Outdated? No not at all. Could there be improvements? well it depends on what you want. Here is how I see it. Every post seems to lean toward the perfect metal detector. The one that can do it all. Well, It is not out there. Because if it was then all the other various models would stop selling. I myself just yesterday purchased a Golden Umax brand new. I wanted to get the Vaquero but could not grasp the one tone concept. If the Vaquero had multi-tones I would have purchased it. But even in that configuration the Vaquero would not be the "perfect" detector. But it would have been what I was looking for. In the end i feel you purchase a detector for the hobby. If you do a little research and know what kind of hunting you will most likely be doing (relic, coin, water, etc.) then you can make an educated purchase. But no one will ever be able to tell you which detector is the "perfect" metal detector for you. Like the song lyrics state "love the one your with". Happy hunting.