Join us and re-live our past as we share with you some of our previous history from our archives of our early years. When you consider how the GPS industry and its products have evolved over the last decade, especially at the consumer level, the changes have been nothing short of phenomenal!

Read along with some of these archives and you will see how the products have evolved, adding new capabilities and functionality all the while maintaining or reducing the cost to you, the end user. You will also see the historical nature of the constant struggle between the release of new products and meeting announced delivery dates. It really is a struggle, and no-one has yet to master it!

The following information is from our actual 'What's New?' webpages back in 1999, our 5th year in the business, and is presented here for your enjoyment and to re-live a bit of history with us!

1999 ARCHIVES: WHAT'S NEW?

SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 - MESSAGE BOARD & DISCUSSION GROUP FORUM NOW AVAILABLE: We are pleased to announce the availability of our message board area for group discussions in a number of areas of GPS use and support.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1999 - MG 16MB: After sorting out our order mixup, Garmin advises that these beasts are now on their way. We estimate their arrival here on Monday, 9/20 or Tuesday, 9/21 and we will begin the process of completing the backorders for this item.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1999 - ColorMap Cases:: Well it is now official. Garmin is no longer forecasting an availability date for the long awaited ColorMap Carrying Cases. Accordingly, we have canceled all our existing customer's backorders for this item. When Garmin re-announces it (if they ever do), we will let you know and start re-taking orders. Please accept our apologies. Note that we have not charged any credit cards for this item as we do not charge until actual shipment is made.

SEPTEMBER 13, 1999 - BackOrdered Items:: Here is the latest on delivery of backordered items due in from Garmin:
MGCD & 16MB Cartridges - September 20/99
SPBean Bag Mounts - End of September/99
ColorMap Cases - ?? (that's right - ?? Garmin doesn't know for sure when they will be ready)

AUGUST 24, 1999: URGENT SERVICE BULLETIN
PRODUCT: MapSource Topo CDROM
For users in the Seward/Anchorage and Prince William Sound areas of southern Alaska, portions of the topographical source material provided by the USGS were found to have significant errors. This effects the MapSource Topo CDROM's with serial numbers 45000000 through 45017599.

A new data set for Alaska is being procured which will replace a large portion of the current topographical and hydrographic data for Alaska. Garmin anticipates availability of new data by December/99.

Garmin will provide a replacement data set at no additional charge upon return of affected product. To have an affected MapSource United States TOPO CD exchanged, please contact Cartography at 1-800-800-1020 (913-397-8200 outside the USA) to be placed on the notification list. Once the data is available, you will be notified and given a Return Authorization number and return shipping instructions for a replacement from the Garmin factory.

NOTE: IT IS THE USER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT PRUDENTLY. THIS PRODUCT IS INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY AS A TRAVEL AID AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE REQUIRING PRECISE MEASUREMENT OF DIRECTION, DISTANCE, LOCATION OR TOPOGRAPHY.

AUGUST 19, 1999 - METROGUIDE CDROM & MAPSOURCE COMPATIBILITY: Garmin has advised that all MapSource CDROM's will work with the StreetPilot and the ColorMap, as well as the other map-loadable units.

AUGUST 18, 1999 - METROGUIDE CDROMs have arrived and we have begun filling our long backorder list. More will arrive the week of August 23rd.

AUGUST 5, 1999 - STREETPILOT MONOCHROME units now include a PC Interface cable for the same low price.

AUGUST 3, 1999 - METROGUIDE CDROM AVAILABILITY: According to Garmin support as of this morning, the basic MetroGuide CDROM will be available the week of August 9th (early next week). However, the MetroGuide CDROM bundles and the blank MetroGuide cartridges (8MB and 16 MB) are not expected until "towards the end of the month". For those customers with this item on backorder, we will update the order status page to reflect the current estimated ship date for your order.

