Researching the modern, light weight machines. Why

[Dancer]

When reading the information, watching the videos, reading the posts. Just when I think a machine covers my needs the closest, comes the deal breaker.
Computer generated updates. On a machine costing say between $500 to well over a grand, got to live in fear I might miss a update. Then to make it worse (for me) some arnt happy with the update , try to erase it, go back and now everything's messed up. I'm guessing this might be rare, but why a very capable machine has to be fooled with anyway is beyond me. So I'm asking, What if the updates are ignored? Why are they needed? Hope this is the right forum for this question . Maybe a comparison.

 

[Confetrit]

I know what you mean Dancer. I have been going back and forth for quite sometime now. I have been wanting to try a Minelab with the Multi Frequency. I looked real hard at the new Equinox but I felt it was just not a good fit for me personally. I'm in no way bashing the Equinox. I wanted a MD that did not require updates and one that did not have an internal battery. Again, this is just me. I finally decided on the Minelab Safari, and got a great deal on a nice used Safari from Richard at Backwoods Detectors. You have to weigh in on all options and factors when selecting an MD that best suits your needs. Best of luck to you in your search.

 

[dfmike]

The updates are not usually mandatory. If the detector has been road tested enough, they should not be mandatory or needed. Alas some machines come out too fast from the factory and have glitches that go unseen initially. As a general rule the manufacturers clearly state what an update does to the machine. It's up to the user to decide if it is worth messing with.

 

[Flintstone]

I have the XP Deus, and upgraded to 4.1 just to used the 9" HF coil. I have no need to go to 5.1, I am happy with the 4.1, You don',t need to change if you don't want to. It is just nice to know you can if you want to try something diffront. Good luck with you want.

 

[therover]

Software glitches are probably something you would want to correct and apply the update.

Functionality updates are more user preference. Sometimes we go by the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality and I agree with that most of the time.

A poster wrote about the Deus updates. If one did not want to use the newer HF coils and are happy with say, version 3.2 and using the LF coils and it suites their needs, then there would be no need to update.

If there was a roll out and the company found out the software was ID'ing rusty shallow iron as a silver coin, then without a doubt, a software update would need to be rolled out and applied.

If there was an update where 10 new canned programs were made available, additional colors, new menu options,but nothing to do with increased performance, then a lot of hunters would blow that off.

 

[Druid]

Well Dancer,
having ability to update at home isn't all bad, here is one thing to consider in favor of having a USB update ability.
I just had to ship a very good machine, but one without the ability to download updates., over seas for its update to Version2.0.
I sent it to England for a dealer installed update, (great dealer by the way!), and brother you don't want to know what that cost.
Let's just say you could buy a good used mid-range detector for about the same price.
Cheers,
Drew.

 

[Dancer]

Thanks all you guys for relating your experiences and thoughts. I've got a trusty all terrain machine that has done me well, with little down time threw the years. But the ole boy at 3.5 plus lbs. is starting to work on my wrist & shoulders. Couple machines I've looked at around at 3 lbs to a little less just seem a little too involved . It's like their telling you it's got great technology, but it's going to need radical cosmetic tune ups in the future. Guess I've been left behind in my ways. So as a backup to my belt mounted pulse induction the best solution to my problem is a . Vlf Unit that has the controls in the head phones. Of course it's lacking a couple things but it just might keep this sport enjoyable longer for me. Gonna keep ole trusty but just semi retire him.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

Software runs the modern detectors. Why would you not want an update if the manufacturer found a way to improve the software that runs the machine. It would be to your benefit if it improved the capability of the machine. What if there was a fault in the software that was found two years after it was originally written would you not want the capability of having that software corrected.

Do you have and use a computer. Is it not updated from time to time by the manufacturer? I see updates frequently for my computer. Do you have a modern smart phone and is it not updated from time to time.


The ability to update modern software is a benefit to the consumer. I am surprised that we are not charged for the updates.

 

[mrwilburino]

The ability to update modern software is a benefit to the consumer. I am surprised that we are not charged for the updates.

XP was originally planning on doing that. Some time after version 3.0 was announced, Alain Loubet stated that it would be the last free update. Instead they decided to tie the updates in with new products (coils, pinpointers, etc.) and not charge for them. Probably made more money that way.

Would be interesting to see just what could be accomplished through software alone. Would it be possible to offer a basic machine, then allow the user to purchase and download the features that they want? Of course different coils would likely be needed depending on the type of hunting you plan on doing. I always suspected that XP was headed in that direction, but stopped just short of doing that.

 

[Philber]

Personal preference on whether you need an update or not. If its fixing a known glitch, then probably a good idea to download it. If its just to minorly change something that doesn't affect your way of hunting, there's no need to bother. Just because they offer it, doesn't mean you have to take it. The ability to update software and "improve" a machine is the latest way of marketing a machine. "Hey, its always updatable with new improvements, so you'll always have the latest, best machine there ever is!!" While they can be useful, and offer improvements to the original set up, it doesn't lessen the fact that the machine as originally sold was a very capable detector as is. So do you really need to download the latest update every time? The E-trac has been out for over a decade; there's no way to update it, but it's still a kick butt machine that stacks up well against any machine out there.

Don't let a machine's updatability or non-updatability stop you from getting a machine. Get what fits your needs now, and if there is an update, choose at that point whether or not to update it. I would say though, that it may be a good idea to hold off on updating it until many others have done the update and see whether or not they had any problems with the update. If the "problem" its fixing isn't crippling your machine, let someone else be the guinea pig until you know better!

 

[Crew Chief]

Bells, whistles, flashing lights, lions and tigers oh my! Today's technology is tomorrow's rotary phone. But they both made and received calls. Having the ability to update modern technology can be a good thing. Imagine your smart phone if you could never update it. I to get overwhelmed from time to time, but that's why bourbon was invented, I take a shot or two smile and keep listening for high tones.

 

[Dancer]

Hears one everybody has heard. "Took my new machine to a worked out park, and found a Merk dime" ! Or something. Not so much do you hear. "I followed my new machine with a older one, and found coins the new one missed." But it happens all t time. I believe in most of these hunts, its the Hunter that missed the coin. Not the machine.