Timing is everything
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17 years
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I did a lot of reading to determine which GPS to buy and settled on the nuvi 750. I am very happy with it except for one thing, the mapping game.
I wanted to buy the GPS for Christmas but decided to wait until January to take advantage of price reductions. That part worked out O.K. I bought my unit on January 28th and registered the same day. With map version 2008 inside I thought I would be fine for at least one or two years. Then in February I read that a new map 2009 was being released. Great, I thought, that should be free right?
Well, No!!!! It seems that Garmin knows how to play the game better then me. Sell what you can around Christmas 2007 with a map version 2008, then wait to release the new one, 2009, at the end of April 2008 and only give free update to the people who bought in the last 30 days after most of the year end sales are over.
Nowhere did I read that Garmin plays the game this way. If only I had known I could have waited an extra couple of months.
So!!! for all you new GPS buyers out there, here is my advice. Buy now for the 2009 maps. If you have not bought by August of this year try to wait until April of 2009. You win two ways. The unit will be cheaper and the map will be the most recent.
I learned my lesson the hard way.
Do like some have
Some of the users have done things like that so they have taken them back to the store(IF your return policy will let you) get another one, register it and then get your free upgrade, but then it again. depends on the return policy.
Jerry...Jacksonville,Fl Nüvi1450,Nuvi650,Nuvi 2495 and Mapsource.
alrom45 wrote: With map
With map version 2008 inside I thought I would be fine for at least one or two years.
My (older by a couple of months) c340 has the 2008 map, and I think I AM fine for at least one or two years.
Ted in Ohio, c340, 1490T with lifetime maps
get what you paid for
Sorry that you feel gipped by Garmin, to me is a matter of necessity rather than timing, if I need one today why should I wait until next year to get the latest map, I have bough many fine cars at the end of the model year and with the savings never felt that I was taken advantage of even if the following year models had more features than mine.
As you stated the one you bought was at a reduced priced and manufacturers normally lower their price to clear inventory or when changing features, I guess you wanted the cake and eat it too.
Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV
Don't we all?
Sorry that you feel gipped by Garmin, to me is a matter of necessity rather than timing, if I need one today why should I wait until next year to get the latest map, I have bough many fine cars at the end of the model year and with the savings never felt that I was taken advantage of even if the following year models had more features than mine.
As you stated the one you bought was at a reduced priced and manufacturers normally lower their price to clear inventory or when changing features, I guess you wanted the cake and eat it too.
I purchased my Garmin from Costco because of their return policy. If you find a better deal take it back and get the better deal..
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ
Can the maps be copied?
Can maps be copied from the main memory to the SD card? (Then from the SD card to the main memory of your old unit?) If so, you could buy a new one (for another car) and use it to update the old one...
Nope
Can maps be copied from the main memory to the SD card? (Then from the SD card to the main memory of your old unit?) If so, you could buy a new one (for another car) and use it to update the old one...
No, they are tied to the S/N of the unit.
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.
I know how you feel, but
I know how you feel, but depending on where you live, you may not notice a difference. I still run 2007 maps and almost never encounter a road that differs from the GPS Maps. If you live in an area with a lot of new construction you may notice a difference. I am guessing that 99.9% of all the mapping data does not change from year to year.
Garmin Nuvi 750 & c530 with RT's vol. mod., Vulcan Nomad
Timing
I know what you mean.
I am only just now starting to see how the pricing and release strategy work.
I bought a new 76CSx at the very end of Dec. It is now $50 cheaper than when I bought it.
If I had known to wait, I would have saved $50 on the GPS AND $60 on the Map update.
Tim
I was fortunate. I just got
I was fortunate. I just got mine last week and went straight to download the file. There are always going to be new maps. I am more concerned with the new features. I wish Garmin would list new features with each update. They do not seem to be to active on enhancing their firmware.
I don't see it the same way.
I don't see much of a game, most electronic items come down in price 6 months after their release and continue to drop afterwards. I don't feel taken advantage of since the contents of the box, the features of the GPS and the map version were all clearly marked when I purchased the unit so I knew exactly what I was paying for. It is nice that updates do happen and I am sure the research and development that goes into these updates aren't free for Garmin so it would be presumptuous for me to expect to get updates besides firmware for free.