just spoke with my friend at product development of Humminbird, Mr, Gibson, (head of product development for humminbird).
Mr Gibson and I spoke for a bit regarding all of the new stuff coming out. Multi beam technology is not a new technology, and its not patentable, you cannot patent radio frequencies. With great confidence he assured me that Humminbird will not be left behind in the fishfinder market. He couldnt let out too much at this time, but lets just say, great things are soon to come. Very exciting things !
I would suggest if you have a little patience, your going to be very happy with what is soon to come regarding humminbird products!!.

I've got plenty of patience. It's the money that's holding me back

What concerns me is all this new technology is rarely ever offered as an upgrade to previously purchased equipment...only as a whole new system. I can understand after 5 or 6 years, but some of this technology changes annually, and we as the consumer are stuck replacing perfectly good units to have the latest hardware.

Got to keep up with the Jones! If you have graphs made in the last 5 yrs., this new stuff is just to get in your pockets. you folks need to watch Richard Gene on u tube. He fishes out of a 14 and 16 ft. flat bottom with the old square pixel graphs and he wears out the crappie, bass, catfish and any other t
ype of fish .

I like Hickory Nut's post.

Also thanks to BJH for reminding me that fishfinders do not make the fisherman. I watch Richard Gene all the time. Now that being said. I have a Humminbird 999 that I bought a few years ago and it has not improved my fishing any. So in other words, I guess I am no longer excited about having the latest and greatest. Can't afford them anyway. Was looking at the new Bass Pro Shop Catalog and some units are now near $5000. The manufactures have priced me out of the market just like pickup trucks going at 60,000 or more. What has improved on my crappie fishing is my technique and lots of practice time on the water.

AND REMEMBER .. GO FISHIN WHEN YA CAN. CAUSE ITS GOOOOOOOOOD FOR YA!!

I had a DREAM that the Humminbird guy' in white suits in the back room thinking this stuff up created 360 LiveView to compete with Garmin LiveScope and Lowrance LiveSight. I woke up and then hurried back to sleep to find out the release date but could never pick the dream back up.

All of this technology is great but it is definitely not needed to catch fish. I still think the best technologies that are the most useful are spot lock trolling motors and side imaging. Those 2 changed the game from what we were using before them. The rest of the stuff is cool but not more helpful then those 2 things. JMO

I agree......
I just wish MK would hurry up on the improved spot lock on the Riptide TM's......I need it something serious.....

Its in all technology, phones, TVs ,music, computers etc.....all hobbies and sports, cars, trucks, on and on....
I think I have all I need for crappie fishing for quite a while...

I am A Humminbird guy. I will try to wait

Been hoping for this for a while

Iv'e got an Otter in training to learn how to find Crappie!!!

Side imaging was the biggest game changer for me. Don't waste time fishing tops where there are no fish. Catching Crappie has always been about moving until you find fish. Catching them usually isn't very difficult.

Once you ave enough toys to catch allot of fish, why go after something new & more expensive.

there are tribes in vietnam that use cormorants to catch fish for them. they line up in the boat, and dive down and grab fish. when they come to the surface, the handler takes the fish from them. The handler keeps a rubber band around the birds neck, so it cant swallow the fish,. after the bird brings up 3 fish, the handler takes the rubber ring off and lets him eat the 4th fish.
Interestingly enough, the birds will not dive again until the handler lets them eat the 4th fish they catch.
This proves birds can count to 4..