Hats off to Garmin (itching to drop)

Wow your putting that unit to the test!

Some companies who make "rugged" units must put their units through such testing in order to meet certain specifications. Might be an interesting question for Garmin and other GPS suppliers. That would truly be helpful information but I sure as heck would'nt put my personal unit through such demands.

Do it again only use an accelerometer patch to measure the g-force shock delivered to the unit and report it to us. -Just kidding!

Hey! You may want to look for the word Timex(r) or start calling your unit Rocky -

Garry & Min have the roots in the avionics business where the products were TSO'd to FAA requirements. Maybe some of that rubbed off on the automotive products.

I have a Nuvi 350 that I dropped 6+ ft onto concrete last summer. I was trying to close the tailgate on my minivan and had the Nuvi in the same hand that was reaching to close the gate. It slipped out and when it the floor my stomach fell out my butt. Sratched one corner of it but it still works great!

I have an old (discontinued) eMap Garmin unit. It has been all over the US on my business travels. It's been dropped, banged, kicked, been hiking, rained on.....yet this unit just keeps on "ticking".

I currently have it mounted on my bicycle for when I do my long bike rides...it's fallen off out of the mount a few times. Still keeps on going.

Just upgraded last month to a Nuvi 750 (got it for my Father's day...early) Hopefully this unit will be just as durable.

Wife just loves the Nuvi.

Stu

you might not want to do that. they won't cover a cracked screen under warranty.

devices are typically subject to routine handling "problems", which would certainly include being dropped from a specified height.

Many of these modern electronic devices are far more durable than we imagine...I just don't like being the one testing it out !

I just put a screen saver on my nuvi750. I don't even want to thing about it hitting the floor. My luck is not the good..

Wayne

I agree that the garmins are tough units but I think I would hold off on the test for now. besides you never know when you will have another unscheduled test!

I drive a jeep and now that the weather is nice I have the doors and windows off. Went around a corner and the the poor little Etrex went sliding off the dash right out of the truck bouncing down the road till it hit the curb where it stopped. The rubber around the outside is a little beat up but still works great.
Way to go Garmin!

Now if someone could just build a cell phone that is as durable as a Garmin. I have to replace mine on a fairly regular basis. The worst was when it fell out of my top pocket and landed in the bilge. I wonder how my nüvi would weather the underwater test I have to give it to xmracer. I fell out of the pasanger side of a truck once while the drive was going around the corner. Never saw it coming when the door opened as I was asleep. I was a bit beat up around the outside but still working too (true story)

Yes! Curious minds want to know. Please keep dropping it until it's little wires and chips fall out.

Oh hey *I* have a better idea. How about a 10 lb. sledge hammer. Give it a coupla quick smackeroos with that. Then under the back wheel of your car.

Hehehe some folks are insane (aren't we>)?

Would this be classed as the ultimate test of durability?

You should send a first person account to Garmin for them to use in future commercials.

Geez, I think I would have died!

Those 800 series should be out any day now. If you drop yours a couple more times, you might have a good reason to get one.

Seriously though, I'd stop dropping stuff...

I am surprised to see that I appear to be the only one that dropped my nuvi. I thought there would be tons of stories and I would be spared the task of dropping mine again.

I told my wife about dropping the unit and based on her comments any future experiments on my part are off. ("crazy nut" was one remark)

So keep the stories coming, I need the fix.

So far, I haven't dropped my nüvi but I've definitely beat up my 76CSx a few times. I once left it on the hood of my truck and, as I drove off and made a turn, saw it fly off of the hood and bounce across the road and, through the gravel at the side of the road, and into the bushes. It was banged and scratched but worked.

I think most of us are just reluctant to admit we're such klutzes. Anyways I had my nuvi 660 slide out of my trouser pocket and smack onto a wooden bench before striking a concrete floor, a fall of about 3 feet. I just about croaked right there but when I turned on the unit and tested it out the 660 was still working, no worse for wear.

klutze

I guess I am!!!