PCM430 GPS software update

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Dieselboss, Jun 8, 2009.

  1. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    Heads to owners of this unit.

    ALK is releasing new maps, fixes, and features to the PC Miler 430 in July. They are going to do this annually from all indications and it will have an associated cost. HOWEVER, if you are a registered user, they are declaring that you will get updates at half-price if you do so in the first 30 days of the update release. You MUST register BEFORE July 1st to qualify so, if you have not already done so, then go to their site, click on "support" and then on "register my CoPilot" to get to the page to register.

    If you have not registered yours, then they won't have an email address to send the notifications to. If you are a Dieselboss customer I will be sending you instructions so don't worry.

    However, I would hate to see all of you who got them in truck stops miss out on the discounts so I thought I post up here to let everyone know. Once you register they will supposedly send you an email with instructions any time an update is released.

    Regards,

    - Don
     
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  3. Captain Canuck

    Captain Canuck "Captain of the Ship"

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    I realize you have no control over this, Dieselboss, but paying a company to fix its somewhat hinky product (I don't have one, just what I heard) sounds like a pretty crappy way of doing business. That being said, I have ALK's Copilot Truck Laptop 9 and LOVE it.
     
  4. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    Hello Captain. You are right that I have no control over pricing. But with that being said I need to clarify that the update is the normal annual update that comes out on the unit and is primarily to add new map and truck attribute data. There are feature enhancements based on user feedback as well that will make this unit more user friendly and easier to search for weigh stations on your route and so forth. It's not entirely fair to state that it is to "fix" a broken product. However, there will be "fixes" included (like the false alarms that warn of trucking restrictions in Illinois for instance.)

    As this product just came out in January, having a software upgrade in July is actually fairly rapid response when it comes to the "software world." Garmin and the other major GPS makers also typically charge upwards of $50 - $150 per annual update depending on which unit you have and which maps you buy from them as well, so ALK is not going out on some tangent either to recover the normal software development costs.

    Finally, I agree with you entirely about CoPilot Truck 9. That was definitely the most feature-rich program they have made to date for trucks. I would have been happy if they could have just put new maps into that program instead of re-doing it entirely but with Windows Vista becoming the most common operating system being sold on new laptops, they had to re-write the laptop truck program entirely from the bottom-up. We will be testing the upcoming release of the new laptop truck product in the fall and I have high hopes and expectations that it will add back in the most-requested features from version 9. That version will also be compatible with 64-bit Windows and with the new Windows 7 operation systems.

    Thanks much for the comment.

    - Don from Dieselboss
     
  5. SilverShadow

    SilverShadow Light Load Member

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    any more news on the update release date?
     
  6. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    When I spoke to them last week, they said that the emails will start going out this week to registered users. This is why I HIGHLY recommend going to their site and registering those PCM430's at the following link - http://www.alk.com/register/default.asp

    The policy (as communicated to us) is that if someone bought one after June 14th then the update is free. If they did not and are registered then it is $99. If they are not registered or do not choose the $99 upgrade offer during the next 2 months or so, then it goes to $149.

    So we should be looking to see that email from them very soon "officially."
     
  7. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    Total ripoff in my opinion.
     
  8. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    I agree with you in the sense that it has only been out for half the year before this update and they are charging the same annual price for it. I could even see it being like $49.95 or something. All of the GPS makers charge for updates periodically to recover the engineering costs of producing those updates - so that is not unusual. I would just hate to be someone who bought one in May or something and then find out that it's another $99 if they want the new maps.
     
  9. onelikeseabass

    onelikeseabass Light Load Member

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    It's still less than the Garmin device, even with the cost of the update.
     
  10. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    Update as of 30 seconds ago:

    Release date is now July 22nd.
     
  11. SilverShadow

    SilverShadow Light Load Member

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    Thank You Sir!!! :biggrin_25525:
     
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