By herky on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 09:25 pm: Edit

Is the Garmin handheld E-map a good buy at 75 dollars? It is a year old and was originally 399, I know it is fully loaded with street maps, etc but what about using this for Off-roadin' would I be better off with the E-trek? I am pretty sure they will both plot for backtrackin' thanks for your help

By Ben Gott on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 09:43 pm: Edit

I have an e-trek and love it.. Backtracking is an option and you get a TON of "points" stored in memory and all sort of other goodies.. It's great for one handed use and its all water proof..

But I would have to say $75 is a steal for an E-map..

Hope I helped..

Ben

By Paul on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 09:55 pm: Edit

herky, I use a Garmin eMap for my software testing and it has been a great little unit. For $75 you cannot go wrong. We used it quite a bit for a general camping/exploring trip in Utah a few weeks back and it was great.

Paul

By herky on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 11:20 pm: Edit

So the E-map is as functional as the E-trek even off the mapped roads? I played with it a little but it seemed just to be for paved roads, but it can also track points etc for off-road use?

By Mike on Thursday, April 26, 2001 - 12:13 am: Edit

I have a Garming GPSIII+. I have only played with the ETrex and the EMap in the stores. From my understanding, the Emap is far superior to the ETrex. The Emap is basically the GPS III+ (a great unit!) without the removable antenna. You can download trail information to it and use it to track your progress down those forgotten trails. Also, the EMap has all of the roads in North America and South America pre-loaded so it works as well on the open road as it does on the trails. Supposedly, the Emap also has information about food, lodging, etc. on all major interstates.

The ETrek is basically a hiker's tool (hence the waterproofing), whereas the EMap is the next step up in the line; providing a cheaper alternative to the Garming GPSIII+.

At $75.00, you got a real deal.

For details, head to the Garmin site at www.garmin.com

Thanks,
Mike

By M.Pope on Thursday, April 26, 2001 - 07:31 pm: Edit

I Have had the Garmin Street Pilot for a few years now. It is very easy to see when attached to the dash due to it's large display. The detail is good without the extra metro guide chips. But once you use the detailed metro/topo guides, it is by far the most detailed GPS database I have yet to see in a portable device. The topo guide shows almost every single "jeep trail" I've been on. Lots of other detailed trekking info in addition to all streets and most restaurants, gas stations, stores, ect, all with phone numbers!
The chips and software are not cheap.. around $180.00 I'm not sure what the going rate is for the unit itself($300?). The color one is a lot more $ and because the screen is smaller it is harder to see while driving. I have not really been in the GPS loop in the last year or so
but I think my remarks are still current. If you do any boating, the marine chip is very detailed for lakes and U.S. costal waterways.
My 2cents.
Mike.