garmin gps 2610 vs 2620 any body got either?

[352]

getting ready to buy one or the other.from my research everyone says the 2610 is the best buy for the buck.same unit except 2620 has the hard drive.2 gig cf on the 2610 for $99 all the memory you need. what do you think? thanks

[352]

getting ready to buy one or the other.from my research everyone says the 2610 is the best buy for the buck.same unit except 2620 has the hard drive.2 gig cf on the 2610 for $99 all the memory you need. what do you think? thanks

[Canuck]

I have the 2610 and like it very much. I know that the 2620 comes pre-loaded with City Navigator North America v6.0. Do you know if it can be upgraded in the future?

The only "concern" that I would have with the 2620 is that it has a moving part - the hard drive. Inorder to get around the limitation of the 2610 which requires that the detailed mapping information be downloaded onto the Compact Flash Card, I've purchased 2 extra 256 MB cards onto which I've downloaded differnet portions of City Navigator maps. The complete map set for all of North America is 1.21 GB so with my three cards I can load approximately 50% of the maps.

Let me know if you need more info.

Canuck

[CyberVet65]

Being something of an electronic "junkie". I bought the Garmin ColorMap. The one that talks to you. Or in some cases ...nags...a lot.
Anyway I had the large memory card in it and I have all the US on it. I was looking at the newer ones but I get software updates and most of what I use it for works well.
Chet

[RustyJC]

I have the Garmin StreetPilot 2620 and like it as well (or better) than the Alpine DVD-based OEM navigation system that came on my Acura 3.2TL-S. The North American map database comes pre-loaded, so it's truly a "plug and play" deal to travel from coast to coast. No having to download map sections, no unlocking fee charges, etc.

Yes, both the firmware and mapping database software can be updated. Simply plug the 2620 into your PC using the supplied USB cable, boot up the Garmin software (the DVD comes with the 2620) and download updates directly from the Garmin website.

Oh, Chet, the 2620 has the voice prompts as well - although one can turn them off if desired.

Rusty

[Mike Lutz]

Garmin Question: How do I get the free downloads and then apply them.

[camper1b]

We have the 2620 and really like it. I certainly agree that the moving part is a concern. I'll just have to watch and make sure it is as well protected as possible. Having said that I really like the fully loaded configuration of the 2620. We are planning a 10000 mile trip around the country this summer and I've already laid in part of the route. Nothing to download to do the whole country.

The 2620 I received had a software bug in it and I had to download another version. It was very simple. You go to www.garmin.com and select your particular model and the item you want to download. Download it to your computer. Install the drivers onto your computer from a CD that comes with the unit, (one time install). Hook up the USB cable between computer and GPS. Download from computer to GPS.

I got the 2620 online for $802. Includes shipping and a $100 rebate.

Hope this helps.

[Route 66]

I have the 2610 an installed a 2GB CF card. I have downloaded all of North America to the 2610. Works great. I like it.

[BobFL]

352---I also have a 2610 and have been trying to find a 2gb compact flash card.(For $99.00) So far where I've been looking, most 2gb are way above the $99.00 mark---would you share your source?
Also--as I look at the compact Flash cards, I notice there is a CF-1 and a CF-2 plus the Micro-drive cards. Supposedly we could use the 1gb Hitachi card(micro-drive) but not the 2gb one.(The reviews on the MD card is not that great anyway)
So which card did you install?

Thanks
Bob Soper
Summerfield Fl.

[moisheh]

THis has been discussed at length on RV.Net. I too am about to buy a GPS and have decided on the 2610. The consensus on RV.NET was: dont buy the 2620 as they have had HD failures, the CF1 and CF2 cards are equal if you use a card reader to load your data, DO NOT use a micro drive as they are too fragile for this app. Most seem to use a 1gb or bigger card with the 2610. I was waiting for the price to drop but have given up. I think it is about $620 on the net with freight.

[RustyJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by moisheh:
The consensus on RV.NET was: dont buy the 2620 as they have had HD failures....DO NOT use a micro drive as they are too fragile for this app.... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I suppose anything is possible, but I communicate with a number of others who use the 2620 in addition to myself. None of us have had any micro-drive failures or problems. If someone wants to go the 2610 route with additional memory, that's fine, but there's no need to "trash" the 2620 to justify that choice.

Rusty

[moisheh]

Rusty: I did not imtend to trash anything. I was only reporting what I read. Dont shoot the messenger. Do a search on RV. Net yourself and see what others ahve said. I asked the same question about 3 or 4 months ago and got a similar answer. I did not state it was gospel, only what i read. if you have had good success i am glad for you.

[RustyJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by moisheh:
I was only reporting what I read..... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>....and I was only commenting on what you reported that you read. In my experience, Garmin is a reputable company who knows their way around the GPS business. I hate to see anyone's product made the victim of these Internet speculations and rumors, especially when I don't know of a single 2620 user who has had a micro-drive problem. If they were failing left and right, I believe between myself and the other 2620 users I know who frequent a number of truck and RV forums, we would have heard about it.

As a point of fact, many of the individuals who tend to bring this theoretical technical objection up are Garmin 2610 users who, for whatever reason, seem to have a need to justify their choice of product. As I said, if the 2610 works for them either stock or owner-modified with additional memory, that's great. To me, the greatest advantage of the 2620 is that it comes out of the box with all of North America loaded so that using it is a true "plug and play" proposition, and it has served my requirements flawlessly.

Rusty

[camper1b]

My $0.02....

As I said before, I bought a 2620. However, as a computer engineer, I was worried about the hard drive robustness of the 2620 and did a lot of research. I spent much time looking through various forums, including rv.net, and could find no FIRST HAND experience of hard drive failures due to movement. Lots of concerns, just like I have, but no real first person problems. I decided on the 2620. The difference in price between the 2620 and a comparably equipped 2610 was so small that the 2620 was a better deal. (At least at the time of my purchase on EBay).


If you expect rough treatment, I would probably opt for the 2610. If it is used as intended, sitting on your dash, I would not hesitate to get the 2620.

Hope this helps.