UPDATE: Read our Garmin Colorado 300 review
One of our favorite vendors, GPSNow, just received their first shipment of the brand new Garmin Colorado 300 handheld, and they've discounted the price to $439.95 with free shipping.
These guys are great about getting things out the door quickly too. Weekday, non-holiday orders placed online before 5 p.m. central time ship the same day.
The Garmin Colorado 300 is the same unit as the 400 series, without any pre-loaded maps. This is ideal for those of you that already own Topo U.S. 2008, which comes pre-loaded on the Colorado 400t, expected at dealers in mid-February.
The Garmin Colorado 300 does paperless geocaching and includes a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. All the usual goodies you would expect from a high-end handheld are here too -- auto-routing, high-sensitivity chipset, etc. The Colorado series also adds some new features like wireless data transfer to other Colorado units.
I hope to have a full review up ASAP. Screen shots follow.
Related post: REI exclusive on Garmin Colorado 400t
Thanks! I'm in for one.
Posted by: John Galt | January 18, 2008 at 05:34 PM
John,
Glad to help. Come back by and post your impressions once you get a chance to play with it.
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 19, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I am in for one, too. I hope to be holding it in my hand Wednesday afternoon!
Posted by: bluemustangpride | January 19, 2008 at 09:14 PM
BMP,
Let us know what you think once you get a chance to try it out.
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I will! I hope it is as cool as I am imagining that it will be. Come on Wednesday!
Posted by: bluemustangpride | January 20, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Okay, I have had a couple of days to play with my new 300, so here are a few positives and negatives for prospective buyers.
Pros
-fits the hand great
-very attractive
-multiple profiles and functionality
Cons
-can't delete geocaches from the unit once transferred
-doesn't average waypoints
-although versatile, not as functional as my Legend C for geocaching
-downloaded caches not shown on map screen
-doesn't function well with NimH batteries
-needs firmware update badly already
I am sure that I will find more of both, and I am going to keep the unit, because I trust Garmin to make these things right in time. The unit is the most solid, attractive, and balance feeling GPS I have held in my hands, and I know that it will end up having the functionality that I expect.
Posted by: Bill Savell | January 24, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I have received new Colorado 300 today and after playing with it whole day, I have mixed feelings. There are problems:
1) Neither US TOPO 2008 nor TOPO Canada would display street labels (I tried messing up with advanced Map settings but with no luck), my GPSmap 76CSx shows the labels. The unit shows street label only when you move cursor over it (the data is there).
2) As already mentioned, the unit has problems with NiMH batteries: they appear to drain fast and unit starts complaining about low batteries (turning off backlight, sounds and eventually itself) but when the unit is switched off and after a while back on, they are back to full charge.
3) I am unable to upload maps to SD card (getting communication errors, same card works with my GPSmap 76CSx - it is MicroSD card with SD card adapter). The card shows as another drive when unit is connected and I can copy files there with mixed results, it works on smaller files, but almost certainly fails for large ones. During transfer from MapSource, it randomly behaves as if the card was just connected (autoplay comes up, windows explorer keeps reloading etc).
4) This is probably a 'feature' but when I plug in USB cable it goes into Storage mode and I can't do anything with the unit (unlike GPSmap which works and only switches to communication mode only when needed). On the positive side, you can immediatelly access the built in memory and SD card as external drives (no need to switch to Storage mode like with GPSmap 76CSx).
5) Removing battery cover is really difficult. There are no handles on the unit to hold it while pulling the cover off. So it keeps slipping and you have to rock it from side to side. Rather frustrating.
6) Garmin support does not list Colorado series in the list of products and you cannot send email to support without specifying the product. I was able to register the unit though.
I really like the unit (great size, handling, map display is way nicer and more readable than GPSmap 76CSx) but above problems really need to be fixed before I could really enjoy it. We need to push Garmin to get things fixed.
I have also bought bike and car mounts and I like them. I don't know about bike mount since it is my first, but the car mount is much better than car mount for GSPmap 76CSx.
