City Navigator Version 7.0

[(RIP) Sugar Ray]

Just been looking at the Garmin site, and the cost of an update now seems to be $75 rather than the $150 it used to be when Version 7.0 first came out. Is this because Version 8.0 will be due out in a few months, or a general reduction in the cost of updates? Anyone know?

Regards,

Charles

 

[HMR]

As far as I understand this is just a price change.

Both City Navigator and City Select works with any of Garmins navigators. But Garmin sells the "less advanced" City Select packaged with f ex 60C, Quest and 276C while the "more advanced" City Navigator is sold with the Street Pilot models.

The difference between the two maps are not big in Europe but the guiding instructions are better in the City Navigator map.

For some reason Garmin thinks that StreetPilot owners are less price sensitive. Its difficult to understand how they are thinking since the more advanced GPS users often buy 60C or 276C.

I've recently upgraded from StreetPilot to 276C so I'm quite happy about the price change!

 

[PanEuropean]

For some reason Garmin thinks that StreetPilot owners are less price sensitive. Its difficult to understand how they are thinking since the more advanced GPS users often buy 60C or 276C.

HMR:

No, that's not the case at all, you are making an assumption that is both incorrect and unfounded.

The reason for the difference in the selling price of CN and CS has to do with the licencing agreements that are in place between Navteq (the people who make the maps) and Garmin (the people who distribute the maps). I can't get into the details here, but suffice to say, Garmin would be happiest if they could sell map updates for any GPSR for ₤1.99 each, because Garmin is in the business of designing, manufacturing, and selling HARDWARE, not maps. Navteq are the people who make money from map sales.

The top of the line automotive GPSRs use CityNavigator cartography. The middle and entry level automotive GPSRs use CitySelect. The only difference that moto riders will notice between the two is that CN provides written turn guidance that more closely corresponds with exactly what is written on road signs above them. Other than that, for moto purposes, the two products are identical.

CN supports more advanced functions, such as specialized autorouting for heavy goods vehicles, emergency vehicles, and so forth. I don't believe that CS provides this, although I could be wrong.

Michael