Would like comments on Garmin Area 500

[rjtjrt]

I've had an Aera 500 for some years. It is good and I find Garmin stuff reassuringly reliable as a back up to my iPad.
Re the touch screen, it is ok but different to an tablet like an iPad. Tablet is sensitive to light touch, Aera is not. Aera needs a firm touch rather than a brush by touch. Once you realise this the Aera is good, and somewhat more user friendly in this regard in turbulence.
Tablets are superceding Aera, etc as Tablet display of charts is superb. Maybe an Aera and a Garmin Pilot app on a tablet would be best of both world, but I have not used the Garmin Pilot App myself.
So Aera is good (almost as good as the Garmin GPSMAP 495/496, which I still prefer.
Hope this helps.
John