GPS Buyer’s Guide To Car Navigation Systems
An evening zip down any highway these days is likely to reveal quite a few cars with a portable Global Position System (GPS) glowing on their dashboards — small bright lights pointing the way through the night.
Auto GPS units are hugely popular, and rightfully so. It is the rare gadget that actually simplifies our lives. No more road maps, MapQuest orGoogle (NSDQ: GOOG) Map printouts, or asking for directions. Simply plug in an address and go. And it’s often easier than even that.
Before we delve into the details though, let’s clear a few things up.
First, there is no service fee associated with the use of GPS. You’ll have to pay extra if you want live traffic information (more on that later). Basic navigation capabilities employed by all GPS systems rely on the U.S. military’s Global Positioning System; your tax dollars have already paid for it.
As to who will benefit from these devices, more people than you might think. If you travel much, it’s a no-brainer. A GPS is most valuable when you are in an unfamiliar city. It simply takes all the stress out of getting around. But the devices’ utility goes far beyond that. Looking for an address at night? Stuck in traffic and wondering if there is a way around it? Want to find the nearest Indian restaurant? Or perhaps you are just “directionally challenged.” A GPS handles all these situations with aplomb.
The most popular type of GPS, and the focus of this article, is the personal (or portable) navigation device, or PND. These portable units can move from your car to your spouse’s, and on to a rental car with ease. In many cases they are of much better quality than built-in systems costing several times as much, and are typically easier (and cheaper) to upgrade once the maps are out of date.
Cell phone GPS, such as VZ Navigator from Verizon (NYSE: VZ), is a newer option, and can be a good solution for those who require navigation services infrequently. You’ll need a cell phone with a GPS receiver, since most phones use cell tower triangulation to determine your position. Accuracy is not as keen as with dedicated PNDs, and given the smaller screens weak speakers on most cell phones, this is not a good choice for anything other than occasional use.
Tags: auto gps units, bright lights, cell tower, global position system, GPS News, navigation capabilities, road maps, traffic information, unfamiliar city, use of gpsRelated posts
Posted on November 13th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: GPS News
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