilst drinking a latte and talking on your cell phone- that's probably for the best. You can defeat that function and put it in "passanger mode" but it will start up next time in "safety mode" again.

The "find address" function works very well once you realize that this is only an educated guess at where, within say 100 feet, the actual numerical address is located. You will be on the right street and it will tell you which side it's on.

I bought mine "1-click" through Amazon's partner "GPS for YOU". I ordered it mid-morning on a Wednesday and it was delivered by DHL the following morning! Over a week ahead of the estimated delivery date and I didn't request overnight delivery! After sale customer service has been very responsive.

Three little first day disapointments-

1) My unit was missing the rubberized flexible RAM dashboard mount referenced in the Amazon description. I called Lowrance (pronounced "low-rantz", by the way) and was informed that it's no longer included with the unit but available as an accesory for $40. The handlebar mounts are $30 in black or $70 in chrome.

2) I thought that my unit was defective because it didn't register my touch-pad key entries when they were on the left or bottom edges of the screen. It turns out that there's a set-up procudure to teach it exactly where the keys are (it pays to read the manual). The set-up takes less than a minute. Alas, the keyboard layout is alphabetic rather than "qwerty".

3) iTunes files aren't mp3 so you can't just transfer your music library directly to the iWay without converting the to mp3. I imagine that this can be done, but I bet it's not going to be pretty.

Best GPS
best gps in car good price nice features is the best, mp3 20 hard drive no spend money in SD cards. HAVE ALL ACCESSORIES big screen .nice buy recommend.

Highly Recommended
The iWay 500c is an incredible GPS that will rate at the top and at a lower price than anything with comparable features.You can read the specs yourself, what follows are my impressions of the unit.

The package includes 2 separate RAM-Mounts (one dash board and one windshield).I am new to RAM-Mounts and am very impressed with these excellent brackets.Additional RAM-mounts are available at a very reasonable price if you need them.

Also included are 3 power cords 1) automotive cigarette lighter, 2) a battery connection cable, 3) a 120v cable/cigarette female for indoor use.An external amplifying antenna is also included.

The screen is large and easy to read in all light conditions.There are 4 levels of back lighting.The touch screen and buttons work well and the interface is intuitive.The auto-zoom works great too.

The road selection software is good, but could use a little tweaking.My only complaint is that the "slider bar" to select more or less interstate seems to be basically an on-off switch.I would prefer to see a mixture of interstate and back roads at some intermediate setting.The good news is that Lowrance has already updated the software, which is easily downloadable and installed from the Internet.Hopefully they will continue to improve the road selection algorithm.

When I purchased the unit, I wondered how well the voice commands would work with the built in MP3 player.It turns out that they work better than expected.There are several setting for the voice commands and they will temporarily silence the music for instructions just as I had hoped.

Besides everything else that I mentioned one of the best things that I like about the iWay 500c is that it is waterproof to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes!This is perfect for motorcycle touring, which is my primary intended use.Of course with all of the mounting hardware and power cords, this unit is easily moved to my automobile.

This is a perfect GPS for motorcycling touring.I normally use a computer based GPS in the car, but I will switch to the Lowrance because it is incredibly easy to read and use, boots up in a matter of seconds (unlike my PC), and is very portable.In my research on GPS's the iWay 500c is a best value.

Great Navigator, Great Price, Best in Class
This little piece of gadgetry is absolutely wonderful. The large screen is the perfect size and is very clear and easy to read with a glance.It navigates great, you can switch from track up to north up to 3D view with a simple touch of the touch screen.It finds addresses and waypoints easily.It comes with all of the accessories made for it, including the external antennae.This fact makes it extremely adaptable and friendly.The voice directions are clear and correct.The price is great, especially if you shop around a bit. With its 10GB of MP3 I don't really use my 6 disc changer any more!

What I like:large color screen that can be read at a glance, lots of accessories, accuracy, Price.Certainly the best for the money.

What could be better:If the music player loaded wma as well as the MP3 and Ogg it now takes.If it had MGRS.If you could download waypoints from you computer so that you didn't have to add them individually.

Exactly what I was looking for!
Finally, I have found the answer to our new vehicle purchase. We recently bought a new Ford Excusrion with all of the bells and whistles.... almost, anyway. As Ford doesn't have a decent Nav system available, and we didnt want to give up the in-dash 6 CD changer and steering wheel audio controls, we decided to go aftermarket on the nav. I came across this unit in Las Vegas and bought it, as it offered the turn-by-turn instructions and 3D mapping I was looking for. After a 6 hour drive back home, I am completely sold on the model. The unit is built very ruggedized, and looks as if it can take a lot of punishment. The navigation performed flawlessly and found a new route quickly after I decided I didn't want to go the way it told me to. The kit contains several mounting options.... a real plus! On the dash of the Excursion, the large 5" screen fits right in, without being obtrusive. I am looking into some mounting options, however. I will also be installing a seperate under-dash audio system for the nav, as I don't want to parallel the audio in with the XM modulator. Very nice unit. I hope that it holds up all the same years from now. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The the most feature-rich device in the Rino family, Garmin's Rino 130 combination 2-way FRS/GMRS radio and GPS receiver comes fully loaded with an electronic compass, a barometric sensor, a weather receiver for 7 NOAA weather channels, and 24 MB of internal memory for downloading and storing MapSource detail--including data from products like U.S. Topo 24K, U.S. Topo, Recreational Lakes, BlueChart, and MetroGuide (MapSource products sold separately).

The Rino 130 is also outfitted with a marine-point database and a basemap of North and South America. The database includes nautical navaids for North and South America. The Americas Highway basemap includes the United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America, and covers an area from W180 to W30 Longitude and S60 to N75 Latitude. Also included is a high-level worldwide map with political boundaries and major cities. Among many other included elements are oceans, rivers, and lakes (greater than 30 square miles), principal cities and many smaller cities and towns, major interstates and principal highways, and political boundaries (state and international borders).

Integration has its advantages: the Rino 130 sends and receives GPS locations using FRS channels and shows them on the map. The GPS device is a 12-channel, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver. WAAS, which stands for Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), is the global-positioning-system of choice for mariners. The handheld's built-in electronic compass give a heading while you're standing still, and its barometric altimeter provides accurate elevation and pressure readings to help you identify and analyze weather conditions.

The Rino 130 also provides two-way radio communication with a transmission range of up to two miles using FRS channels and up to five miles with GMRS (be aware that use of GMRS requires an FCC license). The integration of two-way radio and GPS lets you transmit your position with a simple button press, so others can easily navigate to your position. The Rino 130 also has a polling feature so you can manually request GPS location information from other Rino units.

You get 14 FRS channels, 8 GMRS channels, and 8 GMRS repeater channels, as well as 38 sub-audible squelch codes per transmission channel for semi-private radio communications.

The unit's ergonomic design grants single-handed operation, with its Call, Page mode, and Press-To-Talk (PTT) buttons mounted on the side, Power/Backlighting button on top, Volume and Zoom buttons on front, and a Thumb Stick positioned in the center. The thumb stick allows channel selection and volume adjustment in FRS/GMRS mode, as well as quick map panning, enter, and selection functions in GPS mode.

Other features include a backlit display (160 x 160 pixels), external voice activation (VOX), waterproof construction to IPX-7 standards (immersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes), storage for up to 500 waypoints with graphic identification and 20 reversible routes, 10,000 trackpoints and up to 20 saved tracks to retrace your path or a companion's path via the location-reporting feature, trip computer with speed tracking, sunrise/sunset read out, trip time, and trip distance, and multiple grid formats including MGRS and Loran TD. The Rino 130 even sends and receives short text notes for quiet communication.

The Rino 130 has a battery life of 14 hours (typical use) on 3 AA alkaline batteries (not included).

What's in the Box
Rino 130 receiver, a PC-interface cable, a wrist strap, a belt clip, a user's manual, and a quick-reference guide. ... Read more

Features

• Combination portable 2-way radio and GPS receiver with built-in electronic compass, barometric altimeter, and weather receiver
• Radio specs: 14 FRS channels for 2-mile range, 7 GMRS channels for 5-mile range, 38 subcodes per channel, hands-free VOX
• GPS specs: 12-channel, WAAS-enabled receiver, up to 500 waypoints, trip computer with speed tracking
• Beam your location to another Rino user within a 2-mile range using the FRS spectrum
• Sends and receives short text notes for quiet communication

Amazon.com Product Description

There's a lot to Magellan's small, cool eXplorist 200 handheld GPS navigation device beyond its vibrant yellow exterior. Inside and out, the eXplorist is built to provide real GPS (global-positioning system) abilities for serious outdoor use--from its tough, impact-resistant, waterproof exterior to Magellan's proven, powerful, and easy-to-use technology. The eXplorist 200 rewrites the rules by proving you can spend less and actually get more.

