Garmin or Magellin Handheld Color GPS units???

[BillG_in_TX]

Well, as long as they don't take them to Iraq they'll probably be safe. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just don't tell them they are French, and I think they'll be very happy with their gifts. I like my Magellan a lot. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Here's a couple of quotes from the geocaching forum:
<font color="blue"> Magellan is owned by a french company. I have heard a rumor that when used in military operations, they only track back, not forward. Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead in the Iraqi desert with a magellan. The ribbing I would get from the other soldiers for having something french..... I would rather be caught sleeping with a poodle! </font>

and:
<font color="blue">Magellan is a company in California, USA. Yes, they were bought by a French company (Thales is all over the world, but the headquarters is in Paris) in July of 2001, but your GPS is being built by Americans. </font>

I'm not sure if that last poster is correct, but if these units ARE made in the USA, they are certainly the exception in electronics manufacturing/assembly these days.

 

[Glenn9643]

Bob,
Apparently you've already ordered, but you might want to check out this site for more information.

 

[aardvark]

I was going to tell you to take each one outside and compare the display's viewability in sunlight, but it looks like you already ordered a Magellin. In direct sunlight many color displays are hard to view. Alot of the more expensive units use a transflective display (or other means of brightening) which only will look "OK" inside or in darker areas, but outside in direct sunlight, the display is fantastic. Many displays just wash out in direct sunlight and you can't see anything very well.

Also, for thehulltruth.com, take some of what they say with a grain of salt. Some of the guys on that website make mountains out of mole hills, and others have the "it's best because I bought it" attitude. I guess it's like that everywhere though. I actually designed some of the stuff you might have read about on The Hull Truth's electronics forum. I read that sight just about every day to keep up with things that the users like / dislike.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Jared, one of the things I checked on the Magellin was the color screen in the sunlight. I had a Samsung Palm/Phone combo unit about 2 years ago, it was a first generation product and had an LCD screen that simply turned black in the sunlight . . . not a good thing when 2 of my 3 cars have convertible tops!!!

 

[scout180]

I have no experience with the newer color. I'm very pleased with mu older Garmin emap. My wife and I use it for locating and recording gravesites as part of our genealogy hobby. When I worked for the Army, we used Garmins to record airdrop test data - landing accuracy in Yuma, AZ. I got my Garmin for best price online at:
Darrel Goheen
GPS@tvnav.com
http://www.tvnav.com/navhome.html
Voice 785-625-3546/FAX 413-383-8800

Dave in VA