| It is more than difficult to find a good GPS review | | | | touch screen. You make an outgoing call by either |
| on the Internet. The reason is this: GPS devices all | | | | entering the number in your GPS's touch screen |
| do the same thing. They show your location on | | | | key pad or by accessing numbers stored in the |
| an electronic map, and then show you how to get | | | | device -- downloaded from your phone when you |
| where you're going. Now, by GPS device I mean | | | | first set up your receiver. So, now instead of |
| a car GPS device that you buy separately from | | | | wearing that silly Bluetooth headset and looking |
| your automobile and either hang from a bracket | | | | like a member of the Borg Collective, you can |
| on your windshield or put next to you on the | | | | just have your GPS device do double duty. If you |
| seat. | | | | make a lot of calls while driving, this is definitely a |
| So, the key to a good GPS review is | | | | feature you need to think about. |
| understanding the features that various GPS | | | | As to what Bluetooth is going to run you, the |
| devices offer at each price point. | | | | Garmin nuvi 360 is their lowest priced Bluetooth |
| What do all GPS devices have in common? | | | | model. It currently sells for slightly more than |
| All car GPS devices that are on the market today | | | | $300. Virtually all of their upper end products have |
| have a touch screen where you can enter | | | | Bluetooth. Two of the Magellan Maestro series, |
| information into the unit, such as your destination | | | | the 3250 and the widescreen version, the 4250 |
| address. All auto-calculate the route to that | | | | have Bluetooth. They run around $280 and $350 |
| address, and all give you spoken directions of | | | | respectively. The Tom Tom GO series has |
| some sort as you drive to your destination. In | | | | Bluetooth. They run anywhere from $350 to |
| addition to this, virtually all GPS devices come | | | | $900. |
| pre-loaded with maps, usually at least of the | | | | Multi-destination routing |
| continental United States, have an internal battery | | | | It's not something that I use much, but it's |
| for emergency use, and can toggle between 2D | | | | definitely worth knowing about. Multi-destination |
| and 3D map views. (3D gives you a slightly more | | | | routing means you can enter multiple routes into |
| realistic view of what you should be seeing in | | | | your GPS at one time and it will calculate the best |
| front of you.) | | | | route that includes all of your destinations. |
| There are exceptions to all of these rules, but | | | | Garmin's nuvi 700 series does this, as well as a |
| almost all are in the older models. | | | | couple of their StreetPilot series. Most of the |
| Who are the industry leaders? | | | | Magellan Maestro series does this - they can be |
| There are three main manufacturers of car GPS | | | | programmed to hold up to 20 separate |
| systems, Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom. | | | | destinations. As for Tom Tom, the GO 510 can |
| Garmin sells about one out of two of all the car | | | | hold up to 15 routes. As to price, the nuvi 700s |
| GPS systems sold in the world. They are known | | | | run anywhere from mid-$400s to almost $700. |
| for making a quality product. Magellan was an | | | | The Magellans are slightly less expensive, running |
| early leader in GPS systems that can route you | | | | from mid-$200s to the mid-$300s. The GO 510 |
| to more than one destination. They do not have | | | | costs slightly less than $500 at Amazon right now. |
| nearly the market share that Garmin has. Tom | | | | The voice prompts, Bluetooth, and |
| Tom is a late arrival who is quickly catching up. | | | | multi-destination routing are three of the more |
| According to Tom Tom, their GPS system, the | | | | important features to consider. |
| Tom Tom One, is the best selling system in the | | | | Also, you want to keep in mind what maps your |
| world. | | | | device comes with. And, almost as important, |
| What are the main features to look for in a GPS | | | | how many preprogrammed Points of Interest are |
| system? | | | | included in its database. |
| In this GPS review, let's start at the cheap end | | | | Points of Interest |
| and work our way up. | | | | (POIs) are names, addresses, and phone numbers |
| You can buy a GPS system for less than $200. | | | | of possible destinations, anything from the nearest |
| The Garmin nuvi 200 and the Tom Tom One, 3rd | | | | Starbucks to Yellowstone National Park. The lower |
| Edition currently sell for less than $200 at | | | | priced units come with less than 1 million POIs. |
