Interesting Garmin Article

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/11/first_garminequipped_cell...

I'll be tickled pink if they start to sell these at work...I may even be allowed to get one on demo :)

Don't worry they can survive. With what they overcharge for the aviation versions of their handheld GPS models, they can easily subsidize the auto GPS models. They just better hope that new gouging victims keep showing up at flight schools....

Ok, here is my issues with cell and gps. What if one breaks, you loose the other too. Or if you loose it, then you have no only lost the ability to call someone, but can't find your way either...lol.

I, and this is totally a personal perference, like to buy devices that aren't "All in One". They seem to do their jobs better and you aren't out of many devices if that one breaks.

I'm with you there. I have a cell phone that I never use for anything other than phone calls, a PDA with Windows Media Player that's NOT a smart phone, a digital camera with an optical zoom, and a Nuvi 350.

I like them separate. I can't imagine trying to operate a GPS unit or a PDA on the tiny cell phone screen, and I can't imagine having something the size of a PDA or a Nuvi stuck on my ear while I make a call. I could use a Bluetooth headset (which I keep in the car), but that's another piece of equipment I need to carry.

My personal preference.

Absolutely agreed!
A "swiss army knife" device is good only as ... well ... a swiss army knife.

As the article mentions, I do worry about Garmin's competitors having control over the map makers.

They could give away their aviation products and make enough money from what they charge for the database updates alone. Your average pilot pays anywhere from about $40 to well over $500 a year for these mandatory updates.