Outback digital maps for Garmin 2597LMT

And yes they fit your Garmin!! Michael

Genuine pirated copies

Genuine copies costs $229 - TOPO Australia & New Zealand

Cheers
Greg

I've been wondering what to get as well so thanks Michael I just purchased a $20 micro card to see how it goes.

Copies or not , illegal things like that are removed very quickly from EBay, and the sellers are probably prosecuted . I don't know how it works but the sellers must have something going! Topo v3 I bought from the Netherlands for $70 a few years back, new, and it came in Garmin packaging so who knows! They work perfectly! If you want to pay $200, feel free ! Michael

I think the $229 hobby is a CD, micro SD is cheaper from memory! Michael

Hi

No its same price for SD/Micro SD, DVD or download



I was reliably informed by a GPS shop owner who sells Garmins that they (Garmin) do not sell any thing on eBay and authorised sellers aren't allowed to either i.e. all Garmin products on eBay are unauthorised sellers. Where they get there stuff from I dont know...but there is no way in the world those maps would sell for $20 if they were "real" as far as I can figure. Why they are not removed I dont know.

Anyway ..I could be wrong...just my understanding of the issue.

Cheers
Greg

Greg! I tend to agree but I can't understand why the products are there week after week! Some call themselves map ,,,,, something as a screen name so it's got me beat. You would think Garmin Aust would be onto EBay to shut them down. They definately work so if Garmin don't care, why should anyone else worry!

...the maps seem to come preloaded on many GPS units without much (any?) additional cost so maybe you are allowed to sell your legitimate copy of the maps...as many times as you like :)

Cheers
Greg

I enquired of an ebayer regarding the "legitimacy" of these, never heard from him/her again. The reason pirating occurs can in part be put down to Garmin's approach to licensing (and product support in some cases). Iirc you can't even share data between products you own (remove and replace), let alone run them on on Garmin products "simultaneously".

Licensing is a complex issue and pricing is undoubtedly an encouragemnent to pirating but when it boils down to it stealing data/music/video is theft, as much as we like to argue it away.

Garmin topo didn't come pre-loaded on any Garmin GPS sold by the numerous licensed vendors I looked at more than 18 months ago Greg but maybe things have changed for the better?

...yes I forgot to mention the legitimate version of Garmin's Topo Australia has to be registered to one GPS (via serial number (or alternatively locked to one SD card)) upon purchase..and cant be used on another GPS (even by same owner (locked SD card can but obviously only one unit at a time)). This is not the case with the Ebay versions (I assume with much certainty).

Johnny Appleseed often sells units with "bonus" free Garmin Topo..though it seems to be limited to one model at the moment..(without reviewing all the bloody things :)



..so my use of the words "preloaded on many GPS units " may have been an exaggeration of the facts, though my point was that legitimate copies are supplied "free" sometimes at least. My comment about re-selling them was tongue in cheek.

Cheers
Greg

Just read Heith1's comment below. There's another reason for pirating - no cheap upgrade path, you pay full price for every version.

Think we all know why pirating occurs....my original post was simply to point out that calling Ebay sourced Garmin Topo maps "genuine" was probably a bit misleading (but apparently irrelevant to many).

Cheers
Greg

Along the same line I would like to know why when I buy music CD's from an outlet in a shopping centre and put them on my computer sometimes the title of the album is incorrect and they have a completely different list of songs compared to what is actually on the disc. Why is this happening are these big companies pirating as well surely they could have the correct info on them.

You dont live in Bali do you :)

No I'm in Qld

Long odds on they are genuine Greg - genuinely pirated copies.

Hema are raster, Garmin are vector - that's why.

...Plus "Hema maps" are not targeting the same audience/niche. They have been created for a different purpose - if you find them "not as good" then you were using the wrong maps for you intended purpose (everyone is different). Hema maps are top notch for target audience...Garmin topo and Oztopo are also pretty flash. My first GPS back in '92 (I think) had no maps..but crikey it was still very handy.
Cheers
Greg