Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS by Garmin
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List Price: Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS
Digital camera Review: A NEWBIE WHO LOVES HER VISTA!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first GPS unit that I bought in June 2006 after discovering the wonderful world of geocaching. Having zero experience with GPS, I spent a couple months researching devices and, most importantly, reading what other users were saying about their hand-held units. The short of it was that after all the info I had gathered, I decided on the Vista CX. It's a middle-of-the-road GPS unit-- I didn't want to go too cheap and end up having to update 6 months later, but I couldn't affort 700 or 800 dollars, either. This device fits perfectly.
I use it constantly and have to say that I drive my husband nuts when we're on trips (I now have it with me at all times), but I'm just *amazed*.... it tells you moving speed, moving average, altitude, time stopped, time driving, direction, time of day, sunrise, sunset, best times to fish and hunt, and a hundred other things you'd ever want to know about where you are in the world. We vacationed in Ocean City, MD this spring and I was just in awe-- we took a boat tour of the bay and sure enough, all the channel markers we passed were on the GPS! And that was just using the free built-in software that came with the unit! In short, this is a heck of a lot of fun and I would recommend this to anyone.
I found that I got pretty savvy with it just by using it... I really didn't use the manual all that much after the first hour or so.
I can't think of any reason you'd buy this and wouldn't use it... it's a constant source of amazement. What I'm finding most frustrating, however, is deciding what kind of street-level software to buy-- there seems to be a difference of opinion in the GPS community when it comes to City Navigator or City Select. Well, I'll just keep researching until I make up my mind.
Another really great thing is that standard alkaline batteries last a really long time-- I've had my unit on constantly for over 7 hours and used only one bar on the battery meter... another great selling point in my opinion.
Digital camera Review: A few words for cyclists
Summary: 4 Stars
If you're a cyclist and you're buying this because you want the hiking functions as well as using it on your bicycle, then you need to read this:
The "Bike Mount" that comes with the unit as advertised is only half of the actual part used to mount it on a set of handlebars. It is the slider part that bolts on to the battery cover. If you're looking into mounting it on your handlebars, you will need to buy the other half of the accessory, which costs around $11+. This is the actual handlebar clip. You can find the handlebar mount on the Garmin website, as well as all the mapping software in their online store.
Other than that, I agree with most reviewers here, this unit is awesome. 4 stars because of the lack of mapping software included and the fact that the advertising was a little misleading (always a catch!). I really like this thing!
Digital camera Review: A great, handable and complete puckett GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
For a road motorcycle driver, or anyone who must use it in his puckett, it's size is as great as it's reception, even with it's small screen you can always see and follow what you're looking for. I would recomend about the base for bicycles, not to use this for motorcycles cause it's vibrations turn it damaged as happened to my GPS before, a real good Legend, the blue one. I'd sugest to Garmin, if they didn't do it yet, to designe as I did for my bike, a paded stand for it in order that it absorves the motor's vibrations and keep the GPS working right, and in the fotos they show from customers, not to show the one with the GPS attached to a motorcycle's handle bar, it is only for bicycles use, without vibrations.Digital camera Review: Ad is misleading...
Summary: 3 Stars
Just got this in today and I already notice 2 problems...
First, the ad states that the bike mounting clip is included and it is not. As this was the primary reason for me getting this, it's a bit of an inconvenience.
Second, Mac users should note that no where in the ad does it state that you can't use Garmin software with the Mac OS. You'll need to get Virtual PC and Windows XP to use their software.
Digital camera Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first GPS I've owned, though I have used other GPS units at work. The features of this unit are great, the compass is functional when motionless, the build in data like sun and moon phases and hunting and fishing times will prove very useful to me, it's also fairly easy to use. I bought the Garmin Vista primarily to use for fishing. I've since purchased U.S Recreational Lakes CD and have loaded several potential hot spots in my GPS. Now I'm waiting for the spring thaw to really test the unit. A friend has 3 different GPS units and soon says he'll have one more, the Vista from Garmin.