If youre reading this article you must be tired of getting lost. Good news is that Global Positioning Systems (Gps) have finally come to be affordable and user-friendly. However there are so many brands and models available that its easy to get lost in technical details.
Garmin StreetPilot? Magellan RoadMate? Pioneer? TomTom? Which Gps best fits my needs? After-Market Gps or Built-in vehicle Gps? What are the most prominent features to look for? Recievers? Handhelds? Pdas? Blue Tooth? What does it all mean?
We talk the questions that comparison shopping engines dont. After reading this short report youll have the basic information you need to choose the Gps that best fits your needs life style and budget. We have done wide study and reviewed the distinguishing features of the highest rated most popular Gps in each price category. Each model is a BestBuys.com Editors Choice.
Economy: $200-300 On a Budget? Only need the essentials to take you from point A to B? You should think Garmin zumo 665 Widescreen Garmins Streetpilot i-Series. The i2 i3 and i5 are colse to $200-$300 and still have all the features to get you to your destination with ease.
Scroll wheel: The i-series has an easy to use click-to-enter scroll wheel instead of the touch screen interface that many high-end models feature. The interface has gotten nothing but praise from owners (including myself) and has proven itself to be one of the most user-friendly pilotage systems on the market.
Color Screen: For a petite extra cash the i3 and i5 highlight a 32k color screen.
Pre-loaded maps: Only the i5 comes pre-loaded with maps of North America. The i2 and i3 can be loaded with some states worth of data at a time.
Pros: Inexpensive small easy to use portable.
Cons: The i2 and i3 only hold several states maps at once.
Bottom Line: The Garmin i-Series provides a perfect blend of affordability and features for commuters college students and corporate travelers who are seeing to palpate the ease and enjoyment of Gps satellite pilotage for the first time.
Full-Featured: $400-$500 Widely acclaimed for its smart touch-screen interface the StreetPilot Magellan RoadMate Touch Screen GPS c340 is carefully the best Gps in its class.
fantastic touch screen: quickly and no ifs ands or buts type in names and addresses.
Ready to Use Out of the Box: Pre-loaded maps for North America
Text-to-Speech directions: The c340 not only tells you when to turn but also pronounces the street name (i.e. Turn right on Main St instead of Turn right in 500 feet.).
Reroutes colse to traffic: The c340 receives real-time traffic data from the optional traffic receiver providing live traffic updates and automated rerouting colse to traffic.
Pros: Smart interface full-featured portable
Cons: Traffic updates want subscription
Bottom Line: The c340 boasts the best composition of features and simplicity at a competing price.
International Friendly: $600-700 If you like the features of the c-Series but plan on bringing your Gps overseas you should reconsider the Garmin nuvi 350. Taking the c-Series to a new level Garmin created the Nuvi which caters to the international traveler.
voyage Kit: The tour kit includes a Language Guide voyage Guide Mp3 Player Audio Book Player picture Viewer Sd memory slot and numerous other tools along with a world clock currency and climatic characteristic converters.
Pros: Full-featured portable versatile international tour friendly.
Cons: Expensive subscription required for some of the tour Kit features.
Bottom Line: overwhelming features but do you need them? Its a high price tag for what is basically a c-Series with a trip package.
High-End: $600-$700 The StreetPilot 2720 is among the most grand automotive Gps pilotage systems available. Construction upon the features of the c-Series the 2720 has all you need and more.
Multi-Destination Routing: The StreetPilot 2720 minimizes trip distances by calculating the optimal route in the middle of multiple destinations (attention realtors sales and delivery professionals!).
Waterproof: The 2720 is also waterproof development it a strong choice for motorcyclists.
Pros: The best movable Gps unit on the market.
Cons: Expensive.
Garmin Rino 650 US GPS
Bottom Line: Great selection if you need the multiple destination routing. Otherwise the more affordable c340 is your best buy.
High End In-Dash: $1000-$2000 The Pioneer Avic-N3 is arguably the best in-dash sailing you can buy. And its a Dvd player too.
In-Dash installed: convenient and secure.
Large 6.5 Screen: choose from any map options and split screen views to find the one that makes the most sense to you. This is especially helpful when viewing upcoming turns because each turn is clearly labeled with a close-up of the precise turn and its respective distance.
Voice Navigation: With an elective microphone there is no longer a need to type in the address.
Telephone number Search: Only know the telephone number? Not a problem.
Dvd Player: Listen to turn-by-turn directions while playing a Dvd.
car Dynamics: Digital gauges display speed acceleration Gs lateral Gs slope angular velocity battery voltage and direction – all in real time.
Power: The avic-N3 replaces your approved radio. But dont worry it has ample amplification (22 watts Rms/50 peak x 4 channels). Installing it in my Bmw 325i positively improved my sound dramatically.
Pros: Full-featured Gps with Dvd Player
Cons: costly installation. Point Of Interest search doesnt show distances until it is selected (a highlight that all Garmin models have). Shuffle operate is a bit flimsy. Potential to drive while playing Dvd depends on installation.
Bottom line: If you do not need a Dvd player you dont need the avic-N3. That aside the Pioneer Avic-N3 is the best in-dash pilotage theory on the market.