Garmin GPSMAP 600 series runs afoul of the law on land and sea

We get plenty of emails from big-time drug smugglers in Miami who want to know: "When will Garmin provide a comprehensive, affordable GPS solution, at home both on the road and the water?" Looks like we're one step closer to an answer with the GPSMAP 600 series. These rugged, portable touchscreen nav units feature a 5.2-inch display (800 x 480) and come with two mounts: when placed in either the marine or auto mount, the device will start up in the appropriate mode. On the road, the domestic GPSMAP 640 ($1,199 MSRP) provides the maps, turn-by-turn directions, custom POIs and proximity alerts you expect. On the water you get aerial POI views and optional BlueChart g2 Vision for underwater 3D perspective. Rounding things out, XM WX Satellite Weather data, XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic are available with the optional GXM 40 antenna and subscription. The international GPSMAP 620 ($999 MSRP) is a bit scaled down, with street maps and marine chart data available through the SD card slot. There you have it, kids -- and keep an eye out for Crockett and Tubbs!

[Thanks, Rich]

[nathan.wong @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:04PM]

I'm trying to figure out the headline here. "Garmin GPSMAP 600 series runs afoul of the law on land and sea" Does that mean that they're in trouble with the law because they show too much information on land and sea? If it's just to introduce the GPS units then that was a terrible and misleading headline.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:23PM]

It's a stupid tie-in with the whole "go-fast" drug-running boat theme...

[nathan.wong @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:04PM]

I'm trying to figure out the headline here. "Garmin GPSMAP 600 series runs afoul of the law on land and sea" Does that mean that they're in trouble with the law because they show too much information on land and sea? If it's just to introduce the GPS units then that was a terrible and misleading headline.

[nedy78 @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:11PM]

Philip Michael Thomas should get this...and use it find his career.

[Dr Zoidberg @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:18PM]

Damn them people must be tiny!

[StalematE @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:42PM]

or that GPS is F*@(#&% huge!

[ross.nicholls @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:19PM]

Why does it need the mount to tell it whether it is on land or at sea? Isn't that pretty obvious from the current location on the map?

[Psion @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:22PM]

What if the GPS is in your car while it's crossing water in a ferry?

[puhsitch @ Oct 3rd 2008 7:11PM]

Sounds like it needs to reboot to switch from the land to water interfaces. The dock will cut out the needs for the GPS to search for a satellite in order for it to know what to do.

[Munky @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:09PM]

It would still need GPS to determine location. Basically, the mount is a switch to tell the GPS what mode to be in. It changes a lot of the defaults automatically. You will probably be able to program it for land and sea, too. The zumo does the same thing depending if its on the motorcycle mount or auto mount.

[iEye @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:23PM]

Yes! now I can make my own KNIGHT-BOAT

"The crime fighting boat!"

[XIYL @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:54PM]

As a Miami drug runner I personally am very excited for this device. Thank you Engadget!

[Darren @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:29PM]

now if i can only see my "blips" that are floating in the atlantic you've got a deal!

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:04PM]

Dear Engadget. Stop trying to make snazzy headlines. You, generally, do a poor job of it and, generally confuse people.

In no way has this unit run afoul of the law. The title suggests that there is something that may be rubbing the FCC the wrong way. And yet....

Stupid.

[Munky @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:11PM]

What if the FCC is a little miffed at it? Especially if you take it into international waters. Curse you Garmin!!! Oh wait...

[Michael @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:22PM]

That looks like a picture from season 1 or 2.

[lgespee @ Oct 4th 2008 7:35AM]

Well for sure it isn't season 4, cause Tubbs would have had facial hair all over the place.

[Michael @ Oct 4th 2008 4:39PM]

I think its season 1 or 2 because the clothes are pastel colors. in season 3 they switched to darker colors. I havnt seen season 5 yet so I dont know about that.

[Noir @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:50PM]

Hey it's Crockett and Tubbs!

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 4th 2008 6:55AM]

Any news on the Garmin phone ???