Garmin GPSMAP 60C GPS Receiver

The 60 series in the Garmin GPSMap line is probably the best among the all-around GPS receiver products, and the 60C is a great represetiative of that line. This device is one of the few I've seen with a color LCD display that looks just as clear and easy to read in direct sunlight as it is in total darkness with the backlight turned on. Most other devices with color LCD screens will only look good either in sunlight or in darkness; kudos to Garmin for figuring out how to make a color screen the right way.

The unit is also very solid in construction. True to Garmin's traditions, this unit is rugged and can take a beating without being worse for wear. Signal reception is also very solid.

Some important things to note about the 60C:

The GPSMap60C is the the entry-level "base" color model, one step above the lowest-rung GPSMap60 (which has a B&W screen). To put this in perspective, the 60 line also includes the 60CS (which adds a barometric altimeter and magnetic compass), and then the entire line is duplicated again, adding an x suffice (60Cx, 60CSx). The "x" models permit you to expand the unit's available memory for maps using microSD Flash Memory, which is a quantumn leap ahead in that the "x" units because you can add up to the current 1GB of RAM in available in the microSD format. Imagine loading an entire half of the U.S.'s map data into the GPS unit, instead of just a state or two!

So why the pontification about all the other models in this line, when the review is supposed to be about the 60C? The reason is so that you can make sure you're making the right choice. It's important to realize the 60C is not expandable: you are limited to the 56MB of RAM that is internal to the unit. This isn't such a bad thing, considering I have loaded the entirety of the state of New Jersey and New York City onto this unit using Garmin's MetroGuide USA. Considering that NJ has probably the most dense and most extensive network of roads for the square footage covered, that's not an easy feat. By contrast, I loaded the entire state of Texas into the same unit, and still had room for Louisiana, parts of Oklahoma and all of New Mexico before the memory filled up. So rest assured; the memory is plenty for now.

On the other hand, you might be like me and travel very frequently, and would like to load half the country or more into your GPS receiver without having to frequently connect to your desktop computer to load up the appropriate maps before you pass through the regions of interest. If that's you, then you MAY be better suited by an "x" model and a high capacity (512MB or 1GB) microSD card.

The other issue to be concerned about is the feature set. The 60C lacks the barometric altimeter and electronic compass found in the 60CS. For some users, this MAY be important, as a strict GPS receiver does not know what direction it's *facing*; rather it only knows the direction it is moving towards. If you are standing still or not moving fast enough for the unit to ascertain a direction of movement, then the 60C will not be able to provide an accurate direction for you, while the 60CS will just use the built-in magnetic compass and point you in the right direction. On the other hand, the 60CS magnetic compass is useless in situations where the device is surrounded by certain metals (like when mounted inside a car).

Bottom line: a great unit for beginners on a tight budget.