Auto Navigation GPS

Image via CrunchBase

This post is aiming to present you with an introduction to Garmin’s main automotive GPS products, what their features are and how much they cost. Garmin is a industry leader in GPS systems, and i’m also intending to compare all of them with their main competitors, Magellan and Tom Tom. This could provide you with the information you need to choose a good Garmin GPS to suit your needs as well as your budget.

Before we start, Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan aren’t the only three GPS manufacturers in existence. There are plenty of others. These three, however, are the big three, representing probably 90% from the GPS sales. Garmin itself sells about 70% from the GPS systems sold.

Is it necessary to just consider these three manufacturers when purchasing a GPS system? Absolutely not! Explore similar companies. The majority of them offer good products with competitive prices. Just as a private note, I simply have a tendency to stick to the major manufacturers whenever I purchase something. By doing this I know my purchase will be supported the coming year along with the next.

Back to Garmin

Before I speak about Garmin products in particular, let’s talk somewhat about GPS receivers in general–especially what their main features are.

The essential features of any GPS after-market automotive system include the following:

* Touch screen interface with 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional views
* Automatic calculation for the fastest route and the shortest route to your destination
* Database of millions of pre-programmed destinations, or Points of Interest (POI’s)
* Pre-loaded with maps for the lower 48 United States

If this is all you have to have, you may have this from Garmin for right around $150! The Garmin nuvi 200 could be the perfect unit available for you. It can do all of the above plus more.

Tom Tom and Magellan also show competitive products with this price range. The Tom Tom One and the Magellan Maestro 3100 are amazing introductory GPS receivers. They’ll do all of the above and more, and both cost around $150.

However, if you’d like more, it isn’t that expensive to get it!

For another $100 to $200, you can acquire a GPS receiver, which does all of this:

* Wider 4.3-inch screen
* Saying street names with all the spoken directions
* More Maps–Canada, Mexico, Europe
* Many more POI’s (what about 6 million?)
* Bluetooth, for hands-free calling
* Real-time traffic and weather (with subscriptions)

The Garmin nuvi 350 can perform most of this, though it just has the 3.5-inch screen. At present the nuvi 350 runs about $200. Magellan’s 3250 is definitely their direct competitor towards the nuvi 350.

As price goes up, you could get more and more features, wider screens, and much much more. Doc No. psdlhsldh-tlshdkl

Kristie Brown writes on a variety of topics from health to technology. Check out her websites on Garmin GPS systems and best GPS systems for cars

Have you ever been on the road and all of a sudden didn’t know where you were? It happens to me all the time, especially living in Los Angeles where you are attempting to keep away from traffic by taking the side streets. In Los Angeles, the only real method of transportation is a car. Without one, you won’t get far relying on folks to take you places.

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An in dash DVD GPS system is the ideal sort of technology you want if you’re new to the city of Angels. Since there are numerous ways to keep away from traffic in Southern California, and since there are so many freeways going east, west, north, and south, these navigation systems would lead you to your final destination in the suitable manner you want.

Whether it is the shortest distance in minutes, shortest miles, avoiding freeways, these particular navigation systems are made with the latest technology to satisfy your traveling needs. The in dash DVD GPS system features a DVD receiver built in. This makes it practical for those wishing to get a DVD player for the automobile when you can ultimately have both working in one system.

Many of these kinds of navigation systems have a CD and MP3 receiver as well along with a regular USB cord you can plug in your car for power. Most manufacturers that offer such a system also supply a Bluetooth as well for your safety of speaking on the cellphone and driving at the same time.

Plugging in your I-Pod or MP3 player shouldn’t be difficult as these diverse systems are supposed to do exactly what you need in a car, get good directions, play your favourite music, as well as play your favourite DVD’s.

What more can you ask for? In the event you do not want to go with a cheap in dash DVD GPS system, I highly recommend are Kenwood and Alpine. From what I have seen, Kenwood seems to offer the very best quality. Alpine would probably fall next based on my own personal preferences.

If you want a car GPS product to improve your driving experience, it is important to choose the right features. However, you should make sure you get the right device. A look at some popular devices like Garmin Car GPS is a good idea.

Voice recognition is the latest addition to the long list of features in these devices. You cannot afford to take your hands off the steering wheel to operate the GPS device again and again. The last thing you want is for the GPS device to become a safety risk.

Equally important is a wide screen that will help you see where you are going and understand traffic trends without any difficulty. A wide screen gives you a clear view of the traffic ahead and also makes it easier for you to navigate the device. Being forced to squint every time you look at the device can be very irritating. That is why Garmin Car GPS devices come with a wide screen.

A wide screen, normally found in a Garmin Car GPS, will help you grasp all the info in just a glance. You would be viewing into the screen and looking at the traffic and roads just as you do in real life. This is very helpful if you are not a tech savvy person and if you find it difficult to cope with the idea of using a computer screen to navigate traffic.

Garmin Car GPS comes along with wireless and Bluetooth facility as well. Both these options make it very easy to transfer files. You do not want to drive with an outdebtd map in your GPS device, do you? Bluetooth functionality helps you transfer maps even through your cell phones. Wireless enables easy transfer of maps through the laptop computer.

If you want to start using the device without any delays, you should get one that comes with preloaded maps. Transferring numerous maps even before you can start using the device can be very boring. On the other hand, a device like the Garmin Car GPS that comes with preloaded maps can be fitted to your automobile and can be used immediately.

There is no point in compromising performance just to get a good looking device. For starters, it will take up less space and will not block your view up front. With less space usage, your car will look bigger and the stylish appearance will improve the looks of your car as well. Thirdly, a slim device will be easy to carry and you need not keep it fixed to the dashboard. You can always hand over the GPS device to your navigator so that you can get easy to understand instructions on a real time basis.

Vist their website as they look at the various Garmin car GPS

Image by L'eau Bleue via Flickr

A car GPS device is a very useful addition to your driving experience. However, you should make sure you get the right device. The right device will always have the best features.

If you do not want to drive with one hand, it is important to get a GPS device that has why inbuilt voice recognition. You cannot afford to take your hands off the steering wheel to operate the GPS device again and again. The last thing you want is for the GPS device to become a safety risk.

If you want to continue using the GPS devise even when you are old, it is advisable to get one with a wide screen. A wide screen gives you a clear view of the traffic ahead and also makes it easier for you to navigate the device. It is supposed to make your travel time shorter, not longer. That is why Garmin Car GPS devices come with a wide screen.

A wide screen, normally found in a Garmin Car GPS, will help you grasp all the info in just a glance. You would be viewing into the screen and looking at the traffic and roads just as you do in real life. This is very helpful if you are not a tech savvy person and if you find it difficult to cope with the idea of using a computer screen to navigate traffic.

Unless you get a device that connects directly to the web, it is the advisable to get a device like the Garmin Car GPS that helps you transfer files using wireless and Bluetooth. Both these options make it very easy to transfer files. You can download maps directly into your cell phone or laptop. It is just a matter of time before devices that connect directly to the internet become popular. Wireless enables easy transfer of maps through the laptop computer.

This will help you avoid cumbersome tasks. Transferring numerous maps even before you can start using the device can be very boring. Finally, you should search for a slim and stylish model.

A slim and a sleek model, although not very essential, will be advisable. For starters, it will take up less space and will not block your view up front. Secondly, it will not clash with the aesthetics of your automobile and will only enhance the looks and appearance of your vehicle. From the functional point of view, it will not block your view upfront. You can always hand over the GPS device to your navigator so that you can get easy to understand instructions on a real time basis.

Vist my website as I look at the various Garmin car GPS