subject: Garmin Oregon 400t: The Most Reliable GPS Navigation Device [print this page] Whether you fancy kayaking, mountain biking or any other outdoor adventure, do not forget to bring along the 6.8 ounces Garmin Orgeon 400t in your next outdoor escapade.
This device runs on two AA batteries and fits perfectly in your palms. Being one of the first GPS to be operated using the touch screen technology, the Oregon 400t surely has made waves in the development of GPS navigation gadgets. All you need to worry about is only button for the power and the rest of the navigation is done using the screen. However, a lot of skeptics are doubtful. |Revolutionary as the devie may seem to be because of its touch screen capabilities, it still needs to answer one basic ye very important question. Will it be able to satisfy the needs of most GPS users?
Does the device hold true to its claim that it is waterproof? When users see how the AA batteries lock inside the device, they become not so sure if it could really keep water from going inside the gadget. However, the device has been tested to work even amidst days of kayaking or being used in water sports. With the USb port hidden by a rubber gasket, surely there is no more doubting if the device was actually designed to be waterproof. This will tell you that the design could be used and still function even if gets exposed to water.
One of the things that users could look forward to with the device is its touch screen keyboard. Cosnidering this feature, there is no doubt that, indeed, the Oregon 400t is a GPS device that will not be difficult to operate. Unlike other GPS devices which have a lot of confusing buttons that users need to be familiar of, the touch screen feature of Orgeon 400t just lets you navigate through the device using what you see in your screen. Thus, becoming acquainted with how the Oregon 400t should be used is much easier and faster compared to other devices as you do not need to spend a lot of time memorizing what buttons are supposed to do what kind of job. It would not be challenging to learn how to use the Oregon 400t as it was specifically designed to make things much easier for users. There are users who find it problematic if they find water or mud on their screen. Mud and water cannot do anything to ruin the performance of this device. Even if you are wearing thick gloves, the performance of this device will not change. If you want to name your waypoints, it won't be difficult anymore as you do not need to use buttons anymore. Needless to say, the Oregon 400t has definitely made waypoint naming much, much easier compared to the old school way of using buttons.
There has been some complaints concerning the readability of the device. A lot of users remark that they find it difficult to read the screen no matter what kind of lighting condition they place it in. It seems as if the previous models were much easier to view than this one. The problem, however, this kind of issue is not general and may vary on a case to case basis. Sometimes it is all about just getting used to how the device presents the information it carries. Moreover, it would also depend on the kind of activity one is doing. When hiking, it would be very easy to adjust one's position just to have a better look at the device. However, if you are diving, kayaking, biking or any activity that restricts your movements, you would find it extremely difficult to look for a good position in which you could have a better view of your GPS' screen. Also, use the backlight carefully. Though it helps in solving the readability issues of the screen, it would consume much of your AA batteries' power. Yet, if you have no problems about using a lot of batteries, you would see how remarkable the backlight could be in making the 1:100k resolution appear better. The light gives off a complimentary effect making the map appear much better on screen. The device even has some preloaded maps which could be displayed in 3D. However, it is impossible to transfer these maps from your Oregon 400t to your computer.
Although there may be some who would say that the Garmin Oregon 400t GPS is not perfect, they could not deny the fact that it is still one of the best devices you will ever get to make you prepared for whatever it is that you will encounter in the wild. You just need to know how to make the device's features work to your advantage. As they say, a device, no matter how advance, is only as good as its user.
Garmin Oregon 400t: The Most Reliable GPS Navigation Device
