The reason I do not purchase map updates.

I'm 100% in agreement with you.

For the price Garmin sells the map upgrades, I could add a few more dollars and get a "new" GPS with newer map along with a free map upgrade.

The pricing for the map upgrades do not make sense. Especially when the updates you may be looking for may not show up for a year or more. Waste of money if you ask me.

I agree with you, plus soon all GPS wil be coming with free map upgrade for life.

CNNANT = The full City Nav N Amer NT (for those without this map now)

1-Time U = a one-time upgrade of the CNNANT map on your GPS to the current map

Life-T U = Lifetime upgrades of the CNNANT on your GPS to current map versions

Product / Garmin List $ / Amazon current $

CNNANT / $79.99 / $71.97
1-Time U / $49.99 / $49.99
Life-T U / $89.99 / $69.95

As I see it, both Garmin's suggested list price and the street Amazon value confirms what you want: the original purchase of a new map for a GPS is more than the cost for a 1-time update. And the cost per update for lifetime maps is much less, depending on the length of time you receive quarterly updates: 1 yr's use = $17.50/update; 2 yr's use = $8.75/update, etc. (using Amazon's prices).

Also to keep in mind--Garmin needs to buy the data from Navteq so to some extent, costs for map updates are not totally under Garmin's control.

So as I see it, Garmin's map pricing meets the standard of other software marketers as you wish. There is the always-present discussion of whether to buy map updates or simply buy a new GPS every 2-3 years and folks fall into two camps on this so there's no point in rehashing that debate. There's also the confusing street pricing of map updates by Amazon where they tend to charge more for the online map code over the mailed update "card" but this, too, isn't relevant to the question you pose.

Regarding updates to maps and built-in POIs in a map update, I suppose it varies from region to region. Over the past couple of years' updates, I generally find substantial and important changes to the areas in which I use my GPS with most new updates. Yes, roads and POIs on any current map will not be 100% up-to-date but does that mean it's pointless to buy a 99%-correct product if you can continue to use your old 92%-correct product? I'm willing to pay the small price per quarterly update to have the most current map on my GPSes.

I do agree with others, though, that when it comes time to buy a new GPS (for frugal me, this could be a few years or more down the road), I'll hope to buy one with lifetime maps included in the purchase price.

I also agree.

Moi aussi!. I've got a 350 & recently bought a 1350. I do not buy map updates until at least 5 years have gone by since the changes I've seen on friends Nuvi's were not worth the purchase price.

Fish4fun, forgive me for being a bit contrarian here:
I think your argument is flawed in that the analogy you use regarding other companies making software updates free while implying Garmin does not, is not accurate.
Software updates usually involve bug fixes and minor feature enhancements while new major features are usually given a new name or a version number that requires payment.

Garmin already gives these minor enhancements and bug fixes for free in the form of firmware updates. Maps are a different thing that is out of Garmin's control (they do not make new roads, tolls, neighborhoods, etc.). Garmin has to either use it's own resources or contract a third party to obtain changes happening across North America. This costs money and is definitely not a software fix. Before GPS units were around one would either have to join AAA and pay annually for their "free map updates" or purchase a resource like "Thomas Brothers" maps and be charged each time there is an update.

I do agree the map updates should cost less but I disagree they should be free IMHO.

Be careful about wishing for any "Lifetime Map" program to be forthcoming; Garmin is tricky about the wording and definition of "Lifetime."

I know what you mean about companies getting "tricky" with the definition of lifetime. I had a 58 Bel Air and the darn Chevy dealership refused to fix the trunk latch! That's the last time I buy a 58 Chevy.

I kept my 680 until it started having some problems. I never updated the maps. Bought it when it came out and the map version was fine. Yes, it didn't have a few of the newer roads but no big deal.

Once it started having problems I bought a newer GPS (1690) which came with the latest maps. I won't update the maps on this one for at least 2-3 years and by that time, I probably will buy a newer GPS.

58 Chevy, lol, I also will not buy updates either. The roads by me and the places I go really don't change. I'm happy with my new 1390T as is. (I did the free update when I first got it online)

I agree that buying a new GPS for a little more is a good option. I would hope that map prices would come down with the price of the GPS unit but that has not been the case.

My question is how long do people wait to buy a map update? 1 year, 2 years? I have the same issue with my car GPS. I don't know when I should update the updated DVD, if at all. Any opinions on this?

