It's Official, the GPSMAP 496

In a previous article, Jonathan Goodish said:
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:
Last year Garmin announced MacIntosh support for their GPS's.
They did? Where?

This was a fairly big announcement at MacWorld in January 2006, I
believe. Garmin's commitment was for full Mac support for all of their
products (including MapSource) by the end of 2006. So far, I haven't
seen much from them.

I hope they offer a way to load databases for the 530 on the Mac, because
I'd love to use my laptop to do that at the airport instead of bringing
the data card home. Oh wait, that software is probably from Jepp rather
than Garmin, isn't it?


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
I'm a Darwinian carnivore. I only eat things that weren't fit enough
to prevent their being killed.
-- Mike Sphar

In article .com,
"Mike Granby" wrote:

If Garmin don't offer an upgrade route, this will be pretty crappy
behavior. I guess all's fair in love, war and commerce, but I'll be a
bit PO-ed if I can't get up to the better platform without simply
selling the 396 and buying a new unit, especially since a lot of the
other bits and pieces are common. Of course, selling the 396 won't be
as easy now Garmin have cut the list price! Sigh. I guess on the scale
of airplane ownership costs, eating $1K to get up to the 496 won't be
too bad, but still...

As far as I know, Garmin has never offered an official upgrade path.
However, many dealers will buy your old unit (i.e. give you trade-in
dollars) when you purchase a new unit from them. The good news is that
the Garmin units historically have held pretty decent value, even after
they're superseded.

However, I just don't see anything in the 496 that makes me want to
jump. Honestly. It's a little bit faster, has City Select built-in for
the entire country (nice), has taxi diagrams (nice), and the AOPA
directory (rather a gimmick, IMO). If we were talking approach plates,
victor airways, a larger display, or traffic detection, any of those
would be a killer application. Right now, I don't see a killer
application in the 496 that is missing from the 396.



JKG

In article ,
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

This was a fairly big announcement at MacWorld in January 2006, I
believe. Garmin's commitment was for full Mac support for all of their
products (including MapSource) by the end of 2006. So far, I haven't
seen much from them.

I hope they offer a way to load databases for the 530 on the Mac, because
I'd love to use my laptop to do that at the airport instead of bringing
the data card home. Oh wait, that software is probably from Jepp rather
than Garmin, isn't it?

Though I don't have a Garmin panel-mount, I suspect that you are correct
about the database loader as a Jepp application.

When I read Garmin's announcement about Mac support (which, by the way,
is available he
http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html), I thought that
it sounded quite aggressive. However, I believe they've already
delivered on their MotionBased commitment. I look forward to being able
to load updates to the hand held, as well as being able to work with
MapSource, all from the Mac. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.



JKG

In article ,
Jonathan Goodish wrote:
When I read Garmin's announcement about Mac support (which, by the way,
is available he
http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html), I thought that
it sounded quite aggressive. However, I believe they've already
delivered on their MotionBased commitment. I look forward to being able
to load updates to the hand held, as well as being able to work with
MapSource, all from the Mac. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.


Ah, apparently they've fallen somewhat behind schedule:

http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/062706.html



JKG

In article .com,
"Mike Granby" wrote:
Right now, I don't see a killer application
in the 496 that is missing from the 396.

Probably true, but I'm a gadget freak, as you know!!!

Yes, well, I'm a gadget freak but I'm also cheap, so that pretty much
results in perpetual conflict for me. When the 596 or whatever comes
next rolls along, I'm probably going to need some type of therapy!


JKG

Let us know what JA says.. I am curious.


Mike Granby wrote:
Jonathan Goodish wrote:

However, many dealers will buy your old unit (i.e. give
you trade-in dollars) when you purchase a new unit
from them. The good news is that the Garmin units
historically have held pretty decent value, even after
they're superseded.

I've got an email in to JA Air, so we'll see what they offer me!

Right now, I don't see a killer application
in the 496 that is missing from the 396.

Probably true, but I'm a gadget freak, as you know!!!

In article ,
Jonathan Goodish wrote:

http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/062706.html

Garmin Provides Update on Mac Compatibility
OLATHE, KS/June 27, 2006 ‹ Garmin today announced an update on the
launch of its application support for Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger." The
company¹s Training Center software is now expected to be compatible with
Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger² by the end of 2006. Also at that time, we
will announce the expected completion date for Garmin¹s other hardware
and software applications. We thank the Mac community for their support,
understanding and patience as we work through these unanticipated
delays, and we look forward to providing Mac users with direct support
for their Garmin products.

The only problem with this statement is that 10.5 is to be announced in
two weeks and will be available for the Christmas shopping season.

Brock Boss wrote:
http://www.aero-news.net
just in time for Oshkosh.

Good Pictures of the new 496: http://jaair.com/496/

wrote in message
ups.com...

Brock Boss wrote:
http://www.aero-news.net
just in time for Oshkosh.

Good Pictures of the new 496: http://jaair.com/496/

All that and it finds fish too...amazing...

Jay B

http://www.aero-news.net
just in time for Oshkosh.

$600 more -- and it's still got that same dinky screen?

Too bad.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"