Garmin 5xxx, more thoughts
Garmin has put up more press images of the 5xxx series, and this one shows some of the neat 3D abilities I saw demoed in Miami. These machines, and I’d guess at least the 4xxx series too, can overlay radar imagery onto this “mariner’s eye” topside view, and fishfinder imagery onto the separate “fish eye” 3D view. And I don’t mean ARPA targets and fish icons, though they can be useful too. There’s a handsome engine screen too (if you have a NMEA 2000 talking engine, or can use Maretron’s conversion box). The demo units were very much prototypes so I have no idea how fast and smooth they’ll be in real life (actually I’m not even positive which 3D view that is), but they certainly seemed bright, especially for touch screen. I’ve also learned that these 5000 series machines can support a wireless mouse and remote control (4000 series too), which may mollify those folks worried that the touch screen will be hard to work in bouncy conditions. (And I tried faking the Harmony remote into “learning” one of these remotes, which I’m pretty sure it can do). But all this is really just glimpses of Garmin’s new high end; time, and some testing I look forward to, will tell.
That is pretty cool! I have one small complaint with the engine instruments, I hope that Garmin is listening. I think they should put the common engine instruments next to each other. For example port oil pressure and starboard oil pressure should be next to each other. Port volt and starboard volt should be next to each other. etc, etc. Some people prefer my way, some people prefer how it is on that screen shot. Garmin should make it configurable to both ways. One more thing, they have an opportunity here to make a fundamental change with way they display engine intruments. As we see aviation move from steam gauges to glass cockpit primary flight displays, the designers present the information in a completely new way. The designers could have simply shown steam gauges on the PFD LCD, but someone, somewhere figured out there is a better way to display the information. So that the pilot has a significant increase in situational awareness. I hope that Garmin and the rest of the manufacturers are also considering other ways to display the information. Other then simply showing a conventional gauge on an LCD. Don't get me wrong, it does look REALLY cool the way it is, but there is an opportunity here to re-define how to display the information. This is a very small gripe about what appears to be a really great product!!