What GPS do I buy?

Yeah they do.

You can still get hold of an older Magellan 310 if all you want to do is connect to a Laptop.

I dont think the base Explorists have lappy connections. I think its the 600 or something . . . $500 - $600 I think.

My 310 still goes good , even in VERY basic form.

Hi sampsong,
I have a Lowrance GPS which I originally purchased for my boat. I now use it in my Cruiser and the original mount kit fits perfectly on my passenger handgrip with the antenna clear through the front screen. It hooks up to my laptop as I run Oziexplorer but has the functionality of being hand held if needed.
Lowrance are very reputable GPS manufacturers and have a good selection of models on their website.
Good luck!

look at gpsoz web site.
That aside, if you want to connect to a laptop then the cable availability is important. Make sure it suits your laptop--usb or serial. If you can connect power supply through cig lghtr then it is a plus whilst data cable is in place.

Garmin and Magellan are both ok.

Garmin Etrex is what I used before updating to a MAP 60C. The Etrex connects to a laptop via serial whereas the 60 utilises USB. The Etrex perfermed faultlessly with my laptop for many years, went bushwaling everywhere with us and was never bothered by water, etc. Oh yeah, and they're cheap.

Regrads.

You dont need a 60 to do what you want, a simple Garmin 76 will do that and more and be a lot cheaper than a 60, I sold mine for $200 secondhand when I upgraded to a 60CS.

IMHO Garmin are more intuitive than Magellan but hey...I like chocolate too!

Depends on what you wish to achieve.

Any GPS will provide you with the majority of what you have listed, but if you want Marine Charting capabilities, you can buy software such as Mapsend Bluenav CD Oceania which contains all Australias local charts for downloading to The Magellan series of GPS's, such as Meridian Marine, Platinum & Gold, as well as the Sportrak Pro & Color GPS units.

Hey Sampsong
try www.ja-gps.com.au/ They got the best prices in Oz.

I have a Garmin E-Trek Legend, ( black & White ) and found it great ,,,,does everything I need i to do.

However recently my Son's Mate, visited us, ( who has been working in Indonesia ) he pulled out this Garmin GPS MAP60 ( I think $700 ) and it had briliantly fast pickup and the best screen I have seen, even in bright sunlight.

I was jealous, but my Legend is still all I need , at $290

Both work fine ,, just the dearer ones have more features
Both have good hook up to computers and Mapsource sofrware.

Cheers Mate
Bucky

I have the Garmin GPS Map60CS and have used it weekly in the dinghy, yacht, bushwalking, dirt bike and on/off road in-car navigation.
It has not missed a beat and has copped a fair bit of abuse in that time.
I have installed Metroguide, Tracks4Australia, and Garmin Bluecharts all of which have had the detail I have required to get me to wherever I have needed to go.

If I were to upgrade now it would be to the Garmin GPS Map60CSx which has the mini SD memory cards instead of internal memory. In saying that I have always been able to fit all of the maps into the unit that I require.

Good luck with your decision and if you would like to know any more about the unit just give me a yell.

Bret

On that note the Garmin gpsmap60cx/csx is not yet been released here in oz but is available in the states. The only issue is it does not come with an Australian basemap. Can the australian basemap be loaded into one and overide the installed one ie: north america?

Generally they are selling on ebay for around $550.00 au