0ur opinion:

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GARMlN 010-11001-00 USGS T0P0GRAPHlCAL DATA AT A 1:100,000 SCALE USGS T0P0GRAPHlCAL DATA AT 1:100.000 SCALE

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Explore every nook and cranny of the U.S. with the help of Garmin's Topo U.S. 2008 topographical mapping software. The DVD features digital topographical maps for the entire U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, with a host of valuable details. lt's also easy and convenient to load data to your compatible Garmin device. Just pop the DVD in your PC, then connect your Garmin GPS receiver via its USB port. 0nce connected, you'll have access to topographical mapping detail no matter where your adventures take you. Details include:

• Digital topographic maps, comparable to 1:100,000 scale USGS maps
• Terrain contours and topo elevations
• Summit locations with elevations
• Trails and rural roads; city neighborhood roads
• lnterstates and major highways
• National, state, and local parks, forests, and wilderness areas
• Coastline, lake and river shoreline; wetlands; perennial and seasonal streams
• Searchable database of cities, geographic names, summits, lakes, and more
• Elevation profile on PC and compatible units; estimate terrain difficulty
• Allows you to plan your next outdoor adventure on your PC and download routes, waypoints, and map detail to your compatible Garmin GPS
• Lakes, reservoirs, waterways, rivers, and streams with icons to represent boat ramps, dams, campgrounds, and trails

Piece Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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Buyer's feedback: - * Wildly inaccurate street data ...
As noted by other reviewers, the street data is often wildly inaccurate. In my neighborhood on the outskirts of Denver many (but not all) of the streets are off by several hundred feet. A nearby subdivision has been completely eliminated... but elsewhere Garmin has invented brand-new highways across the open prairie.

I asked Garmin customer support about this and I got a very convoluted reply. As far as I can tell what they're saying is "we goofed". Here's the full explanation (or lack thereof):

"The street data in Topo US 2008 is at a scale of roughly 1:25,000 whereas the rest of the Topo application is at a scale of 1:100,000. Therefore the roads will be off by a few hundred yards. The road info was added after the application had already been produced and is to be used as a reference only."

Funny that they say the road data is to be used "as a reference only". It seems like it shouldn't be used as any sort of reference at all.

In fairness to Garmin, the contour lines are pretty accurate.

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Buyer's feedback: - Works great, a few minor quibbles
This is a wonderful addition to my Garmin Venture HC, and really completes the package, since the basemap is not all that useful.

The software took a while to install, and I do have some minor quibbles about the installation. Users are "strongly" recommended to install MapSource into C:\Garmin (come on, people, the Program Files folder has been around since Windows 95). My translation is that if you decide to change the default folder, some things may not work correctly. Also, there was no option to leave the map data on the DVD instead of loading the *entire* 3.5GB database onto your hard disk. But if you've got the available space, it's more convenient to have it all there.

As has been noted before, there are some minor inaccuracies with the map data (from what I've noticed, mostly related to roads showing a hundred feet next to where I'm driving), and for being a 2008 map, it doesn't show the latest freeway construction in my area. But then again, I didn't get this map to show me how to get around town; nonetheless, street data is remarkably detailed for a topo map. Mountains, canals and other features were accurately displayed as I drove past them, including elevation data.

MapSource's archaic and sometimes oddly behaving user interface notwithstanding, it is quite intuitive when it comes to downloading maps. Without reading the manual, it took me all of a minute to figure out how to select map regions and send them to my GPS. Downloading roughly 20MB also didn't take as long as I'd feared, perhaps another minute or two. The area I can fit in my Venture's limited memory also exceeded my expectations: I live in Arizona, which is quite large, and yet I was able to easily download a large swath that includes Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Show Low.

All in all, a good product and in my opinion an essential add-on to any Garmin mapping GPS. Subtracted 1 star for less-than-stellar user interface and installation procedure.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Works great with GPS ...
I use this program with the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. It is easy to load maps into the unit so I think the program is useful since you get more detail in your unit. However, as far as a computer topo map, National Geographic's Topo maps are much better. I have both and use the NG's to actually find and look at where I want to go. You can download routes from the NG's Topo into the Garmin also. The main usefulness of the Garmin's Topo is to load detailed maps into your unit.

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Buyer's feedback: - Worthy upgrade to basemap
I have the Garmin Hcx Vista. The Topo is a great upgrade to the basemap. I just wish the Vista would allow me to download the entire map. A good thing compared to other Garmin map products is this map data does not require any unlocking procedures.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Useful for geocaching but many roads are inaccurate or missing ...
I purchased Topo US 2008 specifically to do geocaching and do some basic hiking as well. I was well aware going into the purchase that this product wouldn't have a tremendous amount of topographic detail or hiking trail information. I was expecting a fairly accurate road map though.

What I discovered over the past couple of months of using the product is that there are some serious deficiencies in a number of areas. The first is that there are many roads that just aren't there, including some fairly major roads that have been in place for more than a decade! Ironically, there are some roads in the map that don't exist in reality. I don't know if they are planned or have been eliminated since they tend to be in developing areas.

The second issue, which is less of an issue, is that the roads are somewhat off the mark location wise. If I zoom in on my Garmin 60CSx, I am quite often not on the road. Again, not a major issue but it could be nicer.

I have been fortunate in that almost all of my driving and caching has been done near where I live so I have a pretty good idea of the roads in the area. I will be a lot more pressed to follow the map in an area that I don't know well.

Frankly, if it wasn't for MapQuest and Google Maps to supplement this product, I would be even more disappointed.

All that said, I will say that I am pleased with the extensiveness of the map for the cost. It has been an invaluable tool while geocaching and it will be fairly beneficial when I go out hiking this summer.

Even knowing the deficiencies, I would buy it again since it is reasonably priced and it covers so much area.