Getting the Right Car GPS System for You
Cars have been a handy mode of transportation for years, but there are still trips when time and gas are squandered or places of interest are missed altogether because of incomplete maps or difficult directions. To eliminate these problems and allow you to enjoy a convenient driving experience, automotive GPS devices are now available to help and are very affordable for normal car owners. It is very sensible to use a GPS device on road trips to ensure that the quickest way is identified. The usefulness of individual GPS devices varies with different manufacturers. To attract customers and attention, extra programs are offered with a few models to maintain market share and multiply the gee-whiz factor. Here are a few of the entry level products that merit your consideration. A nice option is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.
Garmin Nuvi 265W
The disadvantage of most of the more affordable Car GPS systems is that their feature list is so stunted that you’ll question whether the product is actually completed. The Garmin Nuvi is a very basic device, although it manages to retain all the essentials and level of performance one would expect from its big colleagues – the 705 and 805 series. A speech function is included so you won’t be required to read the street names as you drive and it is quite uncomplicated to hook up once you bring it home. The price may not work with everyone’s budget, but because of its powerful applications and minimal disadvantages, this Garmin Nuvi is a great value at any price.
TomTom ONE Classic and Routes edition
TomTom ONE devices appear to have purchase prices that are too good to be true, but this product’s functions and options tell precisely why this brand’s products are dirt cheap. The Tom Tom’s navigation performance is simply frustrating and a few of the convenient features such as Bluetooth and text-to-speech are not available in nearly any of the models. Although previous models weren’t particularly sought after by middle to lower income consumers, new ONE models were brought out, including one or two with widescreens and others with advanced functions like advanced lane guidance, which is exclusive to the Routes edition. The classic edition does not have this function, but the price might be friendly enough to help you get over that. A good item to consider is Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.
Magellan Roadmate 1212
The Magellan Maestro products have been the better selling Magellan products as they were introduced first, however, the Roadmate 1212 is going to easily come into its own because of its slender dimensions combined with its affordable price. The decent performance combined with the easy user interface easily makes this an intelligent purchase if you are willing to tolerate the protracted menu button function. The text-to-speech function is also present, but using it too long may soon drain the battery which means you might enjoy the opportunity of charging the battery every 3 hours.
Bottom Line
When considering affordable Car GPS systems, you will always be torn between price and performance. Garmin Nuvi easily stands out with its minor eccentricities, but the Magellan and the Tom Tom are cheaper. The best option for you is to save up for a Garmin Nuvi unless you plan on letting your GPS device get in the way of your driving. You might also want to look at the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.
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