applebyca..
i use a garmin 430...no problems...
used a plumbed garmin 90 for years...no problems..
used a garmin 95 up and down to north africa..no problems although it was battery powered only....!!
i agree ...get the most dedicated AVIATION one you can afford with moving map..the bigger the better...of course if you can get one of the bigger ones with radio etc so much the better but i presume you are not looking for one you can plumb into an aircraft but a hand held one...i am not familiar with the 296 but i take it that you can move it around and have it battery powered or plumbed....
i have used some other types and found them good...but i am just used to the garmin at this stage...
try to see what you want in operation before you choose...but if you intend to use a battery powered ANYTHING...remember to get the raw data going on the dashboard in case the batteries run down....
...keep the finger running along the map...!!!
good luck with your purchase...
dean