Seven Important Factors to Consider While Choosing the Best GPS System For You
Posted: Monday, December 17, 2007
by Jewels Fontaine
Great Eagle Tech
GPS navigators are the "must have" tech toys for just about everyone this year, yet with so many models in the market place, how do you decide which one is best for you?
Here are seven steps to ensure that you choose the right GPS navigation system for you.
1. Make sure the GPS has at least 5 million points of interest' (POIs). Most Garmin's comes with a POI Loader, so you can now add additional points of interest to your compatible GPS system. This means you can upload custom POIs to supplement the nearly 6 million points of interest that are already in your unit. This will allow you to search for most stores, restaurants and other locations by name. Otherwise, you can manually enter the address and the navigation unit will remember it for you. All Garmin car units have around six million POIs other brands vary the number according to the price of the device.
3. Check to see which maps are included. Some of the newer models, such as Garmin's Nuvi 360 and the Nuvi 660 GPS receivers come with transatlantic maps. Almost all GPS navigation units sold in America come with maps of the 48 contiguous United States and several have all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico included.
4. Make sure that the model of GPS navigator you choose has the ability to update or add new maps with a simple SD memory card or a USB hook up to the Internet. Garmin also offers a Travel Guide, rich in points of interest for different areas of the world. The Travel Guide allows users to look up particular points of interest by a defining category, like restaurants or hotels, based on rating.
5. Don't buy an older unit. Older units may have out of date maps. A lot of specials are offering GPS units that were the hot new thing two or three years ago. The latest GPS navigation devices use a SiRF's high performance chipset with greatly improved satellite reception and much brighter screens. SiRF Star III chipset really is a must have these days. Any receiver enabled with SiRF allows you to get reception in areas you would not have in the past, like behind tall buildings and in canyons. Especially useful if you live in heavily wooded areas or big cities.
6. Knowing the features you want in advance can certainly cut down on the research necessary among the many brands and types of GPS systems. As you get into high-end units you get options like Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use through the GPS system itself, an MP3 player, a picture viewer (great for reviewing photos taken on a road trip), live traffic reports, or an FM transmitter for streaming directions and music through your car stereo speakers.
7. Finally, read online reviews and comparisons at independent websites such as C|Net or Consumers Reports.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Choosing the right gps unit for you is a big topic this year and especially this season. GPS navigators are all the rage right now. It seems everyone and their brother is getting one for the holidays or with the holiday gift money they've received. Good article. Several points the average shopper might not think of before being asked to make a choice in the marketplace. Not the common things you find in most articles about how to choose a GPS system.
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