Garmin nüMaps Lifetime update vs Onetime DVD
 16 years
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This isn't a whine. It's just something I'm offering to people trying to decide whether to buy Garmin's nüMaps Onetime DVD or the company's nüMaps Lifetime product.
After reading posts about the 2-hr downloads required for an online update with nüMaps Lifetime, I bought the nüMaps Onetime DVD of the 2010 NA maps instead. Updating with a DVD would be far faster and more reliable than doing it online, I thought. So I spent $55 (incl shipping) for the DVD, instead of spending $95 for access to map updates for the lifetime of my unit.
When I inserted the DVD to start the update, I was quite surprised to see a screen informing me that -- even with the DVD -- the update process requires a high-speed Internet connection, and it could take as long as 2 hrs.
Two hrs is exactly what the update process took. When I looked at the list of folders on the DVD, I didn't see anything I wouldn't have gotten from an online update. I read somewhere that MapSource is on the DVD. If it is, I haven't found it yet.
If I had it to do over, I'd definitely get the nüMaps Lifetime instead of the Onetime DVD.
FWIW.
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When I inserted the DVD to start the update, I was quite surprised to see a screen informing me that -- even with the DVD -- the update process requires a high-speed Internet connection, and it could take as long as 2 hrs.
Two hrs is exactly what the update process took.
Depending on the speed of your PC and components related to it, the update could very well consume 2+ hours, at least with the download version. You have to sit through the file extraction sequence, the installation sequence, the map building sequence and then the transfer-to-unit sequence. If you have an older nuvi like the 3xx/6xx/7x0, the transfer sequence can take as long as 30-40 minutes because of the slower USB 1.x interface on them.
Maybe the DVD is able to detect a newer version online (there has been the initial release 2010, and two more after that; 2010.10B and 2010.10C) and download, then use that version(?)...
Either way, the map update takes a good amount of time.
nuvi 760, nuvi 765T, nuvi 855, nuvi 3790LMT, nuvi 3490LMT - SoCal area
I'm still trying to decide
I am still trying to decide between a onetime or lifetime update, but for a different reason. I have an older Streetpilot C330. I checked with Garmin and they said it would work with the lifetime map updates.
But I'm thinking it might be better to do the onetime update (save the $40 now) and plan to buy a newer GPS after a few more years and get a lifetime for that new unit.
But on the other hand, it is only $40 more to go to lifetime and then I'll want to keep the older unit longer.
Another question: I'm planning on purchasing a SD card since I hear the C330 does not have enough memory for the maps. Can I assume the SD card only needs to make up the difference for the file size that will not fit or do I need to use a card that will hold the entire map with none of the C330's internal memory? (I am wanting to take the 1GB SD card out of my digital camera and give it to the C330 and then put a larger card in my camera.)
Garmin 2010 Map updates
I bit the bullet night before last and purchased the life time version. If they tell you that the download file is roughly 2 GB before the purchase, I didn't see it. Anyway, I started the download and it processed pretty good up to about 450 MB at which time my download speed dropped to 1.60 to 1.70 KB. Yes, I typed Kilo-Byte. Hughes Satellite can be pretty slow and a pain in the rear most of the time. I started the download about 9:30 PM and finally went to bed. I woke up about 6:00 AM and the download had finished (don't know when). I started the install and went back to bed (retirement is sometimes good). I woke up about 8:30 AM and the installation had completely finished.
I did an initial test on a route that had previously bugged the heck out of me. No matter what method I had set on my nuvi 750, it would insist on making me go many miles out of my way. In order to go the shorter route, I would have to add a waypoint. This new version worked perfectly.
My decision to purchase the lifetime map update was based on the fact that CD's are usually out of date, the price for the lifetime version was only a few dollars more and you get up to four updates per year. Notification of an update comes via email.
As for the MapSource software, it will be located in the root directory of the bootable drive under Garmin. There is a .pdf manual as well as the executable. A right click on the .exe file will permit you to send a shortcut to the desktop. I am still waiting to play with this, since I did not have a workable version.
Curt
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
,
I am still trying to decide between a onetime or lifetime update, but for a different reason. I have an older Streetpilot C330. I checked with Garmin and they said it would work with the lifetime map updates.
But I'm thinking it might be better to do the onetime update (save the $40 now) and plan to buy a newer GPS after a few more years and get a lifetime for that new unit.
But on the other hand, it is only $40 more to go to lifetime and then I'll want to keep the older unit longer.
Another question: I'm planning on purchasing a SD card since I hear the C330 does not have enough memory for the maps. Can I assume the SD card only needs to make up the difference for the file size that will not fit or do I need to use a card that will hold the entire map with none of the C330's internal memory? (I am wanting to take the 1GB SD card out of my digital camera and give it to the C330 and then put a larger card in my camera.)
Personally, I would recommend the one time update versus the lifetime update for that unit. Since that unit is older technology, there's a greater chance that you will want to get a new unit before you would "get your money's worth" out of the lifetime update for that unit. And put the extra $40 towards a new unit in a year or so.
As to your second question, I believe that a 1GB card will be plenty of space to hold the additional maps that won't fit on the unit itself.
MapSource documents
<<...MapSource software ... will be located in the root directory of the bootable drive under Garmin. There is a .pdf manual as well.>>
Thanks for the tip, Curt. I'd been looking on the DVD for MapSource. I see now that the DVD installed it to my PC.
In that same directory is a MapSource Help file. Most folks would access it while using MapSource. But I printed it to pdf to have as a detailed reference to have when offline.
Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic | Garmin nüvi 250W | Garmin eTrex "yellow"
Location of Mapsource software
Thanks for the tip, Curt. I'd been looking on the DVD for MapSource. I see now that the DVD installed it to my PC.
You're welcome. Glad to be of help.
Curt
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.