276c or 2610?

[Possu]

I was close to buying a Quest but the non-expandable memory put me off.

2610 seemed the next logical option despite the higher cost but the fact that you can't walkabout with it guiding you was the only mark against it.

Then I see the 276c - portable, expandable memory & slightly cheaper than the 2610. Only downside I can see is the fact that it uses Garmins own memory cards which I believe are quite expensive compared to CF cards etc.

Thoughts please? I'm in no hurry to buy at the moment. I hope to go to Morocco next year & would like to familiarise myself with a GPS in plenty of time.

Does the 276c have a touchscreen like the 2610? Does the 2610's touchscreen work okay wearing winter gloves?

Anything else on the market, with the exception of the Tom-Tom, that I should consider?

Thanks in advance

[the white rabbit]

Steve, I read and read all the posts on this and can't remember the pros and cons as there were many.

However, the two points that concerned me most were cost of the 276c and the card situation, i.e. more cost.

[I know a lot of detail can be loaded on quite a small card, but the use I was looking at was load up an forget for a mega trip (i.e. europe....who knows not where...) and therefore would need either a few cards or a mega big one. Sorry Ive no figures here, this is just my thoughts.]

I nearly settled for a 276c until I realised that the routing software and 'car' kit would set me back extra.

I think I ended up with costs of about £500 for the 2610 and £750 for the 276c (both ballpark). There's a slightly dodgy place in Spain claims to do then VAT free if you have a VAT number...

Thinking along those lines I then got confused due to the release of BMW NavII at the reduced price.

But bottom line for me was if I could afford it was I would have bought a 276c , with the largest or a couple of Garmin's cards. I'm sorry I have no concrete facts on how now (my brain is full) but at least thats what I came up with after churning all the info over. If your into boats its an excellent chart plotter too, apparently thats its base use.

Tom-tom rider seems an unknown quantity at the moment. Doesnt look as 'adventure' tho

I know THIS POST IS WORTLESS WITHOUT FACTS

[RBikerT]

I'm on an 1150 GS Adv. with Metzler tourances and a stock suspension. Unit is mounted with a RAM. I've had the 2610 on for 5000 miles over some pretty rough terrain with nary a problem. On two occassions the CF card vibrated loose, which was fixed by pressing it back in to place. You'll need to buy a big CF card to carry useful maps if you travel outside of your region at all. Also, you need to beef up the auxiliary wiring that Garmin sells.

CF cards are cheap now. And the touck screem works OK with gloves depening on how well the gloves fit you. If you have space at the fingertip you need to be a litlle more precise about pressing.

[Possu]

Thanks for the replies

Any 276c users out there willing to add their views?

[sherpa]

Buy both...figure out how to combine them into one unit ...then we'd have the perfect GPS....

[MuleTrain]

They are both great units so you can't go wrong. I ended up with the 276C; as I love the screen and like the flexibility of the battery.

Chris

[Kaumajet]

Originally Posted by cstewart77

They are both great units so you can't go wrong. I ended up with the 276C; as I love the screen and like the flexibility of the battery.

Chris

What he said.

The 276 screen is much more daylight-friendly, and the lack of battery in the 2610 was a show-stopper for me. I want to be able to do some enroute planning in a restaurant, hotel room, tent, picnic table, etc.

The proprietary card? A non-issue for me. I loaded enough in a 256 card last year to leave Ottawa, go to Washington State, down to Colorado, and back home with room to spare. If you're doung a three-month odyssey, buy two cards or bring a laptop. You could also bring the Mapsource CDs and load maps on your card from another computer while on the road. I just don't see what the fuss is about.

The touch screen on the 2610 is nice, but not nice enough to forego the daylight screen and battery for me.

I guess if they marketed a 276C++ with a touch screen and the entire planet pre-loaded in topo and street detail, we'd all be happy

Anyway, I had the 276 and it got stolen. I had the choice of buying anything, and the benefit of 30,000 miles experience with the 276, and I bought another.

[Possu]

Thanks for the replies.

My only concern with the 276c is the cost of & the 256mb limit on Garmins own card - any thoughts?

What I want is a unit with:

the buttons on the left, not the right,

the 276c screen & number of waypoints,

the portability of the 276,

the CF cards from the 2610,

2gb memory,

free Touratech quality mounting ,

the cost of a Quest (or less)

a 10 year parts & labour warranty

Does such a thing exist?

[KTOOMER]

276 hands down..bigger screen, ease of use..this memory card complaint is bs..the 256 card holds enoguh maps to cover most of na...the 2010 is WAY to fraGILE..as far as touch screen not avaiaible...small inconviemce..use the cursor ya boobs..your hands are getting to buzzy holding on anyway///

[MuleTrain]

There is no 'best' solution; you'll hear from folks who like both models....and they'll probably be a better model released in the future.....I ride a 1150 Adv and went with a simple mount from this guy who is great:

http://www.gadgetguy.net/

I just bought the bracket that mounts to the handlebar crossbar....the TT wasn't worth the funds to me.

Have you seen both units up close and personal? I checked them out at Boat US and then ordered the 276 from a buddy who works at PC Connection.

Chris

[CMWoody]

2610, a 2gb compact flash with all the us and bicamapa's Mexico, and touratech's portable battery pack make for the ideal setup imho.

[Lobby]

Originally Posted by cmwoodys

2610, a 2gb compact flash with all the us and bicamapa's Mexico, and touratech's portable battery pack make for the ideal setup imho.

What's bicamapa's Mexico?

[RoyB]

What is the opinion of Lowrance or TomTom.......They seem to have some neat features

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Detail-lo...-iway-500c.asp


http://www.thegpsstore.com/Detail-to...ion-system.asp

[KTOOMER]

one last comment...the only rerason to buy the 2610 is if you are using it ina a car and don't want to mess with downloading (which is a snap with the 276) other then that MUCH BETTER SCREEN and on a bike as far as I am concerend the biggest plus

[Guaglione]

I just got a 276c, and although I was initially put off by the cost of the memory cards, When I loaded the enntire pacific coast inland about 200 miles, plus all of washington state, in TWO different maps sets (city select and roads and recs) on a 256 mg card, I realized the cards are plenty big.