i.e. Garmin sucks.
I did not search for all of the posts regarding the Zumo 665LM, but I can tell you that I for one am NOT happy with mine.
There are numerous design flaws with this unit. First and foremost, the unit is severely UNBRIGHT. Unless you have it in a small cave on your console, it is impossibly dim. Why? Because I wear prescription sunglasses when I ride. Who doesn't wear sunglasses? So, was that a design consideration for the 665? I expect not.
2. Why would they design this unit so that to connect it to your home computer, you have to take the battery cover off? It makes NO sense whatever. Garmin told me it was so that the connector wouldn't be exposed to the elements. I had a street pilot 2820 which had a small rubber cover on it. In 9 years, it never got wet even though I was in some seriously heavy downpours up in Wyoming. And everyone knows there are no shelters anywhere in that state. If it rains, you get wet.:smile: And, to make it worse, the battery tends to fall out it you have it turned so as to view the screen. How inconvenient.
3. I have an iMac which I've been using since 2005 (actually it was a Macbook Pro back then) to design my custom routes, and then download them to the GPS. The Zumo 665 doesn't even come close to working as easily as the SP2820. On it, you hit the download button and a few minutes later, it was on the SP. WIth the 665, you first have to download it to the 665, then you have to get on the 665 and "import" it. That sounds simple, but in actual practice, it seldom works correctly. I've been using computers (PCs to Macs to Unix devices) since 1963 and this device is the first one that I ever experienced this much frustration with in my entire career. Garmin told me (I swear on my parent's graves this is true) that BaseCamp is incompatible with the iMac. So, I loaded Parallels on my iMac and windows 7, just so that I could run the Window version of BaseCamp. Guess what, it's just as unreliable.
4. The main CPU chip in the 665 is slower that the very first PC I ever used. It is DOG slow. My old SP2820 was twice as fast at calculating a new route. And, to top it off, any extra RAM you add is only used for music and photos, not more maps. Plus, and here's the REAL KICKER. I asked for BaseCamp to calculate a route from San Ysidro, CA to Key West FL. Done. I download it to the 665 and guess what? It says route is too long crying, boo hoo, it will be truncated. I can tell you for certain, that my SP2820 NEVER truncated any routes, regardless of their length.
5. The 665 cost me over $1,000.00 including the secure, key operated mount. I'm having my head examined for being stupid enough to pay that amount for this worthless GPS unit. Someone on this site did mention that GPS units are now in the same category as 8Track tape players, Betamax, etc. I love the post that shows one rider's iPhone in the tank bag. Instant waterproof mount. Awesome!
Ok, so I just wanted to vent. I hate this GPS. I hate that I spent over $1000.00 on it. I hate that there's no "try before youi buy" for Garmin products. You spend your money and if it doesn't work, Oh well, Sorry. I've been using my iPhone in my auto and have never had any problems on the road. Works flawlessly. However, it does present a couple of challenges on the bike. Gloves, etc. I'm seriously thinking that I'll put the 665 on the bike and use it as a speedometer and that's about it.
Garmin should be ashamed of themselves. I know they're in business to make money, but they must be clearing $950 profit per unit. The central chip is probably a cast off that didn't work in something else and someone said "Hey! Let's use it in a GPS and charge mega-bucks for it." That guy has probably retired rich from Garmin by now.
If you've read all the way to here, you must have a 665 story as well.:wink:
I did not search for all of the posts regarding the Zumo 665LM, but I can tell you that I for one am NOT happy with mine.
There are numerous design flaws with this unit. First and foremost, the unit is severely UNBRIGHT. Unless you have it in a small cave on your console, it is impossibly dim. Why? Because I wear prescription sunglasses when I ride. Who doesn't wear sunglasses? So, was that a design consideration for the 665? I expect not.
2. Why would they design this unit so that to connect it to your home computer, you have to take the battery cover off? It makes NO sense whatever. Garmin told me it was so that the connector wouldn't be exposed to the elements. I had a street pilot 2820 which had a small rubber cover on it. In 9 years, it never got wet even though I was in some seriously heavy downpours up in Wyoming. And everyone knows there are no shelters anywhere in that state. If it rains, you get wet.:smile: And, to make it worse, the battery tends to fall out it you have it turned so as to view the screen. How inconvenient.
3. I have an iMac which I've been using since 2005 (actually it was a Macbook Pro back then) to design my custom routes, and then download them to the GPS. The Zumo 665 doesn't even come close to working as easily as the SP2820. On it, you hit the download button and a few minutes later, it was on the SP. WIth the 665, you first have to download it to the 665, then you have to get on the 665 and "import" it. That sounds simple, but in actual practice, it seldom works correctly. I've been using computers (PCs to Macs to Unix devices) since 1963 and this device is the first one that I ever experienced this much frustration with in my entire career. Garmin told me (I swear on my parent's graves this is true) that BaseCamp is incompatible with the iMac. So, I loaded Parallels on my iMac and windows 7, just so that I could run the Window version of BaseCamp. Guess what, it's just as unreliable.
4. The main CPU chip in the 665 is slower that the very first PC I ever used. It is DOG slow. My old SP2820 was twice as fast at calculating a new route. And, to top it off, any extra RAM you add is only used for music and photos, not more maps. Plus, and here's the REAL KICKER. I asked for BaseCamp to calculate a route from San Ysidro, CA to Key West FL. Done. I download it to the 665 and guess what? It says route is too long crying, boo hoo, it will be truncated. I can tell you for certain, that my SP2820 NEVER truncated any routes, regardless of their length.
5. The 665 cost me over $1,000.00 including the secure, key operated mount. I'm having my head examined for being stupid enough to pay that amount for this worthless GPS unit. Someone on this site did mention that GPS units are now in the same category as 8Track tape players, Betamax, etc. I love the post that shows one rider's iPhone in the tank bag. Instant waterproof mount. Awesome!
Ok, so I just wanted to vent. I hate this GPS. I hate that I spent over $1000.00 on it. I hate that there's no "try before youi buy" for Garmin products. You spend your money and if it doesn't work, Oh well, Sorry. I've been using my iPhone in my auto and have never had any problems on the road. Works flawlessly. However, it does present a couple of challenges on the bike. Gloves, etc. I'm seriously thinking that I'll put the 665 on the bike and use it as a speedometer and that's about it.
Garmin should be ashamed of themselves. I know they're in business to make money, but they must be clearing $950 profit per unit. The central chip is probably a cast off that didn't work in something else and someone said "Hey! Let's use it in a GPS and charge mega-bucks for it." That guy has probably retired rich from Garmin by now.
If you've read all the way to here, you must have a 665 story as well.:wink: