When Garmin introduced the Oregon series in 2008, it was a sensation: the first devices with 100% touchscreen operation! This made GPS accessible to people with certain technical fears. And Garmin has won several awards for the Oregons! With the two new handheld GPS devices Dakota 10 and Dakota 20, the world's leading manufacturer of mobile navigation devices packs the technology into a very compact but robust and waterproof housing. The Dakotas are visually similar to their big Oregon brothers, but they are significantly smaller, lighter and have also been equipped with a brilliant, brighter and even easier to read display.

The two newcomers offer state-of-the-art technology in the smallest of spaces: thanks to the color 2.6-inch touchscreen and the clearly structured, intuitive menu navigation, they are literally child's play to operate. A highly sensitive GPS receiver with HotFix™ technology ensures fast and good satellite reception - even in dense forests or narrow valleys. But a Dakota won't let you down when geocaching after work in the urban jungle. Garmin equips it with a worldwide base map as standard, but the large internal memory of 850 MB offers plenty of space for additional map data. The long battery life of up to 20 hours is also extremely pleasing! Garmin has also equipped the Dakota 20 with an electronic 3-axis compass which, unlike a 2-axis compass, works perfectly even if the device is not held horizontally. There is also a very precise barometric altimeter and the ability to communicate wirelessly with other suitable GPS devices. The Dakota 20 also has a slot for microSD memory cards for additional map material or to expand the memory.

The two handheld GPS devices Garmin Dakota 10 and 20 offer a lot of technology and high user comfort at attractive prices. They are suitable for hikers, mountain climbers, geocachers, bikers, paddlers or cyclists, but can also display nautical charts or are even suitable for road navigation (if appropriate maps are loaded). The devices are available on the market at recommended retail prices of CHF 459 and CHF 579 respectively. The Dakota 20 is also available in a pack with Topo Switzerland for CHF 879.

More facts and functions:

• Suitable for topo maps, BlueChart nautical charts and road routing (if corresponding maps are loaded)
• Internal 850 MB memory for up to 1,000 waypoints, 50 routes, 2,000 geocaches and 200 tracks with 10,000 waypoints each
• Scratch-resistant 2.6" touchscreen display (resolution 160 x 240 pixels)
• USB port for PC connection
• Wireless data transfer from device to device via Garmin ANT® Link
• Operating time up to 20 hours (depending on battery type and intensity of use)
• Device dimensions (H x W x D): 97 x 53 x 33 mm
• Weight (with batteries): 155 grams
• Batteries / rechargeable batteries: 2 x AA
• Additional for Dakota 20: Slot for microSD cards, with 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter, acoustic signals, compatible with ANT+ Sport accessories (heart rate and cadence sensor)

Source: Press release, www.garmin.ch