The eXplorist 200 includes all-new Magellan TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver to provide precise position fixes within 3 meters while ensuring reliable, accurate satellite-signal acquisition and tracking. Small, lightweight and easy-to-use, anyone can pick it up and get going without studying a manual. Among its many features, the eXplorist 200 offers 3 navigation screens with track plotting to help you find the fun--then find your way back.

Explorers will appreciate Magellan's 1-button access, which takes you directly to the functions that matter most: the menu, navigation screens, personal points-of-interest, "go to" routing, and backlight. In addition, the eXplorist 200 stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 5 track logs with up to 2,000 points each, providing ample storage even for avid navigators. The unit also supplies a built-in North American background map, which offers convenient access to roads, parks, waterways, airports, and more.

Designed for compact, fit-in-your-pocket convenience, the eXplorist receiver measures just 4.6 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches (11,7 cm x 5,4 cm x 3,3 cm) and weighs less than 4 ounces (115 g), yet still has room for a large, 2.3-inch (5.8 cm), 4-level grayscale LCD. A zoom capability and an amber backlight ensure optimum viewing, even at night.

The unit's rugged exterior is cased in a rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell that is waterproof to the rigid IPX-7 standard. The eXplorist 200 is ready for adventure in all conditions and terrain, whether you'll be hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, or simply finding your way around a new area. ... Read more

Features

• TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver provides precise position fixes within 3 meters
• 2.3-inch, grayscale LCD offers zoom and an amber backlight; unit's rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell is waterproof to the IPX-7 standard
• Stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 5 track logs with up to 2,000 points each
• Built-in North American background map offers convenient access to roads, parks, waterways, airports, more
• 1-button control takes you to important functions like menu, nav screens, personal points-of-interest, "go to" routing, and backlight

Features

• Combination two-way radio and GPS receiver
• Radio specs: 14 FRS channels for 2-mile range, 7 GMRS channels for 5 mile range, 38 subcodes per channel, hands-free VOX,
• GPS specs: 12-channel, WAAS-enabled receiver, up to 500 waypoints, trip computer with speed tracking
• Beam location to another Rino user within a two-mile range using the FRS spectrum
• Basemap of North and South America that includes major cities, highways; 8 MB of memory for downloadable maps

Reviews (27)

Excellent GPS, Below Average Radio
I bought this device to cut down by one the number of electronic gizmos that I carry around while traveling with my family, not for its position transmission feature. After using the Rino I tink that the combination of radio and GPS in one device is an excellent idea in theory, but the execution of the idea in the Rino is flawed because of the poor performance of the radio.

The GPS in the Rino 120 is very similar if not identical to the Garmin etrex Legend and even the included basemap is useful for rough navigation. I found the GPS user interface to be quite intuitive. Further, the satellite reception was considerably better than I expected; surprisingly, I could get a 2d lock from inside my house. More memory would be nice for downloading MapSource maps, but really I don't have any substantive criticism of the GPS - this is what Garmin does, and does well, in the rest of its product line.

However, I was so disappointed in the performance of the Rino as a radio that I returned the unit. I'm an amateur radio operator and I well understand the limitations of FRS / GMRS in simplex (no repeater) operation. (If you didn't already know, those "2" and "5" mile maximum range claims that all radio manufacturers seem to make are obtainable only under the most favorable conditions and in the real world you will do well to get, at best, half of those distances.) Even within these limitations, the radio in the Rino is poor by comparison to good standalone FRS radios (We use Icom 4008A's).

When I was testing the Rino, I set it side by side in my house with my Icom and used both to scan the FRS channels for traffic. The Icom repeatedly picked up clearly audible conversations (by people using unknown types of FRS radios) that the Rino never heard. When I turned off the squelch on the Rino ("monitor mode") and set it to the channel the Icom stopped on, I could hear only the faintest echoes of transmissions that were clearly audible on the Icom. On a recent trip, I was using the Rino and was standing right next to my wife who was wearing an Icom. Another in our party called us from perhaps 1/2 mile away using his Icom. I could hear him clearly on my wife's radio while the Rino barely broke squelch and was unintelligible.

If your use for this device is heavy on the GPS side and light on the radio side, then I would consider it. If you are looking for a radio that incidentally contains a GPS, I would pass on the Rino for now, go for the Batman look and buy standalone GPS and FRS / GMRS devices. No, you won't have the position reporting feature this way, and that is one of the strongest points of the Rino. However, given that this feature is tied to the Rino's FRS performance, don't expect too much.

All in all, kudos to Garmin for this truly excellent idea, and I will certainly buy another release of the Rino in the future if Garmin will give us radio performance equivalent to their excellent GPS. Frankly, I would be willing to pay more for the unit if it had that kind of performance.

A combination long awaited
I was delighted to see the RINO models, as we found that carrying both a GPS and a separate radio while hunting was a real juggling act. This combination was an answer to prayers. I expect a significant number of my family and hunting friends will end up with these units.

Some of the reviews mentioned problems with radio compatibility with the Motorola FRS units. We have six of the Motorola units and have had no problems between them and the Garmin. I have also, so far, not had problems with battery life, and have used the unit in all combinations of operation. One hopes these problems were isolated events.

I find the RINO's operation to be very intuitive, little or no reference to the manual was necessary (though I have now read the entire thing). The unit is certainly the easiest of all the various GPS units I've used. This one even picks up signal while in our house, something no other unit I've seen has done.

A factor I had never considered with other units is how well the machine fits/holds in the hand.

So far, in our short association, I'm both very impressed and pleased with the machine. I would recommend it highly.

--------------------------
June 03.
The RINO and I have now been together for a number of months. It continues to be an excellent tool.

In addressing the reports of battery life and radio reception, I feel it necessary to report that I STILL have not had problems with battery life. I get two full days of 8-10 hour use from a set of batteries, with power left over.

Between my wife and kids, we have five different Motorola units and have zero problems communicating with them. Both my parents and my in laws have generic "no name" radio sets and the Rino also "talks" to them with zero problems. My unit has software version 2.10, and that may be a factor.

Awesome GPS, Average Radio
I bought the Rhino 120 for Hiking with my Daughter & we also ride quads & motorcycles on remote trails. The GPS was simply awesome. Accurate & easy to use the basic features, their are alot of features & I am still working on learning them. The basics are easy to learn so you don't get lost & it is easy to find your way back with the tracking & waypoints. We used the radio, however it did not seem to work that well with other brand FRS radio's. The range was very limited, but this may not be Rhino's fault, but rather the different brands of radio's, I did not get the opportunity to give a good range test on GMRS. Anyway, my riding buddy was so impressed he is going to get one as well. I am pleased.

Unit continually locks up
My unit is in Iraq in combat. We made the mistake of purchasing 30 of these units, 1 for each soldier and they are a disaster.

They lock up continually for no reason, whether using only the GPS or only the radio or both.

Our serial numbers indicate they are fairly new models and we have a series of them starting with 39914168, but I have talked with other owners of this unit here in country and they attest to the same problem.

Imagine you are on a combat patrol and you are using the Garmin as a commo device between the men of your team. You keep calling for the lead vehicle but he doesn't respond because his radio has locked up once again. He doesn't know this of course because the screen is still on (sometimes).

I'm more than disappointed, I'm kind of angry because we had the opportunity to buy Motorolas and the reliable Etrex Garmins which would have saved us nearly $100 per soldier and given us something reliable.

