Garmin's New Big-Screen Multi-Function Displays: Just for Rich Customers

Although Garmin is best-known as a manufacturer of portable GPS navigators (PNDs), the company has come up with a very wide range of navigation gear over time, including certain devices targeting especially the marine market segment, namely designed especially for boats. And that's pretty much the case with the company's latest announcement, namely the GPSMAP 5X15 series and the GPSMAP 4X10 series, which represent a new line of big-screen multi-function displays (MFDs), designed for use in larger yachts and powerboats.

The GPSMAP 5X15 series features a 15-inch diagonal XGA (1024 x 768 pixel) sunlight readable touchscreen display. The touchscreen makes the device quite user-friendly because the "virtual buttons" change depending on the function, also eliminating the need for "hard" buttons, a valuable space saver. Garmin offers two models in this series, namely the GPSMAP 5015 with an enhanced worldwide satellite imagery basemap and the GPSMAP 5215, which comes pre-loaded with highly detailed U.S. coastal charts and Explorer Charts for the Bahamas.

On the other hand, the GPSMAP 4X10 features a 10.4-inch diagonal SVGA (800 x 600 pixel) sunlight readable display with a conventional alphanumeric keypad and a row of soft keys for easy data input. Within this family, Garmin offers the GPSMAP 4010, with an enhanced worldwide satellite imagery basemap to enhance the standard vector chart format and the GPSMAP 4210, which comes pre-loaded with highly detailed U.S. coastal charts and Explorer Charts for the Bahamas.

All of the new units are fully network compatible with the Garmin Marine Network, a system that combines GPS, radar, autopilot, XM WX Satellite Weather, sonar and other sensors. All 5X15 and 4X10 series units employ the industry-standard NMEA 2000 interface and, for a maximum expandability, these new units have three built-in network ports, four NMEA 0183 inputs, two NMEA 0183 outputs, one NMEA 2000 port, two video inputs for onboard cameras and one PC monitor video output.

Furthermore, for even greater capabilities, boaters can load the new MFDs with BlueChart g2 Vision technology, available on a pre-programmed SD card. In addition to high-res satellite imagery, g2 Vision features true "mariner's eye view" above water or a "fish eye" underwater perspective, both in three dimensions. The g2 Vision data card also enables auto guidance technology on compatible units, searching all the chart attributes to suggest the best navigational course. Moreover, for help in navigating tricky harbors and channels or locating marinas and resorts, g2 Vision cards offer a growing database of aerial reference photos.

"These new MFDs are as powerful as they are pretty to look at," declared Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales, referring to the company's new offering. "Their vivid, big, and bright displays catch the eye, but they boast plenty of cutting-edge, market-leading innovations as well."

The GPSMAP 5X15 and GPSMAP 4X10 family of MFDs will hit the shelves at some point in March 2008 and will retail starting at around 2300 US dollars (the 4X10 family) and up to around 6500 US dollars (the 5X15 family).

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