Mapsource for the Mac???

Garmin has a blog called Chet's corner where Mac products and support are discussed. In August there was a discussion of how MapSource can work on a Mac. Be warned, it is not easy and requires a PC.

Look for the August 2, 2007 posting:
http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/applemac/index.html

Not a very satisfying solution I must say.
I wish they would give some indication of when a Mac version of City Navigator will be released.

Garmin has been improving its Mac support in the past year, albeit slowly. Sometimes I think I'll be playing ice hockey with Beelzebub before we see MapSource for a Mac.

BTW: City Navigator does work on a Mac. The 2008 update was readable by Macs and PCs.

Huh? Are you sure you got that right? The new Map Source 2008 runs on the Mac but I have seen nothing to indicate that City Navigator will. How does City Navigator work on the Mac if there is no executable for it?

I always get mixed up between MapSource and City Navigator. The last I ran City Navigator on a desktop was with a PC that I connected to my StreetPilot. My post was referring to the fact that the City Navigator update disk does run on a Mac. But that is all any of Garmin maps will do on a Mac as far as I can tell.

Garmin's Mac Blog does describe how to convert their PC MapSouce into a Mac compatible version. I have not tried it. It is not clear to me what this used for. It looks like it mainly allows you to transfer selected maps onto the GPS. It does not look like it gives you a mapping program that you can use on the Mac.

So far the only application that seems to do that is Route Buddy, but that would cost over $150 for the map and application. Route Buddy does advertise that is links to the nuvi. I tested it with mine and it did work. The demo only covers Sante Fe but it uploaded my POIs from the area and showed them on the Mac.

Hi brentrn,

The City Navigator® North America NT Map Update 2008 "is" Mac compatible, however, the City Navigator® North America NT Mapsource DVD and the City Navigator® NT Europe Mapsource DVD are "not" Mac compatible.

Garmin's Mac Blog does describe how to convert their PC MapSouce into a Mac compatible version, but you have to start the conversion process, using a Windows PC. So, if all you have is a Mac computer, you're (as they say) SOL.

Sooooo, the Mac compatible Mapsource DVD's are still on my Christmas wish list. I just hope they're not "still" on my Christmas wish list...next year!!!

Regards,

tailspin

Nüvi 670 - Mac OS 10.5.1 (Leopard)

Thanks for the info but I am still confused and I think it is because I'm not sure what Garmin product does what.

This is the way I understand things.
1) Map Source update 2008 is only for updating maps in your Garmin unit. This is Mac compatible.
2) "City Navigator NT" is a mapping program that will allow you to mark waypoints and design routs and up load them to your Garmin unit. This is not Mac Compatible.
3) The conversion you referred to sounds like all it does is convert the maps in City navigator and not the program it self.

Please correct me if that is wrong. And you don't have to be gentle about it either.

When I bought my Street Pilot 2720 a little over a year ago it came with a disk called "City Navigator NT North America v7". Garmin indicated to me back then that when the Mac version became available I could exchange it for the Mac version. That is what I am waiting for.

As an aside. If they had a version of their software that would run on Linux then I really would be in hog heaven. But I don't think that is going to happen.

BTW: I only use Windoze if I get paid to.

Hi Tailspin, I definitely share your and all the other Mac users' frustration. It's really sad because Garmin must have some idea how easy it is, normally, for us to install just about anything that is thrown at us and how loyal we are to companies that regard us as an important market.

Just an off topic btw, I've been holding off on installing the 10.5 update on the several Macs that I'm "responsible" for because of a number of issues that I've seen posted on the various Mac forums. I subscribe to the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school.

Have you notice any glitches and/or would you recommend holding off on updating for a while?

Thanks for your thoughts,

GeneL

It is said when you live on the cutting edge you will bleed a lot.

I took the plunge and have been happy. With all OS X updates there are programs that will need updating to work properly. Check out forums on macnn, macintouch, and macfixit to see what troubles folks are having.

There have been no dealbreakers for me. I have enjoyed the new features and sophistication of the OS. I have had no system crashes or major problems. 10.5 does not run Classic apps; that could be a killer for users with PPC processors that want to use those apps.

Usually within a few months of an OS introduction it is safe to upgrade. Just be sure to check the status on the forums of any apps you deem critical before making the jump.

Hi GeneL,

My experiences with Mac OS 10.5.1 are the same as brentrn and I couldn't have answered your question any better...

Regards,

tailspin

Nüvi 670
Mac OS 10.5.1

"Hi GeneL,

My experiences with Mac OS 10.5.1 are the same as brentrn and I couldn't have answered your question any better...

Regards,

tailspin"

"It is said when you live on the cutting edge you will bleed a lot.

I took the plunge and have been happy. With all OS X updates there are programs that will need updating to work properly. Check out forums on macnn, macintouch, and macfixit to see what troubles folks are having.

There have been no dealbreakers for me. I have enjoyed the new features and sophistication of the OS. I have had no system crashes or major problems. 10.5 does not run Classic apps; that could be a killer for users with PPC processors that want to use those apps.

Usually within a few months of an OS introduction it is safe to upgrade. Just be sure to check the status on the forums of any apps you deem critical before making the jump.

--
Brent - Nuvi 650 with GTM-20 TMC Traffic Receiver"

Brent and tailspin, thanks for letting me know that you saw my post. I'm relatively new to this forum and it has become a favorite of mine along with "Mac Resource" http://forums.macresource.com/list/1 . That forum uses a method to send emails when new responses to followed threads come in. It's a feature that I've mentioned to Miss POI and I would be thrilled if they can implement it here. Other than that this is a great place to visit. :)

I appreciated your replies about Leopard. I have an offer from my neighbor of a free copy from her family pack if I install Leopard on her computer, so I guess I'll take the plunge pretty soon.

Have a Wonderful Holiday!

GeneL