Totally agree CraigW, as I have lifetime on my 250

frainc, but that is the catch, the roads by you and the places you go are not the problem with an old map, after all you live there and know if there is any changes, the problem is when you really need the GPSr outside of your confort zone, say a far away trip.

Amen brother.

Hi!
I still use my TomTom Navigator5 with maps from 2005.
Yes, some roads are not there, but so what... I take the next u-turn and get there anyway.
I was really sad when Tom Tom stopped supporting their Navigator PDA/Smartphone product line, but now I realize that it's their loss. I was actually looking forward to buy maps but got so frustrated with their attitude that swore to keep using this software until the end of days. And here I am almost 5 years later, having migrated that software into three phones and two PDA's and you know what... it works the same.
I'll never buy an updates map. Period.

A Fuego!!!

Fuego, I feel the same about Microsoft
I still use my PC with software from Windows 3.1 1992.

Yes, some programs don't run, but so what... I take the next patch and get there anyway.
I was really sad when Microsoft stopped supporting their Windows 3.1 product line, but now I realize that it's their loss.

I was actually looking forward to buy a new operating system but got so frustrated with their attitude that swore to keep using this software until the end of days.

And here I am almost 10 years later, having migrated that software into three different PCs and you know what... it works the same.

I'll never buy an update Windows. Period.

I agree with others.....Locally the map updates have helped very little. I purchased the Lifetime Update last year when on sale at Amazon because of travelling out of town.

Many of our trips take us to new areas and it is nice to have the most current info when lugging a 36 foot trailer behind the truck.

With such great custom POIs and the map companies slow to update roads I do not plan to purchase an update...
Forsythe road in Branson was completed well over a year ago to connect 76 and the Blue Route. I was tempted to take it while navigating but I didn't.

I got "lifetime" updates for my 1490T as part of the "package" price. I am happy I did. Not really needed for local driving, but when traveling out of town, and where road construction has occurred, it is a good thing to have the "latest."

For my StreetPilot c340, I updated the maps once, after two years. I planned that the next "update" money would go towards the purchase of a newer GPS, which I just did. I did this a bit sooner than I had planned, after a 15 month interval instead of a two year interval, but since I am planning a 5000 mile road trip, I thought a newer unit NOW, rather than AFTER the trip, made sense. Since the newer unit had a good price for the updates, I went with it and am now content.

Meant to be funny I know, but if you'd used XP as your example then it might not be so far off the truth!

Vista certainly wasn't worth it. Win7? Maybe, but the XP installed base is probably still larger, and still functional.

But, if you look at it from the standpoint of an older unit, where you've used the lifetime maps 4-6 times, THEN it very much worth it!!!

My$.02

While I agree that it is too expensive to do the one time upgrade, I think the lifetime upgrade is a good deal.

This is another issue that has strong opinions on both sides of the argument (just like red light cameras or PC vs Mac). And like all those other issues, each side of the debate uses specious examples to support their position.

It all comes down to personal preference. I purchased the Lifetime Update and I don't regret the expense. Someone else may feel that buying a new GPS every three years is a better investment.

I don't pay for map updates:

http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

I put up with some rough spots, limited address searching, and sparse POI coverage, but I can (and do) fix that myself, and take advantage of others who do the same:

http://osm.org

How does one use the OSM map data in their Garmin.

I do a lot of traveling and find the lifetime maps are the way to go.

For my part, I find the map updates too expensive compared to the price of a brand new unit, especially since the prices have dropped so much.

Way back when, I did not update my street atlas (you now, that dead tree version) every year. Only when too many pages were torn out and missing...

Simon

I'd be interested in this. Just checked a recent new road in my vicinity and it's on the OSM maps, but not on the 2011.20 Garmin map!

Charles: Do you still find a few new streets that are not on your map?

Took a trip to my Mom's in Calif. and had no problems at all from the SF airport to her house 3 hours away. I didn't know anyroads their so I did trust my GPS.

Took a trip to my nephew’s house in Orlando, two hours away. and had problems, from Tampa to Orlando was fine, once there my Nuvi260 with 2006 maps could not find the street or his house, new development built in 2008. I didn't know any roads there so I did trust my GPS until it was hopelessly lost and had to call for directions.

Motorcycle users owning a Zumo, one of the waterproof GPS units, have spent between $600-$900 for a GPS. To spend an additional $70-$80 for lifetime updates is trivial, around 10% of the GPS purchase price.

