haydude
Well-Known Member
Would you expect your multifunction display software to be upgradable with new features or to support new or changed standards (even for a fee)?
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Do you expect your multifunction display software to be upgradeable?
- Thread starter haydude
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RestlessL
Well-Known Member
Upgrades to the Garmin GMI10 can be downloaded for free. The only problem is to need to connect it to Garmin NMEA2000 chart plotter to perform the upgrade.
J
J
Ricd
Well-Known Member
Would you expect your multifunction display software to be upgradable with new features or to support new or changed standards (even for a fee)?
The devil is in the question...or the two/three questions
yes - expect software updates to be available to keep the system current and eliminate bugs.
no - I would not expect an older system necessarily to support all new or emerging standards - just as I would not expect a computer originally built for DOS or even Windows 2000 to support Vista or Windows 7- but I would still expect it to run its original software and for that software to be supported for about 6 years.
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
no - I would not expect an older system necessarily to support all new or emerging standards - just as I would not expect a computer originally built for DOS or even Windows 2000 to support Vista or Windows 7- but I would still expect it to run its original software and for that software to be supported for about 6 years.
I bought my Garmin GMI10 nearly 2 years ago. At that time the range of transducer's offered by Gramin was very limited. Since then they have introduced a wind instrument.
The wind functionality on my GM10 is very basic, but has been enhanced significantly sice then to support the new wind instrument. I would be a bit hacked off if I were to buy a Garmin wind instrument and then be told the software in my early GMI10 could not be enhanced to add new or enhanced functionality.
As it is, you can download the latest software from the Garmin site, (but you need a Garmin NMEA2000 compliant chatyplotter to apply the upgrade)
J
gianenrico
Well-Known Member
Yep!
As a matter of fact I did it, as to support the Navionics larger format charts I hade to download Raymarine SW on a memory card and then update the Chartplotter.
Funny thing I did it via a GPRS mobile connection to my eeePC; it all worked at the first try.
As a matter of fact I did it, as to support the Navionics larger format charts I hade to download Raymarine SW on a memory card and then update the Chartplotter.
Funny thing I did it via a GPRS mobile connection to my eeePC; it all worked at the first try.
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Anybody building a new piece of consumer electronics with an expected lifespan of more than a couple of years would be foolhardy to produce anything using one time mask programmable components. Especially if the device could be used ( rightly or wrongly ) in the pursuit of navigation.
Significantly sophisticated devices have layers of software functionality. Things like the display drivers, the IO system, the mathematics engines etc. Not all of which are in the branding companies ownership. ( ie Raymarine using an embedded microsoft windows version on its multifunction displays ) With tens of thousands of man hours invested in developing the component software parts expecting to have it completely bug free is a non-starter. ( Think Toyota accelerators ). In addition reprogramability allows you to keep up with the times, freshen a product and introduce new innovations or features.
The cost saved in using mask programmed devices is not worth the potential risk to the company should a major bug be found. In car terms, you must buy a new car because the accelerator pedal sticks!
In the past couple of months 2 major microprocessor chip manufacturers have announced devices with WiFi capability built into their CPU chips. The potential for this is enormous. We are all rapidly moving towards wireless networks at home. It wont be long before your new dishwasher automatically connects to your home wifi network and once or twice in its lifetime automatically uploads a new washing program.
More scary is that once that happens your home appliances will be at the power companies bidding to turn on, off or be disabled to suit their demand cycles or your ability to pay the bills.
As a consumer I will not buy these type of goods unless they are reprogrammable.I see it as a direct reflection on the parent company's commitment to the future of a product line.
Significantly sophisticated devices have layers of software functionality. Things like the display drivers, the IO system, the mathematics engines etc. Not all of which are in the branding companies ownership. ( ie Raymarine using an embedded microsoft windows version on its multifunction displays ) With tens of thousands of man hours invested in developing the component software parts expecting to have it completely bug free is a non-starter. ( Think Toyota accelerators ). In addition reprogramability allows you to keep up with the times, freshen a product and introduce new innovations or features.
The cost saved in using mask programmed devices is not worth the potential risk to the company should a major bug be found. In car terms, you must buy a new car because the accelerator pedal sticks!
In the past couple of months 2 major microprocessor chip manufacturers have announced devices with WiFi capability built into their CPU chips. The potential for this is enormous. We are all rapidly moving towards wireless networks at home. It wont be long before your new dishwasher automatically connects to your home wifi network and once or twice in its lifetime automatically uploads a new washing program.
More scary is that once that happens your home appliances will be at the power companies bidding to turn on, off or be disabled to suit their demand cycles or your ability to pay the bills.
As a consumer I will not buy these type of goods unless they are reprogrammable.I see it as a direct reflection on the parent company's commitment to the future of a product line.
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