Amazing Power in a Small Package
When I ordered this product, I read many reviews and tried to get a good background of the Rino 120 to see if the product was worth purchasing. I have had 2 other GPS units, and still have an older GPS III from Garmin and really like the capabilities of that unit. The changes that have happened since purchasing the GPS III are truly amazing. The 120 is packed with so much stuff that I find out new things about it frequently. The greatest benefits (in my opinion) are having a gps and radio incorperated into one unit (less to carry). The Position Reporting is also a HUGE new deal. One can see all sorts of potential uses for Position Reporting - from military operations , to seach and rescue, to rounding up the kids on a camping trip. Other features include the moving map, an alarm clock, calender, and other little trinkets
After the initial position fix, satellite aquisition is much quicker than the old GPS III. Between SA being switched off and the new WAAS system, I have achieved accuracy (based on what the unit says, of course) of 7 feet.
Light and compact, battery usage is not as bad as I had figured, still on first set and my existing headset (motorola frs radios) works fine with this unit.
The only downsides to this unit are you have to watch Garmin's software update page for changes, I have owned the unit a month or two and have already done two updates, mind you the updates are free and the 120 comes with the data cable, while I think the 110 does not. The other thing I noticed is that the factory loaded basemap is somewhat crude - roads have been "straightened out" to make the map simplier - not really a surprise though from what I have seen with gps's and maping software.
Overall I think that the 120 is a fantastic new tool, with great new features. While pricey for a frs radio, it is fairly cheap for a maping GPS and (in my opinion again) a great price for a unit with both a radio and gps. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Magellan Meridian Color GPS receiver is just as at home navigating the highways and byways in your car as it is tracking through your favorite mountain trails. This top-of-the line GPS device features a preloaded 16 MB map database of North America, which can be augmented by detailed maps from optional CD-ROMs via the Secure Digital memory card slot. It also offers easy-to-read navigation screens, good-sized buttons and a thumb directional pad on the front, and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) for 3-meter accuracy.

Compared to Magellan's Sportrak line, the Meridian is bulkier both in weight (8.5 ounces with batteries compared to the Sportrak's 6.1 ounces) and overall dimensions--6.5 x 2.9 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D)--making it not quite as pocketable (unless you have cargo pants).

The bright color screen measures 2.2 x 1.75 inches and has a decent 160 x 120 pixel resolution with 16 colors. Compared with the staid monochrome screens of most GPS devices, the icons and mapping detail literally jumps off the screen. We found it to be nicely readable in the car and in most outside conditions, though it wasn't at its best in direct sunlight. As with cell phones in the car, you will have to be wary with your usage. The Meridian Color can be a bit distracting while you're driving as you have to read the screen for turning instructions (though there are audible prompts) rather than hear a voice providing directions (a feature of the Magellan Roadmate).

With a selected map region loaded into the memory (such as from the Mapsend DirectRoute CD-ROM), simply press the Goto button and select either a new or previously loaded waypoint or a point of interest (such as an airport or sports arena) to navigate to via a street route. After a bit of calculating, we were presented with a turn-by-turn journey that we could follow while driving. As we neared each turn, the Meridian Color emitted a set of beeps to warn us (which elevated to an urgent beeping when we were right on top of the turn). We used this to plot a course to Seattle's Space Needle, and it produced acceptable results (though, if you're familiar with the terrain, you may know better shortcuts). If you turn off the Meridian while following a route (say if you take a coffee break), you can return right back to it once you turn the device back on.

Magellan's Meridian series offers Secure Digital (SD) memory card expandability, which is a bonus for adding a large amount of map data (especially for long trips). However, we were disappointed at its placement within the device behind the batteries rather than an external slot. This won't be a problem for most users, but it will be annoying if you've got a number of maps spread across several cards.

We experienced good battery life during our test (Magellan boasts 13 hours of continuous use with 2 AA batteries). If you do plan on using it a lot in your vehicle, we recommend either purchasing the optional cigarette lighter power cable or using NiMH rechargeable batteries (which provide a typically longer battery duration as well as minimized cost in the long run).

Overall, we were pleased with this portable hybrid car/outdoor GPS receiver. The Meridian's color screen definitely helps with quickly viewing details while out hiking or mountain-biking, while the driving navigation features were indeed helpful in unknown locales. However, if you do plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should think about moving up to either Magellan's Meridian Color Traveler (which includes a street map CD-ROM, vehicle mounting bracket, and power adapter) or the Magellan Roadmate (with voice instruction). --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Color LCD is very readable--routes and icons pop off the screen
• Controls well laid out, navigation screens are intuitive (especially for new users)
• Optional mapping software is easy to use and transfer

• SD memory card slot not easily accessible
• We recommend a power adapter or NiMH batteries for extended car use

Features

• Full-color 120 x 160 pixel display; backlit for easy night-time use
• Uses WAAS technology for accuracy to within 3 meters or better
• 16 MB of built-in memory includes mapping of North America and unlimited expandability
• Rubber armored construction is impact resistant and waterproof
• Runs for up to 13 hours on 2 AA batteries; includes USB interface with cable

Reviews (12)

Feature rich, quality unit, color screen is a miss
I have used a downloaded mapping GPS since 1998 and use it extensively.

The pluses on the Meridian Color are: SD memory cards - I can finally carry the maps I need, uses only 2 AA batteries, well built and waterproof, searchable addresses, extensive points of interest, maps of Canada and parts of Europe, programmable navigation menus. I use a USB 2.0 SD card reader and a 256MB SD card and can quickly download 64 MB maps. Multiple maps can be stored on the SD card up to your storage limit. Using a card reader the map creation and storage process is done in a couple of minutes.

The misses: the color screen is not a helpful as I expected, in daytime use the screen is very dark and hard to see even with the backlight on draining the batteries quickly, still needs better waypoint management, the Topo maps are not a useful as I expected.

Good unit, but I would probably have been better off with the Meridian Gold due to the Color unit's hard to see screen.

Better than car-installed navigation systems
All the power of a car-installed navgiational system, but portable! Incredibly easy user interface. Display as many, or as few information screens as suits your needs. Color display is appealing to the eyes, but it's the functionality of this devise that makes it a must have.

Accessories available include carrying case, bicycle/auto mounts, additional memory, mapping software, all readily available. The unit is waterproof and floats which is a great feature if you're planning to use it while boating. Pocket size and lightweight makes it practical to carry with you anywhere.

Waited a long time to buy myself one of these units, and glad I am that I waited. The Meridian color is Magellan's flagship handheld GPS unit. You won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Warning: Product does NOT meet specifications
When I first got the unit, I loved it. It appeared accurate, though it took a long time to acquire satellites at times. In fact, many times my Delorme Earthmate would acquire within 15 seconds, and the Meridian would take several minutes (while moving in a car sitting on the dash). The ability to use SD/MMC cards and load maps onto the unit was great for general usage. I used Magellan GPS for everything, from hiking, kayaking, driving, to boating.

HOWEVER, the specs say that the unit is IPX7 compliant, which means accidental submersion underwater for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water. I was in a kayak, got hit by a wave with the Meridian in my pocket, and was in less than 1 meter of water for less than 15 seconds, and water made it's way into the unit.

I sent Magellan/Thales navigation an email and gave them a call but was not given much help, even though I own multiple Magellan products (including the GPS companion, etc...). They noted that I could have it serviced for $150, which is what an new unit cost (this was not the platinum edition, but it is the same form factor and same case). All customer service would tell me is that sometimes water may enter through the keypad area. Well, if water enters through the keypad area, how can they advertise that it is IPX7 compliant?

I may be an isolated incident. However, with the customer service I received, I don't think I would ever buy another Magellan product, and will probably get rid of the rest of my Magellan products. I think the product design, features, usability, and intuitiveness is great, just the product does not perform up to expectations or promise. I would also consider customer service as well.

Meridian COLOR vs. PLATINUM
Display:
The COLOR has no-light/dim/bright, as does the PLATINUM. But the COLOR it is only usable with bright lights in daylight and dim during nighttime, with no lights you don't see anything. The Platinum w/o light has still an acceptable display and runs for about 8 hrs, the COLOR on bright runs slightly over 4 hrs (1.850 mAh).

Functionality:
The colored display is very helpful together with Topo Send. You can easily distinguish between different graphics by the color; like arroyos and dirt-roads, specially marked arreas and lakes, etc.
What is missing on the COLOR compared to the PLATINUM is the baro, thermo and the build in electronic compass (not gps dependent). I thermo and baro I found fun to play around with but never really found a serious application. The compass needs constant alignment and is often considerably off. For all those applications there is way better stuff out there.
The COLOR has the better software wich might be due to the fact that I downloaded the latest software to it (v. 5.12). After v. 5.xx there is supposed to be a street navigation function to it, which I haven't found yet- maybe only works with MapStreets.

Durability:
As I pointed out in my earlier review on the PLATINUM this unit is extremely rugged and highly reliable in the field. I figure so will be the COLOR.

Deficiencies:
The backtrack function is higly deficient. When you wanna walk back you have to hit every single point this function created on the way back. Often you don't do that because you do a shortcut. Neither one of those units does allow you to bypass one single point and from now it desperatly points back to the one point you might have missed by a couple of feets.

