When purchasing one of these units, what type of mapping software comes with it? Are these ready to go "out of the box" or do you have to upload a mapping program onto it?

I'm going to be checking with one of the buyers from my company to see what the cost would be for me to order it through work (cost+15%) and am just curious if I should be getting prices for software as well.

Eventually I'll be wanting a good Topo software to use but thats not needed right now.

 

I just got one of these units.

There is minimal map software included that allows you to upload, download waypoints and tracks, but no real detail on the maps. Just major streets, etc.

I also just got a hold of the National Geographic TOPO software for the state of AZ. Very detailed. They make one for the US but evidently doesn't have the resolution (scale, detail) as the individual state series does.

Problem is you have to buy each state you need, which adds up.

Garmin sells a chip for the unit itself which evidently has a TOPO preloaded for certain sections of the US. I am mostly interested in the AZ, CO, UT chip as this is where I travel. That will give the TOPO some more detail, but will not transfer this TOPO info back to the computer.

Garmin sells software with TOPO info as well, but it is my understanding the National Geographic has greater detail and is quickly becoming the industry standard for accuracy.

Plus it has this cool "fly through" feature which lets you track back your route with elevation as if flying in a helicopter.

 

Street wise though, what kind of software will I need for driving coordinates or is there a chip I can purchase for that? Topo is something I'll worry about much later, and don't really need a greatly detailed street map as of yet.