Have you ever met such a circumstances?The car is packed, gas tank
full and the kids settled in the back seat. You’re ready to roll when
you realize the map you bought for the family road trip is 10 years out
of date. Too bad you don’t have a GPS.
A Global Positioning System can be a real lifesaver when travelling.
The handy little devices–many are pocket-sized–can pinpoint your exact
location and tell you how to get where you want to go, when you will
arrive and if the traffic is heavy up ahead.
They also highlight restaurants, tourist attractions and gas
stations along the route and some will even tell you what the weather
is like where you’re going. A must-have for any traveller, these handy
gadgets sell for as little as $100.
Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a GPS:
- Screen size. GPS devices
come in many sizes and shapes. While a system built into a person’s
iPhone may be good for walking the streets of an unfamiliar city, it
probably isn’t the best option for a driver looking for an off-ramp.
When driving, bigger is often better as long as it doesn’t interfere
with your view of the road. A glance at the screen can provide a driver
with critical information about exits, lane changes and other points of
interest.
- Volume. Again, a smartphone’s speaker may not be
the best if you have road noise or screaming kids and a chatty spouse
in the car. The unit’s volume has to be loud enough that you don’t miss
those crucial “stay left” or “exit ahead” messages. Before buying,
crank up the volume to test it out.
- Touch screen. Most, if not all, GPS are touch
screen devices. This is a good thing, because it allows drivers to
easily access information by simply touching the screen. Fumbling for
buttons is a definite “no-no” for anyone who plans to use the GPS while
driving.
- Bluetooth Technology. Some GPS come with
Bluetooth Technology, which allows the unit to transmit its audio
directions wirelessly over the car stereo. Before investing in a GPS
with Bluetooth, make sure your car stereo has the ability to receive
and play back Bluetooth wireless signals.
- Speech. This may not sound like a big deal, but
when you’re stuck in rush-hour traffic in a strange city and there are
cars zigging and zagging around you, having the GPS call out upcoming
streets by name can save your life.
- Update ability. How does the GPS stay current?
For people who don’t have time to connect their GPS to a computer every
time they want to update street information, a GPS with a built-in card
reader is best. Having the card reader means you can download a map to
the card then just plug it into the GPS when you want to use that map.
Otherwise, you’ll have to connect the GPS to a computer each time you
want new map info.
From FORD GPS