PS: please someone tell me that street labels are working and I am just stupid (preferably with suggestion what I am doing wrong). Quick Start Guide has pictures with street labels after all.
Posted by: Tomas | January 27, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Bill and Tomas,
Thank you both for taking the time to share your thoughts. I've been playing with my 300 and I hope to get a "first impressions" post up soon.
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 27, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I have found treasure of information about Colorado series:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=183511
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgs8g624_28dg2pqhc2
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgs8g624_27dj2b9php
If you don't find answer to your questions there...
Posted by: Tomas | January 27, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Yeah, tons of info on Groundspeak. For a few days there, much of my time was going to keeping up with the Colorado threads!
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM
If anyone is interested I'm maintaining a wiki-based FAQ and Issues List for the Garmin Colorado at http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com .
Stop by!
GO$Rs
Posted by: g.o.cashers | February 04, 2008 at 08:36 PM
I upgraded from my Garmin Etrex Vista to the Colorado and although I love the display, I've noted the same issues as everyone else.
NIMH batteries give me the same problems of going weak quickly with the backlight cutting out, although I haven't tried regular batteries.
I contacted Garmin support regarding the problem with the unit going into "data exchange only" mode when hooked up to my laptop. It took a few attempts to explain that not only did I want the GPS to work with City Select/DeLorme Street Atlas, I wanted it to continue to work as a GPS when hooked up to the laptop. I had him hook up a Vista/Legend and he finally understood what I meant. He then consulted with his Associates and said I was the second person to complain about this issue. He will notify the Engineers that we would like this functionality back (like we had with the older units). It is frustrating that the unit has less functionality than the older models, but hopefully they will improve upon it.
He said to make sure we register our unit and we will get notified if and when there is updated software we can download with improved functionality.
Gotta love the screen, though! I also like the auto mount, although they really cheapened up on the bike mount with only half a circle clamp where you have to use plastic tie straps to secure it around the handlebars rather than the full clamp system they had on the Etrex models.
Posted by: Nyra | February 07, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Yeah, I have the chintzy handlebar mount, but haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Gotta hope RAM steps up to the plate with a mount.
Posted by: Rich Owings | February 09, 2008 at 12:29 AM
hi there,
what about its brain? sirf3, mtk or what? can't find it when googling. thanks.
Posted by: Irwin | March 14, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Most people have a "Chipset-M" which seems to be an MTK MT3318.
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/100063229/Mediatek_GPS_Single_Chip_Mt3318.html
Posted by: g.o.cashers | March 15, 2008 at 07:15 AM
It may not be the most scientific in the world, but here's a comparison with the 60CSx...
http://gpstracklog.typepad.com/gps_tracklog/2008/03/garmin-colora-2.html
Posted by: Rich Owings | March 15, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Anyone know if the Colorado bike mount allows fixing to the stem instead of the handlebar (as the Edge mounts do)?
Posted by: Jon Allman | April 03, 2008 at 02:22 PM
It looks like you can. I'm testing an Edge now but as soon as I'm done I'm going to try moving my Colorado mount to the stem.
Posted by: Rich Owings | April 03, 2008 at 02:27 PM
just received my colorado 300.
having some problems:
1) I can't register it online
2) I can't edit profiles although I can create new ones. I want to delete but can't
any ideas?
Posted by: Mark Gurden | April 05, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I think Garmin has had a problem with online registration of the Colorado series. I'm not sure what the current status of this issue is.
Here is an FAQ that tells how to delete or rename profiles...
http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com/Profiles
Posted by: Rich Owings | April 05, 2008 at 02:29 PM
thanks for help
I will contact Garmin re registration
I am still struggling with profiles:
the menue doesn't offer me the option to delete or rename just "set up profiles" which when selected just creates a new profile.
So far I have 8 profiles and can't get rid of any!!!!
Posted by: Mark Gurden | April 05, 2008 at 03:10 PM
You can't do this?...
