GPS buying question

[IndyEFI500]

I had been planning on buying a new GPS this summer but just found out that through our rewards program at work, I have enough points to get one. The only two handhealds available in color are the new Magellan Triton 500 or the Garmin Legend (Cx I am guessing since it was color). I was planning on buying a Lowrance for the Navionics chip but if I can get a free one, I might as well grab it. Does anyone have or know about either of these models. They also had a b/w version of the Gramin 76 which looks like a power house but not sure about much else. I currently have a Magellan Meridian Platinum with altimeter/barameter/electronic compass. That is the only spec I can see the Trton has over the Legend. I would use it for lake maps and maybe if possible, buy road software for it. Appreciate your thoughts.

[caseymcq]

LakeMaster has MicroSD chips available for Garmins (the units that are "Cx"). I don't think Navionics has any of their chips available in the MicroSD format.

I have no experience with Magellans so I would probably be biased towards the Garmin . Having the capability of plugging in a chip would be a huge influence on my decision.

[BobT]

I don't know anything about Magellan except they do exist. The Garmin eTrex Legend is a nice unit. The Cx indicates that it has color screen and eXpandable memory so it contains a card slot. The eTrex Legend Cx will not have the electronic compass or barometric altimeter. You have to go up to the eTrex Vista for those features.

The GPSMap76 is their powerhouse but I can't tell by your description which one in particular you are referring to.

If you search for Garmin's HSOforum and click the products link, "On The Trail" and view their mapping handhelds link you'll find information about both of these units.

Bob

[IndyEFI500]

Thanks guys. The 76 they show is black and white and has no description so I am guessing it does not have a chip capability. The Legend does not say for sure anything about a chip so I am a little afraid it might not be the Cx version and would not accept the chip. The Triton does have chip capabilities but it looks like the lake map has to be loaded to a computer and then to the chip. Since this is my first foray into getting a unit that will do lake maps, I am not sure if the Garmin or Magellan compatible maps are as good as what everyone says about the Navionics?

[caseymcq]

LakeMaster has a couple different options for Garmins (chips or software). You may want to check out their HSOforum. LakeMaster chips are just as good as Navionics for the lakes they have. Navionics has more lake maps and that is their biggest advantage.

[Tom7227]

I have a Magellan Platinum and a Lowrance H2O. Magellan dropped support for the Platinum, but that unit gets a lock and it won't quit. My H2O on the other hand loses the lock if I sneeze over it. That said, the Lakemaster chip works in the H2O and I find it extremely useful. I don't think the Lakemaster works in a Magellan product - at least it didn't a year ago. Check with Lakemaster. I'm not realy impressed with the H2O and wouldn't use it but for the Lakemaster capabilty