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Is very easy to use. However, once downloaded into the GPS and powering it up, the map came up a soon as the GPS got the location; no adjustments were needed. You will not need to buy this product (North America City Navigator) if you have a Nuvi. Installation was relatively easy - hardest part was getting the computer to recognize the GPS and the SD card (treats as two separate drives). POIs (waypoints) can be added into the GPS and MapSource. Map is very well detailed and has most of the key points of interest (food, gas, shopping, parks, etc).
In spite of minor glitches (few missing POIs and very few outdated names), I have no regrets buying the product. Bought this map for my Colorado 300. Once there, downloading into the GPS was easy although it took almost two hours to load the entire map (1.09GB), which amounted to about a tranfer rate of about 165 kB/s; not good at all for USB. Does a reasonbly good job of getting you from point A to B, but if you want to avoid a route(s) or add in-between stops, plan to the route on the computer first using MapSource (must buy the DVD version to get this), then download into the GPS.
Once I have figured out how to navigate my way through the basics, yes they give good directions and are accurate. It's just hard to get past the fact that they told tell you how to use it. It took hours just to figure out the basics. I consider myself to be somewhat savvy when it comes to figuring out how to work programs, but this was ridiculous. Okay, I got that. After reading the reviews, I knew the installation process was going to be lengthy. What I couldn't stand was they had absolutely no tutorial for the product. Maybe they expect you to have already purchased their maps before.
But the closest product choice available on their site is this map software in the SD version. to what is loaded on your GPS but if you send map information, it will overwrite the one on the GPS. If I want to know that information, I have to switch out the microSD card containing the lake map with the one storing the 'city navigator map'. You cannot add to a map.
Each time the unlocking process is frustrating. I've owned this product fo about a year and get frustrated every time I need to load the interface onto a new PC. Even having the correct key produced random results. This means that I have not been able to upgrade it properly.My attempts to correspond with Garmin were also very frustrating. I have the other Garmin Maps I own registered. And speaking of Maps--be sure to back up your favorite maps. The map itself worked fine on my eTrex Vista HCx.
It didn't matter if IE or Mozilla was used as a browser. Beware of accidently 'sending' map information to your GPS. The Garmin unlock would not work even though it was deemed 'successful' When you go back to the program even after rebooting your PC--the map would still say that it was locked. So far I've used Apple, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 OS.
Installing on the Apple was the easiest. The only thing that seemed to work was to keep trying and eventually, the unlock would take.Anther frustration with this product, is that I have yet to be able to register it on their website. So no problems with that.One thing I hate in general, is that while I own both the city navigator, topo, and lakes maps, There is no overlay feature (you can't combine maps). You can add waypoints, routes, etc.
As finicky to unlock as previous reviewers have mentioned. It didn't matter if I knew my key or used their 'find your key' interface. On the water I can get only very basic information as to what lies off shore.
I understand limiting the use but, if you own several GPS you should be able to use your DVD map to update your units. I bought this map and I was able to use it with only one GPS. I like Gramin products very much. Have two GPS's and paid good money for them. Was planning to update my other GPS but Garmin does not allow its use with more than one, and charges full price to update the other unit.
Waste of money. I bought this product last week and it is the same old 2007 maps. And Garmin is selling 2010 maps, cheaper than this.
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