[Yogie]

Hi Dan,

sorry but how can my info be out of date, I'm a user using MapSource Topo Canada v2 bought October 2008 and RoadTrip 2.0.1 since it has been released. And there is no way to get the Maps from the MapSource CD into RoadTrip other than via my VMware fusion running Windows to install the map and then to convert them and import these maps with Garmin MapManager. And still the MapSource Maps requirements are Windows? 2000 or newer...

If there is a way other than I described please let me know!

Cheers
Yogie

[cat4ever]

--It would be nice to have a decent Mac laptop/GPS app, but to call them "management geniuses" is a tad harsh.

I thought that's what these forums were for ;-)

But really, most GPS units are now around $100-$200 and dropping fast. Jack up he margins on a Mac mapping product to whatever they are for the all in one devices - throw in turn by turn directions and you'd still sell a LOT. The cost of the hardware would be almost non-existent (just need a gps receiver and a usb controller), and most of the software is already done. Most of what they charged would be pure profit. And from the looks of the quickly falling prices of GPS devices, the margins are pretty razor thin I bet.

[Yogie]

hammer32 said:

Understand, I should have made my meaning a little bit clearer: "with a Mac, a USB cable, and a Garmin GPS device, will RoadTrip display your current position, follow that position as it changes, and rotate the map on your laptop so 'up' is the direction of travel?"

Sorry Sean,

never tried this but I don't think that this will work as per design of RoadTrip!

Cheers

Yogie

[n4hhe]

Yogie said:

Yes it is a great planning tool - but there is a lack in the software - when you buy a MapSource Product (a Garmin Map for uploading into RoadTrip) you need to have a Windows Computer :( you have to install the MapSource product onto a windows system and then you need to convert this installed map to a readable format for RoadTrip on your Mac.

That was not true for MapSource 8, and is still not true for MapSource 2009.

I have Garmin's Topo 3.x, and Roads & Recreation, from 1996 or thereabouts that I intend to exercise this very path to get the files into Mac compatible format. Don't like Windows, but I don't consider the requirement to use a Windows computer to convert ancient Windows files to be the end of the world. Another point is that neither of these old maps will route by road in modern Garmin GPSs. But they are still quite useful because the face of the earth hasn't changed all that much.

[Yogie]

n4hhe said:

I have Garmin's Topo 3.x, and Roads & Recreation, from 1996 or thereabouts that I intend to exercise this very path to get the files into Mac compatible format. Don't like Windows, but I don't consider the requirement to use a Windows computer to convert ancient Windows files to be the end of the world. Another point is that neither of these old maps will route by road in modern Garmin GPSs. But they are still quite useful because the face of the earth hasn't changed all that much.

But Topo Canada is only v2 and there is no Mac compatible format! I do not use my GPS for routes on roads and navigation, I use my Garmin eTrex for hiking and outdoor adventures. Maybe you are right for v3 Versions or City RoadMaps from MapSource. And there are still no newer Topo maps to Canada... Again if there is a way to install v2 Maps without Window I would appreciate this!

[M a c B o o K]

I have purchased over $1,450 worth of handheld GPS units and mapping software, and for the most part have been very happy with Garmin. The problem I am experiencing, is trying to convert the City and TOPO maps, and put them on my Mac. I have all the CDs but I have to have a PC with Win 2000 or XP just to convert the maps to a Mac readable format...



Mike

[danham]

Yogie,

I'm not familiar with the Canadian Topo map versions, so can't comment, other than to apologize for appearing to assume the world ends at the border ;-).

The CN NT North America maps (which include Canadian roads, but not Topo) have been Mac compatible for several years.

-dan

[montgomery_burns]

danham said:

It would be nice to have a decent Mac laptop/GPS app, but to call them "management geniuses" is a tad harsh.

What do you think the profit margin on a $79 headless GPS is? What do you think the profit margin on a $400 all-in-one GPS is?

In many ways, the all-in-one is a much better solution than a laptop, for reasons ranging from convenience to safety, to added features such as real-time traffic, which would be a lot harder to implement on a laptop (and certainly not for $79). It's also not practical to take a laptop on a walking tour, for example.

Also, you have to consider that RoadTrip is the long overdue Mac version of Garmin's MapSource software, which was designed to complement their GPS units, not to be a laptop-based navigation system.

For those with Intel MacBooks looking for good mapping and real-time nav solutions, they are certainly available, but only as Windows programs (don't get me started on how awful Route 66 is).

-dan

I'm not sure what the point of your response is. First, you dismiss the idea of any company making a GPS receiver and navigation software for laptops. You think they should all make standalone portable GPS units instead. Then you refer MacBook users to Windows based navigation programs. But if all makers of GPS navigation products shared your view, then none of them would be making those programs in the first place!

[danham]

I would never presume to tell companies what software or hardware to make, other than by voting with my wallet. I'm just observing that calling them nitwits for pursuing the higher profit line is perhaps failing to look at the whole picture.

Makers of software do appear to share my view that writing laptop nav system software for Macs is either not profitable or not do-able, no idea which. I say that not because it's my own arrogant opinion :-), but because the marketplace consists of a number of decent Windows programs (Street Atlas, Streets & Trips, etc.) and no really suitable Mac ones. I'm not celebrating that; just reporting it.

-dan

[Yogie]

danham said:

Yogie,

I'm not familiar with the Canadian Topo map versions, so can't comment, other than to apologize for appearing to assume the world ends at the border ;-).

The CN NT North America maps (which include Canadian roads, but not Topo) have been Mac compatible for several years.

-dan

No Problem Dan,

but as you can see just right before your answer, M a c B o o K has the same problem! But the problem we describe is a MapSource problem in general and not related to the RoadTrip Software :-)

Cheers

Yogie

[Karach]

Hey guys one more hint for roadtrip and Garmin. There are free maps available produced from the data of the www.openstreetmap.org project. You can download them and install them with one click on roadmap using the TGZ files from:
http://emexes.powweb...m/download.html
This is a great project and it would be great if more people support openstreetmap and the production of leagal and free maps for GARMIN.

[Yogie]

Karach said:

Hey guys one more hint for roadtrip and Garmin. There are free maps available produced from the data of the www.openstreetmap.org project. You can download them and install them with one click on roadmap using the TGZ files from:
http://emexes.powweb...m/download.html

This is a great project and it would be great if more people support openstreetmap and the production of leagal and free maps for GARMIN.

Hi Karach,

many thanks for sharing this with us, there are also TOPO maps that can be used with several Garmin devices:

http://wiki.openstre...php/Topographicmapsforgarmindevices

if anyone is interested?!

[Karach]

Anybody a source for free legal garmin maps for thailand?

[mapmaker]

A couple of things seem to be still missing from Roadtrip as follows:
1. No indication of the default datum or any way to change the datum (is available in Mapsource).
2. Very limited options with regard to grid compared to Mapsource.
Hopefully these will be addressed in a future release.
Regards!