M-M Adventurer 2800

Bosun · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: M-M Adventurer 2800

Just had a newsletter e-mail from Memory Map.It seems they have brought out a GPS which at first,and brief, sighting would seem to provide competition for the Active 10.

Comes pre-loaded with some National Park Landranger maps but you are able to load Memory Map mapping into the unit and use that,also has a touch screen interface

Costs £250 from Memory Map.

Sorry can't post a link as I couldn't find it on the M-M site despite a link from the e-mail.

They are showing it at the Cycle Show at Earls Court next week evidently.

Ian

torihada · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 02, 2009 Posts: 1

http://www.memory-map.co.uk/adventurer/

Bosun · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the link.

Should have used Google instead of Bing.

Ian

nonoftheabove · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 27, 2007 Posts: 82

yes had an email flyer from Memory Map.
On first glance looks ok.
doesnt seem to have the button contol of the active10 - so presume that the touch screen mention controls as per active10.
Anyway time will tell and frankly it will be good a little competition
is healthy- I frankly think that my A10 is brilliant BUT it has niggling
flaws.
not overly weatherproof- (dampness causes problems)
hard to see in any degree of brightness (sun)
The connector for the rechargble battery is naff- IF one needs to regularly replace with batteries for whatever reason then it will fail
quickly

PloddinPedro · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 229

lucevans · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

It's a bit of a blow for those who repeatedly asked Memory Map for exactly this sort of device several years ago, before abandoning any hope of being able to use their MM mapping on a rugged GPS unit ( I don't class the "Road Angel Adventurer 7000" as a rugged device) and switching to Satmap (and re-purchasing all their mapping).

Having done this myself, I shall not be "investing" in Memory Map's system again.

Has anyone else wondered what will happen when, inevitably, MM bring out V6 of their software? When V4 became V5, their customers had to either continue to use V4, or buy all their maps again - v4 maps are not compatible with v5 software ("it's not our fault - it's the OS licence" claimed MM at the time*). I have no reason to believe that the same will not happen again with the next "upgrade" - and this time, it would affect your ability to see your maps on your GPS too.

*I am a firm believer that OS digital data should be free to UK tax payers for non-commerical use, since despite being designated as a "trading fund", the OS still receives a large proportion of it's funding from the public sector (i.e. it is largely public sector bodies that pay the extortionate licence fees for it's "products", and that money is from tax-payers). This would stimulate growth in businesses such as Memory Map, Satmap, Anquet, etc. as they could concentrate on developing their software, rather than peddling the OS's map licences, and more people would be happy to buy into the system if they didn't feel that they were being swindled.

Bosun · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

barny_100 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 18

I'd agree the competition is good but would say that it doesn't look any different from the Garmins. If anything it looks cheap, it's only a sneak peek I know but still. For a publicity shot it's not very impressive.

I didn't choose a Garmin due to to the fact they were touchscreen and had smaller screens - this doesn't seem any different?

Darren · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:

It's also tiny, smaller than the Garmin Oregon IIRC.
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Darren Griffin

Bosun · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:37 pm Post subject:

Had a very brief look at the new M-M at the Cycle Show today,wasn't that impressed.The screen is very small,no buttons at all on the case so it must all be touch screen,scrolling the map is done with the fingertip.I read somehwere that touch screens aren't too robust in the outdoors but have no experience of this myself.They only had one to look at and none to sell so perhaps they are in short supply.

The unit is quite weighty and has a rechargeable battery.It is not waterproof only splashproof so a case of some sort would be needed.

Overall I think I prefer the Satmap,of course if you already have the M-M mapping then this can be downloaded to the unit saving a considerable amount of money and I suppose this is its main selling point,that and the fact that it costs £250 ( before discounts ),but as a previous poster pointed out what happens when they upgrade M-M,will it still be compatible.This is one question I forgot to ask.

I am not condeming the unit after only a short examination,but out of the two I think that the Satmap has the edge.

Ian

PloddinPedro · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 229

I too looked at the MM Adventurer at the Cycle show, from the perspective of someone who uses their Satmap almost exclusively for cycling.

I quite liked the shape and size of it, though not the yellow band around it, which personally I think makes it look a tad cheap. I wasn't too impressed with the quoted battery life about 8 hours with the screen on full time and of course, since it's an integral Li-Pol cell, you can't change batteries on the fly. I quizzed the chap on the stand about how visible the screen is in full sunlight and wasn't convinced they'd cracked this problem, which is an issue with the Satmap and I believe, the Garmin models with the high resolution, detailed mapping systems.

They obviously weren't really ready to release this yet because in the same way Satmap did, they've gone public before things are finished off. The cycle mount was a pre-production lash-up, half glued together and is a RAM star mount that's been hacked about. The unit attaches to the RAM cradle by two quite thin recesses at top and bottom and I'm not really convinced that they'll be secure.

There's a mini USB port at the end of the unit, with a rubber cap similar to the Satmap one. Time will tell if this is really waterproof. On the bike mount, this will be inside the cradle, so will be a bit more secure than the Satmap one.

Apparently the plan is that owners will be able to purchase and install third party applications including a TomTom style, NavTeq based satnav system, so that you'll be able to have car type satnav on your bike. What this will cost and what effect it will have on battery life I couldn't ascertain, but it will no doubt be attractive to some people.

One big plus is that if you've already shelled out for Memory Map, you won't have to buy the mapping again, which makes this much cheaper than going the Garmin Dakota/Oregon route.

I think that for the time being, as is common with new kit, it's "watch this space" and don't go rushing in.

Darren · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

PloddinPedro · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 25, 2007 Posts: 229

Darren · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:13 am Post subject:

Indeed, a combo system would be ideal as with the Oregon but one that allows MM Maps.
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Darren Griffin

Vicky465 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 01, 2009 Posts: 1

Saw it at the launch during the Earls Court Bike Show, looked well made and the refresh rate was phenomenal. Is actually quite a credible GPS.

Anyone interested can see reviews here....

Will be good if someone can upload some videos. Think its due out in November according to MM. Surprised

Vicsx

Memory Map Adventurer 2800 and Adventurer 2800 review

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