| GPS Receiver Buying Advice | | | | if streets happen to be close together. |
| Do you travel much? Hate asking for directions? | | | | Preloaded Maps |
| Hate trying to read maps while driving? Then | | | | Of course, your GPS will be pretty worthless if |
| maybe you should be in the market for a | | | | you don't have built in maps. Some lower price |
| portable GPS system. All you do is give it your | | | | GPS models just have maps of the lower 48 |
| destination (Your GPS already knows where you | | | | states. That may be more than you'll ever need. |
| are.) and you get turn-by-turn directions, via | | | | However, check to see if the maps are updatable. |
| spoken-word if you like. That way you don't have | | | | Roads change all of the time. An updatable map |
| to take your eyes off of the road. Most GPS | | | | can save you a headache when you're in a new |
| systems let you pick routes based on the | | | | place! Also, if you're ever planning on traveling |
| shortest routes, quickest routes, or even toll-free | | | | outside of the lower 48 US states, check to see |
| routes. | | | | if Canada and Europe are available. |
| Portable GPS systems have an advantage over | | | | Power Options |
| the pre-installed "in-dash" systems that you often | | | | Does the GPS unit have a built-in battery? Or |
| see coming with cars. With a portable GPS, when | | | | does it only have a cigarette light adapter? You |
| you sell your car, you can keep your GPS, or not | | | | may think that you don't need a build in battery, |
| matter what car you drive, you can still use the | | | | but consider the fact that you may not always |
| GPS unit. Also, a big advantage of the portable | | | | want to program your GPS system while sitting in |
| GPS system is price. An in-dash unit often costs | | | | your car. Maybe you'd like to program it from the |
| more than $1,000. Portable GPS units can vary in | | | | comfort of your hotel room! Maybe you'd like to |
| price between $200 to $700. | | | | use your GPS somewhere else besides your car. I |
| Features To Compare | | | | find my small portable Garmin GPS unit very |
| Not just "Speech" but "Text-To-Speech" | | | | handy when walking the streets of Chicago. |
| Often times you'll see lower priced GPS systems | | | | Finally, with GPS Systems, as with anything. Most |
| touting their "speech" ability. However, there is | | | | of the time, you get what you pay for. Be sure |
| something important to check. "Speech" may just | | | | to read the fine print. The price of a decent GPS |
| mean that your GPS unit can say things like "Turn | | | | System has plummeted over the last few years, |
| Left" or "Turn Right". That's really not enough | | | | and will only get cheaper. However, don't make |
| anymore. If I need to turn left on Main Street, I | | | | price your only consideration. Check for features, |
| want my GPS system to tell me "Turn left on | | | | updatable maps, and you could be using your GPS |
| Main Street". That can possibly save LOTS of | | | | System for years to come. |
| confusion when driving in a new area, particularly | | | | |