What's the lifespan?

I am pondering over this one. Lots of variables that i would have to consider,
1. How bad do i want a new one.
2. Battery shot. cost of 175.00 to replace it
3. If the maps are out of date, then looking at another 60.00 or so.
4. what kind of condition is the old one.
5. What kind of deal would i get on another unit that i would like to have,
6. What model is available for what i would want to pay for.
7. What kind of support is there with the current model.

I bet some others have more

For the low end units like my $99 nuvi 250, I would say that this point is reached on the day that I bought it. I would be crazy to buy map updates when I can but a new unit, get a fresh battery, a new warranty, and with all that I still get to keep the old unit.

Can you tell from this post that I think Garmin charges too much for their map updates?

I have a vista that has had software update as recent as this past year. I have had the vista since around 2002

It is relative to the individual user as to how much they want to spend. I have a Nuvi 650 which needs it maps updated, but will wait another year or so because the updated mapping is more than I am willing to pay.

I have a handheld GPSII which is ten years old. It is great for recording family history sites, metal-detecting locations, etc. For its purpose, the GPSII is fine. I feel that improved technology and new features will supercede Garmin's future mapping updates.

I have the Nuvi 660 and it does everything I want it to do and it has 2008 maps installed on it. I was going to wait till the 2010 maps come out and perhaps purchase the update for the unit HOWEVER with the costs of the units falling it's almost better to purchase a new unit.......no? I mean, I could probably get around $200.00 for my 660 which is in pristine condition and take that money and get a 700 series unit for not much more but then, if that was the case why would anyone want to purchase my 660 for a few bucks less?

I think I've just discovered a conundrum! (LOL)

This is why I'm asking why everyone else thinks, what to do what to do.

In my opinion it is like a computer. They one you buy today is already outdated. After a couple of years you might as well buy a new one with updated maps and batery.

Let's look at the part of the GPS engine that says where you are, what time it is, and how fast you're moving.

There have been two or three changes in GPS technology that have arguably "obsoleted" earlier equipment (not counting bugs in the code that manufacturers didn't fix!).

An early one was the introduction of parallel receivers in civilian/consumer products. That was many, many moons ago. You knew when you upgraded to a parallel receiver and all of a sudden a warm-start was almost instantaneous, only two or three minutes! And you could do a dead start in under a half hour!

Parallel receivers (6, 8, 12 or more channels) also brought in the ability to overdetermine solutions -- to use more than the 4 birds necessary for a fix. If you could "see" and receive eight or nine birds, you could use all that information to overdetermine your position and reduce the error (most of the time). Couple that with the elimination of "Selective Availability" and accuracy improved a lot.

The next biggie was the introduction of WAAS. Better accuracy, if your box could make use of the WAAS datastream.

What's next? Modernization and the introduction of new civilian frequencies. Receivers that can use these new frequencies (in addition to the existing L1 frequency) will be better able to compensate for (ionospheric) errors. But don't hold your breath -- the space segment supporting these frequencies aren't expected until 2011-2013.

BUT...

In 2013, even assuming someone's budget for developing and launching the new birds doesn't get slashed, my old Garmin 45XL, and my prototype Trimble SVeeSix will still be able to tell me where they are. Neither of these, nor the handful of little USB-interface GPS integrated receivers in the junk box have maps in them that can go out of date.

I used the SVeeSix, and the 45XL for a number of years in different vehicles, and they worked fine. I could set waypoints and have the thing alert me to look for offramps and the like. Good for geocaching, and for APRS (you think the folks on poi-factory are GPS crazy? Go look at what people do with APRS!).

Oh, if the European (Galileo) system gets built out, and other countries want their own, someone will undoubtedly do a box that can mix and match birds from different systems and really, really overdetermine solutions.

But it will still be a box that somehow figures out where it is, and how it's moving. The rest is presentation and user interface.

We all should know by now that the moment we buy a computer-based gadget, it's obsolete (from a technical perspective).

But when we make that evaluation based on utility, it's a different story -- no maps or two year old maps may be just fine for a particular set of applications/users. Doesn't have bluetooth, can't play music, movies, audiobooks, or slideshows? Lack of those abilities didn't cripple my 45XL!

Yes, I like the ability to have the thing tell me (literally, with a British accent!) how to get to 11400 Hotchkiss Drive, and give me updated guesstimates on when I'll get there, and tell me "Have it your way" when I decide I don't want to go particularly that way, and it recalculates its route.

Yeah, that stuff should improve, but that's UI and presentation, not the GPS engine.

