question about Bird vs Low

I was talking to a guy in a sporting goods store about HB 898 vs Low HDS-7. One point he made (several times) was that the HB units were using 4/5 year old technology and Low was 1/2 year old technology. Now I know HB was out there 1st so I don't want to go there but does anyone know what he is talking about.
I'm normally a Low guy but have really been looking at the HB.
In the past I've owned units from both with out problems.
That doesn't make sense to me since you can get updates to your units online.
I'm not computer savy at all so please help me out.

Me thinks I would RUN, not walk away from that Biscuit head. Just cause LOW has only been on market 1/2 years doesn't necessarily mean its newer/better, what about all new downloads HB has been putting out. There is a chance that popcorn could be right if we are talking cardboard boxes:D believe they have a power problem;)
My 2 cents is research both units HB & low on sites like this and Bass thingy sites where lots of fishing guys use them. Only go to sporting goods to look & push buttons as most them(90%) knuckleheads can not operate one,don't own one & 50% clerks that do own usually admit to not really knowing what to do with it. Remember if U buy out of state-many good places to buy-U will save on no tax on web sites- Here in crooksville IL:rolleyes: we are talking 150-180 bucks but hay its your $$$$ spend as you wish & good luck.

The only thing that really changes is the display and the processor. Nothing about either company's sonars is different from what was being used 50 years ago in the military or 30 years ago in commercial fishing vessels.

I run a Lowrance HDS-7 on the console with a HDS-5 on the bow, with a LSS-1 Structure Scan linked to both units via an ethernet cable. Lowrance updates software as needed, just like HB. Personally I like the Lowrance stuff better, but I'm used to it, I have buddies that love their HB stuff as well. I bet you'd be happy with which ever one you decide on.

From what I have gathered from Doug V Bass pro, Lowrance charges for updates, HB's are free. That's a big deal. Also if you don't know how to use the unit, I know Doug will teach you how to use it for an hourly fee. They say HB units are super easy to use, but a lot of people opt to pay for a lesson from Doug. That's what I plan on when I get my new HB units. But as Lonestar said, you'll be happy with either, but I have yet to see someone who'll teach you how to run the Lowrance for a fee.

Both units will get the job done fine....
Both will make great images with the right settings....
Customer service at HB is outstanding...at Lowrance I hear it's getting better now than it was right after Linda "left"....

The biggest difference in HB and Low is the amount of hardware needed to have 2d sonar and SI technology in the same unit...

HB....head unit / 1 transducer / GPS antennae...
Low..head unit / 2 transducers / LSS-1 module / GPS antennae....

Lowrance doesn't charge for software updates, they are a free download from their website. The gps on the HDS units are internal as well. I don't know about anywhere else, but if needed, there are Lowrance guru's in Texas that will provide training on the units for a fee as well.....

So it seems to me we are comparing apples to apples. Just different varieties of apples.
I see info on here about HB updates not so much about Low. I thought all the updates were free once you bought the unit for both units.
I was looking at both units and the Low seemed to show a little more detail in downscan (simulation) but hey it's simulation you can make it look however you want.

Crappiemax, you are a wise consumer. Low downscan on my boat shows more detail then the HB. I've looked at 100's of pictures from users and have yet to see an image from HB that matches Low in quality. I believe there is speculation that they higher quality is due to the LSS-1 and the composition of the transducer.

I can tell you from experience that installing the LSS-1 and an additional 2d transducer is not overwhelming. And once that hour or two of work is done, you don't have to worry about it, just hit the water and have fun.

HB just released an update, so that's why it's being mentioned right now.

Whatever unit you buy, I hope you enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by mduncan62

Crappiemax, you are a wise consumer. Low downscan on my boat shows more detail then the HB. I've looked at 100's of pictures from users and have yet to see an image from HB that matches Low in quality. I believe there is speculation that they higher quality is due to the LSS-1 and the composition of the transducer.

I can tell you from experience that installing the LSS-1 and an additional 2d transducer is not overwhelming. And once that hour or two of work is done, you don't have to worry about it, just hit the water and have fun.

HB just released an update, so that's why it's being mentioned right now.

Whatever unit you buy, I hope you enjoy it.

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I agree with mduncan62, I didn't want to say anything about the definition of the Lowrance downscan cause I didn't want to start a chitstorm with the HB guys LOL! Like I said earlier, I'll bet you'll be happy with either brand cause they are sooo much better than regular 2D sonar.

well I have owned both and both are good, I do believe most people I talk to say the reason they are going with hummimbird is price, well I think by the time you get all the gadgets to make the humminbird interlinked and running more than one unit the price is comparable. the picture quality on the lowrance and the structure imiges are really clear, but I still think both units are good. I have found out that humminbird people(consumers) and lowrance people (consumers) usually sell the product to people who trust there word that the unit is good, so if you trust the one selling you on a HB or LR then you will probably be happy. good luck on your choice.

I like both units. I really like the new HB zipped up water column. However, Lowrance has a feature I really like too. It is scan overlay. You can overlay the down image over the 2d image. With the right color pallets selected and right sensitivity selected, you can pick the fishes out of the bush. Takes practice to do this. Requires 2d. Ethernet is the way to go too.