JUNE 24, 1999 - NEW LOOK WEBSITE: We have unveiled a new look website with integrated shopping cart. Along with the easier to use 'click to buy' shopping cart ability, we will be providing a number of additional features and information items to make this the best darn Garmin GPS website around and to make your shopping experience with us easier and more efficient!!

JUNE 15, 1999 - COLORMAP CASES: The long awaited cases for the StreetPilot ColorMap are now available and will be in stock at the end of August/99.

JUNE 15, 1999 - STREETPILOT MOUNTING BRACKET: Apparently Garmin does not provide adequate information about the 'temporary' and 'permanent' adhesive mounting donuts that come with the standard StreetPilot Dash mounting bracket. To clarify: the 'permanent' adhesive mounting disk is the oval shaped disk with the hole in the center of it. The 'temporary' adhesive mounting disk is the oval shaped putty disk that does not have a hole in it.

JUNE 14, 1999 - METROGUIDE CDROM: Here is the scoop on the cartridge sizes for use with the new MetroGuide CDROM:The 16MB cartridge is equivalent to the LARGE size MetroGuides (ie New York and Los Angeles), and the 8MB cartridge is equivalent to the MEDIUM size MetroGuides.

JUNE 11, 1999 - TOPO CDROM: They have arrived and all back orders will be filled and shipped today.

JUNE 9, 1999 - TOPO CDROM: They are enroute and will be here later this week or early next week.

JUNE 9, 1999 - METROGUIDE CDROM: Availability is late July/99!! This single CDROM contains the roads for all the United States and works with both the mono StreetPilot (you will need a PC Interface Cable for uploading info into the unit) and the ColorMap (comes with a PC Int. cable). It provides the same street level detail as the original MetroGuide cartridges and allows you to 'pilot' and navigate your way to your destination. List pricing is as follows, but you can get our prices via instant price quote by email.

MetroGuide CDROM only: $149.99US (you will need your own MetroGuide cartridge)
MetroGuide CDROM with an 8MB (MEDIUM) cartridge: $199.99US
MetroGuide CDROM with an 16MB (LARGE) cartridge: $279.99US
8 MB (MEDIUM) Cartridge: $99.99US
16 MB (LARGE) Cartridge: $149.99US

The SP's use a MetroGuide as their data memory storage for the mapping data. If you already have a MetroGuide, you will just need the CDROM. Any mapping data you upload will overwrite the existing map data in the cartridge. If you want to restore the original data in the cartridge at any time, just reload its specific map data back into it. If you do not currently have a MetroGuide, then you will need to get a cartridge (8MB or 16MB) with your MetroGuide CDROM.

MAY 20, 1999 - Garmin has extended the release date of the new MapSource Topo CDROM until mid June/99. Also, you can now get an instant price quote by email on our top-selling Garmin StreetPilots, MapSource CDROMS, and MetroGuide cartridges.

MAY 3, 1999 - Coincident with the end of the Garmin rebate program, Garmin announces new, lower prices on a number of the units which had the rebate program in place. The new prices are shown in appropriate places on our website, including our main page at www.gpscity.com. The new TOPO CDROM is expected here in one to two weeks time.

March 30, 1999:
Garmin announces the MapSource US TOPO CDROM to be available in May/99. Click here for the most recent info from Garmin on this product.

March 16, 1999:
Garmin announces extension of rebate program on selected models. Program ends May 3, 1999 and requests must be postmarked by May 31, 1999.

March 8, 1999:
Should have lots of 12CX's here today or tomorrow. Sold out of 3+'s over the weekend and expect to be back in stock week of March 22.

March 4, 1999:
MapSource CDROMS (both US Roads and WORLD) now in stock in limited quantities.

March 2, 1999:
ColorMaps back in stock. The MapSource World CDROM has arrived in limited quantities and we will be filling backorders first. More should be coming in day-to-day, so we can fill all our backorders. US Roads and Rec CDROM - same story - day-to-day. And those 12CX's - Garmin says they will begin shipping later this week. We expect to begin filling backorders for the 12CX early next week.

