Mapsource on a Mac?

[muppix]

Yes, I know that Garmin have now got some software out that will allow you to transfer routes / tracks / waypoints to and from your Garmin, but what I really want to know is how different (if at all) is it from the PC version of MapSource?

Having been a lifelong PC user I'm now thinking of getting a MacBook Pro, and want to make sure that it can tick the same boxes as my laptop.

Advice gratefully received!

 

[stolzy]

Yes, I know that Garmin have now got some software out that will allow you to transfer routes / tracks / waypoints to and from your Garmin, but what I really want to know is how different (if at all) is it from the PC version of MapSource?

Having been a lifelong PC user I'm now thinking of getting a MacBook Pro, and want to make sure that it can tick the same boxes as my laptop.

Advice gratefully received!

RoadTrip is what you need - for all intents and purposes it's MapSource for the Mac.

Only problem with getting a Mac is that odd aching feeling that you put up with windows for all those years when you could have been using a beautiful mac

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

Only problem with getting a Mac is that odd aching feeling that you put up with windows for all those years when you could have been using a beautiful mac

What he said

 

[ghiribizzo]

I have to agree...and I got mine from a nice chap on here!

 

[cookie]

road trip does more or less the same thing (ok, less) on a mac as mapsource does on windows.

it looks more modern, but in pretty much every other way it is inferior to mapsource. in particular, it is frustratingly, agonisingly slow.
it is utterly different to use and requires completely relearning how you use the mapping software.

it feels like an early beta, but garmin show no interest in updating or improving it. despite that, i still use it as the alternative is using windows

there's another garmin program called base camp which is similar, but reputedly faster. i've only tried it briefly, as after extensive use, i feel i'm numbed to the complete shiteness of road trip and feel i'll stick with what i know

 

[muppix]

Hehe, thanks a lot everybody. Pretty much what I was expecting.

At least there *is* a version for the Mac now, I'm trying at all costs to avoid putting VMWare and Windows on the MacBook.

M.

 

[andyclift]

Road trips crap but don't let that put you off Basecamp. That is a vastly superior program which has seen regular and recent updates (unlike Road trip).

There are some disadvantages with Basecamp compared with Mapsource but there are advantages as well. How they affect you depends on the use.

For example, neither Basecamp or Roadtrip have a decent postcode search but for route planning I don't find that a problem. I do like Basecamp's great system of being able to easily devide waypoints, routes, etc. into folders which don't need saving when closing. The biggest advantage though is that they work on a Mac. I used Basecamp to plan a recent 10 county trip to Eastern Europe. All hotels, waypoints, routes etc. Defined in Basecamp and downloaded to my 660 and wife's 550. Everything worked as expected. I have also used it for backpacking trips with my Garmin GPSMAP60. Again everything worked and it's good to visualize the count ours on 3d view

It's like most Mac software. It may not be worse or better than Win but it is different so, like any new pogrom, there is a learning curve.

 

[wilbjr21]

There is only one answer - well maybe two. For Intel Macs only.

I have a MacBook Pro and run VM Fusion and Windows 7 on the VM Fusion. Truly excellent for those Windows programs, such as MapSource and the GS911 software that you can't do without.

There is also a program called Parallels that does the same, but I have no experience of this.

 

[andyclift]

Parallels is ok if you really must run win soft but my experience is the more I use the Mac the less I use win software.

 

[muppix]

Parallels is ok if you really must run win soft but my experience is the more I use the Mac the less I use win software.

Ditto - I've got a Windows laptop, and I want to get away from it.

That Basecamp does look good, but the site pitches it more at proper off-road navigation from what I can tell. Will it work OK with the European maps I have for my Zumo 550? Presumably these wont have elevation data.

Cheers,
Mup.

 

[AshR1]

I've used Mapsource for years until this year when I switched fully to Mac.

Started with Road Trip then replaced that with BaseCamp as Road Trip had problems with Snowleopard or something, can't remember exaclty what but BaseCamp is much better and it does everything Mapsource used to.

 

[andyclift]

Muppix

Basecamp works with all Garmin maps, not just those with elevation data. It looks like road trip, functions in the same way as road trip but is much better than road trip.

 

[cookie]

it does everything Mapsource used to.

does it do postcode search?

 

[andyclift]

No, that's one thing that is missing and I thought it was a failing when I first started using Basecamp but it isn't really a problem. My main use is planning European and UKM routes. I only need postcode when I am going to a particular address in UK and, in practice, the number of times I do this and don't already know the address is very small and I would enter that directly into the 660 anyway.

For trip planning it is normally a case of going to a particular town or feature which would not have a postcode anyway. Maybe a hotel, fuel stop POI but they are already in the 660 so again I don't need a postcode.

Instead of asking specific questions the best answer is download it and use it. It costs nothing so if you dont like it, dont use it.

 

[GSTourer]

Why can't you 'bootcamp' a portion of the drive on the Mac and then install windows onto it and run your original Mapsource from there?

 

[wilbjr21]

Why can't you 'bootcamp' a portion of the drive on the Mac and then install windows onto it and run your original Mapsource from there?

You can .... but you have to reboot the machine with the other operation system. VM Fusion/Parallels allow swapping from Windows to Mac without this.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Same problem and with some advice from this forum my solution is Parallels.

This allows you to run windows at the same time as your Mac OS without having to reboot inbetween

 

[Micky]

I love my Mac and would't go back to a PC, but not really got to grips with the Road Trip way of doing things and guess I must have a look in to the Basecamp programme....

But I keep a simple Samsung NC10 Netbook to do all my Garmin stuff with. Take it on trips, travels nicely, download photographs to it, create routes for the next day while having a bier, get my e-mails etc.

Just seems the easiest solution to me

 

[muppix]

Well, it seems that a solution has been found. My employer has kindly bought me a new 13" Intel 2.66 MacBook Pro, so I've imaged my personal Windows laptop and converted to to run on the Mac as a virtual machine. Now that I've added 8 Gig of RAM it runs just fine.

 

[GSTourer]

Ah !!!!!!!!!!! I see.....................