Well taffy, I'm no expert, but I'll tell you what I know since I have one integrated into my car, and also have a portable one.  The portable one is a garmin (could be wrong on the spelling).  I really like it and prefer it to the one in my car because it has a touch screen.  It is extremely easy to use--trust me when I say this--I am electronically challenged.  We recently moved to a new city and I wouldn't step out the door without it  for the first month or so we were here.  You basically touch the address icon, input the address like you would on a keyboard, hit start, and off you go. Like I said, simple, which I think is preferable for day to day use. The directions were simple and they gave you plenty of time to make turns, etc.  The voice is also pleasant and easy to understand.  It also had a detour feature that was helpful since there was a lot of road work going on here this summer--all you had to do was hit the detour button if you came upon a detour while driving and it would automatically reroute you.  I think my husband paid between 250-300 dollars for it--definitely worth the money.  I know magellen is a good name brand too, not sure about prices on those though.  Hope this helps!!   

Mason could you please tell me the model number of the garmin that you have.  It sounds like this might be one that I am interested in.  My son told me he has a Tom Tom XL.  Does anyone have one of these?

Sure taffy--it is garmin nuvi model #260w---it is available on amazon for $244.00--- good luck!!

Maria, which Tom Tom do you have.  I am looking at the XL 330S.  Is this the model that you have?

My husband bought me the Magelin (sp) not sure on spelling.  Its it excellent.  I have the bigger screen and it even speaks out what you have to do so that you don't have to continuously look at it.  It also has a split screen at times to make it easier.  I believe it has over 1 million POI...(points of interests) I will look it up and post soon.

Thanks everyone.  My son is taking me shopping this weekend.  He says I need to make sure that the GPS announces actual street names not just "take a left at next intersection" directions.  He has a Tom Tom and loves his but he says Garmin and Megellan are good names also.  I will let you know what we end up with.