Garmin MapSource City Navigator, North America DVD-ROM for Garmin StreetPilot GPS Units
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $74.99 You Save: $42.00 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin MapSource City Navigator, North America DVD-ROM for Garmin StreetPilot GPS Units
Customer Review: A must for any Garmin GPS
Summary: 4 Stars
A GPS without map software is like a computer with no operating system. City Navigator definitely makes life easier and if you get the 2GB microSD (transflash) memory card, you can load the entire DVD of North American maps (about 1.6GB).
I was a little surprised, however, that even with the new version 8 I'm finding several innacuracies (roads and POIs). I realize that old roads are changed and new roads are built and businesses come and go. But Garmin charges about $130 for the City Nav NA v8 and about $100 for the upgrade. I just think that for as much money as you spend on the unit, case, power adapter, mounts, memory card and the maps, you should at least be able to get updates free for a period of time.
In my mind, that is equivalent to a motherboard manufacturer providing firmware updates for a couple of years. Anyway, the cost of maintaining current maps and innacuracies are why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
Customer Review: Detailed maps, but pricey
Summary: 3 Stars
Purchased after realizing I needed this for street navigation with my Vista CX. The streets are up to date and accurate. I'm not sure why it costs so much. Other software is available at one third the cost, but they cannot send maps to the GPS. So I deduct one star for price gouging.
The points of interests are a few years behind. I compared locally and some of the points of interests either changed names or went out of business three or more years ago. You may want to wait a couple months to see if version 9 is released if this is important. I deducted another star for this.
IMPORTANT: This software needs to be unlocked to use high detail and can only be unlocked with a GPS connected to computer and computer connected to Garmin using the "unlock wizard". Choose wisely as to which GPS you connect, because the software will only allow you to register two units. You cannot download maps to GPS units not registered.
Customer Review: Do not buy a Garmin!
Summary: 1 Stars
I had an older Garmin GPS, and and older Mapsource product. It worked great for years, and I was able to seamlessly transfer maps etc to and from my unit. I got a new eTrex Venture CX unit last week and bought the Mapsource City Navigator product for it. Now days Garmin requires you to "unlock" the maps, unlock the GPS unit, and register before you can use it. The problem is that during this long and complicated process if anything goes wrong you are locked out of using your new maps with your unit. I've spent the last 3 hours trying to get my new unit working with my new maps. This process is extremely frustrating, and of course Garmin's support website is horrible, and they only have support available during business hours while I'm at work. I am extremely disappointed in this company and will not be getting another product from them. Garmin is more concerned about "security" and "profit" than usability and customer support.Customer Review: Google Maps has nothing to fear
Summary: 3 Stars
When it comes to setting up a more complex route, Google Maps beats this hands down, but if you want that info in your Garmin GPS you don't have much choice than to use this. Only shows the total distance for a route, not to the different waypoints you might have programmed. Adding a waypoint requires you to find it first, save it, and then add it to a route. And if you interupt a route along the way, when you resume it your GPS will try to get you back to the original starting point, and then it will skip all the remaining waypoints in your route, only showing the final destination.
In a nutshell, the user interface needs a serious overhaul.
Wish it was Mac compatible. Works OK on a PC, but the transfers of data can take up to 20 minutes (when routes that touch 7 states are in the system), and if you try to skip the maps part thinking they're already in the device you will be sorely disappointed.
Customer Review: Great maps
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite the discrepancies in the pictures on the site, I did receive the 2008 edition of City Navigator. The maps are great. Detail is excellent with the tiniest streets being displayed as well as not only parks but also cemeteries being shown in green. My only complaint is that you have to upload maps to the GPS in predefined areas. I would like to be able to choose my own perimeters to send (i.e. 5 miles around a highway for a long road trip) but it's a minor issue, especially for those whose GPSes have large memory cards.
My Vista C after loading the maps is a far more useful tool. Just figure these maps into the purchase price of the GPS. If you're only geocaching you don't really need maps (although they are very handy) but as a driving/navigation aid, the maps add a whole new level of functionality. I should have bought these almost two years ago when I got my GPS.