Magellan eXplorist 400 GPS Unit $267.99 Link
w/ $50 rebate Link

Magellan MapSend Streets Europe Map CD-ROM $119.99 Link

It doesn't have voice output (unless you connect it to a laptop) and has a small screen but the Garmin Etrex Legend C is (or at least was) the smallest GPS with a color screen that does autorouting. If you also want a handheld GPS for outdoors use (hunting or geocaching) this is a great little unit.

This spring I was in New Orleans on business with another techy who had a Dell Axion with a Bluetooth GPS receiver and we rented a Hertz with neverlost. The Dell did the fastest calculation of routing, the Neverlost had the best display and voice output and the Garmin gave the most detailed directions.

I have also used it on airplanes (be nice and ask the crew before you takeoff if it is OK). My current maximum speed is 586 MPH. Sure beats my BMW

i have got TomTom Navigator 5. It is amasing programme and I only can recomend to try it out.

I use a TomTom go300, which also runs navigator 5, and it is without a doubt the best navigation unit I have ever had.

On a related note, I was just in Rome for a week and brought a Garmin Vista C (tiny color handheld) with the Italy maps uploaded and it was AMAZING how well it worked walking around Rome.

The Vista C has a built-in compass, so when you looked at the map, it was relative to the position you were standing in, so if you turned left, the map turned with you without you having to move.

It was amazing how well it got me to the most obscure addresses down tiny alleys on foot. I was totally impressed. I've been a GPS user since they first became available in the consumer/marine market and I didn't think it would fare well in Rome's narrow streets, but it was spot-on. Restaurants were listed, every address searched for was correct. Wow.

--Doug

Anyone with a legitimate claim to being a gadget freak will obviously have one of the new Garmin models (StreetPilot 2720 or StreetPilot� c340 or etc) that receive real-time Traffic Message Channel data (via FM or Satelite radio) and show traffic delays in real time.

And I'd be interested to hear your reviews and opinions.

Can't answer about the Garmin units, but I got the TomTom so I could do this as well. It downloads it through bluetooth, and can also download the local weather and other stuff. Pretty cool.

In what cities do you use it to monitor traffic, and how accurate and current in real time is the traffic data?

It works in pretty much all major metro areas, and is about as realtime as possibly available, FWIW the source of the TomTom information is the same as the Garmin if I am not mistaken so both will show the same.

TomTom is free at the moment till they get a billing system working. It shows regular traffic jams, construction, and all kinds of other road hazards.

They have a list of all their coverage areas here:

http://www.tomtom.com/plus/service.php?ID=3&SID=4

I see where that link says coverage in the US is not currently available, but then it shows a list of US cities just below that statement. I'm interested in hearing anyone's experience with a US based system, in particular those offered via satellite radio?

Strange, I use it daily here in the US. Works just fine.

Ok, so what I'm trying to find out is what city do use it in? Will it actually change your route to avoid traffic jams or read closures, ... or are those features still being tweaked or refined?, and do you use a paid subscription for the traffic date or are you using the FM radio data?

I use it in Chicago and it will reroute me if I chose to. So far it doesn't look like a "tweak and refine" system, it just works all the time. The subcription at the moment is free and TomTom are a little vague about how and when they will start charging for it. The information comes through the Internet and uses Bluetooth to download off my mobile phone.

anyone know where i can rent one for two weeks?

Hertz

Actually, as unethical as it is, you might want to consider just getting one at Costco or Sams and returning it if it doesn't satisfy you. Most other stores will charge you 15% restocking...