Garmin GpsMap 396 - First Impressions (long)

And speaking of the auto kit, I don't want to rub any more salt in that
open wound of yours, but if you had bought the unit by the end of last
year, you would have received the auto kit for "free".


Not that I'm normal, but mine will probably never see the inside of a
car. I bought the automotive card and software for my 295 (didn't
initially realize that they were quite a bit more $$) and found I didn't
like it. Small screens work for me on a yoke, but a dashboard is no
man's land to this bifocal wearer. But now that my Garmin 195 is
retired it is getting a new lease on life by feeding data to a retired
laptop under the seat running MS Streets & trips and feeding a 7"
monitor. And the whole mess isn't worth enough to be concerned about
theft, unlike my 396. Even if I bought another antennae and power cord,
and plumbed the 396 into the same spot where the monitor is going, I
would still get tired of constantly yanking the 396 out of its mount and
taking it with me when I park the car. That's the other thing that made
to 295 impractical for everyday use, at least for me, I never have it
when I really need it......