Shortcuts->Others->Profile Change->Options->Setup Profiles->[select profile to delete]->Delete. Note you cannot delete the profile that you currently have set.
Posted by: Rich Owings | April 05, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Thanks again
I have now worked it out. It seems to appear to create a "new profile" then lets you select the profile to edit then finally deletes the "new profile".
Sorry for being so dim I am new to GPS
Posted by: Mark Gurden | April 05, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Just bought the Colorado 300. I can't upload more than one track onto the unit or the SD card. If I upload another one, it replaces the existing track uploaded previously. I've tried everything, Copy/Paste, export, etc.
Posted by: Emma | July 05, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Emma,
Are you using MapSource? If so, you may need to upload them all at once. You can copy/paste tracks from other MapSource windows or other MapSource files to get them all in there. Go to the tracks tab, highlight, copy, etc.
Or you should be able to use Windows Explorer and drag and drop GPX files into the Colorado GPX folder.
Posted by: Rich Owings | July 05, 2008 at 08:55 AM
You are amazing! I have just copied the saved track files on the desktop and pasted them into the GPX folder. I'm sure I did that in 101 permutations last night until 3 a.m! Thought perhaps not enough memory, so inserted a big SD card and dragged the tracks onto that, but that didn't work. Anyway it works now. Funny that MapSource's 'Transfer > Send to Device' menu item simply replaced the existing track on the C300. I daren't try that menu item again. Many thanks again.
Posted by: Emma | July 05, 2008 at 09:20 AM
I'm now saving straight from TrackLogs onto Garmin GPX file via 'Save As'. You have to close TrackLogs before you can eject the Garmin. Tracklogs is excellent by the way, I'm using a 1:24 000 OS map centred on my rural home.
Posted by: Emma | July 05, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Emma,
Glad to help. I haven't tried TrackLogs, but I sure do like the name. ;-)
Rich
Posted by: Rich Owings | July 05, 2008 at 03:26 PM
bought colorado 300 two days ago
worked fine
later could not extract data
error message mapsource
copied the gpx file
tried to open in mapsource
message gpx file is damaged
tried a few times more
with restarts of unit and computer.
same results
did a reset
all data lost
but all was working fine
updated firmware to 2.60
worked good for a day
later had the same issue
deleted the tracks ....no result
deleted all waypoints.
data lost
but all working good again.
===
===
next
===
uploading to unit of tracks
i don't see them on the map
only way to use them is to track back.
that's not very practical
in abandoned areas not having a map in the unit.
then old tracks are a good reference
can someone help me with that.
thanks !
Posted by: tobias 15 | August 17, 2008 at 07:45 PM
How did you try to open the GPX file? Did you use Transfer in MapSource? Have you tried just opening the current.gpx file in MapSource, directly from the unit?
Re: tracks not showing. Does your tracks option on the unit say something like Hide Tracks? It should if it is already in Show Tracks mode. Sorry, don't have a CO here, but that's what I recall.
Posted by: Rich Owings | August 17, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Is there any free topo maps for the colorado300
Posted by: ron | January 01, 2009 at 09:51 PM
Yes, but mainly for the western U.S. There is a free U.S. contour map though...
http://xyzggmaps.omgfreehost.com/
Here are some other resources...
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/
http://gpstracklog.typepad.com/gps_tracklog/2007/12/free-maps-for-y.html
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 02, 2009 at 07:05 AM
I am wondering, with the Oregon series being out, but the Colorado's good pricing, what choice to make. I like the concept of buttons better, because on touch screen you loose a lot of space for the buttons to show. But lacking trackback, reposition waypoints, no display of multible tracks hurts.
Any comments!
Posted by: Peter Andre | January 03, 2009 at 12:32 PM
The interface and button sizes are pretty much the same except for entering waypoint names. Wait another week until after the Consumer Electronics Show and the price may drop on both.
Posted by: Rich Owings | January 03, 2009 at 01:00 PM