Car GPS
Garmin Street Pilot 2610 |
AUTOMOTIVE GPS
Garmin Street Pilot 2730  Garmin Street Pilot 2730 is a stand-alone, portable and easy-to-use car navigation appliance that incorporates navigation software, maps and GPS receiver in one device. This GO comes pre-loaded with maps of the entire United States.… more HANDHELD GPS Magellan SporTrak Color Navigate through all your outdoor adventures in vibrant color with the Magellan® SporTrak® Color. SporTrak Color provides superior tracking and accuracy, showing your position to within 3 meters, even in difficult environments such as cities or mountains. … more Garmin eTrex Legend C Lowrance iFinder Garmin GPSMAP 60CS WRIST GPS Garmin Forerunner 201  The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy-to-read display, ergonomic wristband, and integrated GPS sensor that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data. It's a compact, lightweight, accurate training assistant with performance tracking, auto-lap, auto-pause and more. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an affordable price.… more |
Global Positioning
At its most basic, a GPS receiver is an electronic instrument that pinpoints your current location on a map. GPS devices for consumers are generally available as add-on accessories for Palm OS and Pocket PC PDAs; as stand-alone devices used by hikers, urban explorers, and others; and as navigational systems built into high-end automobiles. A few rental car agencies, most notably Hertz, provide in-car GPS navigational devices as an option. The Hertz NeverLost system is a color LCD panel that displays maps and allows you to enter information using on-screen buttons. Along with pinpointing your location, the Hertz NeverLost system provides turn-by-turn audio driving directions (to minimize driver distraction). When it's time to turn right, for instance, a gentle voice prompts you. The GPS network of satellites was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense during the Cold War as a way to quickly pinpoint the precise locations of surfaced nuclear submarines, according to Trimble, a GPS developer. According to Trimble's Web site, the cost of developing the GPS was $12 billion. In other words, your parents' tax dollars paid for today's GPS infrastructure.
The Best GPS for Consumers
Current GPS receivers are a COMPROMISE between competing objectives. Some are optimized for Aviation, others for Boating, Still others for Car Navigation and others for Hiking activities. A few are just an "electronic map" that shows your position on the map screen. Others have no maps at all and can be just fine if you just want to know your longitude/latitude.
Just as there is no "best choice" of an all around vehicle for flying, marine use, road driving and moving across rough terrain, there is no "best" unit for these multiple applications in the GPS department. "BEST" is highly dependent on your application, money you want to spend, and the features that YOU like. We have evaluated the current offerings in the marketplace and have narrowed the field to 13 finalists in four categories — and awarded our Best GPS awards in the following categories: Automotive, Handheld, Wristheld and PDA.
