| Portable GPS units can lead you through unfamiliar | | | | - What about extra features? Live traffic |
| areas, suggest an different way around rush hour | | | | information, weather, and local gas prices can |
| traffic, and perform an increasing array of | | | | offer an increased measure of safety and |
| infotainment functions. This GPS purchase guide | | | | convenience. When you travel outside the U.S, |
| will help you to find the right GPS units for all your | | | | look for a GPS unit that offer maps for navigating |
| needs. | | | | in other countries. Most GPs units function in the |
| How to Start: | | | | United States and Canada, but some upper-level |
| When you often travel to new destinations, have | | | | models from Garmin GPS and others come |
| trouble reading maps, or simply don't like to ask | | | | preloaded with or can be retrofitted with maps of |
| for directions, you might need a GPS unit for your | | | | Europe and other regions. |
| vehicle. When you input a destination, the unit will | | | | - If you're buying a new car, check to see if a |
| plot a route, give spoken turn-by-turn directions, | | | | built-in system us available and how much it costs. |
| and display the route as you go. Most let you | | | | These are nicely integrated into the car. But they |
| choose your routing preferences, including the | | | | are more complicated to use and typically more |
| shortest distance, the fastest time, or even | | | | expensive than portable systems. |
| routes with no toll roads. Some portable GPS units | | | | - Most of all GPS units now come with a |
| even offer special routing options for walkers or | | | | rechargeable battery. If you want to use it for |
| bicyclists to avoid highways and not limit | | | | walking or use the multimedia features outside of |
| pedestrians due one way traffic. | | | | a vehicle, look for one that will operate for many |
| On some GPS units you also can quickly find | | | | hours on a charge. |
| some points of interest, including hotels, tourist | | | | - A battery also enables you to enter a |
| attractions, banks, gas stations, and more. You | | | | destination and calculate a route before you arrive |
| can search for a specific point of interest. When | | | | the vehicle. Some models are also packaged with |
| you've located where you want to go, the GPS | | | | a traditional AC plug for in-home use and |
| system can calculate a route to get you there. | | | | recharging. |
| Higher-priced GPS units have more features like | | | | - Size is important if you choose a portable unit; |
| Bleutooth-phone compatibility, and a wireless FM | | | | especially if you frequently pack it in a suitcase. |
| transmitter, which allows you to access phone | | | | Choose a screen that's large enough to read |
| numbers from your cell phone or call a number | | | | easily without blocking your view. Wide screens |
| displayed on your GPS unit. Some Premium | | | | allow more information to be displayed and be |
| services, like local traffic and local weather | | | | easier to enter addresses, due to larger |
| reports, are becoming widely available, although | | | | touch-screen buttons. |
| you need often a subscription. | | | | Recommendations: Garmin GPS have been |
| How to Choose the GPS Units for Your Needs | | | | forerunners in the GPS market and is the global |
| before you buy a GPS unit, think about following | | | | leader in satellite navigation. GPS products from |
| items: | | | | Garmin are known for their quality, great user |
| - Which features are important for you? | | | | interface and for the safety features that are |
| - What are your typical driving conditions? | | | | incorporated into each of their GPS units. |
| - When and how many times will you use it? | | | | |