Get a rand McNally with the lifetime maps (the LM models). 5" is plenty big. It's keyed to your atlas so you can quickly spot check a destination if need be.
That was ~exactly 14 years ago... but I think it was an introductory MS discount of $10 from $17... but that $7 is burned in my memory. I was gobsmaked for weeks that I could buy a GIS app with those capabilities and that accuracy covering all 50 states for less than $10,000. And S&T was it, there were no other consumer choices. Of course it's no big deal, now.
i do't remember how much i paid. but pretty sure it wasn't that cheap. bought in 01. had no idea how to use it. but it was nice to be able to see your surroundings. eventually, i figured how to find addresses. made it nice to not have to call receivers and shippers. it was later on that decade, when sprint sold the first windows mobile phone. and it had bluetooth, and maps. and i bought a bluetooth receiver. to fit on my keychain. 2005.
I use the Garmin 760 LMT with Copilot on my laptop. The everyday features on the Garmin work well for me. I am also a pilot and Garmin provides the instruments in my Piper, also, I know the guys at Garmin we played softball together. I carry maps but rarely take the time to use them. Just make sure you update the software and the maps. I have never had a problem with mine.
