The Foretrex 101 unit looks pretty neat, as well as the Gecko units.

I've got an eTrex Legend myself, and at about $170 it gives you the basics plus mapping capability, and runs on AA batteries.

If I was looking for something small & basic I'd probably choose the Geko 201. It takes AAA batteries, has WAAS, and can interface with a computer. (It looks like Garmin took the Geko idea, turned it horizontal, mounted it on a wristband, and called it a Foretrex.)

Then there's the plain yellow eTrex, which is about $100 everywhere and takes AA batteries. I think it does most of what the Geko and Foretrex do, but in a larger package.

Garmin is bundling the computer interface cables with certain units, and not with others. That's the one thing I'd have trouble doing without; it allows you to update the firmware for free, can be used with most computer mapping programs, allowing you to input waypoints a LOT faster than by hand.