I purchase this Garmin eTrex Vista HCx to replace using my laptop + GPS + MS Streets & Trips. This Garmin is well built - solid, sturdy, waterproof, & the screen is crips & clear with vibrant colors. It obtains satellite signals quickly, even indoors. The side buttons are a bit difficult to depress, requiring quite a push.

Unfortunately, out-of-the-box, the system comes only with a set of "base maps" which are totally useless for all but interstate travelers, & even then leaves quite a bit to be desired. Get out your wallet.

To get any real use from the system, plan on spending about $100 for each map set you purchase separately. City Navigator North America 2009 comes closest to MS Streets & Trips and Delorme Street Atlas USA, but simply does not have the streets resolution of those products. For $100, it should be at least as good, if not better, than those PC products. Plan on going hiking, another $100 or so for the Garmin topographical maps set. Going to Europe? Another $100. Adds up quickly!

The unit does NOT come with a useful Users Guide & thus the learning curve can be quite steep, depending upon what you wish to do with the unit. For example, it should have been easy to find how to get the unit to return the display to your current position after you navigate away from it.

Garmin tech support was great. After purchasing the City Navigator North America 2009 map set, I could not get it to unlock using their online system's directions. Called tech support, waited about 2 minutes, & got a very helpful individual who guided me through the process.

If you are a city dweller who rarely ventures out into more suburban or rural areas, this system will probably meet your needs. Unfortunately, I live in a more rural part of the state, & the streets resolution simply doesn't cut it here. But for a walking tour of Boston, or hiking through Cleveland, this will do you well.

The primary reason for purchasing this particular unit was to take with me as I do outdoor photography in my travels. I can use it to create a track of my travels, which I then download to my PC along with my photos. Using GPicSync from Google, I then merge the data to tag locations of my photos. Works well!

Finally, I gave this product an overall 2 rating because (1) you have to add maps in $100 bites to get any usefulness out of this product, and (2) even adding those maps does not provide the streets resolution it should have compared to other mapping products available today. The unit is well built, and Garmin technical support is excellent. But for the price, it should provide a lot more surface detail than it does.

I have A job working as an Engineer Assistant and I use the Garmin GPS to Pin Point certain fixed objects.
The Garmin has been reliable.

I HAVE THE VISTA HCX. I JUST SPENT A WEEK IN THE MT ADAMS WILDERNESS HUNTING.I BOUGHT THE PRE LOADED MICRO SD WITH THE 2008 TOPO MAP. IT WAS SO EASY JUST PUT IT IN AND THERE IS A NEW ICON ON THE MENU.. THAT SIMPLE. EVEN IN THE DEEPEST DARKEST FOREST I NEVER EVEN CAME CLOSE TO LOSING RECEPTION. IT WOULD RANGE BETWEEN 10FT AND 40FT. ALL FIVE TIMES THAT I TOLD THE HUNTING PARTY WHERE I COULD BE PICKED UP AT DARK I EMERGED FROM THE WOODS EXACTLY AT THAT POINT USING THE PROXIMITY WAY POINT FEATURE. I WAS GETTING ABOUT 18 HOURS OUT OF A PAIR OF KIRKLAND BRAND AA BATTERIES NEEDLESS TO SAY THE OTHER THREE GUYS ARE GETTING THE VISTA FOR NEXT YEAR.

LOVE this toy!! I got this for my husband as a Father's Day gift for hunting/fishing, and he takes this everywhere. I told him he'd better hang on tight, cuz his wife might steal it. :) Very cool!! Amazon.com came through for me in getting it in time for Father's Day. I got the trial Prime account free for a month, and I ended up paying less than $4 for next day service, love that!! Before you buy it elsewhere, check here first, and do your research, cuz it's WAY worth it!!

My recent purchase of this Garmin GPS was an exact replacement for one that was so rudely stolen from the front seat of my car. To me it is essential equipment for having fun...my hiking, road trips, and especially geocaching. It's the perfect size for me to carry hiking, reception of this Vista HCX is much better than previous models, and fun to check out what's at the next exit on road trips. It actually does much more than I do, or know how to do, with it, but easy enough once you get used to it. I truly consider it to be essential rather than luxury in my outdoor fun and adventures.