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Well, Chris... I was going to sell my Garmin 196 to you for $5 but you bought the last belly drain.

Wait! We haven't installed it yet!

Actually, and I'd like opinions (like they're scarce on this site) I'm leaning more toward a Lowrance AirMap 1000.
After reading and reading and reading and pricing... they seem to fit my needs.

I know a couple of guys who like their Lowrance GPS units. I had one (back in 1997) and hated it, but it wasn't a "high-end" aviation unit.

I'm ALWAYS running into other Garmin 196-296 owners who share tidbits of knowledge with me, which is handy, but rarely see many folks using the Lowrance.

I think part of the debate between Garmin and Lowrance is like the argument between Mac and IBM. They are different apples (pardon the pun) that produce pretty much the same result. I guess it comes down to what you are used to.

I've used Lowrance for years. The 300 was junk, the 100 couldn't be read half the time but worked perfectly, my present 500 is fantastic for the money...best value on the market. One thing to consider is the resale value in the event you want to upgrade. Garmin brings the most $$, and I've never heard a disparaging word about the 196. Lowrance units don't seem to be at all intuitive for some reason. Way too much unnecessary button pushing required for some of the more common tasks...as if the people who design them have never actually USED one.

Between the L-1000 and the G-196: I'd take the 196

I have a 300 now that came with the plane. The previous owner said he never used it and it came with the plane when he bought it 18 months earlier.
I have played with it, and for what I want, it seems marginally ok (but I can tell it's junk).

Just curious, why do you and Chris think the Airmap 300 is junk. I have the original Airmap, which is the Airmap 300 but with 5 channels instead of 12, and it works fine for me.

Chris

I have the Lowrance 1000 and it seems to do the job. I understand that the Garmin is more intuitive (so the Garmin users say ) but I've had no trouble using the 1000. It got me to Clinton and back last year. On at least one leg I was programing the route as I was climbing out trying to keep Ed in sight long enough to let the GPS locked on to the first waypoint.

Sometimes I do wish I had bough the 2000, color would be nice. What the _ell, it's only money!

Hey....I loved my 100, and only sold it due to having a panel mount and not using it any more. It was more than adequate. Not perfect, but adequate.

I still have my 100. Don't use it since I got a 500.
Can't beat Lowrance for what you get for the money.IMO
Just wish I'd known the 600C was comming when I got the 500