For drivers in North America who are tired of staring at maps and
pulling into gas stations to get directions the new technology of GPS
may be the answer. GPS or Global Positioning Systems are an inexpensive
and reliable way of finding your exact position on the globe at any
given time. For the driver this can mean never having to look a road
map again. This is a brief introduction to the major brands of GPS
units and some information about each.
Garmin offers two different types of GPS units and many models for each
type. The larger of the two the Streetpilot is meant to be mounted in
your car and provides street to street directions map and much more
useful information during you trip. Some of the more recent models of
the Streetpilot offer voicecapabilities and will vocally give a driver
directions. The Quest offer many of the same features as the
Streetpilot but it comes in a smaller handheld size and is battery
powered. The Quest may be a better option if you often find your self
leaving the car behind and need directions on foot.
Magellan is one of the oldest consumer level GPS manufacturers and they
are still one of the finest. The Roadmates line of GPS units have been
around for a while and the newest models are still in competition for
the highest in quality. The newest models of Roadmates provide turn by
turn directions to your destination with its internal speaker. This
line of GPS units are powered by the cars cigarette lighter and mounts
easily to most automobiles. The Roadmate 800 provides color 3-D maps on
its 3” screen.
The newest brand of GPS unit comes from Tom-Tom. The Tom-Tom Go700
provides directions on it's 3.5” screen which gives its display in 3-D.
The Go700 can give vocal directions in dozens of languages. The most
interesting feature about this unit is it's Bluetooth capability
allowing it to connect to cell phones to give weather, traffic and road
conditions for your trip.