To give a better size perspective, here's the e-map shown in comparison to a 3COM Palm IIIx. The e-map is about a half-inch longer and a quarter inch thicker than the Palm. Unfortunately these two products share a common problem: the backlighting has but one level and lacks the luminance most folks would prefer.

 The "On/Off" and backlight buttons are separate - a welcome innovation. It's very easy in the first few hours of use to press the "PWR" button expecting the backlight to fire up, or bring up the contrast/brightness submenu - which it does after a slight delay during which the backlight comes on at its one fixed level.

 Recessed on the back top of the e-map case is the "MX" external antenna connector. While an irritation for those of us equipped with BNC accessories, it's clear the e-map wouldn't enjoy its trim depth had a BNC been used. A nice feature of the e-map is the lack of protrusions - in no small part a contribution of the "MX" connector. The e-map is very much DGPS-ready and uses yet another new menu nomenclature for DGPS set-up; "Garmin Bcn Rcvr". In the category of what goes around come around, the e-map sports the rotating globe on its start-up/splash screen. Battery use seems very conservative. The unit pictured has been running with external active antenna for in excess of eleven hours on standard alkalines with battery indicator still showing 75% remaining.