| Amazon. | | | | That's not enough, if you're going to be using this |
| As you increase price, the main features you can | | | | feature. For use outside of your normal travel |
| add are | | | | routes, you really want a few million POIs. Virtually |
| Voice prompts that actually say the street name | | | | all GPS devices now come with this, except the |
| Cheaper GPS devices only tell you where to turn. | | | | lowest prices models, like the Garmin nuvi 200, |
| They say something like, "Turn right, here." A | | | | which only has regional maps and less than 1 |
| good feature to be aware of is having the GPS | | | | million POIs. (There's nothing wrong with fewer |
| device actually say the street name of the road | | | | POIs, if you're not planning on needing them, but |
| you need to turn on. So, instead of "Turn right, | | | | they sure can come in handy.) |
| here," a better GPS system would say, "Turn | | | | Yet another feature to keep in mind is screen |
| right on Highland Avenue," or "Take a left onto | | | | size. The standard size is 3.5 inches. This is |
| the entrance to I-95." Devices with spoken street | | | | measured on a diagonal. So the screen for the |
| names usually start around $300. | | | | nuvi 270, for instance, measures 2.8" by 2.1". The |
| Another feature to look out for is real-time traffic | | | | so called widescreens measure 4.3 inches on the |
| and weather capability | | | | diagonal. You're actually getting 70% more screen |
| Wouldn't it be nice if your GPS device could not | | | | this way. |
| only tell you how to drive from Atlanta, Georgia | | | | Why is screen size important? |
| to Charlotte, North Carolina, but could alert you to | | | | It has to do with ease and safety of use while |
| bad traffic conditions in time to take a detour? | | | | driving. Personally, I like a wide screen, but then |
| Well, many of the more expensive units can. How | | | | again, my car is fairly big and has a big windshield. |
| does your GPS device know what the traffic is | | | | The difference in price between a regular screen |
| like up ahead? GPS devices that have this | | | | and a widescreen is about $80. That might be |
| capability are tuned to either an FM or satellite | | | | money well spent. On the other hand, if you drive |
| radio frequency that broadcasts this information. | | | | a smaller vehicle with less windshield area, the |
| If your device has this function, then it will usually | | | | wider screen might be more of a hazard than a |
| come with a free trial subscription to this service. | | | | safety feature. |
| After that, it's going to cost you, but the cost is | | | | Currently at Amazon, Garmin nuvis (their newer |
| fairly low, especially considering how useful | | | | product line) run from $179 for the nuvi 200 to |
| real-time traffic is. Along with real-time traffic | | | | $699 for the nuvi 770. The Magellan Maestros are |
| usually comes real-time weather -- an added | | | | running from $168 for the 3100 to $356 for the |
| bonus. | | | | widescreen 4250. Tom Tom's GPS systems are |
| Any of the Garmin nuvis from the nuvi 350 up | | | | currently priced from slightly less than $200 for |
| have FM traffic capability. The nuvi 350 runs | | | | the Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition, to $899 for the |
| slightly less than $300 at Amazon. If you want a | | | | GO 700 (which is overpriced). |
| Magellan that route you around hold ups, you'll be | | | | Whatever you do, don't procrastinate. Even with |
| paying $300 to $350. All of the Tom Tom's have | | | | a good GPS review, with all of these confusing |
| this capability, even the Tom Tom One, 3rd | | | | choices it's tempting to just wait for whatever |
| Edition, which is one of the cheapest units on the | | | | the next model is going to be. What you're |
| market, currently running around $200. | | | | missing by doing that is lots less stress while |
| Do you regularly use your cell phone while driving? | | | | driving! Imagine, if you're a guy being able to |
| I know I do. It's problematic to hold the cell phone | | | | always (really) know where you're going despite |
| in one hand and negotiate your way through | | | | what your wife or girlfriend says. And, even |
| heavy traffic on a busy interchange. If your | | | | better, if you're a woman you won't have to |
| phone supports Bluetooth technology you can get | | | | pester your husband or boyfriend to stop at the |
| a GPS receiver with that same capability and | | | | local gas station and admit that they're lost - not |
| actually use it to make and receive calls. You | | | | an easy admission for a guy. (I should know! |
| answer an incoming call by just tapping on the | | | | |