Garmin 2610,2620,2720,2730

[EdBruce]

Looking at getting a new GPS. I like the idea of the CF card on the 2610. But I like the display and the XM on the 2720. I really want to stay away from a unit that loads the maps on a Hard Drive.

I went to Garmins site and did a comparison on all 4 units. Here is what I got for Map Storage

2610: Compact Flash
2620: Pre-programmed Hard Drive
2720: Solid-state, Pre-programmed media
2730: Solid-state, Pre-programmed media

Here are my questions...

1. What exactly is Solid-state, Pre-programmed media

if it's not the same as a Hard Drive

2. Anyone have any ideas how this unit might work with all the bumps
and vibrations of a mtorcycle

Thanks in Advance

[edonthenet]

Looking at getting a new GPS. I like the idea of the CF card on the 2610. But I like the display and the XM on the 2720. I really want to stay away from a unit that loads the maps on a Hard Drive.

I went to Garmins site and did a comparison on all 4 units. Here is what I got for Map Storage

2610: Compact Flash
2620: Pre-programmed Hard Drive
2720: Solid-state, Pre-programmed media
2730: Solid-state, Pre-programmed media

Here are my questions...

1. What exactly is Solid-state, Pre-programmed media

if it's not the same as a Hard Drive

2. Anyone have any ideas how this unit might work with all the bumps
and vibrations of a mtorcycle

Thanks in Advance

Not to stomp on your post here as I am also looking at the 2730, alternately comparing to the new Lowrance 350c.
Does the Garmin 2720 support waypoint programming? Meaning, can I set it to go to Bill's house, then Dan's house, then Tom's house etc, or do I have to do each stop seperate? If the 2720 supports that, the 2730 definately will.
BTW, the 2720 doesn't have an XM tuner but the 2730 will. Nice feature if you ask me.
Ed

[EdBruce]

Well I spoke to Garmin Support this morning. Here is what they basically told me.

For use on a motorcycle

2610: No problem. Uses compact flash
2620: Stay away because of moving Hard Drive
2720: No problem. No Hard drive. Loads it onto (his words) something like RAM Memory
2730: Same as 2720

He told me I should have no problems whatsoever using the 2720 or 2730 on a motorcycle with all the vibrations and bumps

Cheers

[edonthenet]

Wow :eek: , you got through to Garmin, hat's off to ya! I've tried them at least 6 times just to get some pre-sales info and I've yet to speak with anyone down there. I just get to listen to their canned muzak & taped announcements. This is one of my biggest problems with them. Seems that tech support down there is very undermanned.
Anyways, if you look on the website for the 2730 under accessories they do sell a motorcycle mounting kit. So, I guess they have no problem with that. Lowrance provides one with the 500c, but that is a 20 gig harddrive unit. The 1st time I stuck it on the bike, I hit a decent bump and the unit started stuttering on the MP3 it was playing until it rebooted itself. Not a big deal but I was thinking to myself how many times can this GPS take that kind of beating until it won't work anymore? So, back in the box it went for a credit. I have a 350c on backorder so whenever they get around to shipping it. But time is working against them as I'm liking the specs on the 2730 more and more.
Ed

[Big_E]

Been using my 2620 for 3 years on bad roads, in bad weather, on 3 different bikes, never had a problem with the hard drive.

[edonthenet]

Been using my 2620 for 3 years on bad roads, in bad weather, on 3 different bikes, never had a problem with the hard drive.

I'm not knocking hard drives at all. IBM makes microdrives for digital cameras and MP3 players for years now and they have performed well. But in fairness, any MP3 player recommended for jogging or athletics are the flash drive units. Flash drives are pretty much bullet proof but a close contender is the compact flash cards, now up to 8 gig.
It's a shame that GPS manufacturers don't take a techno lesson and learn what's on the market. Lowrance chose secure data memory for their newest GPS, the 350c. :( They can't tell me if it's only for transfer or storage so I can't discount them yet. SD/MMC is only 2 gb max, hardly enough for suitable MP3 storage.
IMO, the 2730 is the hottest GPS coming out for the year. The Xmas release date is gonna get them max dollar for their units, but where I live the bike won't be rolling much longer and spring riding will be 4 months away. So, that gives me till April to find a unit. The prices should settle by then.
Ed

[Steve_R]

Don't feel like the Lone Stranger, Ed. Garmin doesn't respond to emails at Contact Garmin or support. I asked why they chose to do XM Radio only and got no answer. I already have Sirius and DON'T want to change. I'd like to have Sirius in the GPS so that I can keep the BMR shelf as sparse as possible. I prefer the Sirius progamming and would rather not change to get a combined unit.

Oh well, until some of these manufacturers wake up.

[eljeffe]

They chose XM because of XM Weather.

[Steve_R]

They chose XM because of XM Weather.And they can't provide one that has Sirius because it doesn't?? At least on the 2720, the XM receiver is in the puck not in the GPS itself. So a Sirius puck should be available. I don't care about having the weather, just a GPS that has my preferred satellite radio available. Seems to me they are limiting sales or just in bed with XM.

JM2CW and YMMV.;)

[meese]

However you want to put it, it is much easier for Garmin to stick with XM rather than support two systems. Hardware changes, software changes, and licensing fees would make supporting a dual system pretty expensive. If XM offers a weather feed and Sirius doesn't, then Garmin made the right choice. Note that none of the above has to do with programming differences, just technical and financial considerations.

[edonthenet]

Just got a reply from Garmin on MP3 storage on their new 2730 unit. "The 2730 uses internal solid state memory
for map storage, with an additional 750mb of solid state memory for
additional map products such as European mapping."
I called them and the tech stated that MP3 storage will also share that memory. So, it seems there is a total of 1.5 gigs to use on the unit. Your particular mapping will consume 750mb of it. That only leaves 750mb for music storage. Maybe enough for a 1-2 day trip but nothing significant. I guess you could encode any digital music at a 128kb bitrate, that would be the most efficient use of it's meager storage.