ANATOLY IVANOV / PROSE / 2009-05-29

OUTDOOR 2008: GARMIN OREGON TOUCHSCREEN GPS PREVIEW

by Anatoly IVANOV

BACKPACKING / CLIMBING / CYCLING / GADGETS / TRANSPORTATION / PREVIEWS

You are reading a 2008 preview. Read a detailed hands-on 2009 review.

A new top of the line Garmin outdoor GPS? No antenna? No buttons? No thumbwheel?

Garmin Oregon GPS

Photo: Garmin Oregon GPS unit / Used with permission from Garmin / Author unknown

WHAT’S NEW AND INTERESTING?

The new Garmin Oregon GPS looks very similar to the Garmin Colorado GPS. I almost missed it at the Garmin booth during the Friedrichshafen European Outdoor 2008 show.

The main differences are the user interface, dimensions and weight.

// Touchscreen

Click and drag the map with your fingers. Add waypoints with a thumb. The Oregon is much easier to use than the Colorado’s buttons and scroll-wheel. But still, the Oregon is far from iPhone’s responsiveness and Wow! effects.

 

Photo: Garmin Oregon touchscreen display / Used with permission from Garmin / Author unknown

// Weight

The Oregon is lighter!

// Dimensions

The Oregon is smaller!

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

AVAILABILITY

Should be in stores worldwide this autumn 2008.

GARMIN OREGON VS GARMIN COLORADO COMPARISON

The Oregon and the Colorado are so similar (except for the user interface), it’s natural to compare them:

  Garmin Colorado GPS
Garmin Colorado 400
Garmin Oregon GPS
Garmin Oregon 400
Dimensions:
(width x height x depth)
6 x 14 x 3,5 cm
(2.4" x 5.5" x 1.4")
6 x 11,5 x 3.5 cm
(2.3" x 4.5" x 1.4")
Prominent antenna: yes no
Display size: 3" diagonal (7,6 cm) 3" diagonal (7,6 cm)
Display resolution: 240 x 400 px 240 x 400 px
Display type: Transflective color TFT Transflective color TFT touchscreen
User interface: Thumbwheel and buttons Touchscreen
Weight: 207 g (7.3 oz)
with batteries
193 g (6.8 oz)
with batteries
Battery: 2 AA batteries 2 AA batteries
Battery life: 15 hours 16 hours
Waterproof: yes (IPX7) yes (IPX7)
High-sensitivity receiver: yes yes
Connection interface: USB USB
Accepts data cards: SD card microSD card
Compass: yes yes
Barometer / altimeter: yes yes
Bike mount: yes yes

MY QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS

// Touchscreen

In my opinion, a mapping GPS is especially useful in 2 cases: winter navigation (recognizable terrain features hidden by snow, whiteouts, glaciers) and speed cycling in unknown areas.

// No protruding antenna

Both the Garmin Colorado and the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx feature a prominent antenna. The Oregon does not.

// Maps

I am still compiling a list of maps that will work on the Oregon.

The European Oregon 400t will sell with a preloaded 1:100 000 cm vector topographic map of Europe.

// Mac support

Garmin’s Mac OS X page talks about “fall 2008 support for most Garmin Outdoor Handhelds with USB cables”.

// Product positioning

I puzzle over Garmin’s marketing strategy: the Oregon and the Colorado cost the same!

I’ve sent my questions to the Garmin team…

I also plan to get an Oregon unit to test in the near future. Or should I wait for winter?

That’s what I did in March 2009. I got both the Oregon and Colorado and reviewed them extensively.

CHANGE LOG

2009-05-29 Added link to detailed review.
2008-07-24 First publication.

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