What is the official procedure to get Garmin's MapSource?

I have had about a dozen Garmin GPS units and have recommended them to
several friends. One of them just called me asking for help installing
a public domain map. I told him: "the first thing you need is
MapSource". Well, it turns out that his recently purchased n=FCvi 760
didn't come with a MapSource CD. A brother of mine acquired a brand
new n=FCvi 660 a few months ago, and ended up installing a pirated
MapSource that he found on the net, as his unit didn't come with a CD,
either.

I used to have MapSource in my laptop and my desktop, but the second
one got erased. I tried to copy the files from one computer to the
other, but apparently Garmin is very paranoid about this.

What is the deal with MapSource? Can anyone provide or guess a
rationale for Garmin's policy in this regard? What is Garmin going to
lose if they provide the software (which can only be used with their
equipment) freely?

Let me guess: perhaps that piece of software is soooo much better than
Google Earth, that people will stampede to use it?

Can someone please provide indications on how to get a legal copy of
MapSource? In its absence, can anyone provide indications on how to to
get an illegal copy of MapSource?

TIA,

-RFH

The easiest way is installing the TrainingCenter from garmin.com and
afterwards the actual Mapsource Update (6.13.7)


hth
Anton

This proceedure works, and according to a Garmin support guy I spoke to,
doesn't violate the license agreements. My understanding is that its just an
'avoid confusion with stupid users who think they can get detailed maps for
free from Garmin' issue. In other words they lock out the install so that
people don't think they can get the maps by just downloading the "mapsource
update". Stupid...yes, but Garmin knows about the "Training Center" work
around to the Mapsource install issue, and doesn't seem to have any plans to
rectify the situation.

You can also always purchase "Trip and Waypoint Manager" seperately.

Dale

Every time I read some stupid excuse like this one... I know they are
lying.

Just as I suspected, Garmin has some secret policy, and they don't
have the integrity and honesty to tell us (the "stupid users" who pay
for all that hardware and software) the rationale for such policy.

-Ramon

Ok, maybe stupid is the wrong word, but it is a fact that sometimes adding
more features/options can create bigger support headaches. Why do you think
I no longer allow users to select the location for install for my map set? I
used to get droves of people telling me the maps 'wouldn't open'.. they were
I eliminated the option, and significantly cut down on support requests.

Dale