0ur opinion:

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The GPS 12MAP combines the enhanced software features of the popular GPS lll Plus with the rugged design of the GPS 12.Similar to the GPS lll Plus, the basemap on the GPS 12MAP will include cartography information for North and South America including a database of cities, interstates, lakes, rivers, railroads, coastlines, and exit information for the federal interstate highway system. Even more remarkable, the GPS 12MAP takes mapping one step further with an added CD-R0M capability. Simply insert one of Garmin's MapSource CD-R0Ms into your PC, and download up to 1.44 MB of extra map detail into your GPS 12MAP.The 12 parallel channel GPS 12MAP boasts the same physical characteristics as Garmin's 12CX (excluding color display), including a rugged, waterproof case, dedicated zoom keys for quick map scaling, and a high-resolution LCD display complete with backlighting. The unit gets up to 36 hours of battery life with four AA batteries and includes the ability to store up to 500 user waypoints.

Review:
Save yourself the humiliation of having to stop and ask directions on your next lengthy road trip: invest in Garmin's eMap. The eMap GPS receiver will give you fairly accurate mapping information, directions, and even help you manage and track your journeys.

For those unfamiliar with the term, GPS (global positioning system) involves 24 satellites that circle the planet. At any given time, the eMap makes contact with at least three of them to determine everything from speed to location. So, as long as you're motoring around the great outdoors, you'll be in the know.

lt features a detailed 120 x 160 pixel display, backlighting for nighttime navigating, and easily navigable controls. With the eMap's simple cursor control, you should be up and running with almost no effort. Considering this unit only weighs 6.7 ounces, it could easily be the best roadside companion on long drives--or local trips if you're that directionally challenged.

lf you're going to do some serious pioneering, you're also in for a good deal of choices. You can catalog 500 waypoints, 2,000 log points, and 10 saved tracks. But there is a downside to all this power in the palm of your hand: Garmin supplies you with only basic mappings of major roadways and intersections. lf you're looking for city-street maps or more detailed coverage, get the checkbooks ready. Garmin sells optional MapSource CD-R0Ms that will provide enormous amounts of map data, showing streets, alleys, and even restaurants. A series of different Map CD-R0Ms are available and cost, on average, about $170. When all is said and done, with hidden costs, you can expect to spend upwards of $350 to get everything you'd need out of the eMap. --Dave Thomas

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Large, crisp display
• Room for extra memory cartridges
• Map data fed by satellite good for North America and parts of Europe

Cons:

• Detailed maps are expensive
• Batteries last only about 10 to 12 hours

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The size of a small, flat calculator, the eMap contains a 12-parallel-channel global positioning system receiver and weighs a mere six ounces. Even with its compact style, the eMap boasts an extra-large display for showing more map data and the same power you've come to expect from Garmin hand-helds--even while operating for up to 14 hours on two AA batteries.

The eMap features an internal base map containing information on North and South America including state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, and U.S., state, and interstate highways. ln addition, the eMap provides exit information for the federal interstate highway system. With the eMap, you will know when you are near services such as food, lodging, and service stations.

The eMap is compatible with Garmin's line of downloadable MapSource CD-R0Ms including U.S. Roads and Recreation, WorldMap, U.S. Topo, and MetroGuide U.S.A. When paired with the MetroGuide U.S.A. CD-R0M, the eMap has the ability to look up address and telephone number information for nearby services and points of interest. The eMAP will store 8 or 16 MB of downloaded CD-R0M information at a time depending on the size of the cartridge you use in the unit.

Designed with all types of users in mind, this unit will take you from the car to the hiking trail and beach without missing a beat.

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Buyer's feedback: - * A solid, no frills workhorse. Getting outdated, though. ...
I've been using my eMap in my car since 1999. Whenever my car is on, the eMap is on. I'm sure it has easily logged more than 4,000 hours of use over the years. Even without a single firmware upgrade, it continues to perform well.

The eMap is an old model and does not have the fancy features of the latest GPS units, but it has a decent base map and with a little common sense and practice it can be a useful navigation tool.

I'm finally upgrading to the 7200, which I'm sure will blow me away. But I'm keeping my eMap anyway because it's been so good to me over the years.

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Buyer's feedback: - Fantastic System with tons of available accessories
I've owned this unit for a couple of months now. I didn't want to write a review without having used it. It works GREAT. There are some issues, but they are readilly worked around.

First issue is price. For the base unit, the price is quite reasonable. However, as another reviewer mentioned, in order to really make it work right, you really do need some accessories. Garmin accessories surely seem over priced. In order to use this on the road, I purchased a Dash-Mount, and a power cable/pc serial cable. I picked up both of these for less than 40.00 through aftermarket suppliers.

