The GPS Buzz

Garmin's Oregon series is well liked for many reasons, some of which are the 3" touchscreen, paperless geocaching and long battery life. The newest additions to this line are the Oregon 450 and Oregon 450T, replacements for the Oregon 300 and 400T respectively. The "T" indicates preloaded topographic coverage of the continental US.

While the casing and multitude of functions have remained the same, one key change has been the 3-axis compass. Along with a clearer, sunlight-readable screen and a high speed USB connection for quicker map transfers.

Three-axis, also known as tri-axis, compasses allow the user to gain a directional bearing while holding the GPS receiver at any angle. Traditional compasses found in most other GPS devices require the receiver to be held parallel with the sky.

The Oregon 300  and higher models include helpful features such as: a barometric altimeter (providing accurate altitude using barometric pressure), 3D elevation perspective, and a high sensitivity receiver, giving the user precise positioning in heavy tree coverage or in deep canyons.

For those wishing to have both Canadian and US topographic coverage on the Oregon 450, you can purchase both country's maps on DVD and transfer the required data to a MicroSD card. The Oregon 450T can also accept data cards, allowing the user to add Canadian topographic data at any time.

Estimated availability for this item is January, 2010.