Macintosh users, what software are you using with your zumo?

[mr_magicfingers]

I'm contemplating getting a zumo 550. I've been a mac user for 20 years and not going to run windows just for the garmin. I've downloaded Garmin's Basecamp software, but was trying to find a map to use and play with it, to see what the software's like.

When I buy the zumo I'll have a map with it, and will probably get the lifetime upgrade, but before then I'd like to play with the software a bit and see what it actually does, how routing works etc. I can download hacked maps to experiment with, but they all seem to come as .exe files which are pc only. Do you have to get different maps to work with basecamp on a mac or do you convert them in some way.

I'm not looking to run unpaid for maps once I've got the device, it'll come with maps, but I'd like to play with the software before I invest heavily in something that might not work well on a Mac. Several years ago I bought a garmin for running and there was no garmin software at all back then that would run on a mac and I had to pay for some third party software to be able to store and display my running tracks. I don't want to pay for a new, expensive device and find that the software doesn't work well on Macs or that there are features I want/need that are missing or just generally a pain to use.

Be grateful for any advice from the Mac users on here.

Thanks.

 

[Doc Savage]

Pm steve73 he is riding your bus and had a thread going about the same subject, sorry I can't be more helpful iphone and all....

 

[immigrant]

Interested in this too.

Running an older Motorrad Navigator III (running 2008 maps) rather than a Zumo and have been able to sync routes between it and my MacBook Pro, this is using the free to download Roadtrip application.

However the map presented in Roadtrip itself is lacking in sufficient detail to do any proper planning. It comes up as a 'US Basemap V2' and seems to contain only main motorways across the UK and Europe.

I haven't been able to get the Map Manager or Map Install apps on the Mac to read the disks that came with my Motorrad Unit either.

Considered paying the 90 quid to get the 2011 set from Garmin, or potentially downloaded the 3gb torrent to try it out first. Or maybe even just upgrading to a 550 or 660 to save the hassle. Still, I may need to load the relevant software onto my work (Windows) laptop to plot routes effectively.

 

[andyclift]

I run Basecamp on an iMAC at home and a MacBook Pro when travelling.

It runs the City Navigator maps in the same way as Mapsource. If you already have the maps installed on a Windows computer Garmin have a small download program that converts them to Mac format. if you buy an update from a Mac it downloads in Mac format anyway. Then to be safe you download it again from a Windows computer - just in case you feel masochistic and want to go back to a PC.

I also use it to run TOPO maps for backpacking with my Garmin CSX60.

There is no reason to run Mapsource to plot routes. If you are running the City Navigaor maps its the same as doing it on Windows and Mapsource.

Just finished our summer round trip through Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and back via Slovakia. All done in Basecamp with night stops planned using "Archies Camping" campsite POIs. No problem.

 

[llotse]

Basecamp or Roadtrip will do the job, both work very well. You will also need to download and install Garmin Web updater which will make sure your Zumo has the latest os but before all of that download the Garmin Communicator plugin which allows the Mac to communicate with the Zumo via USB. Finally if you are downloading and installing new maps then make sure all the old map downloads (.dmg files) from Garmin have been completely deleted from the hard drive.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Thanks all, sounds like basecamp is the way to go, I'm looking for a good price on a zumo 550 and will get the maps once I have that.

Cheers,

J.

 

[Berin]

I have Garmin CN maps installed on my PC, but I've just got a macbook pro and would like to run the maps from this. I use a Garmin Oregon 450 and a BMW Nav III. I've downloaded Basecamp and Roadtrip. Basecamp reads the maps (GB discoverer 1:50000 all UK) from the Oregon, so that seem OK - but how do I install the CN 2011 maps from my PC onto the Mac?

thanks,

 

[immigrant]

I have Garmin CN maps installed on my PC, but I've just got a macbook pro and would like to run the maps from this. I use a Garmin Oregon 450 and a BMW Nav III. I've downloaded Basecamp and Roadtrip. Basecamp reads the maps (GB discoverer 1:50000 all UK) from the Oregon, so that seem OK - but how do I install the CN 2011 maps from my PC onto the Mac?

thanks,

I'm guessing you'll need to use the converter app.

PDF instructions here: http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/MapSource_MigratingGarminMapProductsfromWindowstoMacComputers.pdf

 

[Berin]

I'm guessing you'll need to use the converter app.

PDF instructions here: http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/MapSource_MigratingGarminMapProductsfromWindowstoMacComputers.pdf

thanks, that's very helpful. Once I have converted the maps, does it matter where I put them on the Mac?

 

[andyclift]

does it matter where I put them on the Mac?

You don't get to choose. Map Manager sorts it all out.