I use my GPS for a number of things...cemetery locating/documenting is one of them. As a former Delorme Earthmate owner, I would advise against one. For $100-$130, you get a GPS that -must- be used with a laptop. It has no display screen of its own, so it has to partner up with a device that has a screen (laptop, PDA) before it can work. Laptops can be valuable on research missions, but I would hate to have to carry one 1/2 mile through a briar thicket just so I could log the coordinates of a headstone. Its heavy, and the risk of damaging the computer is too great, in my opinion. I would suggest getting a low-end stand-alone GPS. All GPSs do the same thing, no matter how much they cost. The more expensive ones have bells and whistles, like built-in maps, etc. Garmin makes a great entry-level GPS called the eTrex "Yellow" (there are several models of eTrex, but the yellow one is the basic one). It will log your position, show where you are in relation to a known position (good for finding a cemetery that already has coordinates, or for finding your car after a day of grave-hunting). In addition, you can connect it to a laptop or PDA in order to use it with mapping programs, etc. I like the eTrex line because they are waterproof in addition to their other features. http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/ I'm sure that the other models and makes (Magellan, etc.) are good, but I would advise against the Delorme Earthmate unless you -only- plan to use your GPS with a laptop. There are many excellent discussion lists about GPSs...they may be able to give better advice than we "Rooters" can. ___________________________________________ W. Scott Breckinridge Smith Historical Research & Consulting Post Office Box 75, Lynchburg, Virga. 24505 434-528-3995 www.WScottSmith.com To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html