[Az-Geocaching] Re: Purchase of Magellan Platinum GPS receiver

[James and Diane Herr]

At 10:28 AM 12/30/2002 -0700, you wrote:

>Its almost a happy new year and team Seeking is looking to upgrade its 
>GPS receiver. We currently have a sporttrakk map, and It has been 
>outstanding. But now we want to upload more detailed data, topo maps 
>etc., and are looking to acquire a Magellan Platinum system. I have 
>called Wide World of Maps and discovered that they don't carry the 
>Magellan product. Sports Authority doesn't have the product in stock. 
>Radio Shack has it, but doesn't carry the software or accessory cards. 
>We live on the West side near Arrowhead Ranch, and I am looking for a 
>dealer who might be willing to offer a package deal. Does anyone have 
>any ideas about where to locate a Magellan vendor on this side of town.
>  
>
I'm not sure where you can get a package deal, but while reading some 
newsgroups awhile back, I saw people were buying the Meridian Platinum 
online at Harmony Computers.  I just checked and their current price is 
$249.00.  They have the Mapsend Topo software for $99.99, and their is 
currently at $50 rebate if you buy both the software and the GPS.  That 
would put that package in the $300 range.  I would NOT buy a magellan 
memory card.  Those things are so overpriced as to be almost criminal. 
 Watch the local ads and buy it locally.  Right now Staples has a PNY 
64MB Secure Digital Memory Card that will work in this unit for $25 
after rebate.  Sam's Club has the 128MB secure digital card for $48 
after rebate.  Imagine what you could do with all that memory!

One other point, if you aren't going to use the electronic compass 
feature, or the barometric altimeter, and you are going to upload all 
your own maps into the SD memory card, then there isn't much reason to 
spend $250 for this unit when you can get the plain old Meridian at 
Fry's for $139 right now.  (If you want the extra map data for areas 
where you haven't downloaded detailed maps into the SD memory card, then 
you would be best going with the gold or platinum models.)  You can 
check out a comparison of a few of the more popular models here: 
 http://www.offroute.com/gps-compare.html

Good luck on your new purchase!
--
Jim (Team 8 Feet)