Laptop GPS World

I went to http://my.garmin.com/ with the intention to register Garmin Mobile PC. I see three registration options there:

• Garmin Device or Accessory,
• MapSource Software on Disk (purchased separately),
• Preprogrammed Data Card.

None of the three options applies to Garmin Mobile PC. What am I missing?

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Marvin Hlavac

Laptop GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

You're not missing anything, I don't think. I encountered the same thing. I tried them all and can't find any way within any of them to register Mobile PC.

Tech Support is supposed to call me back when they think they've killed my Product Key activation so I can try to reuse it to activate my laptop and that's going to be my next question to them (I don't want to confuse them with another question until I get this one resolved!).

If you get to Tech Support with that question before I do, let us know what the answer is.

...ken...

Well, the good folks at tech support are no wiser than we are. I called today and asked how to register the software-only version of Mobile PC. He didn't know so he asked me to hold while he checked with others. After about ten minutes, no joy. So he took my contact information and said he would get back to me. He has to check and see if the lack of any means of registering Mobile PC is an oversight or intentional.

...ken...

Hi Ken ,

I am the "new-kid-on-the-block" here

Just speaking between the lines I think that all the shake-ups in the Digital World have got a LOT of people -- ALL SHOOK UP

Especially this Laptop thing -- can you imagine if you could run ALL the Garmin software on a Laptop without any need for a Garmin GPS hardware device ??????

Can you imagine running all the guts that make a GPSMAP 296 work -- on your LAPTOP --

The Laptop has a nice big hi-res screen LOTS of computing power and LOTS of memory -- and LOTS of space for all kinds of embedded goodies

I see a HUGE shakeup coming in the Broadband / Video / Mobile / GPS / Voice World.

OK Long story short -- perhaps this is why there is all the confusion with activation codes for SOFTWARE ONLY

But don't believe a word I say -- what do I know anyway

Take care there in REGINA

Okay, here's the answer from Garmin Product Support. Now you know as much as I know. And probably as much as we'll ever know. With an answer like this, I don't expect that we will ever be able to register it.

I registered my Mobile PC (Software Only) after many futile attempts.

I used MapSource Products and the code on the DVD case. It does show up in MyGarmin - myProducts so I assume it was successful.

Terry

Terry,

What Mapsource Product did you pretend it is? Mobile PC is not listed as a Mapsource Product in the dropdown list and that's a required entry. I tried registering mine as Mapsource Worldmap and it worked. But that doesn't give me any great comfort.

It's interesting to note that you cannot register any of the City Select or City Navigator products under the Mapsource Products. It appears the only way they get registered is by unlocking them.

...ken...

MapSource MetroGuide North America (formerly MetroGuide USA).

I couldn't decide if it was important but thought I may need it later if unlocking another product. The only things listed in myProducts are actually hardware.

Terry

I had a thought after I registered it as Mapsource Worldmap. In the version number field I just put "5.00.10g". What I should have done was entered "Mobile PC 5.00.10g". Always too late schmart...

...ken...

OK, another "I don't understand Garmin" question.

What is the reason you so anxious about registering Garmin Mobile PC if they do not have a registration option? Do you perceive a need in the future?

Glenn

some people, such as myself, register almost everything, no matter how trivial. Benefits can be warranty tracking, notifications of updates or recalls, etc. Often there is no benefit whatsoever.

However, there is rarely any downside. Maybe I'm put on a mailing list but I only buy products from companies I want to do business with anyway.

I think its just a mindset.

Terry

I actually never register anything myself , but if I recall correctly, the reason why I attempted to register Garmin Mobile PC was that I wanted to use some of the online features. Some online features are available as soon as you install the software, but I think there was a feature which prompted me to register, to enable the service. I will try to follow the above instructions by Ken & Terry tomorrow . I will register and I will see if I can enable the missing online service .

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Marvin Hlavac

Laptop GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

Marvin,
I think that is a different registration process to do with the Garmin online service. Not the product.
Terry

I was wondering if it was something like that. It sounded like Garmin to offer something only if the product was registered and then not having any way to register the product.

Glenn

Marvin,
I now see your problem. Registering for extra services requires an activation code supposedly available at my.garmin.com. However, as you can't list the product as hardware, there is no place on that page to get an activation code.
Hmmm! Looks like Garmin slipped up on this one.

Terry