Try hooking an older garmin to a laptop, it’s more robust and provides equal or better data output, stores more info. you need a data cable, mayby a keyspan serial to USB adapter and a junker laptop.
I am going to try the usb adapter with a universal USB M550 palm pilot ($50-120 on ebay) I have a Garmin II+ that has a 12 channel reciever and could be got for about 150, these types of units are rugged and preffered by some gov agencies for surveying as they are more shock and water resistant. They can only store a limited amount of track data, hence the PDA or notebook. You can load a navigation software as well and have a much bigger display than an Ipaq or Ique. The only problem is power supply to the notebook, especially if it powers the USB connection, older books usually have bad batteries. A DC car cigarette lighter power cable my be a solution,it is another cost, however.
This solution is good for cost, functionality, and data collection (creating your own maps) Not as cute, fragile, or expensive, as an GPS dedicated PDA. Depends on whether you just want incar nav. If so I believe there are cheaper solutions.
Still, I wouldn’t mind a phone with sat. phone and net, gps, camera, mp3, etc!
waban *