Map-Download:
has certain limitations which are discussed in some other reviews on this side. Even with the latest software I was only able to download 3 regions to one map, but 4 maps alltogether with a total of 120mb over my PDA (Card-Reader might be even better) by doing the following:

1. Without connecting your Meridian to a PC, begin the map Upload process (click Regions; then Upload to GPS).
2. When the map data conversion process is done, MapSend will display a message that it cannot find your GPS receiver to perform the download.
3. Stop the process here by selecting "Cancel".
4. Using Windows Explorer, go to Program Files/Magellan/MapSend/Export and locate the file called "maps.img".
5. Copy this file to the SD card using USB card reader. Do not create any folders within the SD card where you place this file. Your Meridian will always looks at the top, or "Root" level within the card.
6. Rename the file "XXXXXX.img" - Example (SO California.img).
7. Remove the card and place it in your Meridian. You can use your Meridian as you would normally from here. (If you have at least software version 3.12 loaded on your Meridian, you will be able to select a map image to use from the Card Utilities menu - Press MENU to find Card Utilities)

Verdict:

I do recommend both units, but do personally prefer the COLOR for its more consise display even considering the extra functions on the PLATINUM. Because of certain flaws in the software I give both a 4 out of 5.

A wonderful GPS worked great!
Just returned from a trip to Europe, and I have to say this GPS is stellar. I read some of the other comments below and let me offer some advice that clears up some of the problems.

The backlight is adjustable, there is Bright, Dim, and Off. You change from one to the other by holding the power key down for a few seconds.

There is a work around for the maps. I was able to download all of german, netherlands, italy, most of poland etc. You need an SD card programmer to do it, and either 128 mb or 64 mb cards. I needed 192mb total to store what I wanted. Each "Region" that you want to store has to be under 16mb. You can store up to 4 regions in a "Map". You can store as many maps as you want to the SD card, but you will need to rename them from "Region00." to "Region01", "Region02", etc. In this way you are able to store multiple 64 mb "Maps". You can change which map you are using by going to card utilities->select map. Waypoints and routes are stored in the GPS, so they will be sticky if you switch cards.

Using this method you can download all the maps you could possibly need during your trip, and not have to lug a laptop or any software around with you, maybe a couple of postage-stamp sized sd cards. Also note that you'll want to load at least 16mb of the European basemap onto each sd card if you will be using it in europe.

Be sure to format your SD cards before using them!

I think the unit would work with 512mb sd cards, but I don't have a 512mb card to test with.

Another important note is that magellan is releasing Turn-By-Turn software for this GPS this Month! It will retail @ 149.99 and if you do a cost comparison between the magellan and the garmin software, the magellan will now work out cheaper AND provide turn by turn routing with voice prompting (This is just a fantastic software upgrade, I can't believe it can be done without buying a new GPS. I will have to see how well it works when I receive my copy however.).

Some items that keep this from getting 5 stars:

Non-intuitive user interface for loading multiple maps (workaround described above)

Battery life - I went thru about 4 2100 maH AA batteries a day. I had the backlight auto-off set at two minutes, but wanted the gps on all the time to get accurate routing. I remember by GPS V goes for a couple days on one set of batteries, although it uses 4 batteries instead of two.

No compass - this makes it kind of tricky to navigate if you're walking. The directional arrow is frequently inaccurate, so you have to cross check the street that you are on. I'd love to see a screw on magnetic compass attachment for this unit. The sport-trak color has the compass, but only allows 10 or so MB of built in maps.

No built in auto routing - was kind of dismayed to find it didn't have this originally, but with the promised software upgrade, it should be good. I do feel that this should be built into the unit, as a I think every user out there would want it. $150 is a bit much to pay for software that should really be included with the unit.

Annoying alarm when battery reaches critical - There are some times that you don't want to advertise that you are carrying around an expensive device, and having the alarm go off in the middle of a subway or something could be dangerous. Didn't fully investigate if this can be turned off.

Difficult to tell which button you're pushing if it's in your pocket - a little bump on the power and enter buttons would help for unseen operation.

External connector is slow to connect disconnect - you have to turn a screw to connect the external car power or PC interface cables, which takes 60 seconds or so, maybe 30 when you get good. Very difficult to accomplish while driving.

Annoying alarm when external power lost in car - my car connector kept turning off when bumped with the hand, and then this alarm would go off. A single beep would suffice guys!

External power should turn off backlight saver automatically e.g. the backlight should stay on. (or better yet, seperate backlight saver mode for battery and external power). Ditto the auto-off functions although I wasn't using those.

Display - the display was pretty good, and the color definitely helps to clear up the map. Street names are a bit difficult to read and certain zoom levels, the detail level/zoom level threshoulds might need a bit of adjustment.

Antenna - Definitely works better when the gps top is pointed up. This is only my second GPS but it seemed a little less sensitive then my GPS V is.

Cursor - cursor didn't track correctly when entering in a street name where the second word of the street name caused it to wrap to the second line; the cursor remained on a blank square - annoying, no big deal.

German streets - geez, the first 17 characters are the same, can someone figure out how to do the UI so it is easier to get to the right street? I think using the up/down arrows to scroll thru the possible repeat characters would be much easier then the current methods. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Garmin's Foretrex 101 wrist-mounted WAAS-enabled GPS unit is the perfect navigational tool for a wide variety of outdoors enthusaists, from mountain bikers and hikers to kayakers. It's got all the features of the Foretrex 201, but it runs on 2 AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.Its six dedicated buttons (GoTo, Page, Enter/Mark, Up, Down and Power) make it easy to operate. It offers the most essential navigation data--enhanced GPS accuracy, extensive storage for waypoints, and reversible routes and tracks -- on an easy-to-read display. With the help of Garmin's exclusive TracBack technology, hikers can mark a campsite, go trekking all day, and follow the electronic "breadcrumb trail" back to camp in time for dinner. Because it's waterproof, the Foretrex 101 is a natural companion on watersport adventures like kayaking, canoeing, boating and sailing. It includes a sailboat racing timer, which enables you to configure the countdown sequence prior to the start of the race and utilize the GPS location to be in the best possible tacking position when the race begins.

The WAAS difference

100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. Less than 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.

WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.

How it Works
WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.

Who benefits from WAAS?
Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.

What's in the Box
GPSMAP 60C, PC/USB cable, lanyard, belt clip, manual and a one year warranty.

What's in the Box
Garmin Foretrex 101 GPS unit, wrist strap, expandable strap, and printed quick start guide and owners manual. ... Read more

Features

• Wrist-mounted GPS unit for outdoor navigation
• TracBack technology retraces hiking route for return to campsite
• 12 parallel channels; WAAS-enabled
• WAAS satellite coverage accurate to within 3 meters
• Easy-to-read display; runs on 2 AAA batteries; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (2)

Error in Amazon's Product description
The Garmin Foretrex 101 uses 2 AAA batteries, not 2 AA batteries as described in Amazon's product description.

A remarkable small device
I've been waiting for this to become available as a gift for my wife, an inveterate walker, but now I may have to buy another. I've been "testing" this wondrous gadget today--this is my first experience with any GPS--and am finding it to be both useful and remarkably easy to use. The unit is small enough to not get in the way while worn on the wrist/forearm, yet the screen is large enough and the display clear enough to use while on the move. I don't seem to be experiencing any difficulty getting GPS signal (I've set it for WAAS), and I've been having a great time driving back and forth over and across my trail all day.

Pros:
Clear, informative and responsive GPS!
Small and lightweight unit
Clear display
Easy to use pages and menus
Uses any AAA battery, alkaline or rechargeable

Cons:
The 101 does not come with a PC-connection cable, but even if it did, 9-pin Serial?! Ummmm... Has Garmin heard of USB?
Also, no hint of any sort of PC software is given in any of the documentation, so if I were to connect it via a serial port, what would I do with it? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

All other marine handheld GPS units pale when compared to the GPSMAP 76C. Under the hood, The 76C is a WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver with a built-in quad-helix antenna and remote antenna capability. State-of-the-art receivers and powerful microprocessors give you a quick and steady fix. On the outside, The GPSMAP 76C has the familiar GPS 76-family keypad and styling. The bouyant case is water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes). 115 MB of memory, an Americas Autoroute basemap with major interstates and highways, and a Marine Point database with navigational aids for North and South America are built in so users can be ready to go right out of the box. The unit is also compatible with Garmin's full line of mapping software for land and sea. Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port.

The 76C is easy on the eyes, too. The latest color-display technology featuring a 256-color, transreflective LCD gives the unit the brightest, sunlight-readable display available. The unit offers up to 30 hours of power on two AA alkaline batteries and there's no need to worry about data loss when the juice runs out. The 76C features permanent user-data storage; there's no memory battery required.

