Customer Reviews
Could be a better product, but... 
2008-10-06
Software is not that great. Had to install an upgrade just to get it to work w/o crashing/hanging up (on Win XP). Even then, it cannot do large maps at one time. thus you have to make several smaller ones which just takes more time. Will occasionallly lock up anyway. Also, appears to require a special card reader to limit # of MMC/SD cards used. Pretty lame attempt to limit people copying maps for others.
The website is not great either for updates, etc. My device has a newer version than available upgrade on the website !
Map Create 7 was relatively easy to use 
2008-07-27
Map Create 7 is easier to use than previous models because everything is on one CD. There was some confusion getting the map border that I chose to the SD card. I think it was user error. You need to save map before you transfer it to the chip. The map detail is not as detailed as my Navionics Hot Maps Premium chip used in a newer gps/depthfinder, but the lowrance LCX15 would not except that chip and called for the one made by Map Create.
Card Reader has issues 
2008-06-22
I purchased version 7 after buying a Lowrance 540c. I've had nothing but problems with the supplied card reader. I sent it to Lowrance for repair and after a couple of weeks they sent me 2 new card readers at no charge. 1 of the 2 new readers didn't work at all and the second one worked for a couple of months and now it's dead. I asked around and found out that this has been a problem all the way back when they released ver. 6.3 . I like the 540c but would have purchased another brand GPS if I knew how poor Lowrance software was going to be with there reader.
Launches other install programs and customer service is no help 
2008-05-01
I bought the Lowrance iFinder Explorer C device after reading many reviews. I knew from other friends that have bought high end Lowrance products for their vessels that there were numerous issues with the software add-ons.
The base unit is affordable and has a very good outdoor screen. Battery life is better than their older predecessors. The comments already posted do a great job of desribing the rest of the issues.
I am writing this to give a bit more detail to my experience with the MapCreate software. The customer service is intolerable. Because they had no issues in their office with their installatios and use of their own software, it couldn't be their software causing the startup issues I was experiencing. I querried: Do you have Quickbooks or a Brother label printer installed? No response.
I find it odd that I cannot install the full program and do not need the CD or their out-of-date SD/MMC card reader necessary to use their mapping program. This slows up my use of my high speed setup and is out of step with the times. I appreciate they do not like their maps to be copied without permission. I would not either. There are other more customer friendly methods to accomplish their security, they just need to update: I would suggest if they really cared about us, they would update their archaic methods.
The bottom line: You are on your own if you need to purchase Map-Create, from what I consider a rather arrogant group of design/support people at LEI. I give a poor rating to the software, which is lacking in some controls, and doubt they would accept feedback as they have no way of collecting it and customer service is irreproachable.
The unit itself is OK. I tried the latest Garmin Colorado unit at Cabella's and the navigation controls are superior to the iFinder. Software is also an issue for them, apparently, but I doubt I would have the same install issue as the LEI software.
I am very dissatisfied! I was respectful and patient, but am awaiting a response from my message of over 2 weeks ago.
Lowrance Map Create 7 2007-10-27
Got this for my Lowrance LMS-527cDF iGPS unit (fish finder and GPS) Had no problems using it for both street maps and lakes. It does not have the accuracy or detail that Garmin has, but that is not a fair comparison. It does have a ton of detail including minor streets and rural roads and fair shore detail (includes bottom contours and structure as well a some fishing info) when you are in the boat. Even though you can buy a 4 gig. SD chip, the software would not load more that about 5 or 6 hundred Megabytes per map. That is not a big problem because 500 megs will cover about 5 or 6 states, and you can load as many maps on the chip as you have room for. It only limits you to producing 5 chips. So be sure to get the largest chips you can affored and you will not run out of map space before the 5 chip limit shuts you down.
Works great for me... 2007-08-18
MAPCREATEand#153; USA 7 SOFTWARE The newest Lowrance enhanced mapping software for all the U.S. and Hawaiion a single DVD!...now bigger and better with the addition of over 3,000 inland U.S. lakes with depth contours, plus mapping coverage for the whole of Alaska! Also features topographic contour lines with elevations, enhanced shoreline detail for coastal and inland waters with nav aids, 2 million searchable Point-of-Interests, exclusive hunting databases (WMAs, WMUs GMUs, Public Lands, etc.) highways, roads, landmarks and more. MapCreateand#153; Series 7 Accessory Pack includes MapCreateand#153; Series 7 DVD, LEI MMC/SD card reader-writer, and a blank memory card! Searching. MapCreateand#153; lets you search for POIs, land features and more, just as you can in a Lowrance GPS unit. Aviation Searching. Load a card containing a Jeppesenandreg; Aviation Database into the card reader and MapCreateand#153; lets you search for items such as airports and VORs. Display Fishing Hot Spotsandreg;. Load a card containing an Fishing Hot Spotsandreg; fishing map into the card reader and MapCreateand#153; shows fishing details on your computer screen. This makes it easier to plan trips and manage GPS data with Fishing Hot Spotsandreg; maps. Map Category Options Toolbar. A drop-down menu lets you select pre-set or customizable category settings for different types of activities, including aviation, boating, driving, hiking, and hunting. Routing. MapCreateand#153; lets you accurately add POI
Lots of tiny files needed for my GPS, but 32 Max per card 2007-07-14
I knew this software limited it's owners to only 5 memory cards, but my GPS can use up to a 1 gig card, so I didn't think that would be a problem. I made a map of the southwest, 850 meg, and thought all was going fine until the software ended with "!!!!! Assert Failed !!!!!" while writing the map to the card. I contacted Lowrance and their recommendation was to limit maps to only 16 meg, a maximum of 32 per card. That only will use about 1/2 of the 1 gig card. A 16 meg map doesn't even cover a rectangle bordered by Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. That requires 70 meg. They said the GPS would move from file to file automatically but there is no way in the software to tile the maps so I'll have to guess at borders when building the maps.
Maps can only be rectangles or corridors, which are rectangles linked together.
The DVD must also be in your drive to use the software, not just when writing to a card. The kit came with a memory card, but I haven't found a way to determine what size it is and my PC can't read the card directly. So it is useless to me.
My GPS is a Lowrance iFinder PHD so maybe yours will work better and the software won't crash.
I had great hopes for this software and it may yet deliver, but it is going to be very painful and time consuming to build maps for the area I need.
