Laptop GPS World

Posted today, July 9. (Thanks to Alex469 on Brighthand for the tip.) I have not tried it yet so I don't know if there are problems. Anyone who has installed it to their laptop and their desktop should pay particular attention to the first item in the list below. Remember to update the laptop first, just in case.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=4049

Changes made from version 5.00.20 to 5.00.30:

• Update the product key text to warn users that the product key can only be used on one computer.
• Update the default vehicle icon to the blue car.
• Correct the color of the satellites on the satellite view page.
• Correct the application resume process to restart the trip odometer after PC sleep mode.

Ken, thanks for the info. I just updated my HP tx2000 laptop to the latest Garmin Mobile PC version 5.00.30. Everything seems just fine. The "About" screen shows v.5.00.30. I still see the arrow - I thought it would switch to a car icon. But that can be manually switched by the user, if desired, by going to Settings > Map > Vehicle.

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Marvin Hlavac

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

Item number one is a direct result of a lengthy call I made to Garmin tech support yesterday. I wanted to move my software only version and the Garmin GPS-18x 5hz receiver that I bought with it to another laptop and asked them to unlock the activation. "Brian" started off helpful enough, but after putting me on hold a couple of times (to look up the answers?) he eventually reduced his response to simply repeatedly reciting Garmin's 6 month policy to me and then analogizing it to Microsoft's WPA policy. I told him that none of Garmin's documentation, including their website, box cover, or anything else I'd read indicated that this was true when I purchased the software together with a $200 Garmin receiver from Garmin's own store. Nowhere on any documentation or during the installation does it say that the answer to "Did you purchase a Garmin receiver with this software" can only be answered "yes" for the 20x. I told him I didn't understand why the software wouldn't recognize it as a Garmin receiver in the first place. He couldn't really explain it either and started down the trail of asking me if I was using a serial-USB adapter with my receiver, as if I suggested that Mobile PC wouldn't recognize the receiver at all. I still believe that this combination should behave exactly like the bundled 20x version (i.e. install the combo on as many machines as you want) or Garmin should unlock ones activation when requested to do so, just as MS will when you call to tell them you've made too many changes to your computer hardware and you've triggered the reactivation alarm.

The whole episode eventually disolved into a case of righteous indignation on the part of "Brian" and then finally a lead tech, "Quincy," where they weren't going to unlock my activation code no matter what I said. After "Brian" couldn't find any proof anywhere that I was wrong he informed me that this oversight would be corrected within 48 hours.

It really torks me off that they admitted I was right but would not resolve my complaint. I was very enthusiastic about this program and all Garmin products but now I have a very bad taste in my mouth (and wallet!)

I wonder if they are technically unable to reset it for you (and others, if needed), or if they are unwilling to do so. I've been in similar situation with other (competing) products. Microsoft technical support person took only a minute to reset my activation so I could use Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 on my new laptop. The same was the case when I requested ALK to help me with ALK CoPilot Laptop 11.

Hard drives do crash, people do buy new laptops, etc. Software companies understand this. I cannot believe Garmin doesn't understand this - I lean towards believing that perhaps they are just simply not yet setup for dealing with this issue - they perhaps don't have a way to reset the activation.

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Marvin Hlavac

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

I got the idea they were unwilling. I think at one point they admitted that, but again recited their "6 month policy" to me.

What is the "6 month policy"? Will the system allow the user to install and activate another installation each 6 months?

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Marvin Hlavac

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

Yes.

I think this fact was brought up in the Activation Limit thread on this forum.
Garmin Mobile PC Activation Limit

mstaedt,
I have been pursuing Garmin on this issue for months; not that I want the activation transferred, but I want Mobile PC to be locked to my Garmin 10x. Even the picture at the opening of the program shows a 10x as well as a 20x. I haven't got any further than you though.

Garmin has dropped the ball big time on this one. I wish they would go back to the way they used to operate, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Terry

Funny - I pointed out to them that the picture of two receivers on that splash screen also serves to mislead customers into believing that Garmin receivers other than the 20x count as Garmin receivers. I want exactly what you want - for the software to be keyed to my GPS-18x 5hz, NOT a particular computer. I use this combination at work on various data aquisition computers and it would be cost prohibitive to buy a copy of the software for every computer I use it on. The situation could be improved by at least offering bundles with a couple of different receiver options (USB, bluetooth, 5hz, etc.).

Is there some purpose to the outline colour of the bars on the satellite page? I see the are now matched by the ones in the location plot but is this significant to the Program?

Terry

They are issuing software updates often enough even if they don't know what for (eg USB resunme from sleep). If we keep after them, maybe this will be one of the changes they make.

We can always hope!

Terry

This update is a waste ot time. It doesn't change the icon as Marvin pointed out. It doesn't reset the odometer after sleep mode. And it takes forever to find the 20x after sleep mode (and that is after unplugging/ plugging in the USB. All I see different is the Satellite outline colours - Whoopee!

Terry

Was that a typo, Terry? The change list says that it's supposed to "restart" the odometer after sleep mode. I assumed that meant it would continue counting from where it left off when it went to sleep. I would be quite disturbed if it reset itself automatically, after sleep mode or under any other circumstances. I'll tell it when I want it to reset itself, thank you.

...ken...

So what does it mean then? I admit, I had never paid close attention to the Trip odometer in the past anyway. So I couldn't say what it did before. And I use Sleep (or Standby for XP) a lot on the UMPC.

The increased difficulty with finding the 20x after sleep has caused me to go back to 5.00.10 on the tablet for now. I'm afraid to try it on the UMPC just in case it blows up the key or I don't like it and have to go back. I'll try some tests on the backup computer as I don't care if I lose that one.

Terry

Yes, that's better. 5.00.10 can find the 20x (after USB manual interrupt) from sleep instantaneously by using the Disable button. With 5.00.30, it takes better than a minute, if it works at all.

Terry