I would love to get one just because I am so directionally challenged. It sounds like it would be a huge help for anyone. Enjoy your dinner.

Yeah they are very handy and the prices continue to drop. While the "all in one" units are still pretty expensive the basic models like mine are getting pretty reasonable.

Thanks.

If I traveled on a regular basis, I'd try to justify it to myself. Since I only ever kick around town, I'd have problems convincing myself...

Yeah it would probably be a waste of money if you don't travel a lot. I'm finding it very handy. It's kind of nice to be able to just glance at the screen and know exactly how far it is to the next stop or to the destination and the mapping/directions are invaluable when going places you've never been before.

What do the "all in one" have that yours does not?  I might be in the market for one for my wife.  If she had been on the Nina, Pinta or Santa Maria, we would all be eating elephant and lion burgers for our 4th of July Cook outs!

Mine is actually considered an "all in one" unit, just a low end entry level model. The higher end models include things like bluetooth to provide hands-free cell phone operation through the GPS unit, traffic and weather data (subscription service), and built in FM transmitter. Some are designed to serve as both a GPS unit and hand held PC but those are quite expensive.

If one only needs a navigation unit (like me) the lower end model like mine does work quite well. I don't need a cell phone interface or FM transmitter and am not paying extra for traffic alert and weather data.

I got a Garmin GPS unit with my rental car last week. Let me just say: that thing is amazing. GPS units are the way to go, especially since I would have been otherwise lost in the wilds of northern Vermont with nothing but a rental car agency map to guide me. That Garmin even got me to and from Montreal during my stay. And yes it recalculates routes beautifully.

I am thinking about getting one for the family car. And maybe one for my car too.