Yep, the HDS7 does look like a step up in terms of quality but it's a very small screen. Went down to Marine Superstore at Port Solent today and had play with several units. I like the HDS Lowrance items, but actually found myself going back to the Simrad GO9 XSE unit time after time. The main reason was the two fingered iPhone like screen navigation on the Simrad items- it's so easy and everything else feels old hat and cumbersome in comparison. The quality is very good too- it's a pukka item. Same old adage- you get what you pay for, but it's made me think again. Not an easy decision.