Nuvi 1490T

        I didn't plan to get any newer GPS for sometime, but I accidently ran into
a good deal on the Nuvi 1490T (for $187 + free S/H but I clicked the wrong
option so it cost me $9 S/H) which was few bucks cheaper than the
refurbished (Buy.com was selling for $192), so I ordered it.

        But my car been broken, and never care to get so excited to test it. And
the weather is still little chilly (and raining too) to take the motorcyle
out until this afternoon when the Ram-Mount cradle for 1490T arrived, I
replaced the old cradle for Nuvi-680 with the newer Nuvi-1490T.

        The weather was around 61 degree for long test ride. So I mounted the
1490T to motorcyle and rode around 20 blocks.

PRO

- The screen is larger (5" vs 4.3" I think) and brighter too. Since I gonna
use it on motorcyle so I set the brightness to 80%

- The speaker is lot louder than the Nuvi-680

- I tested the regular USB cable and it WORKS great. Or unlike the Nuvi-680
which requires a special USB cable for it to work as GPS, and it's brighter
than Nuvi-680

        It has few other better options/features than the older Nuvi-680, but I
haven't had the chance to look at them yet to confirm.

CON

- Since Garmin tries to save few bucks (they forget to realize people spend
hundreds or it) so they make the cradle much smaller. Not too bad.

- It doesn't come with the case like older cousins. And some companies
already take advantage of this to make the case for Nuvi 14xx model. That
only sad part that they want around $20 + S/H for a stinky case

- Unlike the older models those have the connector/power built to the
dock/cradle. This Nuvi 1490T you have to connect the USB connector to the
USB port in the back of the unit.

        IOW, there will be some chance for the USB connector to break or stop
working, and there would be a chance to misplace/lose the adapter which is
also the FM Traffic receiver. I am thinking of tying the adapter to the
dock so I won't lose it.

        I dunno if it's Pro or Con (I don't care much) but it comes with CN
2010.10 that I know it ain't the current latest. Or to me it should have
almost all up-to-date info, and I can wait for 2011 (if I won't get a newer
GPS).

        Well, I know it's kinda boring cuz I no longer get so excited about newer
toy, cheaper deal, don't even care to test drive to see newer feature. And
I don't even care to open the new 8GB micro SDHC just arrived yesterday see
if it works with this cheapie Micro SDHC or not.

        Arggggg... I don't know why Garmin keeps messing with stuff they are not
very good at or not capable of, or not not too important to make the change.
And the more I see what they try to do the less I can trust Garmin.

        I just happened to look at the internal memory, and unlike the Nuvi-680
which shows what stuff been installed to the memory. Now the Nuvi-1490T
shows the FOLDERS but for some reason the MAP, POI etc. are hidden or I
can't find none of them. It shows folder named "GARMIN" but only a small
24K file.... I read Nuvi 14xx has the .IMG under folder "MAP" but there is
no "MAP" folder.

        Properties says the internal memory is around 1.9GB and 1.7GB been used,
and the largest file is around 16M (of course I have my system to show
hidden files and folders). I guess I will have to GOOGLE for more detail
what's going on, and I dunno why I have to waste my time on this type of
silly game.

On 4/8/2010 2:35 AM EDT, Joel wrote:

Besides showing 'Hidden Files and Folders', the 'Hide Protected
Operating System Files' must be unchecked too in order to reveal all the
hidden files and folders now.

        Of course I did as usual, even Garmin .IMG file ain't system file but I
did anyway.

        I believe that I may have the answer someday. It's just kinda interesting
to know that Garmin has wasted so much energy on thing they don't need to.

        Ahhhhh found it! it's under the hidden folder named ".system". It seems
like Garmin afters something here, and since their software department is so
sick, I hope they won't mess up people systems.