The Garmin Colorado 400 BlueChart GPS unit

Well that didn't take long. The Garmin "Colorado" rumor we mentioned yesterday appears to be closer to a reality today. According to reports, the new device will be actually be called the Colorado 400 Bluechart GPS, and will sport a slew of new features, the biggest of which is the ability to display aerial photos and / or USGS topographical maps. Additionally, the new device (aimed at the marine market) will feature detailed, coastal US marine charts, a new "Rock 'N' Roller" input wheel, a 65,000 color 240 x 400 display, an SD card slot, 2-axis compass, an altimeter, temperature sensor, plus ANT Communications (wireless exchange of routes, tracks, waypoints, and geocaches between two units). No official word on whether this is actually available, but supposedly you can order it right now for $599.99.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

[Luke @ Dec 10th 2007 11:22AM]

awwww no touchscreen... swing and a miss.

[geognerd @ Dec 10th 2007 11:40AM]

Do you really want a touchscreen on an outdoor device that will be dropped on rocks and get muddy? I imagine a touchscreen will be difficult to operate with gloves on as well. If you really want an outdoor unit with a touchscreen, look at the Magellan Triton 1500 and 2000, but don't expect much tech/customer support from that company.

[digikata @ Dec 10th 2007 2:10PM]

I'd settle for controls under the screen instead of above.

[NovaLand @ Dec 10th 2007 2:34PM]

You really want that? What kind of anatomy do you have, really..

I imagine a handheld device would have its controller where the fingers are. Last time I checked, my thumb were on the top/outer side of my palm when I held it like reading from it, holding a handheld device.

Having the controller at the bottom, you'd acually need your other hand to operate it..
So.. use one hand? two hands?
Tough choise, but I'd go for one hand!

[mrpaco @ Dec 10th 2007 8:34PM]

I can operate my iPod with one hand...

[NHAnimator @ Dec 10th 2007 11:50AM]

What exactly does "bluechart" refer to?

I hope we are not going to go down the road of blue-this and blue-that. How bout iBluetooth? Can we do that?

[Jason @ Dec 10th 2007 12:08PM]

Bluechart = Garmin marine maps.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/bluechartCD.jsp

[NovaLand @ Dec 10th 2007 2:34PM]

I imagine the next model would be called "Hawaii".. unfortunally the number of those devices sold outside Hawaii would never exceed zero.

[Ari @ Dec 10th 2007 12:24PM]

Is Colorado the name for a whole line of Garmin GPS devices? Because it makes no sense for a *marine* GPS...

[Mojo_Yugen @ Dec 10th 2007 2:57PM]

Maybe they know something about global warming that we don't?

[Z @ Dec 10th 2007 3:43PM]

Too bad they didn't put a two-way radio in there, as well. Then I could have GPS, polling, and voice communication all in one.

[Angelo @ Dec 11th 2007 12:22AM]

you mean the Garmin Rino? they already have that..
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146&pID=8523

[nathan.wong @ Dec 10th 2007 4:37PM]

When I first saw that scroll-wheel I said "why is there a cheap speaker exposed like that?" The maps are pretty cool on this unit though. I'm sure all GPS units in the near future will have some sort of Google Earth built in. That should be excited.

[ketel1 @ Dec 11th 2007 11:53PM]

So is it strange that I recognize the satellite photo in that shot as being the lake of the ozarks in missouri?

[David @ Dec 14th 2007 10:38AM]

More Info about the unit here:

http://www.motorcycle-navigation.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=44

[David @ Jan 15th 2008 10:56PM]

The Garmin Colorado line sounds quite interesting, but seems to be missing one important feature that the Bushnell Bushnell ONIX400CR does have - built in XM Weather. Until it has that, it's not worth getting rid of my Garmin 60Cx, although I would have considered it if it had been out before my wife bought me my 60Cx.

[Itchy Pajamas @ Jan 18th 2008 10:32AM]

Availability alert!

REI has the 400t (the version with built-in topo maps) in stock. I picked it up last night. Now if I could just stop posting on Engadget long enough to play with it!