This new stuff makes fishing more fun.

New units from both manufacturers are amazing improvements over what has been available in the past. I would just look at all the options and pick the best you can afford.

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Originally Posted by beagle man

most people I talk to say the reason they are going with hummimbird is price
the picture quality on the lowrance and the structure imiges are really clear, but I still think both units are good.
I have found out that humminbird people(consumers) and lowrance people (consumers) usually sell the product to people who trust there word that the unit is good, so if you trust the one selling you on a HB or LR then you will probably be happy. good luck on your choice.

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I don't get the price difference being a big point. It looks to me that they are within a hundred bucks or so of each other. It seems if you are going to make that investment in a unit, the few bucks different isn't much to consider.
The guy at the store did admit he was a Low guy, but he did say both products were good. Just kept pointing out Low had more recent technology by a couple of years. I kept thinking that with the updates isn't that kind of a mute point.
I have a Low X-15 on the console and have it tweeked to perfection and do just fine now. I have and old Silent-60 flasher on the bow. I'm so used to looking at that flasher I think I would be lost without it more than the graph. I guess the reason for an upgrade is to just see what the heck is really down there.
I also like the idea of having GPS which I didn't add to the X-15. (Back in the day, I figured the only use for GPS was to find my truck after a day of grouse hunting) I have a handheld Garmin E-trex which works fine but it would be nice to have something with a few more capabilities and be able to save my waypoints to an SD card, just in case.

Thanks to all that have answered and especially thanks for not turning this into a Ford vs Chevy thing.
If anyone has any other comment please do so.

thanks
Crappiemax

Crappiemax - Is the X-15 GPS compatible if you buy an external antenna?

that was my point, i do not get it either, I tell folks to do the research(like you) and look at as many units as possible, but just because someone says they are to expensive and has only heard that and not really looked is what I was talking about. anyway if you can go on the water with someone who has one and check them out, both if possible, what suits one may not suit another. good post and I am a dodge man

WOW...I have no idea, it's an older unit last of the big dogs back in the black and white days. So I would guess not, but the key word is guess. Like i said earlier, I'm not that computer savy. Of the last 35 years of work I spent 29 years under a welding hood, then they gave me a computer and a title. In the shop if something didn't work, I would heat it up and hit it with a hammer. That doesn't work with computers, maybe I need a bigger hammer.
At first I was going with the Bird, then I saw the Low and it looked a little clearer, then I looked at those new up grades for the Bird. I especially like the Down Imaging zoom and the SI range lines and thought back to Bird. Now Cane Pole points out the Low overlay feature, which sounds pretty cool.
I only have one more obstacle, I haven't told her yet.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

WOW...I have no idea, it's an older unit last of the big dogs back in the black and white days. So I would guess not, but the key word is guess. Like i said earlier, I'm not that computer savy. Of the last 35 years of work I spent 29 years under a welding hood, then they gave me a computer and a title. In the shop if something didn't work, I would heat it up and hit it with a hammer. That doesn't work with computers, maybe I need a bigger hammer.
At first I was going with the Bird, then I saw the Low and it looked a little clearer, then I looked at those new up grades for the Bird. I especially like the Down Imaging zoom and the SI range lines and thought back to Bird. Now Cane Pole points out the Low overlay feature, which sounds pretty cool.
I only have one more obstacle, I haven't told her yet.

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Either will do the job and I have both.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

WOW...I have no idea, it's an older unit last of the big dogs back in the black and white days. So I would guess not, but the key word is guess. Like i said earlier, I'm not that computer savy. Of the last 35 years of work I spent 29 years under a welding hood, then they gave me a computer and a title. In the shop if something didn't work, I would heat it up and hit it with a hammer. That doesn't work with computers, maybe I need a bigger hammer.
At first I was going with the Bird, then I saw the Low and it looked a little clearer, then I looked at those new up grades for the Bird. I especially like the Down Imaging zoom and the SI range lines and thought back to Bird. Now Cane Pole points out the Low overlay feature, which sounds pretty cool.
I only have one more obstacle, I haven't told her yet.

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I like this outlook of problem solving...:D

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

I like this outlook of problem solving...:D

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It's very effective.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

I kept thinking that with the updates isn't that kind of a mute point.

Crappiemax

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Ok guys, the issue with the updates is that an update can only do so much... I know most everyone thinks that if you can get updates then you have the latest technology but that is not right. In order to get the latest technology they would have to change the processors and the circuitry. So just because you can do an update on your unit doesn't mean you are going from 5 yr. old technology to 1 yr. technology. Hope this helps...

that's true. I actually feel once any electronics goes into production, it's pretty much "last years technology". But updates will enhance what capabilities are already there.

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Originally Posted by JABBO

Ok guys, the issue with the updates is that an update can only do so much... I know most everyone thinks that if you can get updates then you have the latest technology but that is not right. In order to get the latest technology they would have to change the processors and the circuitry. So just because you can do an update on your unit doesn't mean you are going from 5 yr. old technology to 1 yr. technology. Hope this helps...

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+1. Being a 797 owner and fairly early adopter, Not being able to get the latest and greatest update is a pain. That's when you know your unit has fell from grace. My HDS units, hopefully are new enough that I'll be safe for a year or 2.