It didn't take me long to realize that I needed some extra software to download more detailed maps to the GPS base unit. MetroGuide from Mapsource is available through aftermarket distributors for under 75.00. It's somewhat tedious to download the individual regions, but well worth the effort. Additionally, with the PC cable, it interacts seamlessly with my laptop running either Metro Guide or Microsoft Streets and Trips (under 40.00). Of course streets and trips does not download to the GPS, but the GPS will plot its position in S&T, so if you can use the laptop, it works fine.

Off road/camping is a different issue. I already own most of the paper maps for where I plan on going, and the GPS grids make it impossible to get lost. This doesn't even take into account the way it interacts with USAPHOTOMAPS (usaphotomaps.com). This receiver will plot my position using aerial photography available free and online.

This is a great unit, with a readilly accessible manual from GARMIN, scads of available accessories through after-market dealers (gilsson.com), integration with software from Mapsource, Microsoft, USA photmaps, etc. A great unit that does everything I could ask for.

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Buyer's feedback: - * The GPS money pit ...
I've been using this unit for a few weeks now and it never fails to amaze me with it's capabilities even if the learning curve for it is a bit steep (an instructional video is available for an additional charge). I'm sure there are features I'll never use due to its complexity.

The problem I have is that it comes with nothing. If you want to actually be able to use the unit, you've got to go back to Garmin and buy additional accessories and guess what, ... their all proprietary so they can and do charge whatever they feel like. Things like the computer/power adapter and a memory card should have been included for the price they're asking for the unit. The memory sticks... and the USB adapter are outrageously priced. Yeah, that's right, the computer/power adapter isn't even USB, you have to buy both or your stuck with the glacial speed of serial. To further illustrate, to replace the little piece of plastic that covers the batteries, it'll cost you nearly $7!

Basically, they put a pretty good little GPS on the market as bait to lock you into their brand and sell, at ridiculous prices, accessories that should have come with it anyways. I would give the unit by itself 4 stars but for Garmin's complete lack of integrity.

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Buyer's feedback: - Off the beaten track--with confidence!
Late this summer, I was driving a rented minivan from Mendocino, CA, south to the Bay area. It's about 180 miles. I was with three other adults and three children. Instead of taking the recommended RT 128 southeast to RT 101 and south to the Bay area, we decided to take a "shorter" route, due east on Lake Road to RT 20 to RT 101, then south. Well, the road we chose went through deep redwood forests. More often then not, we could not see the sky. There were times when the road was no longer paved, at times rutted. It was so narrow that for most of the way it would have been impossible for two vehicles to pass (fortunately, no vehicles came our way). The road often snaked around tree trunks as large as 10 feet in diameter.

This road was on both our AAA map and GPS (I had preloaded the corresponding map onto my 64mb data card from the MetroGuide CD). The going was very slow, and our "shorter" route soon became the "longer" route. We were too far along to turn around. My wife, seated in the back held the portable phone ready to call for assistance. I asked all to wait, to put her trust in the GPS. After another half hour, we came to a three-road junction--all narrow and un-maintained. One of the roads was not on the AAA map. Intuitively, it looked like the least likely road. But the GPS indicated this road would take us to the RT 20. We took it, and before you knew it, arrived at the conventional RT 20. The GPS saved the day.

One of the greatest attributes of a GPS is that it allows you to explore, to go where you normally would not, and discover new vistas. Obviously, my eMap proved that.

Besides this general function, there are several specific features I like about the eMap. These include its portability and its ergonomic design. The eMap has a relatively large display (which can be backlit) and it is light, just over 6 oz. When walking with this unit in a town or on a trail, I appreciate being able to hold and control the unit with one hand while always having the display in view. This is a result of the control buttons being below the screen.

The eMap is compatible with Garmin's downloadable MapSource CDs. These include U.S. Roads and Recreation, WorldMap, U.S. Topo, and MetroGuide U.S.A. With the MapGuide U.S.A. CD, the eMap can look up addresses and telephone numbers for nearby services and points of interest. I like being able find a particular restaurant or street address by entering it under the find feature, then tracking it. An arrow will point in the right direction and distance will be displayed.

There are many available accessories, several which I recommend. I needed a larger data card. The unit comes with an 8mb card which will give you one region. This is okay if you will be using it in a limited radius. If you go elsewhere, you'll need to load new data using a serial cable (another accessory). It is time consuming, which may suggest your getting another accessory, the Garmin's USB data programmer. I have a 64mb card which captures from Massachusetts to Maryland (8 regions). Using the serial cable took over two hours to load the data. Using the programmer took about four minutes.

I definitely recommend this unit. Its portability, versatility, its adjustable detail, and its accuracy give you the confidence to venture places without getting lost. One suggestion though--don't give up the paper map. Use it to provide the fuller perspective a portable GPS lacks.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Absolutely Fantastic! ...
I love the Garmin eMap. It does everything I ever wanted in a GPS. You can even get software downloads from Garmin's web site. There are many accessories available, and you will probably want them all! The complete outfit is kind of pricey. If you want to upload maps you will need a separate data card, you cannot load maps into the stock unit. Also, it eats a TON of batteries!