BigAlBaldwin

My first unit was the Legend. I only wish it had more memory for the maps - especially if you use it around large cities (i.e. Chicago, Atlanta). I have not upgraded yet, but might in another year or so. I really do like the Legend and I think it was excellend value for the $ spent. I had never used a GPS when I bought the unit and selected the 'mid price' range to start.

Honestly, I'd go for the unit with the most memory (Vista vs Legend). I have a Legend now and am pretty happy, but I do sometimes have memory limitations loading maps down for cities that I visit. It would be nice to have the extra memory. The Legend doesn't have a 'compass' that works when you're standing still or moving very slowly. Hence you need to carry a regular compass for caching, although others would probably suggest that as a backup if you're in a heavily wooded area, or batteries die, etc.

I have similar setup to yours. I can hold enough for my needs, but would buy the VISTA if I ever had to purchase again. Examples: Chattanooga, TN and Orlando FL and Cocoa Beach FL will all fit. Chattanooga, TN, Nashville, TN and Knoxville, TN will all fit but I think that's almost capacity. I had several areas of Chicago loaded on a recent trip and had to unload Chattanooga to load another area up there. Loaded the Metroguide software on a notebook PC so I can easily download new maps, etc on travels. Metroguide shows you the map size as you select the areas to download (bottom left of the screen, if I remember correctly). Al

I have Legend and I use MapSource Metroguide version 5. I have had Chattanooga, TN (home base) and Orlando Florida in at once along with the Cocoa Beach, FL area. I have had some of the Chicago area and Chattanooga loaded at once. Then needed to add an another area of Chicago, so I removed Chattanooga. I can keep Chattanooga, TN, Nashville, TN and Knoxville, TN all in at once - and it's almost capacity on the Legend. I like the Legend (it's my first unit - had about 4 weeks) but if I had it to do over again, I'd probably do the VISTA. I have a notebook computer and loaded the mapping software there. So I can easily add/change maps while out-of-town. As you select the maps that you want to download on the Metroguide software, on the left of the screen under the maps tab (? I think - working from memory here) it will give you the size of the areas you've selected for download at the bottom of that section of the screen. You can see from that if your unit will hold the areas you're interested in at once. Lots of luck -- really enjoyed mine and still learning how to use features, etc. BigAl.