upgraded today, Happy birthday to Me (1490 LMT)

Make sure you that you thank your wife and take her out for a nice dinner, other wise you will not hear the end of it.

Here's a suggestion since you have lifetime maps and a new map (2012.30) is due very soon:

1) Make a backup of the data on your new GPS to a computer hard drive or recordable DVD or some such thing. Then...

2) when USBed to your computer, look at the files on your new nuvi and delete all the voices, text and help files, etc. that you'll never use--essentially the various language files in unneeded languages, extra vehicles you'll never choose, etc.

The reason for this is that when the next map update comes out, your 2GB capacity nuvi 1490 most likely won't have room to install all of North America to internal memory and you'll be given various sub-optimal options of 48-States or something else.

3) Also, when doing the map update about to come out, be sure to click the "Install Options" button and choose "Install to GPS and Computer." If you do end up installing less than the full North America to your new nuvi, having the full map on your computer will let you install a SD card to the nuvi and install the portions of North America not in your nuvi's internal memory to the SD card.

Enjoy the new device!

CraigW, very good suggestion. I have same unit and I am also struggling with the space. One time I tried to install a portion of maps on SD card, it did not work. Even Garmin Support guys tried to help me without any success.

To add to the comments of CraigW ...

Forum member Lilla has written some good step by step tutorials for the 1490, on backup, deleting unneeded files, software updates and map updates. You will find a link to these tutorials in this post: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34132

Despite the shortcoming of 1490, the good thing is there are many users in this forum discussing solutions to problems and trying to get the best out of their units.

An excellent link. I alway have problems trying to find it--this isn't a faq yet, is it?

Lilla's tutorials probably can't be made into a FAQ because of the embedded graphics.

Hmm first thing that comes to mind is Don't forget your wifes Birthday.

And like Craig said, Back up the brand new unit, before you delete something you need on it, then you can mess around with everthing.

MAKE SURE your computer has Show Hidden Files and System Files Enabled/turned on so you get everthing on the Garmin backed up and not just whats visible.

Can anyone tell me how long Garmin supports older models?

definitely +1 on the space saving advice!

Congrats on the new GPS, Superpac!

Aside from making backups, updating the maps, installing the latest firmware is almost in order. Unfortunately, the fix is sometimes worse than the defect itself! Typical for most newer Garmins, I should say.