Don't like the iTune like interface

I'd forgotten the PPC limitation, sorry. I'm a relatively recent convert. :) 6.13.7 is still the tool of choice and with the MapReverse program, it's still relevant as well. I also understand the MS comment. I really hope Garmin gets their Mac software together because WinXP is absolutely the last MS software I'll buy. BaseCamp is just missing too many planning tools to be "The One". So we wait. :)

This looks interesting but PC is required, and no North America maps yet.

This looks interesting but PC is required, and no North America maps yet.

I've been following a discussion on this product over at ADVriders. Promising, but not an option for me yet. I've just got too much money tied up in Garmin hardware that I don't see the need to replace. When the time does come to replace though, I hope there are other options than the current crop of Garmin units.

I disagree We are the average user who USES the application for Trip planning and route preparation.

Come on Denny, you have admitted you are a Unix user. Most Mac users have never view the contents of a container.

Garmin is going to loose the simple users anyway. They will all end up using their cell phones to do point A to B navigation. And it will cost them less in the long run. Only the folks who want to do advanced routing will be using dedicated devices and plotting routes on the computer.

I have tried most of the iPhone applications for routing, they are handy for and emergency but in my opinion for car navigation, you can beat a nuvi as a dictated car navigation device and trying to use a cell phone for bike navigation could make for a visit to the emergency room. The problem with all devices with a small screen is not useful for planning. You need a minimum of a 10 inch screen to use a map for planning. Most people don't give a hoot about where or how the file is stored. They just want to select a menu that says show in google earth and see pictures of the next campsite. The can do this in BaseCamp.

The contents of the folders in BaseCamp/RoadTrip are effectively alias's that point to the originals in My Collection.

Part of the problem is that BaseCamp/RoadTrip do not give me any clue that I am actually opening an alias.

The Finder at least gives me a visual clue that the Items are not truly duplicates, but merely pointers.

This stuff is not documented. I've had to learn these things by trial and error.
The time cost of those errors is overwhelming and very frustrating.

It appears to me the duplication of a folder is working as it should. Folders are an organizational tool for objects (waypoints, tracks, & routes) contained in your Container file (Library). When you duplicate a folder it is like creating a new folder and dragging objects to the folder. Just think for a minute what a mess you would have if you duplicated a folder and the objects had the same name but were really different objects. Does not duplicating an object give you the results you want?

My fears when I heard Garmin would support the Mac was a port of MapSource. In my opinion, MapSource is a legacy application designed for small memory devises, very functional with hundred of tools but a add on design that is now outdated. The average user that only takes to or three trips a year will forget how to use MapSource between trips if the ever learn.

As the small memory GPS leave the market you might see BaseCamp move to GPX file storage and the same storage in the GPS. However multiple files take up much more space and as a general rule are slower to manipulate.

My fears when I heard Garmin would support the Mac was a port of MapSource. In my opinion, MapSource is a legacy application designed for small memory devises, very functional with hundred of tools but a add on design that is now outdated. The average user that only takes to or three trips a year will forget how to use MapSource between trips if the ever learn.

And this is the attitude I find infuriating. Make it visually pretty, simplify it for the lowest common denominator and to hell with the features. Many of us use most of the features in MapSource, utilize the full feature set of an advanced (no Nuvi clones please) GPSr and were the market that built Garmin. Now it seems we no longer matter. "Very functional with hundreds of tools" Who wouldn't want that?

The average user that only takes a few trips a year is using GoogleMaps anyway, not Mapsource or BaseCamp. Let them have it and leave me my tools.

The average user that only takes a few trips a year is using GoogleMaps anyway, not Mapsource or BaseCamp. Let them have it and leave me my tools.

Well maybe not many average users for Mapsource, it does have a steep learning curve but plenty of average user for BaseCamp. Conceding the average user to Google is not a wise move for Garmin's business model. Garmin is supporting MapSource for long time users but BaseCamp windows & mac will be the choice of the new users critical to Garmin's Success.

This has been a very interesting discussion. Based on this thread and others, I created a thread devoted to "Tasks I can't accomplish with BaseCamp, but wish I could".

I would like to add a couple of things. We are very invested in this current architecture and are unlikely to change back to a document-based application in the foreseeable future. The decision to change was based on over 8 years of feedback about MapSource and the new interface has received a lot of positive feedback. Secondly, you are not typical Garmin customers. You are advanced users that are much more experienced with computers, GPSs and navigation software than most of our users. You spent the time to learn MapSource with all of its features and complexities. That doesn't make your needs any less important. Our challenge is to meet your needs without sacrificing usability for the more casual users.

Given that, I invite you to post what tasks you cannot easily accomplish in the other thread so we can start documenting holes in BaseCamp's capabilities.

I'll gladly participate in that kind of information exchange.

That will take some time to prepare all of the necessary screen shots and example .gpx files. I am not comfortable posting .gpx files that contain the coordinates of my home, so I'll need to do some editing to accommodate your request.

And this is the attitude I find infuriating. Make it visually pretty, simplify it for the lowest common denominator and to hell with the features. Many of us use most of the features in MapSource, utilize the full feature set of an advanced (no Nuvi clones please) GPSr and were the market that built Garmin. Now it seems we no longer matter. "Very functional with hundreds of tools" Who wouldn't want that?

The average user that only takes a few trips a year is using GoogleMaps anyway, not Mapsource or BaseCamp. Let them have it and leave me my tools.

Very well said...

And I'll add that attitude sounds like a Marketing Executive who's bonuses are paid based on nothing more than sales. All marketing executives with attitude should be fired.

The market that built Garmin is being ignored and the high paid bonus executives are the ones who profit most from it. Any kind of bonus like that should be reallocated to making the product better.

Some old school wisdom that still applies to any business...
"Word of mouth is the best and least expensive advertising you can get. One dissatisfied customer can cost you more than 100 satisfied customers will earn you."