Garmin Oregon PNDs make an early appearance

It's been a while since Garmin dropped any new gear on us, but it looks like we're about to get a whole new series of nav units soon -- Buy.com and Amazon just put up listings for the Garmin Oregon 200, 300, and 400. The new boxes are a little smaller and lighter than the Colorado series, with a rugged, waterproof casing, 3-inch 240 X 400 sunlight readable touchscreens, customizable user profiles, and the ability to transfer waypoints, tracks, routes, and geocaches between units. We're assuming pricing will change when these things get real, but for now the 200 is listed at $420 and the 400C is listed at $558. It's not exactly clear what the specific differences between the line is, except that the 400 will come in several flavors, with the 400C variant sporting BlueChart g2 marine maps for the coastal US and Bahamas. Hopefully we'll get some more details soon, as these bad boys seem ready to go.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

Read - Oregon 200 listing
Read - Oregon 400C listing

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 7th 2008 1:33PM]

I hate it when the article's picture blends in with the ads on your front page.

[Gingerbread Man @ Jul 7th 2008 1:33PM]

Yay, after I just bought a Nuvi 200 2 months ago!

[granny down east @ Jul 7th 2008 1:52PM]

You know, it's been years since I started ranting about this, but when will someone make a GPS unit that is capable of map overlays?
An air/ground or air/ocean overlay would be mighty useful to those of use who do civilian search and rescue.

[Med @ Jul 7th 2008 3:56PM]

Garmin and all the other proprietary maps, "google what google?", pay-me-more-money GPS vendors should be quaking in their boots over the new iPhone. My current iPhone -- without real GPS -- is more useful for laocation and maps than the typical map-neutered Garmin. Once the iPhone has GPS it will make these dedicated GPS units much less needed. Yeah, I know for some applications they will still rule, but that niche is going to get way smaller on July 11. And Garmin will be the last company I look to for a 3rd-part app for the iPhone.

[MikeS @ Jul 7th 2008 4:32PM]

No need to wait for an iPhone, my HTC Advantage already does everything I need from a GPS most of the time, with 5 inch 640x480 display. Now, everyone seems to agree that $800 for the Advantage is expensive, but it also does a little more than just tell you where you are.

On the other hand, comparing an iPhone or WinMob PDA to a dedicated GPS for more than just driving directions is ridiculous. I don't think I'd rely on an iPhone while boating or in the woods. If you're just looking for the nearest Starbucks, a Garmin probably isn't the unit for you.

[OneLove @ Jul 7th 2008 4:02PM]

Did they mean pwnd?

[Itchy Pajamas @ Jul 7th 2008 6:51PM]

Sounds like the same features as the Colorado, but with a touch screen. I sure how the text entry method isn't a virtual Rock-n-Roller on the screen!