Apple apparently thought it was a good idea to sell an iPod without a user replaceable battery; they were most likely betting that the consumer would opt to buy a new one with the latest bells and whistles once the battery reached end of life. When Garmin came out with the nüvi series, they must have been using the same playbook. At least Garmin may be listening and the 800 series has a user replaceable battery! Thank you, Garmin. My older StreetPilots use AA alkalines and since they were normally plugged into the vehicle's power, this was never an issue. From a utility standpoint, they still work just fine and I can count on them to, if not take me to the front door, take me to where I can see the front door.

I agree, the map updates are pricey. I've updated mine about once every 4 years. Decided that was the point where there were enough changes to make a difference and I was spreading the cost over 4 years.

Sam's Club is just one place that is selling the nüvi 750 for under $200. Register it and get the current map set update for free from Garmin and you've got a new unit with a warranty and the latest maps. Makes it kind of hard to buy new maps and have Garmin put a battery in the old one.

If I had a 660 and someone wanted to give me $200 for it, I think I'd take the money and roll over to get the current maps and warranty.

My Mio was easy to open and should be easy to put a new battery in if needed. Order one from Ebay and it should be $20 - $30.

My Garmin seems to be tightly sealed, I am assuming it is snapped together and needs to be pryed open with a screw driver - it would look like garbage trying to force it open without knowing where to start. Batteries may last 3 to 5 years

Map updates are a different story though. As far as I know all manufacturers charge for updates. If you updated the maps every couple of years that would be still cheaper than buying a new GPS. I think I've seen maps for Garmin for $65.

Spending $30 for a battery 3 to 5 years out and $65 every couple of years might be the cost of a new unit in 4 years. Certainly true for the cheaper GPSs but after plunking down $500 to $600, I would think twice - generally speaking if something costs 50% of the purchase price to repair - buy a new one.

The other thing to consider is new doesn't always equal better.

I think the question is, why did you buy the unit. If it was for the "flash" appeal then it wears out real fast - in a couple months or so when then next manufacturer comes up with something new. But the trade off is sometimes you lose features in the process.

I bought my first c330 used for $100. It had been bought new a couple weeks earlier. I got it to help me travel from A to B. Soon after I got a c550 and a c580. I wanted the mp3 and flash drive for additional pois. But the c330 still worked great for my wife, and now my parents. They don't care about the bells, but need to know where to go.

I got my wife a 760 for $250, which is a $100 less than I paid for my c580 a year ago. I like the widescreen and track features. The multi routes are a plus too. I do not plan on upgrading the maps in the c580, but if the time comes when they are a problem will probably upgrade. By that time we probably will have gps in the cars that drive them the speed limit and the proper distance from the car in front. Like having your own jet...well maybe not...

So if you only care about navigation in your car, then the life is probably at least 10 years unless you have an equipment failure. It is not worth it to fix, but get a replacement.

Daniel

You would have a real hard time selling a used GPSr for $200.00, No matter the shape it is in, since at the link below you can see new units sell for less than the $200 with 2009 maps and msn trial still in tact. I deal in buying, repairing and selling used GPSr's. be realistic with the price, take the hit and sell it and then get what you want.

The conundrum you discovered is, you understand that as a used unit it's not worth $200.00 bucks.

Here is a sample of used 660's:
http://tinyurl.com/8qgfal

I generally work the darn thing to death before I replace it. Now replacing Garmin battery is a new adventure. I'll try with my old c340 first. BTW, I have a 1-year old Nuvi 660. It's still relatively new. I update my map once every 5 years. I figure the government doesn't tax me enough to build new highway every year. Why should I replace Garmin map every year? A twisted logic, isn't it?

Lithium Ion / Lithium Polymer battery packs tend to last at least 3 or 4 years, though they decrease in capacity each time they are recharged. Generally, this decrease doesn't matter until between 200 and 400 charges down the road.

Basically, by the time the battery goes, new tech will be available and you'll probably just replace the whole thing. If you feel particularly attached to your unit, you can replace the battery.

Frankly, I think that $175 to replace a battery is insane. The pack costs Garmin no more than $20. They could sell it for $30 and offer to install for $20 extra and turn a solid profit from it.

As for the map updates, I plan to buy them as they are available. I think that $60-70 per year is a reasonable price to pay to use the unit. It is cheaper than other services. Then again, $70 is a lot of money for something that I believe ought to be free, but I understand that mapping takes a lot of man-hours to complete with a reasonable degree of accuracy. I'd much rather pay $15 quarterly than $70 a year, because then I have the option of getting the new maps when I notice a problem. Also, the data they use for the packs is already a year old when they release them. I hope that the process therein will be simplified soon so that updates can be more frequent and inclusive.

It is sad that it is cheaper to buy new than to repair or update. I just bought a Nuvi 250W to replace my working C330. Map update nag screen and the size of the older unit made the choice to upgrade easy. It was also on sale so who wouldn't buy a replacement for %50 over the cost of a map update.

