Garmin 596 at OSH?

On Jul 20, 6:16 am, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
- Show quoted text -

For generic features I would agree with you, but the features listed
were mostly IFR specific features. I'm not sure that the market for
things like IAPs are very good for handhelds, vs. the 430 where pilots
would pay big bucks to put their approach charts in the back seat and
fly from digital charts.

-robert

You don't think people are out there using 3/496s for IFR situational
awareness now? I know of several pilots that have them and either no other
GPS in the aircraft. They have Nav/Coms, ADFs and DME. But the -96 is there
and they refer to it for SA.

But would handheld users be willing to pay an extra $1000 or so for
all that stuff. I know in the G1000 and the 430 I fly I certainly
would (just for the IAP alone), but I couldn't imaging paying $1000
for that in my 296.

-Robret

Robert M. Gary wrote:
On Jul 20, 6:16 am, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
- Show quoted text -

For generic features I would agree with you, but the features listed
were mostly IFR specific features. I'm not sure that the market for
things like IAPs are very good for handhelds, vs. the 430 where
pilots would pay big bucks to put their approach charts in the back
seat and fly from digital charts.

-robert

You don't think people are out there using 3/496s for IFR situational
awareness now? I know of several pilots that have them and either no
other GPS in the aircraft. They have Nav/Coms, ADFs and DME. But the
-96 is there and they refer to it for SA.

But would handheld users be willing to pay an extra $1000 or so for
all that stuff. I know in the G1000 and the 430 I fly I certainly
would (just for the IAP alone), but I couldn't imaging paying $1000
for that in my 296.

-Robret

Some would, some wouldn't. There are people right this second choosing to
pay $1000 more for 496 over 396 and the only difference according to the
comparison on the Garmin website a
3 4
AOPA Airport Directory: no yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): no yes

Jeppesen database coverage areas: Americas
Americas or Atlantic International

Preloaded maps: no yes

Smart Airspace Feature (generates and displays altitude-sensitive
alerts): no yes
SafeTaxiT airport diagrams: no yes


Why they don't mention the 5 times faster refresh rate on the 496 I don't
know. But other than that the above is the only differnece in the two that I
know of.


I don't know that there is any reason that the addition of those items would
cost $1000. Hardware wise it would just be a matter of needing more memory
and probably a faster processor. Though I'd be willing to bet that the
memory and processor needed for the added features would cost less today
than the current processors did when the 496 first released. With the way
chip costs drop over time I'd bet that Garmin makes a not insignificant more
on a 496 now than it did when it first came out.

The 496 airport database includes private airports which is
great if you like grass strips.

Jerry in NC

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in
message ...
Robert M. Gary wrote:
On Jul 20, 6:16 am, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
- Show quoted text -

For generic features I would agree with you, but the
features listed
were mostly IFR specific features. I'm not sure that
the market for
things like IAPs are very good for handhelds, vs. the
430 where
pilots would pay big bucks to put their approach charts
in the back
seat and fly from digital charts.

-robert

You don't think people are out there using 3/496s for
IFR situational
awareness now? I know of several pilots that have them
and either no
other GPS in the aircraft. They have Nav/Coms, ADFs and
DME. But the
-96 is there and they refer to it for SA.

But would handheld users be willing to pay an extra $1000
or so for
all that stuff. I know in the G1000 and the 430 I fly I
certainly
would (just for the IAP alone), but I couldn't imaging
paying $1000
for that in my 296.

-Robret

Some would, some wouldn't. There are people right this
second choosing to pay $1000 more for 496 over 396 and the
only difference according to the comparison on the Garmin
website a

3 4
AOPA Airport Directory: no yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of
interest): no yes

Jeppesen database coverage areas:
Americas Americas or Atlantic International

Preloaded maps:
no yes

Smart Airspace Feature (generates and displays
altitude-sensitive alerts): no yes
SafeTaxiT airport diagrams: no yes


Why they don't mention the 5 times faster refresh rate on
the 496 I don't know. But other than that the above is the
only differnece in the two that I know of.


I don't know that there is any reason that the addition of
those items would cost $1000. Hardware wise it would just
be a matter of needing more memory and probably a faster
processor. Though I'd be willing to bet that the memory
and processor needed for the added features would cost
less today than the current processors did when the 496
first released. With the way chip costs drop over time I'd
bet that Garmin makes a not insignificant more on a 496
now than it did when it first came out.

On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:14:43 -0500, Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

Why they don't mention the 5 times faster refresh rate on the 496 I don't
know.

That is odd. That refresh rate - and its impact upon the pseudo-panel -
would be worth the $1000 to me (whereas the other "extra" features aren't).

But I'm still hoping to hear/read of people comparing the 496 to the
Cheetah FL 190. I'm trying to decide which to buy, and I'm stuck not
being able to compare them myself.

Perhaps some friendly OSH visitor?

Otherwise, perhaps I'll visit the AOPA Expo floor...but that's months away.

- Andrew