If you also get the MapSource update, the "Save to" dialog has changed, and you must pick the USB card programmer from the FILE|SAVE TO menu, or from the dropdown next to the icon. The tab dialog shown in the documentation is gone.
The updates can be found at http://www.garmin.com/support/download.jsp
Other than the software installation problems on XP, the unit is GREAT. In fact two friends who have seen it are going to buy it, and another is thinking about it.
Now, I can once again carry a passenger in the front seat, and leave my laptop in its case.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the price
Review: I purchased this product from Amazon.com in May 2003 for $700. The maps were outdated and in September Garmin offered new maps for $150. For such an expensive unit, map updates should be free.
Then the unit stopped working when disconnected from the car battery. I had to send it for repairs at my expense. There was a loose screw.
The upgraded firmware has new auto route algorithm which tries to take you back to the old route if you miss a turn. It makes three attempts before doing a full recalculation. I don't like this feature. Maybe I took a detour because of an accident or road closure. It should recalculate a new route instead of trying to take me back.
I used it for several months to "guide" me from work to home in the evening. I found that suddenly, without any reason, one night, it changed the directions. Now it tries to take me back through a slower route.
One night, it asked me to take an exit where none existed. Maybe it was raining heavily and it malfunctioned. Pretty dangerous...
Rating: 
Summary: Street Pilot III is good but a few things could be improved
Review: I was very skeptical of this unit for several months before I bought it. My worst fear was the mapping software. I had read several reviews in various places about the software being badly outdated and complicated to set up.
After receiving my unit I started setting up the area that I wanted to use it in. It took two tries before I was able to get it to work but finally got it and it works.
I still don't know just how current it is since I haven't come across addresses in new construction areas yet.
I still don't know why they did not use a standard memory data card such as a memory stick so that it could be checked to see what it contained. It appears that if you want to add more areas you must put all new information on it since it seems to wipe out all existing software from the card before putting the new on it.
The unit itself was great! If you made a wrong turn it goes back and finds where you are and then takes you to your destination from there.
The volume control was sufficient for me to hear it as I am hearing challenged made worse by the sound of the vehicle in motion. I am thinking of trying to add a single ear device to help me in this area.
I am still not sure what version of the software I got with the unit or what the latest version is.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good box, Stale Maps
Review: The Garmin StreetPilot III Deluxe Package provides you with the basics of a computerized navigation system. We use it in our family van. Our van has the necessary dashboard space for placing/mounting the unit. There is not enough space to place the unit in another car of ours, without it being in the way!
The unit itself is reasonably well built and easy to use. The processor could be faster and it would have been good if it operated in multiple modes, a fast mode when powered from the car's 12V system and a power saving mode when running off the AA batteries.
Our real beef with this unit is that the supplied mapping data is inaccurate and very much out of date. Upon purchasing the unit in August of 2003 we were immediately offered the privilege of purchasing a map software update for $150.00. The maps provided with the MapSource 5.3 application are more than 4 years out of date and in many cases large areas of new development are simply devoid of any features. They should ship current maps with the unit!
Additionally there are numerous errors in the cartography. In fact the system does not know that one is allowed to turn right onto my street Every time I approach my home from the north, the StreetPilot III routes me past my street, to the left, around in a circle, back onto the street I came on going the opposite direction and then turning left onto my street at the signal that has been there for over 10 years (I just turn right of course). There is no excuse to this careless approach to data validation!
For over $600 this hardware/software combination should work much better.
Rating:
Summary: Mac users can now use this GPS
Review: Previous comments lamented the lack of Mac software to download maps to the Street Pilot. There is now a Mac software solution called GPSy <http://www.gpsy.com/features.html> that works with this GPS and many other types.
Excellent GPS with advanced features; only 4 stars for 1) moderately complex interface and nonintuative destination programming, and 2) making Mac users pay for an extra map-download program on a $600 product.
Rating: 
Summary: Gotta have it!
Review: I originally purchased a hand held gps by Magellan several years ago. After using it for several years, I was ready to jump up to the newest Garmin Street Pilot III GPS. I am so happy I did. We planned a weekend mini-vacation and did not leave until late. We arrived at our destination late, but hungry for a late night meal...so we looked up locations to eat in the nearby area. The database provides the phone number and address and we located a Wendy's that was open late and drove right to it using the map-to-it feature. I'm pretty bad with directions and with this GPS, I have yet to get lost again or have to stop and ask for directions. :-) It speaks the directions to me as I drive them and tells me within a reasonable distance to make the next turn. If I miss the turn, or there is construction, simply drive past the intended turn and this jewel will recalculate and map you to the next available turn to get you back on track.
Rating:
Summary: Can't see the screen
Review: Just recieved this unit as a gift and had it up and running in no time. Excellent features, easy to use, though WAAS enabled would be nice. Just one problem: I can't see the screen at all in bright light. Maybe I'm doing something wrong and need to adjust the screen brightness, etc?
Rating:
Summary: If you travel from client to client and fly a lot buy this
Review: I'm a road warrior. I drive 60,000 miles per year without any embellishment. Often, I am renting cars and was purchasing the 'Neverlost' option from Hertz. It got to be old paying for that little device when in new territory again and again.
In my home territory, I'm often driving to new places, and again getting lost and being late was a problem. Being late costs you sales when visting a potential client. It is simply not a way to start off a new relationship.
I got one of these as a gift. And what a wonderful gift. I've only been lost once since, and that was because of too many turns too quickly for me to follow the device. Door to door routing works really well, better than the Magellan Unit in the Hertz cars.
There are two caveats:
The USB did not work with my computer for downloads. I have a modern computer that ALL other USB devices I have work well. I have stuff like video cameras, scanners, Pocket PCs etc. This meant I had to use the serial cable to transfer map data. 128Mb of map data takes several hours to transfer.
The other is that the included speaker/car plug had the metallic end pull of the plastic part, and now I can't plug it back into the cigarette lighter. Luckily all my cables from my GPS pilot III (aviation model) fit and work fine, so I still plug it in while in the car.
The user interface is simply not as daunting as I've seen others write to justify this units successor. It works slowly, but very well and is simple to understand and work with.
I use this thing constantly to route me from place to place. One final thing. The Detour Function has saved me more than once when returning a rental car to an airport. I'm on the highway headed back. There's a backup. I hit detour, tell it how far I want to detour around the current route, and in about 1 minute I have an alternate route on surface streets. VERY COOL.