I certainly prefer the latest updates to the Garmin POIs when I'm riding out West and there is 80-100 miles between service stations and no cell service.

Combined with the price of a new GPS, I find it hard to justify the tiny number of map changes I would get with a map upgrade. Better for me to wait until my GPS needs to be replaced - get new maps wtih new GPS.

If you own a 37xx, 1695 or one of the new 23xx nuvi's you will probably want lifetime map updates so you will always have the latest database for TrafficTrends.

Once in a while I do see some new streets.One good example coming up is the Hoover Dam.Just got back from there in Sept.Now the new bridge has just completed.That is a big change there.Takes a few miles off the trip.You will now have to exit the new road to get to the area of the dam.Instead of going around it with the check points.Not sure when that change will happen on the maps.Things like that make a big difference when traveling.With all the gps's I see stuck on windows travelers have come to depend on them for directions.Just wondering what kind of re-calculating is going to happen when people go that way now when old maps.Lifetime maps are not that costly and will worth it to have the latest update for traveling.They will never be 100% under the present update system for the stand along like most of us have.

Honda wants over $100 for the annual built-in GPS DVD update. No thanks.

Should of bought a FORD!

When I bought my 1390 I made sure it came with lifetime maps and traffic. If I had to debate the justification to purchase an upgrade or buy a new unit I doubt that I would buy one. I too make my computers work with their present operating system instead of paying for the upgrades. It's kind of like.. Upgrades are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. This laptop runs on Vista. 'Nough said.

Oh come on guys.

Take your significant other out to dinner with a few drinks ... maybe a movie. It's all over in an evening (even the fringe benefits you might get from the date).

Spend the same money on lifetime maps and you have something to look forward to every quarter.

Sure, I use my GPS to get from one place to another ... but 90% of the fun of owning a gps for me is updating maps, voices, POI's.

And since you are reading this post ... on POI factory ... I'm pretty sure you are the same way.

Hell, if the money for lifetime updates is too rich for your blood, ask your parents ... your grown kids ... your significant others ... to combine birthday/Christmas/Fathers(Mothers)day ... and get you a lifetime subsciption.

They'll appreciate the gift suggestion ... and you'll have something to look forward to.

Since the new map update is due any day now, I'm logging onto Garmin and here to check to see if the map update has been released.

Sure ... there is always a risk that the update might fail, that you might have to reinstall, or even call Garmin for help.

But hey, I'm a GPS junkie ... even solving problems that might occur are all part of the fun.

Flaco, still using Windows for Workgroups? I am impressed. Do you remember when the only way to access the Internet was to use the Unix command line? I do...

I believe with a little googleing you can find what you are looking for if you know what I mean. I have 2 tom tom's and a gamin and never paid anything for the "updates". I mean i paid over 600 for the 3 of them and i am convinced that is more then enough.

interesting post....hmmmm......I just paid for my Lifetime update

I agree, My Garmin is 1 1/2 years old and i will not be buying any new maps for it. Quite frankly, roads don't change that fast and the maps change even slower. I will just wait till i buy a new GPSr to get new maps.

Why don't the manufacturers just include automatic map updates for the first three years of purchase and spread the costs across the board among all customers?

At todays prices of lifetime map updates, which are as cheap as one quarterly update, I vote for the lifetime.

All GPS' will soon be built into your phone with no updates. It's already that way if you have a smart phone.

I have an "almost smart" phone that can be used as a gps. However, that will cost me $10 a month. Much cheaper to buy a GPS with lifetime maps, I think.

I bought the lifetime maps in July of this year and so far have gotten only 1 upgrade. I thought there were supposed to be at least 4 a year.

July was the 2011.20 update. The 2011.30 update, number four for the year, is due any day now. You missed the 2010.40 that came out in January and the 2011.10 that came out in April.

While there may not be many road changes the POI also change. How critical these changes are depends on how often you drive out of your own area. I bring my GPS when I fly to other cities and I want the latest and greatest when I am in a new place. I know there will be delays in updates but why use knowingly outdated databases?

All these purchase decisions like what to buy, when to update, and when to replace a unit are a function of each person's willingness to spend the time and money for the changes. We all have our own values assigned to these things.

OK, I'm cheap. Most of the POI's I find I'm using are from right here. Most of the advice I follow is from POI Factory too. I can call someone at my destination for directions if the road is new and not in the database. I also have an unreasonable sentimental attachment to my older electronics.