IO,
Unfortunately some of us don't own our own aircraft, and thus have little choice but use handheld equipment, with their internal antennas or winscreen placed antennas. It works fine, as long as you have an alternative plan for when you lose the signal. Usually the signal loss isn't very long, but you have to be prepared for the times you don't get it back, and for the times it goes at a very inconvient moment!
dp