Bob

You are right, it is sad that cheaper to buy than fix. It has been this way for a while after Chinese production outsourcing has occured. It is good for the consumer but IMO is another economical SNAFU waiting to happen. Call me a pessimist but as the economy is going today, repair shops for gizmos may just be an evolving new business, simply because nickels and dimes may get to be worth something again just to survive, especially if you want what we all call necessities today. Hard times, if it's close to 1930 and the last depression, will change a lot of things. sv

As long as it still works for your needs, it is still alive!

Well said!
Garmin does support their units way back, so not to worry.

Besides the battery going out in 3-4 years (which means that is the time I would upgrade instead of paying an insane price for a battery replacement). There will be better processors and software enhancements in future models that won't be available in the model you have today, if those upgrades are important to you, I think that is when you'll feel your model has outlived it's life cycle.

Maybe not. It sounds good but, from a practical point of view, it might just be a marketing thing.

A unit with a weak battery can still be used in the car with no problem.....maybe for YEARS.

If the company stops "supporting" a particular model line...ie: no tech support and no updates, I think that would drive more users to a new model than a weak battery would.

Then again, they may have figured out that they can pop a new battery in the mail and make almost as much profit (or more) than screwing with having them sent in for service. And they may be able to make more net $$$ from selling new maps than from selling new hardware. Only Garmin knows for sure.

In the end it is NOT about good customer service......unless they can link that somehow to increased $$$ !!

Whenever your wife says you can

I'll probably upgrade when the battery dies, but I may just try to DIY it (if I'm going to replace anyway, can't lose).

I got my Nuvi 660 this past summer and it seems like it's already outdated. I got the free upgrade to the 2009 maps. I may purchase the 2011 maps when they are released in 2010. Then, I will probably upgrade to a new GPS in 2011 or 2012--maybe sooner, depending on the new features and how badly I want a new one.

All very good points! I'm in no hurry to spend anymore cash, you can be assured of that. I was just curious what others might do and what other opinions you all have. I can see that it's about a 50-50 split as to purchase new over update and I will in all most likelihood update (As long as I can) and hang onto my 660 for a very long time or until something comes along that takes my breath away. At that point in time I will probably just give my Nuvi660 away to a family member or someone that wants a unit a few years old but in fine working condition.

I'm going to be watching what the future holds, with the economy in the tank who knows if Garmin will even be around a in few months let alone a few years.

PS The wife has me on a VERY TIGHT leash gadget wise! (LOL)

They depreciate fast. I guess you apply the same standards you apply to a car. When it needs a repair or new battery or new map and the cost of getting it going again exceeds the resale value of it on eBay, it's time to replace it. Or when you need a feature found on new GPS's and the cost of getting one is worth it to you, it's time to hand yours off to somebody else.

I will most likely do neither.

Almost NONE of my useage is in areas where the roads/streets change so having "current" maps isn't a big deal......and my GPS is just an assistant.

And I never go into unfamiliar territory without at least a free state map on paper as a backup.

I tend to buy the higher end units. Keeping them for a number of years. I do not need map updates each year. So, the decision is not really an economic one, but when do the newer features become worth the upgrade.

I'm currently using a Garmin 2720 - the new units have some attractive features, but it's not yet compelling enough. Maybe in another 1-2 years?

I have found that you should run any electronics with a battery on its battery every few days or so. It helps with maintaining the battery.

Things that are constantly in the charger tend to not have strong batteries after a while. I believe the batteries need the chemical reaction of the discharge/charge cycle to keep them "healthy".

That used to be true with NiCad but Lithium and NiMH are supposed to be memory free although I tend to agree with you that some exercise is needed. Garmin doesn't let you know what type of battery they have in their units so unless someone here has cracked one open to see I would still treat it like it had NiCad's. Interesting enough I have some camcorder batteries that mention that they should be stored for long periods uncharged.

If they can get this whole battery thing fine tuned then it will change the future. No more gas!

Bob

Actually, they do. For example:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=13430#specsT...

I think you'll find almost all use Li-ion. Definitely don't treat it like NiCd unless it is.

I wasn't speaking of the memory problem which is true on NiCads.

I was referring to the chemical reaction portion. If left in a charging state all the time I have found batteries to not perform up to their normal standard. Even Lithium Ion batteries seem to suffer from this. I remember reading once about the lead acid batteries and how they need to be used in order to keep them working properly because of the chemical reaction. I have found most of the Lithium batteries (cell phone, computer and even medical grade batteries) will work great and then just turn into a very short duration charge very quickly if always in a constant charge.

Same here.

I could only see being forced if and when they change map format.