Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS
Digital camera Review: Amazing product
Summary: 4 Stars
I use this GPS both on my bike and in my car. I don't know half of its capabilities yet, but I am impressed with what I have figured out so far. The machine seems rugged (a concern on the bike), it's easy enough to use, and provides much more than just a map of your location.
The maps (purchased separately, which makes this a more expensive unit than some) contain huge amounts of information. I wonder about which shops/restaurants are in the database, versus which ones are not, but have no flagrant ommissions to report. Roads, turns, etc., are all correct, and it instantly adapts when you change course. Directions (when you enter an address and hit "go to") are as good, or better, than sites like MapQuest, though they do have similar limitations in that they don't know the way to avoid traffic delays. But if you take an alternate route it patiently gives you directions for the remainder of the trip.
Very clever machine.
My gripes are that any computer would be hard to use if it only had 6 keys. The multi-function enter/move around key is a bit finicky about what it considers an "enter", and navigating through menus to type words for searces is annoying. A real keyboard would be a nice option. Secondly, since I do not use Windows, borrowing a computer to upload maps is an annoyance. Please beg Garmin for a linux and Mac version of their software. the security hurdles you have to go through to install the maps are over the top as well.
The screen is small, but that is the price you pay for portability and usability on a bike or when hiking.
On the other hand, I thank them for making the thing only beep when you get to a turn. If I had one of those talking GPS's it'd be out the window in a week.
Digital camera Review: An excellent choice
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the Vista CX from Amazon several months ago. I am VERY happy with it. It's rock solid. It has never failed me. I connect it to my Macintosh iBook and upload my track information after runs, hikes, bike rides, and trips in the car. The Vista CX is a great choice. (Previously I owned the eTrex and eTrex Summit.)Digital camera Review: Avoid Magellan at all costs.....buy Garmin
Summary: 4 Stars
I foolishly bought a Magellan Explorist 500. Let's just say the best thing about the experience is that Amazon's return service is absolutely first rate. I was even stupid enough to replace my original malfunctioning Magellan with another, before returning that one too on the grounds that it was impossible to work with and didn't sync with my PC.
The Garmin on the other hand - I had learned more about what a GPS is supposed to do in one hour with this unit, compared to three weeks with the Magellan. Very user friendly, very intuitive....restored my faith in handheld GPS systems.
Digital camera Review: Awesome gps!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know what you guys are talking about this having no sirfstarIII chipset.. IT DOES HAVE THE CHIPSET!
(it doesn't list it in the garmin product page but their news update said it uses it)
I had the original Vista C too and the SirfstarIII chipset of the Cx model is able to hold a fix A LOT BETTER!.
Pro:
- sirfstar hold a fix in coditions that the old C cannot (inside single story building, on the floor of my car)
- better battery life
- expandable memory (with 1 gig card I have topo and street map of the eastern seabord of the USA)
con:
- newest version of trips & wap point manager for some reason takes like 10+ seconds to find the gps for transfer.. wheres the old verison only take 1 second..
Digital camera Review: Battery Life Rocks!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first portable GPSR unit. I have used 3-4 different build-in street navigation units in my cars so I have some experiences about GPSR unit. The Vista Cx is a well build consumer level GPSR. For hiking purpose, this unit rocks!!! The battery life is amazing and it can hold signal under trees (well, not the forest though).
I have bought the US street nav NT CD and tried to use the Vista Cx as car navigation unit. The Vista Cx seems lack of CPU power so it's very slow. Don't use this unit as your primary car navigation. You should buy a real car navigation unit if you primary goal is using the unit in the car!