Garmin 496 compared to the 396

In a previous article, Jonathan Goodish said:
In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:
Why do you need the 496 to use in the car? I've got the car kit for the
296, and other than the fact that I have to load the card with detail maps
I understand that I have exactly the same capability as the 496.

I suspect that the 496 is a better deal over the 396 for auto use
because it includes the "car kit" and City Navigator pre-loaded. With
the exception of those "early adopters" of the 396 last year, everyone
else has to pay for the "car kit" if they purchase a 396.

Does it really include the car kit? Even the talking power cable? Well,
that accounts for $250 of the $600 difference between the 396 and the 496.
So I repeat the question: Why do you need the 496 for use in the car when
for $450 less you can have the 396 with a car kit?


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Reliability went through the floor, tunnelled its way to the centre of
the Earth, and perished in the magma.
-- Saundo

In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:
I suspect that the 496 is a better deal over the 396 for auto use
because it includes the "car kit" and City Navigator pre-loaded. With
the exception of those "early adopters" of the 396 last year, everyone
else has to pay for the "car kit" if they purchase a 396.

Does it really include the car kit? Even the talking power cable? Well,
that accounts for $250 of the $600 difference between the 396 and the 496.
So I repeat the question: Why do you need the 496 for use in the car when
for $450 less you can have the 396 with a car kit?

Yes, it does, though I can't say that I'm very fond of the talking power
cable.

$600-$250 = $350. I guess for $350 more, you get the taxi diagrams,
AOPA directory, slightly better terrain resolution, and a slightly
faster update rate.

I agree, I'm not sure that it's worth it, especially since you can get
used 396 units (with the auto kit) for under $2k.



JKG

In a previous article, Jonathan Goodish said:
In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:
I suspect that the 496 is a better deal over the 396 for auto use
because it includes the "car kit" and City Navigator pre-loaded. With
Does it really include the car kit? Even the talking power cable? Well,
that accounts for $250 of the $600 difference between the 396 and the 496.
So I repeat the question: Why do you need the 496 for use in the car when
for $450 less you can have the 396 with a car kit?

Yes, it does, though I can't say that I'm very fond of the talking power
cable.

I am, but my wife frequently unplugs it.

$600-$250 = $350. I guess for $350 more, you get the taxi diagrams,

I guess I need coffee.

AOPA directory, slightly better terrain resolution, and a slightly
faster update rate.

I think we're in agreement then that the person who said you need the 496
instead of the 396 if you're going to use it in the car is mistaken,
right?

I'm pretty happy with my 296, which I bought earlier this year on eBay. I
kind of wish I'd waited until the 496 came out and drove down the used
prices on the 296 and 396 - I might have ended up with the 396 then. But
then I would have had to use my old 195 on my spring flights, including
the flight to Pinkneyville, and I wouldn't have had the Auto mode while
driving around Pittsburgh.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
It's not 'I don't do Windows', it's 'I know nothing about Windows,
and it generally explodes when I get near it'.
-- Matt McLeod

In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:
I think we're in agreement then that the person who said you need the 496
instead of the 396 if you're going to use it in the car is mistaken,
right?

You don't "need" the 496 if you want to use the device in the car, but a
brand new 396 + auto kit narrows the price gap between the 396 and 496.



JKG