Other features include the ability to program 1000 user waypoints with name and graphic symbol, as well as track 50 reversible routes. The unit supports a wide range of position formats: Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and more. Audible alarms alert users for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint, and clock. A large-numbers option makes for easy viewing and a trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. A 10,000 point automatic track log with 20 saved tracks lets you retrace your path in both directions. Finally, built-in celestial tables suggest the best time to fish and offer sun and moon calculations.

What's in the Box
GPSMAP 76C unit, Americas AutoRoute basemap, Marine Points database, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager, carry lanyard, USB PC interface cable, owner's manual, quick start guide ... Read more

Features

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver; built-in quad-helix antenna with remote antenna capability
• 115-MB internal memory for loading MapSource detail, including marine cartography; USB connectivity for quick chart and map downloads
• Includes a built-in Americas Autoroute basemap with auto-routing capabilities, including highways, exits, and tide data; internal memory is also pre-loaded with a Marine Point database
• Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and more
• Trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more

Reviews (3)

Costly Marine Software
I have just received my new GPS 76C. It is a great unit. There is however a major downside. If you intend to use this for marine navigation and are looking at buying a BlueChart CD to download Charts, you only get one unlock code with your CD. This means that you can only use one of the region charts. Ie. if you are in the Eastern part of the Med, you can use your one free download to get the chart for this area. If you move to the West of the Med, you now need to buy another unlock code. These are far from cheap and will start costing you a fortune. Buy a Magellan GPS as the Marine CD is cheaper and you get all the charts for the region you purchased included and not have to buy each areas chart. I am now stuck with a GPS that I don't really want.

Works well in Sunlight
I bought this unit for GPS data collection. I choose it because of the 115mb internal memory and the 10,000 track points storage, WAAS capability, external antenna jack, USB port, ability to load maps, and color screen.

The screen is very readable in full sunlight, better than any I have seen. The rocker switch makes text entry for track and waypoint descriptions easy.

Managing Waypoints is a bit cryptic. This is because there is no function to bring up the waypoint list except the "Find" key.

At first I did not realize I could search by name, there are many submenus whith additioanl functions. I think it would work better if there was simply a WayPoints menu (there is one for Tracks, and one for Routes, why leave waypoints out?) rather than having to "Find" your waypoints.

The MapSource program allows for a DXF export, all I could get was 5 points and a single line. I had collected 7 tracks and 30 waypoints.

O.K., why is Garmin putting games on the GPS units? I would rather have the ability to easily manage waypoints or more tracks than 5 stupid games.

Without WAAS I was getting +/- 21 feet (7 meters) on top of a levee, and +/- 49 feet under canopy, at least thats what the screen said. I was able to collect track and waypoints under different levels of canopy, but I did notice I lost track points while circling a large riparian area with 40-50 foot trees.

Track points can be set to collect once per second, or by distance. The smallest distance is .1 mile, it would be better if it could go down to meters. Track display is very good.

Summary:

I like the unit, but Waypoint Management could be easier.

What would make it better?

1) Waypoint Management Menu screen
2) Allow more than 20 tracks

3) Pulldown box descriptions for Waypoints, Tracks, with user item entrys, like "tree", "River", so I don't have to enter every letter every time.

4) Remove corny games, why would you be playing these games at sea? This is a MARINE unit...

Difficult to manage Waypoints
I bought this unit for GPS data collection. I choose it because of the 115mb internal memory and the 10,000 track points storage, WAAS capability, external antenna jack, USB port, and color screen.

The screen is very readable in full sunlight, better than any I have seen. The rocker switch makes text entry for track and waypoint descriptions easy.

However, once you have waypoints marked it is extremely difficult to delete them. This is because there is no function to bring up the waypoint list except the "Find" key. If you have waypoints far-away from you, you cannot delete them because you can only "find" waypoints near your current position.

Well, mine came with 2 waypoints outside of the United States, one was Garmin Europe, the other Garmin Taiwan. These points do not show up if I use the find function as they are too far away.

I see no way to delete these waypoints. Also, since there is no Waypoint management screen, you have to delete the waypoints you can find one at a time.

The MapSource program does not allow you to delete the waypoints, so how do you get rid of Garmin's headquarters?

This seems like a very ridiculous limitation for a NEW GPS unit in this price range.

The MapSource program allows for a DXF export, all I could get was 5 points and a single line. I had collected 7 tracks and 30 waypoints.

O.K., why is Garmin putting games on the GPS units? I would rather have the ability to manage waypoints than 5 stupid games.

Without WAAS I was getting +/- 18 feet (at least thats what the screen said). I was able to collect track and waypoints under canopy, but I did notice I lost track points while circling a large riparian area.

Track points can be set to collect once per second.

Summary:

I like the unit, but not being able to easily manage waypoints is a major limitation.

What would make it better?

1) Ability to Delete all waypoints
2) Waypoint Management Menu screen
3) Allow more than 20 tracks
4) Remove corny games, why would you be playing these games at sea? This is a MARINE unit...

Suggestion:

If you are looking for a GPS unit for Data Collection, this ain't it. Unit has the potential to be a great tool, but un-professional limitations restrict its use to a fancy toy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

There's a lot to Magellan's small, cool eXplorist 300 handheld GPS navigation device beyond its vibrant blue exterior. Inside and out, the eXplorist is built to provide real GPS (global-positioning system) abilities for serious outdoor use--from its tough, impact-resistant, waterproof exterior to Magellan's proven, powerful, and easy-to-use technology. The eXplorist 300 rewrites the rules by proving you can spend less and actually get more.

The eXplorist 300 includes all-new Magellan TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver to provide precise position fixes within 3 meters while ensuring reliable, accurate satellite-signal acquisition and tracking. Small, lightweight and easy-to-use, anyone can pick it up and get going without studying a manual. Among its many features, the eXplorist 300 offers 3 navigation screens with track plotting to help you find the fun--then find your way back.

Explorers will appreciate Magellan's 1-button access, which takes you directly to the functions that matter most: the menu, navigation screens, personal points-of-interest, "go to" routing, and backlight. In addition, the eXplorist 300 stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 5 track logs with up to 2,000 points each, providing ample storage even for avid navigators.

The unit also supplies a built-in North American background map, which offers convenient access to roads, parks, waterways, airports, and more. Going beyond the step-down eXplorist 200, the 300 adds a trio of handy tools to simplify navigation: a barometer, an altimeter, and an electronic compass, which frees you from needing to be in motion to get a direction to a destination.

Designed for compact, fit-in-your-pocket convenience, the eXplorist receiver measures just 4.6 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches (11,7 cm x 5,4 cm x 3,3 cm) and weighs less than 4 ounces (115 g), yet still has room for a large, 2.3-inch (5.8 cm), 4-level grayscale LCD. A zoom capability and an amber backlight ensure optimum viewing, even at night.

The unit's rugged exterior is cased in a rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell that is waterproof to the rigid IPX-7 standard. The eXplorist 300 is ready for adventure in all conditions and terrain, whether you'll be hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, or simply finding your way around a new area. ... Read more

Features

• TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver provides precise position fixes within 3 meters
• 2.3-inch, grayscale LCD offers zoom and an amber backlight; unit's rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell is waterproof to the IPX-7 standard
• Stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 5 track logs with up to 2,000 points each
• Built-in North American background map offers convenient access to roads, parks, waterways, airports, more
• Offers a barometer, an altimeter, and an electronic compass, which frees you from needing to be in motion to get a direction to a destination

Amazon.com Product Description

There's a lot to Magellan's small, cool eXplorist 100 handheld GPS navigation device beyond its vibrant orange exterior. Inside and out, the eXplorist is built not merely to be budget conscious, but to provide real GPS (global-positioning system) abilities for serious outdoor use--from its tough, impact-resistant, waterproof exterior to Magellan's proven, powerful, and easy-to-use technology.

The eXplorist 100 includes all-new Magellan TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver to provide precise position fixes within 3 meters while ensuring reliable, accurate satellite-signal acquisition and tracking. Small, lightweight and easy-to-use, anyone can pick it up and get going without studying a manual. Among its many features, the eXplorist 100 offers 3 navigation screens with track plotting to help you find the fun--then find your way back.

Explorers will appreciate Magellan's 1-button access, which takes you directly to the functions that matter most: the menu, navigation screens, personal points-of-interest, "go to" routing, and backlight. In addition, the eXplorist 100 stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 3 track logs with up to 2,000 points each, providing ample storage even for avid navigators.

