Zumo at the NEC Bike Show

[BurnieM]

Now that I have had a chance to have a (short) play with a zumo I am in two minds as to whether the zumo is the next big thing for bikes.

Some of us like to do manual navigation onroad and also use it offroad.
The current features are a little too compromised for this.

This is the feature list that we have forwarded to the Australian distributor that we would like to see added;

Required features;
Autozoom - off
Display tracklog - on/off
UTM co-ordinates
Compass page (always displays not just when following a route)

Desirable features;
Auto recalculate route - on/off
Choice of Garmin protocol/NMEA output or USB mode when connected to PC
Sunrise and sunset times
Satellite screen (like nuvi)

Garmin are listening but still not quite sure on the final direction they are taking with the zumo

 

[ebbo]

Just what we need Bernie. I wonder if Garmin have been taken aback with the reception it’s received so far? Disappointed or let down are the word that spring to mind, but you never know Garmin might pull through yet, after all, all it needs is a replacement operating system.

 

[BurnieM]

A lot of the changes are do-able fairly much straight away
Some would require a little work (2 weeks max)

I think Garmin are not quite sure how to position the zumo
Initially it was aimed straight at the Rider (ie dumbed down) but I think they are having second thoughts about the feature mix. Hopefully the bike guys are having more say than marketing.

The fact that they still have not released the manual adds fuel to this line of thought.

Only thing is in the US many riders are onroad only or offroad only and Garmin do not understand the concept of an onroad(simple to use)/offroad(grid positions, tracklog, manual routes etc) unit.
You can also see this in the auto market.

In UK/Germany/Holland there is a push for more technical navigation features to control planned onroad routes.

In Australia we don't care as much about controlled onroad routes but we do want a unit that does both onroad and offroad well.