This might be the same as "Fighting City Hall" but for the user of Garmin GPS for about 11 years and the MapSource Product, BaseCamp is not an equal replacement. First of all, MapSource is more intuitive and easier to navigate on my pc, which I do all of my route planning. Second, I am able to store separate files. I do one each for long rides, say 2 weeks / 3000 miles / 250 waypoints. I do a separate file for each year for shorter trips of a few hours, thus I have 2012, 2011, 2010 ... files. As for the Route Properties -> Directions screen, I can cut and paste it directly into Excel so that I can use this data to develope route itineraries. Instead of a row and column structure that is used with MapSource, BaseCamp pastes all the data in one column that is very difficult to work with, taking a lot of time to spread it back out into different columns. I use the Categories feature quite a bit to diferentiate things such as food, fuel, attractions, Harley Dealers, route plan, etc. I cannot do this with BaseCamp. Everything about the data in BaseCamp is difficult to work with. I am sorry but unless Garmin can restore features and make it easier to find your way around and save files BaseCamp is a looser in my mind.
Good luck. Like you I forced myself down the BC route, now I wouldn't go back :)
I forced myself on Basecramp as well, and would happily go back to Mapsource if they would commit to keeping my lifetime map updates compatible. It has been made painfully clear that they want Mapsource disappear. After a year of Basecramp it continues to underwhelm and frustrate!
Hopefully, I've made it painfully clear to them that I will not pay a premium price until they have a mapping application that warrants it. If my furture products are reliant on an inadequate Basecramp, or an unsupported legacy system, I will use what I have until it no longer functions. By that time, it's likely that Google will likely be the replacement option. It's close now.
I forced myself on Basecramp as well, and would happily go back to Mapsource if they would commit to keeping my lifetime map updates compatible. It has been made painfully clear that they want Mapsource disappear. After a year of Basecramp it continues to underwhelm and frustrate!
Hopefully, I've made it painfully clear to them that I will not pay a premium price until they have a mapping application that warrants it. If my furture products are reliant on an inadequate Basecramp, or an unsupported legacy system, I will use what I have until it no longer functions. By that time, it's likely that Google will likely be the replacement option. It's close now.
This is not to contest you BIGLEW55, but here is my take on things. If you go to another GPS you will not be happy. What the others supply will not compete with Garmin.
If you are not happy with the software provided you can always go to Streets & Trips for your computer. Oh... You will have to pay for a new updated version every year and after about 6-8 years you can not open the older files with the newest application.
I may not perfer a database application. I never liked dbase and others similar to it. MapSource is also my overall preference, but if Garmin is developing an application that they want to support and not charge you for it or it's updates, well I am slightly intellegent and I can adapt. I can learn to use BaseCamp. I might bug the crap out of them to help me learn it but that might be part of their burden.
I have found some intresting features in Basecamp and I have figured out how to save seperate files of data to keep some of my information seperate. If I work with Falgar and maybe he would be intrested in some of my ideas and others. This is a way to influnce the configuration of the software they are providing. I don't like everthing about it. One of those is Adventure. I personally see no need in it, so I ignore it.
I will ever so often voice my opinion and it might be in a negative light, but rather than constantly bitch about how much I don't like it, I will see if I am good enough to learn to make it work for me.
This is not to contest you BIGLEW55, but here is my take on things. If you go to another GPS you will not be happy. What the others supply will not compete with Garmin. If you are not happy with the software provided you can always go to Streets & Trips for your computer. Oh... You will have to pay for a new updated version every year and after about 6-8 years you can not open the older files with the newest application.
I may not perfer a database application. I never liked dbase and others similar to it. MapSource is also my overall preference, but if Garmin is developing an application that they want to support and not charge you for it or it's updates, well I am slightly intellegent and I can adapt. I can learn to use BaseCamp. I might bug the crap out of them to help me learn it but that might be part of their burden.
I have found some intresting features in Basecamp and I have figured out how to save seperate files of data to keep some of my information seperate. If I work with Falgar and maybe he would be intrested in some of my ideas and others. This is a way to influnce the configuration of the software they are providing. I don't like everthing about it. One of those is Adventure. I personally see no need in it, so I ignore it.
I will ever so often voice my opinion and it might be in a negative light, but rather than constantly bitch about how much I don't like it, I will see if I am good enough to learn to make it work for me.
FWIW BC
I think we're really close to having the same opinion here, BC. The differences really aren't worth debating, especially with a user. If I find a GPS that looks close to being as good as a Garmin, I'll look, but like you say, it's not there.
I disagree with the free part, as I purchased lifetime map updates and a Garmin with a mapping program. But that's my perspective.
As soon as I have something positive to comment on pertaining to Basecramp, I will definately do so.
I think we're really close to having the same opinion here, BC. The differences really aren't worth debating, especially with a user. If I find a GPS that looks close to being as good as a Garmin, I'll look, but like you say, it's not there.
I disagree with the free part, as I purchased lifetime map updates and a Garmin with a mapping program. But that's my perspective.
As soon as I have something positive to comment on pertaining to Basecramp, I will definately do so.
When you purchase lifetime maps for a unit that predates BaseCamp, you can still use MapSource. Is there any evidence that MapSource or lifetime maps fail to function on newer computer operating systems? Not that I can see. The lifetime maps entitle you to lifetime upgrades to map data, but they do not contain any promise of lifetime upgrades of the routing software to suit a legacy unit, nor do they promise that newer software will be designed to be fully functional on old units. If you maintain old units, you might have to stick with old software. For all the MapSource angst, it is still available, it is just not being developed further. If anyone is aware of any reason you cannot continue to use lifetime maps with MapSource, I would be interested in real world experiences, rather than what 'might' happen in the future.
Crashes are repeatable and relate to specific position on a map. You probably haven't been there yet ;) Anyway, knowing about problems one can't recommend Mapsource anymore.
Well it'd be nice if someone would post, in that thread, an exact location (i.e. coordinates) or a gdb/gpx file containing a route that results in a crash.
Evidently, and I just looked at the thread, that is too hard.
