Comments on: Topo USA 8.0 to release next week…

By: jim

jim — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:14:27 +0000

This might be a dumb question but I was recently given a PN-40 with Topo 8.0. I don’t use a PC, what do I do? To the best of my limited knowledge all four of the discs that came with the device require a PC.

Please enlighten me. Thanks.

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:14:51 +0000

Does the free upgrade from Topo USA 7.0 to Topo USA 8.0 still apply if I pick up a PN-40 bundled with the Topo USA 7.0?

Thanks!

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:09:44 +0000

Garmin is much more Mac friendly, so I will be returning my PN-30 for a Garmin. Should really take “Mac Compatible” off the box.

By: Willy

Willy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:27:17 +0000

The number of Mac users is irrelevant. It’s the number of Mac users likely to buy the product that matters. I’ve been developing x-platform GIS software for 10 years. Macs account for 25% of our downloads. Since Macs work and people like macs, mac users tend to buy more software. Furthermore there are dozens of mac users who want your product badly enough to check your blog and complain when they don’t get what they want. Ignore enthusiastic users at your peril…

That said porting to another platform is non-trivial. They’ve probably written the whole thing w/ Windows Forms and DirectX. Using Qt and OpenGL *is* the best way to write x platform graphics software and re-factoring all their codebase to those frameworks is a large, but in my opinion, worthy undertaking.

I’ve never used Topo USA, but one look at the screenshots confirms that it’s a UI disaster. All of this is a sub-issue of the larger reality that GPS companies are *not* software companies. They would probably do better if they opened their standards and allowed people who know how to write software to do it. They would have happier users, they would get to concentrate on what they’re good at, and they would probably sell more GPS units. They could even have some approval process for allowing 3rd party devs to access the map downloads.

There is no point in begging for a mac port though. There is probably some MBA in charge who knows nothing about the software industry who is “trying to control the whole channel.” He probably can’t reboot his smart phone so there is little hope in him seeing the value in a mac port.

It’s a shame, b/c it looks like a great device.

By: Marshall W.

Marshall W. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:05:02 +0000

I was all set to buy this model until I read that it does not interface with Macs. As a Mac user, I am looking for a GPS unit that will let me export hiking trail history to my computer, in order to update my property map, among other things. If Delorme’s offerings do not support this for my Mac, I am not going to support Delorme with a purchase. And I certainly am not going to buy a PC in order to interface with GPS software–talk about the tail wagging the dog.

Brings to mind a ‘Demotivational” poster that reads, “If we keep ignoring our customers, maybe they’ll quit bugging us.”

If Delorme aspires to be the top dog in the GPS market, it will go the extra mile to build for Mac compatibility. Period.

By: Jeff H.

Jeff H. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:37:38 +0000

If you are returning a PN-40 simply because it can only interface with Windows PC’s then you are denying yourself a truly exceptional GPS unit! With the Mac at best having a 10% market share in the overall PC market, adding GPS software for the PN-40 for the Mac diminishes that return even further. Think about it…Mac owners in the overall PC market is 10%…Mac owners who buy the PN-40…3%. Why should DeLorme add many man hours of programming for Mac compatibility when the return on the investment is negative? Get a cheap Windows computer (which I’m sure you already have access to) and run this PN-40 software to its full extent! The PN-40 rocks! Mac’s are yet again missing out. Convert! [Former Amiga owner/user]

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:54:35 +0000

I agree with Jim. I picked up the PN-40 to try it out but can’t get anywhere without Windows. I should have done some more research…but ‘ll be taking it back and getting the Garmin Oregon 400t. Macs and maps actually make a good combo ya know.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:11:48 +0000

This machine looks great, and the tech is spectacular. BUT, until you make the PN-40 MAC COMPATIBLE, I have to go to with the garmin, which works with MacGPS pro. Mac users Love their macs, and the reason why is THEY WORK. Given the propensity of windows to get viruses, crash, or have Vista installed, I’d rather go with a slightly inferior GPS and keep my data. PLEASE work on MAC COMPATIBILITY. You’re losing market share by the hour if you continue to ignore this growing (and SMART) segment of your target audience.

By: Steph Carlson

Steph Carlson — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Love that you have a Mac compat widget…now if you would come out with a PN40 that did not require Windows at all, I would buy it…..Any chance that PN40’s will become Mac comp w/o using Windoze?

By: PB

PB — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:38:34 +0000

I ordered my PN-40 as a pre-order on 10/25/08 but I didn’t receive it until it shipped which was 11/18, am I ok on the 6months?