Nat Geo Topo! AZ

[cactusrose63]

I did a search of Topo topics and don't see a review for very recent software. I have a Mac 10.6.8 and Garmin Summit HC Etrex. What is the most recent version of the Nat Geo Topo! AZ software, and is it compatible with my Mac? I know it may say that it is, but you know how that goes...is it user friendly? Etc, etc, etc. Will I need to get updates from the Nat Geo website? Is the website support easy to use?

Is the resolution good on zoom for printing? Don't want to need a magnifying glass for anything I want to print out. So I guess I am saying that the compatibility with the Garmin is optional as long as I can enter my own waypoints from the Topo information. Thanks for any recommendations you can give me.

[big_load]

I can't say whether it's Mac-compatible, but it won't load maps onto your GPS, only waypoints and tracks. The print resolution is as good as anything else I've seen, but it helps to have access to a large-format printer so you can get big sheets. The user interface is not great, but it gets the job done. That's a lot of "buts", but I do like it well enough.

[JimmyLyding]

I use NatGeo here in California, and it seems to work fine. I've never printed any routes that I've done, and have only used the software to plot my routes onto the NatGeo maps. That works great. I am a PC user, BTW. Preston the Yeti and fritzki have uploaded maps to this site from earlier versions of NatGeo than I have that I've used and found to be quite helpful. It seems better after-the-fact, but, again, I've never used NatGeo to upload plotted waypoints from my PC to my handheld Garmon Oregon 400t.
I agree with big_load that the user interface isn't very good, and takes some getting used to. The "manual" basically stinks because it assumes users are dummies who want to do a little bit of everything without providing much help for users who want to use the software for doing relatively few things very well.
The biggest problem isn't the software itself, but rather the fact that it bases a lot of its maps on old USGS information. A lot of USGS maps go back decades, and that's not the software's fault.

[hippiepunkpirate]

The MapDEX here on HikeArizona (Click the link in the upper left corner of this page or the main page) uses the same USGS Topos as the Nat Geo software if you choose the "MyTopo" map overlay. And we have a really cool feature called "Route Manager" built into the MapDEX that lets you upload tracks from your GPS, or create your own routes and download them onto your GPS. I'd save the money and use the free features here on HAZ, which I have found to basically do the same thing as the Nat Geo software.

[Nighthiker]

Tried using them at work, much prefer my USGS originals. I just make a couple of copies plan my route and leave a copy in case I am over due.

[azdesertfather]

I wouldn't buy Topo if you are a Mac user, HAZ has pretty much everything that is needed and Topo is probably not going to be made fully compatible with the current Mac OS, Lion 10.7. http://support.topo.com/articles/163

Lion doesn't completely break Topo, but there are glitches...and if they won't update to Lion, that probably means they are done with the Mac??

[cactusrose63]

Wow this is great stuff, thanks all for your help! I am all about saving $$$$$$$$$$$ and I will check out the topo map overlays here on HikeAZ. I am really not that tech savvy and may have further questions on downloading gps coordinates and tracks, etc, so you may see me on another forum asking more ????????. Thanks again everyone!!! :worthy:

[chumley]

I have Topo! for the Mac and consider myself to be very tech savvy. And I also consider Topo! to be the least user-friendly, intuitive, pain-in-the-@$$ software I ever use. And I still use it because it is better than most other options that I've tried.

As other users have advised, the HAZ mapping functions work very well.

If you want to upload actual maps to your eTrex, Garmin makes apps called MapInstall and MapManager that allow you to upload maps to your GPS. The maps can be found here on HAZ, but your GPS doesn't have enough memory to put the whole state of AZ on at one time, so you will have to select segments that you are in need of. (I keep the Sups, Mazzys, and Mogollon Rim area on mine all the time, but sometimes I have to delete those to load something else if I am traveling elsewhere)

[cactusrose63]

Thanks Chumley for your input. Since you are very tech savvy and I am not--beware, you may become my new bestest friend that I need to pester!

[chumley]

Happy to help whenever I can! : rein :

[Sredfield]

This doesn't really go in this thread but this is the closest match I could find quickly.

USGS now has historical topo maps on line:
http://nationalmap.gov/historical/
Great to see how things used to be.

[mazatzal]

how things used to be

I have a couple hundred of these!
Where was mapdex and Route MGR back in the day?
Times They Are a-Changin

[chumley]

So since I just realized that National Geographic Topo! has been discontinued and is no longer for sale (and won't be supported at all in another month) I thought I'd throw out this query to the HAZ community. I'm looking for the CD for the state series for Colorado. Anybody?