Designed for compact, fit-in-your-pocket convenience, the eXplorist receiver measures just 4.6 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches (11,7 cm x 5,4 cm x 3,3 cm) and weighs less than 4 ounces (115 g), yet still has room for a large, 2.3-inch (5.8 cm), 4-level grayscale LCD. A zoom capability and an amber backlight ensure optimum viewing, even at night.

The unit's rugged exterior is cased in a rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell that is waterproof to the rigid IPX-7 standard. The eXplorist 100 is ready for adventure in all conditions and terrain, whether you'll be hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, or simply finding your way around a new area. ... Read more

Features

• TrueFix technology with a 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver provides precise position fixes within 3 meters
• 2.3-inch, grayscale LCD offers zoom and an amber backlight; unit's rubber-armored, impact-resistant shell is waterproof to the IPX-7 standard
• Stores up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and 3 track logs with up to 2,000 points each
• 1-button control takes you to important functions like menu, nav screens, personal points-of-interest, "go to" routing, and backlight
• View speed, direction, and distance to destination on 3 easy-to-view navigation screens

Amazon.com Product Description

Building on its strong multimedia foundation, PalmOne's Zire 72 GPS Bundle provides all the navigation equipment and software you need to easily get you to new destinations. This GPS Bundle includes TomTom Navigator mapping software for the U.S. and Canada, Bluetooth GPS receiver, vehicle mounting cradle, and a 64 MB Secure Digital card for map storage. The first Palm OS-based PDA that can capture both digital video with sound and shoot digital still photos, the Zire 72 also features a bright 320 x 320-pixel color screen, voice recording capability, an MP3 player, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a 32 MB memory, and a fast 312 Mhz Intel PXA270 processor. And, of course, the Zire 72 features Palm's suite of information management applications and the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). It's also available without the GPS Bundle in the original blue version and silver special edition.

GPS Bundle Features
This GPS Bundle provides you with reliable and easy-to-follow maps voice-guided turn-by-turn instructions that enable you to focus on driving to your destination without stopping to study and refold a map. It includes a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver, which sits on your car's dash and triangulates your position using at least three satellites. This real-time location data is transferred to the Zire 72 via a wireless Bluetooth connection and is displayedin either a 2D or 3D map.

The maps are provided by TomTom Software, and this GPS Bundle includes 8 CD-ROMs with complete road maps of the U.S. and Canada. Special features include a wide array of street-level and highway maps, customized door-to-door navigation and voice-guided turn-by-turn instructions.

Also included with this GPS Bundle is a charging adapter/cable for both the Zire 72 and the GPS receiver that fits in your car's cigarette lighter, a vehicle mounting cradle that can attach to your windshield via a suction cup, and 64 MB Secure Digital card for storing maps.

Built-in Camera
The back of the Zire 72 holds the built-in still and video camera, which does not require you to slide the back of the PDA to activate it (like the Zire 71 did). You can shoot video with sound turned on or off at 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 15 frames per second. Justuse the handheld screen to frame the video, tap the "record" button on the display, then save your video to an optional expansion card after tapping the "stop" button.

For still photography, it features a 1.2-megapixel CMOS sensor with a fixed focus range of about five feet and a 2x digital zoom. It captures up to 1280 x 960 pixel images, as well as 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 resolution modes.The camera also offers such customized image setting controls as white balance, brightness, saturation, contrast, and sharpness. You can also add date stamp or effects like sepia, black and white, and blue.

Audio
The included RealPlayer for Palm OS enables you to listen to MP3 music files stored on optional expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Zire 72 or, for stereo sound, using optional stereo headphones or ear buds.

With the built-in digital voice recorder, you can create voice memos, then synchronize them to your desktop PC and email them to friends and colleagues.

Display
The Palm Zire 72 features a 16-bit, 320 x 320 bright transflective TFT color display, which supports more than 65,000 colors.

Connectivity and Expansion
With the built-in wireless Bluetooth connectivity, you can synchronize the Zire 72 with Bluetooth-enabled computer from across the room (within a range of 10 meters, or approximately 30 feet). But that's just the start. Using a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone, you can send and receive email and connect to the web, send multimedia (MMS) or text (SMS) messages, and even automatically dial any number in your handheld's Contact's application. You can also synchronize data the "old-fashioned" way via the mini-USB connection at the base of the handheld.

The Zire 72 uses Multimedia Card and Secure Digital expansion cards, which instantly add software applications, additional memory, large databases, and more without taking up built-in memory space.

Operating System and Software
The Zire 72 is powered by Palm OS 5.2.8, which provides higher performance, enhanced multimedia features, support for Bluetooth connectivity and networking, and enterprise-class security. It useses the intuitive and easy-to-learn Graffiti 2 writing software to input data into the handheld (as well as an on-screen keyboard). Windows users can synchronize calendar, contacts, tasks and notes with Microsoft Outlook. The Palm OS features the following organizer applications:

• Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and it adds new contact fields for more phone numbers, multiple email addresses, instant messenger IDs, and a website for your contacts.
• Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due and important email, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your Calendar in the Agenda, Day, Week, and Month views. Take more notes, or synchronize more details from your desktop, into the larger Memos and Notes fields on the handheld.
• Tasks: Use tasks with alarms and repeating tasks to set reminders for important commitments.

Along with the standard Palm software, you'll receive a Software Essentials CD-ROM containing PalmOne's VersaMail, Web Pro, Messages (SMS/MMS), Palm Reader, Documents To Go Standard Edition, Acrobat Reader, Solitaire, powerOne Personal Calculator, and Audible Player for palmOne handhelds (Windows only).

Compatibility
The Palm Zire 72 is compatible with PCs running Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me, and XP, and with Macs running Mac OS 9, version 9.1 or higher, or Mac OS X, version 10.2 or 10.3.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Zire 72 handheld, built-in rechargeable battery, carrying case, mini-USB HotSync cable, power cable, stylus, CD-ROM with Palm Desktop 4.1 software for Windows and Macs (as well as bonus software), and printed Getting Started guide. The GPS Bundle contents include Bluetooth GPS receiver, vehicle mounting cradle, cigarette lighter adapter/cable, 8 TomTom Navigator CD-ROMs with U.S./Canada road maps, and a 64 MB Secure Digital memory card.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of between 3 and 4.5 hours depending on screen brightness settings and usage. ... Read more

Features

• Bright, 320x320 transflective TFT color display supports more than 65,000 colors
• GPS Bundle includes Bluetooth receiver, complete 3D road maps of U.S. and Canada, vehicle mounting cradle
• Integrated 1.2 MP digital camera that also shoots video; Palm OS v5.2.8; 32 MB RAM (24 MB actual storage)
• Expansion slot that supports MMC, SD, and SDIO memory cards
• Palm Desktop Software for Windows and Mac and Software Essentials CD included

Features

• Helps increase the GPS signal reception of your Magellan Meridian Color navigation device
• Works in the most demanding environments
• Perfect for use on boats or RVs
• Features a built-in signal amplifier and 9-foot antenna cable
• Easy to install

Features

• Portable GPS Pocket PC navigation system with SmartST V2 3D View
• Voice Navigation/Mapping and Route Guidance software

Reviews (1)

Incredibly useful device
I've wanted an in-car navigation system for a long time, but was put off by their high cost and non-portability. I was pretty excited to see this Navman unit - at last a totally portable driving navigation gps, that I could use hiking, driving or boating at a reasonable price.

The unit is well constructed and does not 'feel cheap'. It is very small/thin, but has a beautiful bright display. The screen really is nice. The maps (Australia in my case) come pre-loaded on a 128mb SD Card. They also come on CD if you want to use the SD Card for other things. It comes with a sturdy windscreen suction attachment, car charger, wall charger, slip cover and USB cable.

The small flip-out antenna can lock onto satellites when I'm inside my house! I was concerned I would need an external antenna for the car, but I've yet to encounter any difficulty with getting sattelite locks.

The Navman unit is actually a rebadged Mitac Mio 168 (first Pocket PC to include a built-in GPS receiver), which has received very good reviews. The primary difference is that the Navman comes with SmartST mapping software. Unfortunately, this may not be a such good thing. The SmartST software is great to use - the 3D street maps are fabulous, and it's very easy & intuitive to enter in addresses or search for location 'types'. However, it is *NOT* possible to enter waypoints or GPS coordinates, so it is not suitable for geocaching out-of-the-box (what a shame). There are 3rd party PocketPC programs that you can use for geocaching.

