2009 Map Update

Another disadvantage to living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area: Road construction is constant. I previewed the 2009 map and it had so many errors that I'm sticking with my 2008's.

But if it's a new place or somewhere important I'm going to, I actually have had to gone back to printing out a Google Directions Map just in case Garmin never heard of the address or comes up with an impossible route.

Kind of defeats the whole point of having a GPS....

Come on, Garmin; constant updates..for FREE! (or a cheap membership).

I agree that there should be more updates, but you should't be printing them out, you can send then to your GPS and it will take you there. Use the search box on the top of the page for "Google Maps" and it will give you all the info on how to use this feature.

As I was registering my 650 on 7/3, I received a pop-up menu stating that I was eligible for a free map upgrade and that I could either request a disk (need to pay shipping) or I could download it. I went ahead and downloaded the new 2009 (my 650 came with the 2008). Very simple, didn't have to do anything.

I purchased a 680 a few weeks back and now when I go to the mygarmin site it has the 2009 update. When was the 2009 update released?

Officially, it was released on May 1, 2008 although it was technically available a little bit before that.

I purchased the 750 on 6/20 and when registered it on 6/24 a popup screen stated I was eligible for a free map ugrade. I let the file download over 2gig in size and half hour to install. Pretty cool.

You are right that there is a lot of construction going on in/around Dallas metro, e.g, Hwy 121 (which will be a toll road starting Sep 1, 2008). However, 2008 version did not have the streets leading to my home in Frisco (in the newly contructed area), and would ask me to drive off-road all the time. The upgrade to 2008 takes me straight to my driveway.

It will send them to a Nuvi 360? Wow. Garmin should be playing that up. Thanks, I'll check the site.

I believe that patch was referring to not printing the directions and sending the locations not the maps to the unit.

You have to understand Garmin has no control of the map data, only sends the updates to Navteq basically the same way we do, because Navteq owns the maps. If Garmin were to work a deal with Navteq and take less profit on the maps we could get updates more often. My Navigon gets maps quarterly I get 11 updates for $70.00 spanning a three year period.
Garmin could do the same thing, it also holds true with traffic service, a few GPSr manufactures are selling lifetime subscriptions,or just giving the service away with the GPSr's, but not Garmin the company is to profit driven, at our expense and they will end up losing the market because of company greed.

Is that the only way i would be able to get the 2009 maps from Garmin? I bought mine in Febuary this year.I tried to see if i can get an update from the Garmin website and it said i would have to buy a disk or buy a download.

You would have to buy it.

But you don't have to buy it from Garmin. It's available from many third party retailers. Amazon, Best Buy, Provantage, etc.

Note that you would only be eligible for a free update to the maps if you purchased a unit with the old maps AFTER the new maps were released. Since you didn't, you wouldn't be eligible for a free update.

Ok , i understand..thanx for clearing that for me.