If I was Garmin, I'd make the 496 exactly like the 396, but with about a 30% larger screen.
Those of you who have read my GPS reviews know that I love the 196, 296 & 396, all excellent units.
But they all share one weakness, to my aging eyes, the screens are too small and crowded. I probably wouldn't have minded so much except that I've now flown with the Lowrance 1000/2000, the EKP AVMap, and the Bendix King Skymap III, all of which have larger,less crowded screens than Garmin.
Though I like the Garmin's operating system best, I really like the bigger screens, far less squinting, and less zooming in and out to get details.
A 496 with a bigger screen would be the cat's meow.
That's my prediction, you heard it here first.
(Actually I first predicted this in the newsletter months ago.)
