Memory-Map Adventurer 2800 GPS Including Full GB Maps

There is no doubt about it but for value for money this GPS really does destroy the competitors; it comes with full GB National Parks 1:50, some extra Digital Map download (that did never actually work for me by the way!), and Memory Map software. I have used Memory Map for about three years now after transferring from Anquet after what I thought was Anquet's disastrous upgrade. I've now used the device for about eight months in all types of weather and it holds really well. The key here is that it really is "value for money" you cannot get the same at this price but there are certainly better GPS devices but you do pay the substantial difference in money i.e. the Satmap Plus 10 is a far superior device but the cost is about £150 extra with maps etc.

So, what do you need to know about this device that might cause a problem?

- The OS is Windows based and very clunky to use - if not impossible on the mountain unless you have a magnifying glass and perfect conditions!
- The route mapping really does slow down the response time of the GPS and it becomes painful to use
- The battery life is suppose to be 10 hours but is far less if you use route mapping. I used it yesterday without the route mapping mode and the battery only survived 7 hours*
- It does not integrate with Memory Map desk software as easy as it should do when made by the same vendor. You need to manually move files around when any software expert will tell you that it should be user friendly and auto-menu driven - it is not bad but just a lazy approach from the vendor who obviously didn't want to spend money upgrading the desktop software

*You can buy an additional battery pack but a GPS with a battery life of less than 10 hours is no good to man or beast!

Overall - for basic hillwalking and general playing this is great but I bought it for an emergency backup in the depths of a scottish winter or in the Alps and I have serious doubts over its capability to provide such a role.

I'm still trying to get the hang of the Adventurer 2800 but overall I'm impressed with its capabilities. What does need some sorting out is the placing of the lanyard on the device and some more meaningful menus.
Firstly, when the lanyard is attached and hung around the neck, it's unreadable. Surely the lanyard connection should be at the bottom of the device, not at the top.
Secondly, it's taken me ages to actually get some idea of what to do. The instructions in the box were of no use to me and I had to download the manual and print it out.
There are some general things a user would want to do.
1. Tell me where I am. That is done my tapping on a padlock to "lock" your position. What was the designer taking from his drug dealer when he designed that?
2. Record where I have been. That seems to be done automatically as soon as the system is "locked". Again, not obvious.
3. Show me how far I've walked and other positional data. Here you have to go to a secondary menu, tap on Settings, GPS, Position. Why would such a popular option be hidden so far down the menu structure?
But, as I have said, it is a good piece of kit only let down by its implementation.

What can I say, full map of the UK installed, reasonable price for what it is AND you can see where you are without having to consult your paper map. It also survived a three hour Borrowdale Valley downpour. Full marks all round.