Lake map Napster???

[Sark]

I just purchased a Lowrance X-16ci. I am wondering what is the best conduit to getting electronic lake maps to load onto my cartidges. Where can I get the most "bang for my buck"? Is there a forum for the exchange of lakemaps? I have never owned MP3's, and missed out on the whole Napster debate.

I am interested in everyone "weighing in" on this one.

Also, what are people paying for additional cartridges??

[Box]

That is stealing and just makes things more expensive for everybody, not to mention makes it harder for the people creating the products to survive.

The more people that buy them legit, the cheaper they will become.

-Box

[Sark]

Box-
Thanks for the lecture. How about answering some of the other questions I posed. Somehow I have the feeling that you are a whole lot less moral than I am.

(As I said before, I missed out on the whole MP3-Napster debate. I did not have strong opinions about millionaires "art" being swapped. I have a tough time feeling guilty for the dope in a $300,000 Bently crying foul.
I would never want to take money out of the pocket of a hard working person who has taken a huge risk in starting a company. Are the makers of electronic lake maps collecting the data themselves or simply entering the data the collected by fisheries managers.....I know it shouldn't matter, bit I want more information. Box is right, stealing is stealing no matter how one tries to justify it. There is just something about the tone he used.)

Box- Maybe you could get a job at a University catching students students who copy papers from the internet.

THE REAL QUESTION I was asking is where/how does one affordably ("bang for buck")get the lakemaps and cartridges.

Sark

[Goldpig]

I just pay for them like everyone else. I have never heard of a place to exchange them online, such as Napster.

P.S - All of the map companies I am familiar w/ do their own mapping, and none drive Bentley's:)

[perchjerker]

All the expamples you give are fine, it still doesnt make it right to download pirated software.

[Box]

Sorry for the tone, if it was poor. (I reread it, and it sure appears "to the point" and matter of fact. I see nothing less "moral" than what you posted. ...whatever...)

I am in the software business, and my livihood depends on people buying games, not trading them. It is a bigger problem than most people would think. (How many people made copies of any of the hunting games and gave to their friends? that directly impacted me, and I don't drive a fancy car.)

As far as where to get bang for buck, I know there are package deals that allows you to get whole states or regions at one time. Saves lots of dollars. Right at Navionics website is where I saw them. The prob is when you don't find your favorite lake in the mix.

I recommended HotSpots to bundle a printed map with digital, because since you can't print a map from the digital (or at least the last time I looked for my lms160) it isn't what I want. I want to be able to look at paper map AND digital. Of course, I could buy both, but I prefer to stick with paper for now. The problem with printing is again the copyright issue. People could sell the printed maps. I am not going to sell anything, but can appreciate why they don't currently allow it. ...so I just don't buy or use the digital maps at this point. Maybe if I had a better GPS I might try.

Anyway, any time people metion swapping, that definitely has a tone of its own, which brings out my "defense tone". I'm not sure how students term papers came up, but I wrote all my own, thank you. :) Happy fishing,
-Box

[Sark]

Thanks for the info. I don't own sega-game cube- or any of the video games. I do not even have a home computer. I guess I didn't realize how easy it is for people to justify something for nothing. If I would have thought the issue through, rather than typing stream of consciousness I wouldn't have asked the trading part.

I appreciate the buying tips. I hope others chime in with "bundled" buying tips. I am most interested in MilleAcs, Erie's Western Basin, and I know I am dreaming since so few go there, but Lake Tobin.

Thanks!----- Sark

[FJH1]

I don't know about that, you might want to keep an eye on Mike M. of FHS. I heard that guy is rolling around in a big bodied Benz, flossin' some ice and flashin' some bling bling, :-)

Best Regards,

FJH

[Box]

Hey Sark,

As I mentioned, I haven't checked lately, but I did after the last note. They have lots more maps for MN. Check this site out:
http://www.navionics.com/HotMaps/Default.asp
They have dealers and phone numbers available there as well.

Also, I am not sure exactly what a MMC card is (tech specs-wise, but pricewatch has a 64 mb MMC card listed for $32.99 with shipping included... not sure if it is same thing) but you can find great prices on Flash Card and other memory at this site:
www.pricewatch.com
I use this for all hardware purchases and even some software, as the prices are sorted lowest to highest.

Hmmm... maybe I might give it a try yet :) I wish I had a GPS with memory card...
-Box

[hawg]

not sure where you are but if you have some time just hold off a while and see if lake maps will have the protocal to use on gps. they dont cost enough to steal. $100 bucks will get you all the maps and upgrades you are going to need unless you travel to other parts of the country. check lakemaps.com or fishing hot spots. --you gotta like that mike, i'm getting much more civil since i turned 50.

[Mike Michalak]

When my "big bodied Benz" is in the shop (which is most of the time) I'm peddling around in a 1995 Chevy S-10! Oh well...

As for Napster-type data...I'm a proponent of exchanging just that, DATA. This is where you guys all share the waypoint and coordinates, not the actual program information. And we all know how free you guys are with your prime fishing spots (NOT).

I strongly protect the company's copyright and wouldn't take too kindly to having it ripped off on some peer-to-peer network. We are looking at a lot of digital applications. In fact, we've just inked contracts with C-Map and Magellan to further provide map data to more GPS units out there.

We're looking at wireless applications, PDA's, the whole enchilada. Where it all comes out is up for grabs right now, but it's a blast thinking of all the possibilities.

Technology is a wonderful thing and we try to stay on the cutting edge. More and more of you are utilizing the tools to improve your fishing, and that's great. We're working hard to develop and deliver digital maps that are user friendly and won't cost as much as your boat. Stay tuned...

[ANXIOUS]

it's gotta be tough trying to fully develope something and yet keep it so no-one can copy it. i would sure like to be able to use my maps(the maps that i paid for) to the full extent! i would like to upload them to my computer,edit,and then pass them to my waterproof(NOT) i-finder. i find is rediculous that lowrance manufactured a handheld gps that comes with a ##### zip-lock baggie for pete sake! i feel like the technology that has been put out could use a boost in the arm b4 we move on to (and pay to play with) cutting edge tech. so the people raking in the dough can listen to our gripes and perfect it so we can again pay top price for(pay to play) technology.

[fatboy]

mike i'm working on a huge transducers right now that we put in orbit. then for a pay per use fee you can zoom in to see where they are stacked up all from your home pc.:) yeah-yeah-yeah ya'll laughed at the airplane as I remember it !

[tim]

ttt

[rock2me]

Hee! Hee! Hee!