(asin:B0029LDDPM) Buy Cytotec Online Pharmacy No Prescription Needed
VN:F [1.9.17_1161]
VN:F [1.9.17_1161]
- Garmin Oregon 450t Handheld GPS Navigator
- Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps
- Garmin Oregon 450 Handheld GPS Navigator
- Lexerd – Garmin Oregon 550t 200 300 400i 400c 400t TrueVue Anti-Glare GPS Screen Protector
- RAM Mounting Systems RAP-B-121-GA31U Plastic Yoke Clamp Mount for Garmin Approach G5, Oregon 200, 300, 400c, 400i, 400t, 550, 550t
- Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator
- Garmin Legend H Handheld GPS Navigator
- Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
- Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
- Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
Posted in 
Tags: 
The description is very misleading, making it sound like that this unit just works with geocaching which is simply not true!
The inaccurate description reads: “Oregon 550t supports [...] GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to your unit. By going paperless, you’re not only helping the environment but also improving efficiency. Oregon stores and displays key information, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs!”
The key missing disclosure is that the above only works for *a paid premium [...] account*. For the, at a guess, 95% of geocachers who do not have a premium account the device works nothing like the above description.
I think Garmin knows they are omitting a key fact from the description, but I guess they thought it was better to have some customers buy, even if they were not going to get what they expected. Imagine how that works for a Christmas present. Somebody non-expert reads the above which makes no mention of anything premium being required, buys it as an extravagant present for a geocacher… and then only after it’s opened is there this slow realization that it doesn’t work at all as advertised … turning a joyful time into a real awkward scene for both parties. On the plus side, doing the return through Amazon was very easy, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth about Garmin.
(update) The comments focus on how a premium account is a good idea, which I actually agree with. However, even if a premium account is a fantastic idea, that does not change the fact that Garmin should describe the capability of their product accurately. If it requires a premium account to work as described, state that clearly. What is their thinking that it’s a good idea to not mention this key requirement?
Rating: 1 / 5
A bit of background. I’m an experienced GPS user, dating back to the days when the eTrex was in the “Wow!” category. After years of reliable use from my Garmin 60CSX, 660 geocaches later, I decided to upgrade to something with a touch screen. Saved up my pennies, decided to take an “in for a penny, in for a pound” approach, went for the top of the line Oregon 550T. BIG mistake. The unit is on its way back to Amazon for a refund. No way? Let me count the ways.
The unit is a small, thick item. Though I couldn’t tell it from the promo pictures, the screen is small, about half the size of my HTC EVO cell phone screen. The screen IS a touch screen, but it’s a very balky touchscreen. If you have an iPhone or an Android based phone, you’ll be distressed at how jerkily and slowly dragging the map from side to side goes on the Oregon, compared to the silky fast sliding of images on my Evo. In contrast to the controls on my EVO, the operation of the Oregon 550t is not intuitive, the symbols are crudely drawn, simply not up to the graphics on any cell phone (you’ll continue to hear the phone/Garmin comparison, for a reason) manufactured within the last 2 years. Processing is MUCH slower than on my cell phone. There is no “enter” button, for data. Going back and forth between screens is non-intuitive. The functions do work, but it can be a hassle to understand them. The camera works, though at 3 megapixels, it’s goofy compared to my EVO with 12 megapixels AND a flash, AND the capability to instantly forward any pictures to the web or to Facebook wirelessly. Enough about my cell phone? Hang in there, there’s method in my madness.
For more than $500, I want a product that gleams with competence. In contrast, the instruction booklet that arrives with the unit is incredibly stingy with info. BUT, you might say, there is a CD that comes with it that has a full owner’s manual. Indeed it does. On the CD is a quick start version that takes about a minute to read, or the full version, which takes about 4 minutes to read. Meaning…there’s just not much there to help with complex questions. Way below the quality that I expect from a $500 plus product.
But, but, what about the ability to do paperless geocaching. It CAN do that, IF you can get the unit to cooperate with downloads while linked to the computer, which my unit only did intermittently, and very slowly. Compare that to EVO with the right apps, where the phone never comes near a computer, but gets everything a geocacher needs, wirelessly.
But, what about the nifty 3D simulation on the route? Well, why choose 3D simulation when my cell phone overlays Google Earth on my route, and I can see tree by tree, gully by gully, where I’m hiking. The Oregon simulation is dorky, the Google Earth overlay is ultra-cool.
My EVO, and countless other Apple and Android based phones are lighter, slimmer, have bigger screens, and as far as I can tell, can do everything this Oregon GPS can do, mostly better. With one exception: battery life. Quick fix for the phone: small $25 portable recharging packs that will keep your phone working for as long as you wish.
So…did I mention that you can also TALK on my EVO. To stop being annoyingly snide, here’s the real deal. My cell phone is not waterproof (the Oregon is), and it can’t match the battery life of the Oregon, but the screen is brighter, sharper, bigger, quicker, smarter than the Oregon. Reminds me of the old song from the musical, Oklahoma: “Anything you can do, I can do better”, with the Android based phone doing the singing to the Oregon. Well, ALMOST everything. And the phone is way cheaper. If you don’t have a smart phone, maybe you’ll like the gee whiz stuff on the Oregon. If you DO have a recent smart phone, you may well end up doing what I did: packing this puppy up and shipping it back to from whence it came. ‘Nuff said.
Rating: 2 / 5
This is a great product. As advertised. Nice improvements from Oregon 400t like: brighter more readable screen; more consistent compass readings; and the camera.
I bought this because I broke the screen on my 400t (not a product issue.) I use this thing several days a week and hate to be without it. Garmin support states a 35 minute wait time just to get an RMA to send the thing in for repairs. (Unfortuneately they have been experiencing unusually high call volumes. Not a great signal for the quality of the product but I have had no other issues I needed their help with.) You can also get this help by email and they state you should expect to wait three days for a response. (Experience is now saying: “Or more.”)
What a concept. Sell a great product that people begin to rely on, then make service unavailable so they buy another one. (Like Jag’s used to be: One to drive while the other is in the shop.) I sorry they are so overwhelmed. But, I would NOT buy another of their products outside the ones they already have me committed to.
Rating: 3 / 5
I bought this GPS for one reason… geocaching. It is great. I did need to add driving maps as well to make it even better reaching the caches. The only downside is the price, even with the discounts.
Rating: 5 / 5
I was tired of loading maps, so bought the 550T instead of the 550. When I tried it out in my neighborhood, the maps were A FULL 1/3 BLOCK OFF in the E-W direction. Called Garmin, and they said, yes, the 2008 topos can be off and that there is no way to fix it. I have the Topo 2008 maps loaded on other units, and they are off a bit in some cases, but not like that. I had to return the 550t as it is not useable to me if it is that far off.
So I can get the 550, but missed out on the rebate. But am now considering whether I want the Oregon. I have a Colorado, and find it very slow clunky for caching. Perhaps that is one reason they discontinued it. That is why I wanted to go to the Oregon as I tried a friend’s Oregon and it was easier to use. But Garmin still could make several improvements on the Oregon for caching. They obviously didn’t have experienced cachers consult in the software design.
Rating: 1 / 5