Topic: Now that HB owns Lakemaster . . .

[kwelklin]

Is there any thoughts on doing more mapping on Canadian lakes?

[sonar2000]

dont know.  Also did HB buy lakemaster or did Johnson outdoors?
Chuck

[Humminbird_Greg]

Johnson Outdoors, Inc. is the parent company that bought LakeMaster, but LakeMaster is in the same division as Humminbird (Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.) is.  Humminbird and LakeMaster are now sister companies.  Not sure if this has anything to do with mapping more lakes in Canada though.

[sonar2000]

Probably nothing will change. These corporate acquisitions are usually for the stockholder...
Thanks for letting us know who is the owner though...
Chuck

[kwelklin]

Thats to bad, sure would be nice if the company kept expanding.  Really to bad if was bought for the benifit of the stockholders!

[George]

Not sure but I believe that since HB's (Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.) ownership they have added Oklahoma/Texas mapping.  I would expect them to add maps and improvements as they go.

I have Navionics® HotMaps® Platinum Multi-Dimensional Lake Maps and recently purchased the new Lakemaster lake maps for Oklahoma/Texas.

I like the Lakemaster over Navionics, it has some unique offset programs that can highlight areas depths showing under water islands etc.

Lake Eufaula (Ok) water depth varies 10 feet annually (it always seems to be moving up and down) Lakemaster allows me to add/subtract water depth making adjustments on the chart, right now it is 3 feet down a few months ago it was 2 feet high.  It shows clearly in red water that is 5 feet or less (I choose 5 feet to alert me).  Also when low the areas out of water show in brown. 

All we can do is wait and see what HB is going to do, this will help to promote HB's units.

George

[Humminbird_Greg]

From my brief history as a Johnson Outdoors, Inc. (JOI) employee; I would say that this corporation does not buy other companies that it does not think it can profit from.  To profit from a company you have to make it grow.  Humminbird is a good example of this.  Even though we had the Si products in the works when we became a part of the JOI family; it took the knowledge and investments of JOI to get us to where we are today.  Unseen to most is the internal investments of personnel, training and a whole lot of expensive equipment.  So I expect to see some big things from not only LakeMaster but also the other companies within JOI.

[sonar2000]

Greg, I sure hope you are right. We need changes in the product and process.

Maybe you should run for CEO of the board..

Chuck

[ITGEEK]

I'll vote for you Greg.

Greg,
It seems to me that with Johnson Outdoors Inc. purchasing Lakemaster that
in the future, the base map in the units could include detailed lakes and river maps.
That way, a separate mapping chip wouldn't need to be purchased.
Maybe there could be an option when purchasing a new unit.
For an additional price, you could have the detailed maps already loaded
onto the hard drive.

It would also be nice if the future units could be built so that the hard-drive
could be easily swapped out and/or the maps easily updated.

Then, when a user sends the unit in, they could not only get the lastest
sofware update, but the latest maps.

You could also have a lifetime map update policy for the users, for a price of course.
Or charge a small fee to update the maps in older units.
You could even include downloadable map upgrades, like the software
upgrades now.  Lowrance ain't got nothing like that.  Know what I'm saying?

Mapping and sonars go hand in hand nowadays with GPS being
so popular.  With the mapping experience being added to
JOI by Lakemaster, the sky is really the limit.

It's ALL GOOD for us fishermen.

By the way, I'm still at 5.5 for my 1197 and I am/have been patiently awaiting any kind of
software upgrade.   I don't care what number it is, as long as it's greater than 5.5

What say you Greg?

[sonar2000]

I certainly hope that HB does not prevent down level loads.
If we load a new release and it has problems (as seen in several of the latest releases) then we
need a way to go back to a working level.
I would not see locking latest code as a good idea...
This would probably hold up people upgrading and missing somne new feature while
waiting to see if the new code is defect free.
Which, by the way, is what HB should strive very very hard to do (ship 0-defect)

Chuck

[Bob B]

From my brief history as a Johnson Outdoors, Inc. (JOI) employee; I would say that this corporation does not buy other companies that it does not think it can profit from.  To profit from a company you have to make it grow.  Humminbird is a good example of this.  Even though we had the Si products in the works when we became a part of the JOI family; it took the knowledge and investments of JOI to get us to where we are today.  Unseen to most is the internal investments of personnel, training and a whole lot of expensive equipment.  So I expect to see some big things from not only LakeMaster but also the other companies within JOI.

My unbiased opinion is that Geg is right on here.
It seems that JOI buys companies with lots of potenial and then they better.  I think we can expect the same from Lakemaster.  Just look at the innovations HB and Minn Kota have brought to the market since they were bought by JOI.

[Humminbird_Greg]

I'll vote for you Greg.

Greg,
It seems to me that with Johnson Outdoors Inc. purchasing Lakemaster that
in the future, the base map in the units could include detailed lakes and river maps.
That way, a separate mapping chip wouldn't need to be purchased.
Maybe there could be an option when purchasing a new unit.
For an additional price, you could have the detailed maps already loaded
onto the hard drive.

It would also be nice if the future units could be built so that the hard-drive
could be easily swapped out and/or the maps easily updated.

Then, when a user sends the unit in, they could not only get the lastest
sofware update, but the latest maps.

You could also have a lifetime map update policy for the users, for a price of course.
Or charge a small fee to update the maps in older units.
You could even include downloadable map upgrades, like the software
upgrades now.  Lowrance ain't got nothing like that.  Know what I'm saying?

Mapping and sonars go hand in hand nowadays with GPS being
so popular.  With the mapping experience being added to
JOI by Lakemaster, the sky is really the limit.

It's ALL GOOD for us fishermen.

By the way, I'm still at 5.5 for my 1197 and I am/have been patiently awaiting any kind of
software upgrade.   I don't care what number it is, as long as it's greater than 5.5

What say you Greg?

ITG,
I’m sure that the mapping possibilities for the units have been thought through.

My $0.02: I certainly would not want to see pre-installed maps as an option.  Either they should all come with the added maps or they should be offered as they are now or possibly as an added-on hard drive for Ethernet units.  The problem with manufacturing units with and without the additional maps is that it complicates things in the manufacturing process which gives the opportunity to make mistakes… which we do not want.

I have heard no ward yet on any software for the 1197c Si units.  Unfortunately this is the end of the fiscal year for us and many are having to use up vacation time (me too!), so this is causing further delays in getting new software approved.

[Humminbird_Greg]

I certainly hope that HB does not prevent down level loads.
If we load a new release and it has problems (as seen in several of the latest releases) then we
need a way to go back to a working level.
I would not see locking latest code as a good idea...
This would probably hold up people upgrading and missing somne new feature while
waiting to see if the new code is defect free.
Which, by the way, is what HB should strive very very hard to do (ship 0-defect)

Chuck

Chuck,
Are you replying to the correct thread?

[sonar2000]

Yes.  it is a side bar to the original posting and I think is appropiate to the thread....
Mapping and code are somewhat dependent on each other.
We have to make sure that both code writers are on the same page and do not create a conflict with levels....
Chuck