The voice prompting is loud and clear, and location accuracy seems to be quite good. I've been driving around the city of Brisbane for the last few days, and only had one 'error' with the directions (I was on a service road a few metres away from a highway - it thought I was on the highway). Roundabouts are handled well (ie. it will say "On the roundabout, take the second exit"). If you make a wrong turn, it auto-calculates a new route very quickly.

As it is a PocketPC, it comes with "Office" type software, such as PocketExcel, PocketWord, an MP3 player, games etc. Since I've never used a PDA before, I didn't realise how versatile they were. It's amazing how many 3rd party software packages are available. It now seems crazy to buy a dedicated GPS or car navigator when integrated gps PDA's like the Navman are available. If you've put off buying a GPS, take a look at the Navman PiN - highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Imagine a cross between a walkie talkie and a Star Trek communicator, that's the best way to understand the Garmin's Rino 110. Not just a powerful GPS receiver, this two-way radio can even track your friends and transmit your location to others. These innovative features and low price makes it ideal whether hiking, hunting, playing paintball or just checking up on your kids.

100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. Less than 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.

About the size of a small cordless phone, the bright-yellow and black Rino 110 has two fixed antennas coming out of the top. One antenna lets you talk at up to two miles using 14 FRS (Family Radio Service) channels. It also can communicate across 8 GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channels, offering up to 5 miles of range, though this requires an FCC license.

The other antenna offers the advanced WAAS-enabled GPS tracking you'd expect from Garmin (see chart at right). Using the large 160 x 160 pixel backlit display you can save up to 20 different routes and 500 waypoints in the unit's 1 MB of memory. Plus, in addition to the built-in cities database, you can even upload maps from Garmin's Points of Interest CD with an optional adapter.

The fun really starts when you combine these two features. The Rino can transmit its location to others at up to two miles and track up to 50 contacts simultaneously. So, for instance, you can display a map on the screen with the names and locations of all of your friends, or select a friend and have the Rino guide you to their location.

The Rino's graphical interface makes it easy to control its myriad functions with a 5-way cursor, similar to those found on laptop keyboards, which lets you move quickly across the menu screens. This waterproof device runs on 3 AAA batteries.

Once you use the Rino 110, it's hard to imagine purchasing a two-way radio without GPS functionality, the two features go so well together. --Ken Feinstein

Pros:

• Two-way radio with GPS functions
• FRS and GMRS support
• Waterproof
• Large backlit display

• 1 MB memory not upgradeable

Features

• Combination two-way radio and GPS receiver
• Radio specs: 14 FRS channels for 2-mile range, 7 GMRS channels for 5 mile range, 38 subcodes per channel, hands-free VOX,
• GPS specs: 12-channel, WAAS-enabled receiver, up to 500 waypoints, trip computer with speed tracking
• Beam location to another Rino user within a two-mile range using the FRS spectrum
• Waterproof construction, includes lanyard and belt clip

Reviews (6)

Rhino in Iraq
OUTSTANDING to say the least. I carried a Rhino 110 for a year during operation Iraqi Freedom. It suffered more abuse in this year than any normal person would subject it to in 2 lifetimes. The radio performed well when other handheld radios failed from abuse and dirt. The GPS is user friendly and proved to be as accurate or more accurate than Army issue. I personally know at least 20 other soldiers who are using either Rhino 110s or 120s here who are equally satisfied with this piece of equipment. The only hiccup I have found so far is the unit will shut down from a sharp blow, but it will always power up again.

Nice radio/gps for geocaching
Nice radio/gps for the price. I bought two of these radios and the position reporting feature is really neat. I also like the polling fearure which allows you to locate another radio without them sending their location. This of course must be enabled in the settings. Navigating through the menu is relatively easy. Reading the manual does help though. Range is as expected...I usually get at least 1 mile outdoors. Garmin also updates the software which you can download from their website which fix minor issues. You must buy the serial cable to do this. The unit is also waterproof, not just "water resistant". Battery life is about 15 hrs using the gps and radio at the same time. You can turn off the gps or radio if you want to use only one. I'm very happy with my purchase. These are good quality gps/radios.

Middle of the road...
The Garmin Rino 110 occupies an awkward middle ground between being an
interesting toy and a serious tool for the outdoors. On the one hand
the idea of melding together GPS and radio communications via FRS/GMRS
is dynamite. Unfortunately the devil is in the details when it comes
down to actually using them. As others have noted the 110 can be
quite finicky about battery life, and even a slight jostle can cause
the units to shut down. There's also the issue of range. I have
found that best way to use the 110 is for car-to-car communication, or
within the controlled distances inside of a campground. I would be
very careful before trusting the 110 in a real "hardcore" outdoor
situation.

Within those limits the 110 is a nifty little device. I am quite keen
to see that the folks at Garmin come up with next. I for one would be
willing to pay more for a unit that is more "ruggedized" or requires a
license but gives you more radio output power in return (and removes
the FCC restriction about sending GPS data at GMRS power levels).
Also a more clever approach with regard to batteries/power management
would be a huge plus.

Too Dang Confusing
I had hoped that I could take these out of the box and start GPSing. Apparently you have to read the manual. Not a good start. So I get out the manual and start reading. I learn how to get a name and an icon for myself and whoever I would like to keep track of. OK. But I still can't keep track of anyone or determine my position in any meaningful way. I tried to use these out on a lake where I was looking at a boat with one and I had one on my boat, but I still couldn't figure out where they were using the gps.
The radio is ok. It works. But radios you can get for about 50 bucks at Wal Mart.
Really, what I wanted these things for is to keep track of my daughter when we traveled to Disney World or NYC etc. So far they are worthless for that purpose. At least they are not any better than a pair of MUCH less expensive radios.
I am not a tech geek or anything but I like to think that I am reasonably intelligent. But after hours of reading the manual and trying to figure it out it was still just too damn confusing.

Fun Toy, Awkward Tool
These radios cram a lot of great features in a package that almost fits in a pocket. And the price isn't bad for the combination of a decent radio and an adequate GPS, especially when you can do neat things like broadcast your position to other Rinos so that it appears on their GPS map display. But all these great features only really work if you are paying close of attention. There are simply too many features to use conveniently as part of any real outdoor activity. A superb, well thought out user interface might solve the problem, but that's not what you get with this product -- not by a long shot. Garmin has done a decent workmanlike job with its menus and buttons, but it simply isn't nearly enough to save these from being much more than toys.

Two further points worth noting. The longer range GMRS radio does not broadcast location information, and in order to use GMRS you must apply for a license with the FCC, involves a fee and several very confusing forms. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get all the information you need for hiking, climbing, or skiing with the Suunto Xlander Wristop Computer. The Xlander is a watch, altimeter, barometer, and compass in a stylish aluminum body with a carbon-fiber back and mineral crystal glass. It comes with a weatherproof black leather wristband and is built to be waterproof even if submerged up to 100 feet.

When traveling in the wilderness, knowing your environment is essential. Suunto X-Lander is packed with solutions enabling safe and responsible decisions. With the accurate electronic compass you can find your way whether hiking in the most demanding weather conditions or just strolling around in a foreign city. With the help of the barometric functions you receive essential information for forecasting the weather changes, which enables you to stay one step ahead of the storm.

The watch displays day, time, and date with three programmable alarms plus a stopwatch and countdown timer. Additional features on this model include a user-configurable logbook, complete calendar clock, and advanced memory functions.

The altimeter features a range up to 9,000 meters (29,500 feet), which puts all 14 of the world«s 8000+ meter summits within your range. It has also an adjustable altitude alarm, as well as different memory functions. With the logbook function you can record total and cumulative vertical ascents and descents, as well as the number of runs skied. Also view your ascent/descent rate in feet per minute. (All measurements are also available in metric units.)

The electronic compass displays the cardinal or half-cardinal point and the North-South arrow and can display bearings with 3-degree accuracy. You can also set it to track a certain bearing, which helps you follow a chosen direction in the terrain. The declination adjustment function allows you to correct the difference between the true North and magnetic North.

Suunto X-Lander displays the current barometric pressure and temperature as well as the pressure-related data for the past four days. It also shows you the present sea level pressure, which makes it easier to read and understand the barometric pressure at high altitudes. The barometer allows you to measure the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, absolute pressure, and a difference measurement to follow changes in barometric pressure and temperature.

