Looking for Mac compatible GPS unit

[lha72]

Anyone have any advice or experience on hand-held GPS units compatible with Mac Powerbook? The GPS units I have looked at have all been PC (windows) only.

I'm looking for a portable (hand-held) GPS unit suitable for vehicle use, and hiking use - one which I can load and update software using my powerbook.

I picked up a Garmin GPS V today after carefully examining the package for compatibility and seeing nothing about the device being limited to PC (windows). Got it home, opened the box and took out the software package which had large "Open this first" printed on the front." Fortunately, I have seen that scam before, so I turned it over and on the back was the "...if opened can not be returned..." statement. So I looked through the books and found the thing was limited to PC (windows).

I'm taking it back to the store tomorrow.

 

[NCTRNL]

Yeah, Garmin does not make any Mac compatible units or software. It's sad, I know, but there aren't any GPS manufacturers out there that do. Believe me, Garmin has taken its share of grief from the Mac community about it...

 

[Squareball]

I had done some quick research into this a while ago and one thing I came across was this http://www.gpsy.com/index.html and http://www.rayming.com/Mac.asp

GPSpy Seems to be software that interfaces with a lot of different GPS devices. Might need hardware to go with it like a serial to usb adapter.

The other URL seems to be a GPS device for mac laptops

This is also possibly of some interest http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12449
http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/macgpspro/compatibility.html

 

[gwuMACaddict]

its total crap that they arent mac compatable yet... i'd get the gps one designed for runners- i think its SO cool... but useless to me, cause there is no way i'm ever buying a peecee

 

[wPod]

I have the Garmin GPS V and love it. unfortunatly i do have it hooked to an old PC of mine. any crap old PC will do the trick (i had it on a Pentium II for a while, now it is on a PIII). I have heard success stories about using a serial to USB adapter then running VPC. there is also Route 66 software (www.66.com) which works with mac and is supposed to enable compatability with most GPS-r units. Though I have heard that people have had trouble with USB only GPS-rs in both cases (either VPC or 66). The best bet seems to be getting a serial GPS with a serial to USB adapter. I really need to go pick one up and try it out, i have been meaning to, but every time i go to the store i forget!! Wish I had better news.

 

[gost8go]

I just got the Rayming TripNav USB GPS and Route 66 software. I got them working together right away but I haven't used it extensively yet.

 

[iGary]

This was the ONLY hangup with a recent attempt (succesful) to convert a friend to a PowerBook.

The best I could do was recommend VPC.

I have a lot of friends who just have to use VPC - gah.