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