geomate.jr's websiteInfo at geocaching.comFrom what I have read in various articles, here are the pros & cons.
Pros:- You can get out and caching for about $70.
- Very simple display and just 2 buttons doesn't complicate things for the kids. In addition to the distance from the cache and directional arrow, the display shows you the cache difficulty, terrain, and size.
Cons:- You are stuck with the 250,000 preloaded caches unless you buy an "update kit". Since you can't add caches on the fly, this means you couldn't do any puzzle/mystery caches or multis! Updated coords on a cache? Forget about it.
- No magnetic/internal compass, so it will only know what direction you're facing if you're on the move. A magnetic internal compass is one of the things I would want my kids to have because it simplifies everything so much. You can stop, pause, and get your bearings (literally).
I guess this is just too simple a device for my preference. If it had a simple USB connection where I could update the caches to my liking, I wouldn't mind giving to one of my kids while I carried around my eTrex. I have a feeling that once you buy the unit and add on the update kit, you'll be in the price range of a refurbished adult unit. Until I can find a simple way to do that, this will not be on my Christmas list.
What do you all think of this new device for kids?
