GPS Review for Garmin, Magellan, and Tomtom

I am planning to get one on road GPS navigator.Some say I need to pay to pay monthly fee in order to use the GPS system and some say I don’t have to. My purpose is to find (i) how to get to the destination (ii) the shortest route and (iii) where is Gas station or McDonald nearby> Thankss

You can find free POI database on http://www.gps-data-team.com/poi/ web site.
You can also download some free POI locations in any area that you need here:
www.gps-data-team.com/map/
It’s free and fast…

I would go with the garmin, more accessories, and upgradeable.

I am interested in purchasing a gps for use in a couple of different activities like hunting, hiking, canoe, and probably a little bit of caching, and have no experience with a GPS. The unit above has only 24MB of built in memory. I can purchase other units (more $) that has external memory, but if I can upload the map I need before each of my outings, and just switch up every time I need a new area the extra money isn’t worth it right now. Also, when routing trips, and making routes through the woods, am I going to be able to do this on the computer and load it to my unit before I head out. Another concern is the availability to maps and how helpful they will be while in the field. Now I am using GIS and satellite imagery (google maps) to pre-route my trips. This works well and I am hoping a GPS is going to give me the ability to do the same thing in the field as I do from home now. Am I mistaking by what a unit like this provides? Thanks for all the help.
Shane

in put this in sports>running maybe i should have put it in electronics=\ maybe i’ll post it again there