GPS - How easy is yours to use

[whichway]

Hi

I recently used my old hand held Garmin for a bit, rather than the Lowrance in the boat.

To navigate around the different screens and menus takes more button pushes on the Garmin, but it is much easier to use. How is this. Well on the Garmin you are pushing the same button repeadly - this is much easier than having to push buttons all over the place on the Lowrance. So even though you have to push less times on the Lowrance, you need to work out which button to push. Sounds easy, but in practice I find the Garmin much easier to use, particularly in a boat in rough conditions while you're travelling at speed.

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone, but if you're buying a GPS you need to test the navigation around the buttons and menus, and you're better off pushing a few buttons more often, than having to push different buttons less often. I suppose the same is true of sounders.

Regards

Whichway

[skippa]

G'Day WW,

I use Lowrance because I've always used them from the start. First sounder was an Eagle Ultra, good value for its time. I opted for the Lowrance GPS too because I was used to the menus. I understand what your saying about pressing buttons on a bumpy sea in a boat. I've also upgraded from a handheld to a deck mount, bigger screen and bigger buttons.

In short I've worked with this thought: (Only my personal preference of course).

GPS: easy to use, screen/button size, screen readability in sunlight, Map detail. Color. in my money bracket. reliability
Sounder: easy to use, pixel count, power output, dual cone Tranny, screen/button size, screen readability in sunlight, color, in my price bracket. reiability.

In all that, I'm still learning to get the best out of both units but because they are the same brand, at least I only need to understand the one type of menu.

cheers,
Tony

[whichway]

Hi Skippa -

Always enjoy your posts.

I'm not knocking the Lowrance - its still a good piece of gear, and the number of keystrokes is only one factor in sizing up a GPS.

But if you're in the market for a GPS, it is worth taking the time to get really familiar with the controls in the shop before making the final decision, and there is every chance that you may decide to get a Lowrance.

Whichway

[finga64]

That's the way whichway, sit on a chair in the shop and have someone kick, push, pull and generally cause havic on the chair. Simulate the boat to a certain degree.
They're all easy to use in the shop on concrete in the shade.