With the Consumer Electronics Show now in full swing, there will most likely be a ton of new information coming out about the highly-anticipated Garmin Colorado. But until that deluge of press releases hits, we can mop up our collective gadget-lover drool while gawking at the few stiffs lucky enough to actually get their hands on one.
GPS Tracklog has a few new images and a helpful one-page but you’re really going to want to head toward GPS Magazine.
They’ve got a 6 page comprehensive write up of their first impressions of the unit, which seems generally very favorable. They’ve got their qualms with the menu structure and the scroll wheel-like “Rock ‘n’ Roller,” but in all honesty it can’t be much worse than the thumbstick on my eTrex Vista CSx.
For me, the major selling point of the Colorado is the sexy new map view — with topographic shading and even an option for a bona-fide 3D view of your route. It’s going to be great to have a Garmin that can display something that actually looks like where you’re going hiking, instead of an image that looks like a leftover printout from your old dot matrix printer.
Start saving up, though — suggested retail price is about 600 bucks.
Yikes.
For more information, be sure to check out Garmin’s new official product page for the Colorado.
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Ohh! That looks like some nice gear!
Expensive though.
DSD
Looks like a great GPS, can’t wait to play with one. I keep hearing about the expense of the unit, however, if you look at the price of the 60CSX and add the price of the topo software, in reality you’re not paying much more. That, and the map quality looks much better, with a much larger screen. I own a Vista HCX, and it is a wonderful unit. The only complaint I have is that they should have came out with the Colorado’s 2 months earlier!!
I am REALLY hoping to receive a unit-software update soon that takes AT LEAST two concerts: 1) let me zoom more than 80ft, i know there isn’t much there :) but still want to be able to do it (the CSx can, why not the Colorado?!?! Why???) and over-zoom really does help when looking for geocaches. 2) Let me reverse the direction of a trail/track that i have just archived. Say i hike somewhere there are no roads and want to “track back” (just like the CSx can do where you can even choose the point to track back to!!) this one cannot do it since each saved track has a predetermined direction built-in (the one used when it was recorded). I hope this makes sense to you guys. Please, why remove features that the CSx had? Thanks.
- In Detail -
CONS:
- map zooms only down to 80ft. as opposed to 20ft. (ok, not a big deal but why not??) The software (under advanced settings can be customized down to 20ft.) so why not over-zoom ?!?! (helps with GCs)
- display not so bright (nothing like the CSx outdoors) or as reflective for that matter. I know that the screen CAN be brighter, since when you plug it in, for a second the display recognizes the power supply and brights up to max – but the it switches to the “PC-link” mode and that’s it.
- no circle around current location that indicates gps accuracy (sad, i really like that feature - WHY REMOVE IT??)
- user manual, well, next to useless (only the VERY basics in there, zero details)
- once plugged into the USB, cannot use the gps (i.e. you cannot use the usb as a power supply, with the CSx you can)
- not even close to the map customizations the CSx has (i.e. compass track up or north up zoom level or SPPED/time dependant, turning map regions on/off, etc. etc.
- cannot average a waypoint (i.e. takes only one measurement, the CSx takes as many as you are willing to wait for!)
- cannot see geocaches on map or mark them as found for that matter (only waypoints appear) – ah, not a big deal though.
Biggest complaint (since i use this for hiking):
- cannot “track back” on a trail/track (OK GARMIN - what were you thinking here???). Cannot reverse tracks either! Cannot follow track back since when archived the direction is set!?! (ok, not that you will get lost or anything, i know, but distance and time, ETAs, etc. cannot be calculated based on following the actual track BACK, just on a straight line (i.e. off road mode). “Use track” function is poorly (if at all) explained in the manual and no advanced settings in there AT ALL!
That is really a drawback. I want as much control as possible on recorded trails as this is the main reason I use this – I was expecting to be able to do MORE with the Colorado, definitely not less than an older unit! .. I know you have the software capabilities, why remove these features?!? 8(
P.S. i am not trying to advertise for the CSx here, there are many things i DO like about the 400t, but it definitely feels like Garmin took a big step forward and two steps back.
PROS: City navigation in automobile mode, perfect – just like having a Nuvi (!), Profiles – cool, Geocaching mode with a great level of detail – truly paperless, Resolution – wow (!), Controls/Wheel on top (rather than under the screen as the CSx) – great, Sat-Reception – better than the CSx, works even indoors!
Overall - this is not a definite winner (like i hopped it would be), it is more about the trade-offs. Consider the big PRICE tag / looks / features / functionality and make a decision.
REALLY HOPING FOR A SECOND SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM GARMIN !!
I agree with AP, I simply don’t understand why the trackback feature has been removed. Besides, I’m unable to select the end or begin point as it was meant: you can’t see the waypoint you’ve selected as your destination. I had to add a lot of waypoints to find my way out, the tracking system is too complicated on the Colorado.
Dear Friends,
I’ve read you Garmin Colrado test and I’ve some coments:
I own many Garmin GPS and I like them until I Bought this Colorado 300.
I own an III Plus, a 60 CSx, a 498 and a Colorado 300.
I think that Colorado 300 is a Map GPS, that you can do almost nothing using the maps.
For example:
1) I can enter a Waypoint using the map, but I cannot move the waypoint using the map.
2) I cannot enter or edit a Route using the Map. I’ve to program all the waypoint before I Plan a route. (It’s the worst way I can enter a route, ever).
3) When I chose “view map” in the Route Planner, Colorado shows me the entire route in a 3″ display and I cannot zoom or scroll the map to see the route!
These are only 3 examples, but if you try to use Colorado to Plan Routes and manage waypoint, you will see that are so many difficulties and the map is not used at all.
They put a revolutionary interface and made a very pretty GPS, but I think that the software needs to change allot. The only way to insert routes and waypoint in Colorado is using Mapsource, but I cannot carry my notebook on the trail or to the sea.
For me the GPS purpose is to plan and folow a route, Colorado do not help me to do that like 60CSx and 498 did.
I just bought it…
I loaded near 45 routes on it, then I did try to delete all routes at the same time, well… mission impossible… You have to delete them one by one, unbelivable!!!!