GPS - California

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jmadison @ Feb 12 2007, 12:47 PM) [snapback]389075[/snapback]</div>

It's like driving with no front license plate. Rare to get pulled over for it, but not uncommon to get written up for it if you're pulled over for another reason.

For a budget unit w/o Bluetooth, I'd seriously consider the Magellan 2000. It's the least expensive unit I know of with touchscreen input and the SiRF III receiver, and has received good reviews.

Anyone who recommends an older Garmin unit like the c3x0 or 26x0/27x0 units without the caveat that they have an older, less sensitive receiver chipset is someone whose advice you should ignore. I consider those units obsolete.

 

I have used TomTom (ver 2) on an Ipaq for three years now. My maps are getting out of date but it doesn't seem worth the expense of an upgrade - which would mean total replacement of soft and hard ware. I like TomTom and I run GPSassist alongside it to give audio warning of speeding and also when near to speed cameras.
I have also used Garmin's Que software for trips into Europe, when a general world map of main roads was enough (my TomTom maps stop at the UK limit). You can add supplimentary maps to the garmin software, which is great as you can add roads yourself if you enjoy playing with open source software. In the USA you have a great source of free digital map data from USGS etc. In the UK it is very different.
On balance I prefer the TomTom interface, finding the Garmin selection screen buttons fussy, but there is very little between them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Feb 13 2007, 08:36 PM) [snapback]389888[/snapback]</div>

I have a Garmin Nuvi 660 for my truck. It works great, voice gives streets by name, bluetooth, fairly large screen, can be carried in shirt pocket. You can get an optional dash mount to keep it off the windshield. Garmin states it is illegal to mount on windshield in Minn and Cal.