Choosing a GPS - By: Mick Doer

Many people have enjoyed the benefits of mapquest when looking for directions between two places. Having a GPS is like having a mapquest right in your car, but better. A GPS can give you traffic details, tell you when to turn, and help you find rest stops and places to stay.

A GPS system can cost anywhere between $150 and $600. The basic everyday GPS is usually good enough for most people. If you need something to help you get from point a to point b then a good gps for about $150-200 is a good place to look. The more expensive models usually are bigger and have touch screens and other advanced features.

If you depend on your GPS for your business or for meeting people, then it may be wise to buy a more expensive GPS. A more expensive GPS will be better for people that need it everyday for complicated driving.

Maps are usually a whole different animal, and in order to keep up to date with your maps, you will have to pay for them. In some areas, new businesses and stores are built everyday and need constant updating to stay up to date in these areas. If you are just the casual user, you might only have to update your GPS once in a while.

The biggest features required for a car GPS are 3D map viewing, which allows you to see a virtual display of your windshield, spoken directions, which help you keep your eyes on the road, and points of interest, which automatically take gas stations, hotels, and rest stations and add them to your GPS system. After that, a touch screen can make it much easier to navigate the controls of a GPS system. A bigger screen is nice, but not really necessary when buying a GPS. The next thing to consider is if your GPS can recieve traffic updates. While this is only available in certain areas, the GPS can recieve messages from a FM radio station that gives it information on traffic reports. This is a great feature to have and is worth the extra cost if you live in a metro area.

The last thing to consider is will you be taking the GPS out of the car. If you will be using your GPS on foot, then it can make a lot of sense to get one with a decent battery life. It can be very helpful to have a GPS when camping or hiking.

About the Author

Check out Discount GPS, Garmin C340, and Plenio VXA 3000.

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