The Xlander comes with a user-replaceable battery, which lasts up to 18 months, and a low-battery indicator. It is covered by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box This package contains the Suunto X-Lander wrist-top computer and printed instruction manual. It is backed by a one-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Watch, altimeter, barometer, and compass in 1
• Top-quality craftsmanship--aluminum casing with carbon-fiber back, mineral crystal glass, and leather band
• User-configurable log book, complete calendar clock
• Altimeter with 24-hour memory and log book, bubble level for accurate compass readings
• Features 3 alarms, stopwatch, and countdown timer

Reviews (6)

A Fantastic Gadget for those of us who like Cool stuff
I collect watches, and I am NOT one to shy away from big watches, and in some cases, the bigger the better. What I really love about the X-Lander is that it is big but also very light-weight. Normally when you see a wrist watch this large you have to exercise your arm quite a bit just to get used to telling time, but not so with the X-Lander. And best of all: it does WAY MORE than just tell time!

Interested in knowing where you are going? How about the current temperature? Are you just the slightest bit interested in what your current altitude may be? GO BUY THIS WATCH! 'Course for those Suunto enthusiasts, this ISN'T a watch, its a Wristop Computer that just so happens to be able to tell time. Unlike the Suunto Observer which is about half the size (and more than a little extra spendy), this baby will do all that and still look great doing it. From the 3 different Suunto models I personally own, I must admit that they make a great wristop computer, or for the picky out there, watch. I mostly use mine to tell simple time, but I must say that as I drive over the mountains up to Montana or over to Oregon and Washington, it IS handy to know a few extra details just by looking down at my wrist. Oh, I almost forgot the barometer! It tracks the barometric pressure and helps you track and even predict the weather! I must say that I haven't been able to figure out the finer points of how to do that just yet, but I AM working on it.

I guess if I HAD to point out one flaw, I would say that the night-glo feature it comes with isn't all that bright, and the alarm could stand to be louder -- but it IS about 5 TIMES more audible than the absolutely embarassing alarm built into the Observer. Other than these minor complaints, I whole-heartedly endorse pretty much everything manufactured by Suunto, and especially the models I own, the X6HR, The Observer and of course the X-Lander. Sylish, multi-functional and quite durable. Choose one of these models and you will no doubt be as satisfied as I am.

Reliable, rugged, clear and easy to use
I've had this watch for 2yrs+ now and have just changed the (user serviceable) battery for the first time, as the compass had stopped working. This is to be expected as it uses more power than the other functions (but it does have auto-off in the compass mode after a time to save energy). There is no bubble level on this model as it has a mineral crystal glass instead of the usual plastic. I have knocked this watch so many times against things and there are many surface 'threads' you can see given the right light, but no truly visible damage, like big gouges or cracks like the plastic would show. The logbook feature is a great asset. Based on a rolling record (oldest record deleted when the memory becomes full), the logbook records Altitude and can be set to different sample rates (e.g. depending on whether you are walking, climbing, driving, etc.) and includes a record of greatest height. The logbook cannot be deleted (but as stated records over itself) but the max height can be reset independantly. The backlight is a little dim, but fine to keep your night vision, and the temperature does not compensate for being on or off your wrist (like some Casio models can). For a large watch (you won't lose it!) it is quite lightweight, with an aluminium case and carbon shell it also looks great. The new Ti models do not have the same clarity of display though so I would say stick to this screen size, but maybe get the heart rate monitor (HRM) model if you also exercise (cycle, etc) - it's only a small premium and it *is* a Polar model! I imagine the batteries might last less time due to the HRM receiver, but this at least is user-serviceable (and retains the watches environmental integrity, unlike changing a Casio battery). The only sad thing is the screenprinted/anodised(?) graphics for the points of the compass rose are wearing off - Suunto take note, laser etch/engrave them next time!! Sighting grooves in the bezel would be useful too, for taking bearings, but at least the bezel stays smooth as silk on this model as it has ball bearing detents rather than the friction-based ring the plastic housings have which stiffen up so you can't use them.

A few minor details aside (like a strap not long enough to go over your coat - just get an velcro Animal strap - and the print wearing off, and maybe the price), this is a cracking product, rated up there with the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS :-)

If you want a barometer, altimeter, compass, thermo & HRM in a decent, reliable, user-friendly package, this is it!

Bought and returned
I bought this watch and found it to be too big. Even though its smaller than earlier models it still takes up too much room on my wrist. Be sure you try one before ordering online.

Solid and durable time piece.
A well engineered and durable time piece. The X-Lander lived up to its expectation. I bought this watch new in July 2001 and proceeded to take it on 3 month expedition to Chile. During this time it got dropped down the side of a mountain, trodden on, baked, frozen and accidently dived down to 40 meters and it came through with only a few minor scratches. Compass and Altimeter very accurate. Excellent tool for trekking in the Laguna San Rafael National Park. My only critisism is the Barometer that makes weather prediction a bit awkward and it's size. It's a bit big to fit under gloves/jacket sleeves. Anyway, a very useful tool. B.T.W: Wesley Fine... How does it measure altitude in a pressurized aircraft???!!!

Supreme acurracy from this small suunto device
This time piece rocks with accuracy in the mountains of + or - 10 meters it is very useful for expeditions in unchartered territory.
Short of having maps programmed into it, it can be used in confidence in conjuction with a map to more easily work out where you are located and the compass is beneficial to assist in getting from point A to B.
Coupled with this accuracy its robust design means at can be taken anywhere without damage or breakage.
Additionally the barometer functions assist comprehensively in predicting weather patterns as well as adjustment to altimeter settings.
Their are two quams however with this instrument:
1. The Compass is very sensitive to movements off the horizontal plane i.e accurate readings can only be taken off flat and still locations. Approximate directions can be taken when the watch is on the wrist but the equipment is far more accurate when in its horizontal and still state.
2. When operation occurs in certain weather patterns (e.g Cyclonic and rain depression or Anti-Cyclonic conditions)when the barometer is at both extremes of the pressure scale requires adjustment to reset correct altimeter conditions and hence changing weather conditions will affect the accuracy of the altimeter.
Overall, a fine timepiece for any outdoorsmen who requires accuracy, consistency and reliability. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For all serious outdoor activities, the Suunto Vector watch provides everything you need when hiking, climbing, back country skiing, or traveling through any tough terrain.

With a range of up to 29,500 ft, the altimeter works within all fourteen of the over-8000 meter summits in the world. Altitude difference measurement can follow vertical progress between stages, an automatic 24-hour memory stores the altitude and ascent/descent rate for every hour, and the watch also features an adjustable altitude alarm, among other memory functions. The logbook lets you record both total and cumulative vertical ascents and descents, and the number of runs you've skied while on the slopes. Total displays include altitude, vertical speed, altitude alarm, logbook, vertical difference measurement, automatic 24 hour altitude memory, temperature compensation. Its logbook capacity is 8 kB, recording intervals of 20 seconds, 1 minute, 10 minutes, and 60 minutes, with respective times 16.5 hours, 50 hours, 20 days, and 125 days.

Current barometric pressure and temperature is also displayed to help forecast weather changes. The Vector automatically records barometric data for the past four days: the first six hours in one-hour intervals, then in six-hour intervals after that. It can also show the present sea level pressure, for greater understanding of barometric pressure at high altitudes. Total displays include sea level pressure, absolute pressure, pressure difference, pressure trend indicator, 4-day barometric memory, and temperature.

The Vector's electronic compass uses cardinal or half-cardinal points, and the North-South arrow. It can also be set to track a specific bearing, to keep you on direction in more remote terrain. There's also a declination adjustment that lets the user correct the difference between true North and magnetic North.

When used simply as a watch, the Suunto Vector also displays the time in 12 or 24-hour format, with three daily alarms, a calendar pre-programmed through the year 2089, and a stopwatch with split time measurement and a countdown timer. The watch features an electro-luminescent backlight, and a user-replaceable battery. ... Read more

Features

• Altimeter
• Thermometer
• Electronic Compass
• Time
• New Color!

Reviews (1)

suunto vector
FOR ANYONE WHO HIKES CAMPSOR ENJOYS THE OUTDOORS-THEVECTOR IS THE ITEM TO HAVE=THE COMPASS IS SPOT ON ANDEASILY CALIBRATED=BAROMETER ISVERY USEFUL IF OUT AND ABOUTIN *IFY*WEATHER AS WILL GIVEYOU TIME TO GET SAFELY LOCATED=ALTIMETER IS A LITTLE DIFFICULTTO UNDERSTAND BUT ONCE YOUKNOW IT IS AFFECTED BY BAROMETERYOU CAN JUDGE ACCURACY ACCORDINGLY==OVERALL A GREATITEM FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES THEOUTDOORS== ... Read more

Features

• Requires ownership of Magellan Roadmate GPS device