Garmin eTrex Vista HCx

Pros: built-in compass, barometer, large memory, waterproof

Cons: no cons, really!

The Bottom Line: Very happy with it. Great device for outing or in vehicle. RECOMMENDED!

Review: This review is more as comparison to Garmin eTrex Legend which I owned previously.

I bought this device second hand at around US$200 after selling away my Legend at...

Pros: Digital compass, good base map, WAAS, and LOTS of other features

Cons: Loses reception if not facing skyward.

The Bottom Line: Compact design and loads of features make this GPS receiver a winner.

Review: I have had my Vista for almost a year and I have been extremely happy with it. I bought it primarily to do geocaching, so I would consider myself a casual user. It is loaded with features, too many to talk about here in detail, but I will comment on...

Pros: Versatile and Full Featured compact unit in rugged case

Cons: Poor screen illumination, high price mark up outside the USA

The Bottom Line: If you need the full features of the Vista, this is an excellent unit. Expensive in the UK.

Review: I bought my Vista 18 months ago at REI. Unlike many purchasers, this unit was bought for business purposes as I need to locate and map old oil well locations in places like Venezuela. The more features, the better, was my reason for selecting the...

Pros: Small size, great screen, fun and easy.

Cons: Price.

Review: This is my third Garmin. All have worked well - but the Vista C I really like.

This unit has great battery life, in fact, much better than my monochrome Vista unit. The 12 hour life is really obtainable. The screen can be read in bright...

Pros: Light weight, gobs of memory, tons of specialized features, large collection of available accessories.

Cons: Serial interface to PC, high cost of map software offered by Garmin.

Review: I've had my Vista for several weeks now. I've owned a GPS unit before so I was familiar with the general operation of these units. The Vista is designed to be held in your left hand which is great for us lefties, but can be a bit of a pain for...

Pros: Includes most practical features I need. Easy to learn. Has contributed significantly to my safety.

Cons: Maps limited, somewhat outdated, content not supplemented easily by other vendors or net updates.

The Bottom Line: I'm devoted. I don't like to go out without my Vista C except to work, to homes of close friends and to nearby businesses.

Review: I'm grateful I felt an urge to to try the Garmin Color Vista C after nearly abandonning the whole handheld GPS (Global Positioning Systems) endeavor.

SOLID NAVIGATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND BEYOND

The device has been a sheer delight,...

Pros: Once you get used to it, it is a good unit.

Cons: Poor antenna, confusing menu layout, difficult to download.

The Bottom Line: This GPS has a lot of features for the price, but does few of them well. I would recommend buying a simple GPS that does its job well.

Review: The agency I work for bought one of these GPS units for mapping trails. I find it to be difficult to use and difficult to obtain useful data. You can go through a whole hike only to find out that one of your waypoints did not get saved.

...

Pros: Easy to use, mapping, interface with computer.

Cons: Long time to start up, long time to upload maps.

The Bottom Line: Good piece of hardware if you find the needs. I do and I like it.

Review: I have the Garmin eTrex Vista now for a little more then a month and I have used it nearly daily. I bought with the eTrex also the Roads and Recreation CD and I?m impressed how well they work together. The Garmin is very easy to operate and also the...

Pros: Lots of features, light, waterproof, okay+ reception and battery life.

Cons: Slow downloads of maps to Vista.

The Bottom Line: The eTrex Vista is a great GPS unit, especially for out-of-car use. I highly recommend it.

Review: The eTrex Vista has a lot of good features, but when I read reviews on Epinions some people were concerned about battery life and reception. It was still the best GPS I could find for my needs, so I bought one. So far I am pleased beyond my...

Pros: Very readable screen; fast USB interface, better reception and battery life than the old Vista

Cons: Screen layout isn't the best; USB connection is daunting for Macs

The Bottom Line: You won't find a more full-featured hand-held navigation device (GPS mapping compass altimeter) anywhere, plus it's fast and the color screen is actually readable!

Review: I don't know why they call it "Vista C," it should be called by a different name since it's so different from "Vista." The only similarities are that both are GPS units with capability for downloading maps, built-in compass and barometric altimeter...