February 26, 1999:
More StreetPilot ColorMaps arrived, but sold out almost instantly. Expect more here about March 4/99.

February 23, 1999:
Heads up!! List price of basic StreetPilot (black & white model) will drop on March 1st to $499.95 from earlier $549.95.

February 19, 1999:
First batch of StreetPilot ColorMap's has arrived, but only enough to fill some of our backorders. We expect more to arrive February 24 or so, according to Garmin.

February 17, 1999:
Update on availability of new Garmin products as follows: 12CX early March, MapSource World CDROM end of February, ColorMap now shipping (we expect our first shipment here Friday/19 or Monday/22, US Roads and Rec CDROM, Feb19 or 22.

February 3, 1999:
Update on availability of new Garmin products as follows (don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!): First shipments of the 12CX are pushed off another month until early March, MapSource World CDROM for the 3+ pushed off until late February/early March. ColorMap still scheduled for mid to late February. We have updated the order status to reflect these new delivery dates.

Note to pending orders for a 3+ that also requested the World CDROM: for those of you with a 3+ on order waiting for the World CDROM, please email us (sales@gpscity) to advise us if you would like us to cancel the CDROM and ship the rest of your order, otherwise we will keep your order pending until they arrive.

January 27, 1999:
GPS City announces the availability of Instructional Videotapes to assist you with your specific Garmin GPS receiver or for information on using GPS in general (hiking, hunting, fishing, mapping). These are professionally produced videos with a wealth of information that would be of benefit to any GPS user. We expect them here February 1/99.

January 26, 1999:
The III Plus' have arrived. Plenty of 'em. And we have received the MapSource CDROM for the US as well. The MapSource World Map will be here in about one week, according to Garmin.

January 22, 1999:
The III Plus' will be here January 26, enough to fill all our backorders plus lots more. Also arriving at the same time is the CDROM for the US, but the CDROM for the World is still not yet available - probably another 1 to 2 weeks.

January 20, 1999:
GPS City announces the availability of the new Garmin StreetPilot ColorMap available at the end of February/99. This unit has received rave reviews at all the GPS shows and there is a reason why - the color display is awesome!! We have terrific pricing on this unit, but you must call us to get it!! We cannot upgrade or exchange the standard StreetPilot's for the color version, but we will offer pricing for the new color version at cost + 5% for customers who have purchased a standard SP from us within the last 30 days and want to upgrade to the new color version.

January 18, 1999:
Garmin today said that the III+'s would probably ship later this week of January 18/99. As to the question of whether or not there is both an AMERICAS version and an INTERNATIONAL version, here is what Garmin tech support says:
"Currently, we are only shipping the Americas version (010-00185-00) of the GPS III Plus. The international version will not be available for about another 6-9 months and will only be available for international Garmin dealers."

January 18, 1999:
This just in! Garmin extends its factory direct rebate program to include: $100 rebate on purchases of the GPS MAP 175, and $25 rebate on purchases of both the GPS MAP 180 and GPS MAP 185 (with or without transducer), for units purchased January 15, 1999 to March 31, 1999. US and Canada only.

January 4, 1999:
Garmin announces a customer direct factory rebate of $50 on purchases of the GPS 12XL for units purchased January 1, 1999 to March 31, 1999. US and Canada only.

January 1, 1999:
Garmin announces 2 new GPS receivers: the GPS 12CX, available first week of February, (according to Garmin as of Jan11/99) and the GPS IIIPlus, available last week of January, (according to Garmin as of Jan11/99).

December 2, 1998 - GPS III Status:
As we bear down on the last few weeks of the year, it seems there will continue to be somewhat of a shortage of the GPS III units. Garmin has not been producing enough to meet the demand of recent weeks. We have lots on order, but Garmin is handing them out a few at a time. We do expect the bulk of our III's to arrive over the next 2 weeks. If you can't find immediate satisfaction somewhere else, then place an order here and you will be in the queue for one when they arrive.