| | Garmin MapSource BlueChart CD-ROM for Garmin GPS Units, Americas (010-10317-00) |  | Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $159.99
Buy New: $93.71
You Save: $66.28 (41%)
New (44) Used (1)
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Media: Accessory
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8 x 8 x 2
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 010-10317-00
Model: 010-10317-00
UPC: 753759034955
EAN: 0753759034955
ASIN: B00005V8Q8
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Installation of this product was more difficult than anticipated! May 21, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This was my first experience with installing Garmin BlueChart software using on-line links to finish the installation. (My last GPS had a 'chip' that contained the software so that was a physical installation.)
I felt that the product lacked clear directions for it's installation and I struggled with it for some time and finally ended up calling their "Help" telephone number (after searching around their on-line assistance area) to get additional help in accomplishing the software install.
As it turned out, I had wasted a number of hours because everything I had attempted to do had to be deleated and reinatalled correctly. While the personal assistance was very polite and helpful, the software is so 'rich' in it's content, I'm still not completely sure that I've got everything installed, content wize, that I could within the terms of my license. A better, more comprehensive set of step by step instructions would be a most desirable addition. It needs to be written by a non-technical writer rather than by someone with a technical background who thinks like a 'geek.'
For those who are interested, I bought a slightly obsolite 76C hand held GPS to go on my 24' cruiser. The area I was interested in is for water use only in the coastal areas between just below Cape Cod to the South to Bricktown N.J. The selections can include a great deal of detail and there is quite a bit of room for that even in this slightly older version of the product. (The newest version of the hardware product features even more software storage.) Making these selections does not seem to be at all intuitive. I did not find a detailed listing of the various areas that are selectible along with a discription of what was contained in those areas. These have to be loaded via your home computer (or a laptop) to the hand held device.
The detail I have selected is very satisfying but I have almost a third of my available memory still unused and I'm a little bit at a loss as to how to increase my overall detail software content and have it relevant to my needs.
Perhaps a solution would be for Garmin or their dealers to offer to provide or sell software installation assistance; a method that might be an excellent option for those of us who are attempting to use this software method for the first time. I suspect that an hour or less would be sufficient to get the job done completely for that first time user if he listens and does not talk too much.
To summarize, it seems to be a very comprehensive product but it takes some specific knowledge to properly use it.
read the fine print March 9, 2007
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
be aware that this chart system, unlike the road map versions, includes an unlock code for only a small portion of the coverage area. if you want more areas, you pay a new unlock code for each one.
 Misleading and very costly: buyer beware March 2, 2007
70 out of 72 found this review helpful
Although the packaging offers coverage of the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and South America on this expensive CD, you can only unlock a very limited "region" with your original purchase. Says Garmin tech support, "When you purchase BlueChart, you're entitled to one free region, and then additional regions can be purchased for $116.65." The word "free" here reflects Garmin's generally abysmal use of language found on their Web site, a labyrinth of obfuscation tangled in their arcane and ultra-paranoid "unlocking" technology and hidden prices. Unlike their Topo and City Navigator CDs where you get a lot of maps for your money, BlueChart gave me a limited sliver of southwest Florida for my purchase price. When I went to load Cape Cod, I discovered I would need to pony up another $116 for this small region. To unlock everything on this CD would costs many, many thousands of dollars, and nowhere is this clear to the unwary consumer.
What is especially grating in all this is that Garmin relies on U.S. government maps and GPS satellites that we taxpapers have already paid for. I find the marketing of Blue Chart really deceptive, especially given the important public safety implications of nautical mapping.
I would add that boat-towing travelers and nautical siteseers will need shoreside mapping and road info, for which these charts are useless, so you'll need additional map products and memory cards to show roads, parks, dining, and local amenities. Buyer beware.
Garmin Americas BlueChart February 16, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Easily installed, transferring of waypoints is simple and quick but detail level is not as good as Nobeltec.
It is exaclty what is says October 16, 2006
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
As of 10/16/06 V8.5 is the most current version, and that it what was shipped to me.
Once you install the CD you get to only choose from a rather small area. Like 1/4-1/2 of your state (for me, Orlando-Key west). This was a HUGE disappointment. City navigator gives you the ENTIRE US map on DVD for streets, that's 2 gigs of data, so why does Blue Chart only give you like 20megs of bluechart data on a CD. It just doesn't make sense.
This software is pricey, but necessary for boating.
All and all I'd like to give it 3 stars for making me feel ripped off but I gave it 4 stars because the product itself is actually very good.
I also feel that once you buy their overpriced software, that you should be entitled to updates for it. But of course you are not. You have to go and plant down more money to Garmin if you want the next version.
Don't get me wrong, Garmin is a great company with great software, I just wish they weren't so greedy.
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