Save Money by Buying the Right Auto Navigation System for Your Needs

With so many GPS (global positioning satellite) devices and auto navigation systems on the market today how on earth is someone supposed to choose the system that will be best for you? The answer to that question isn't as difficult as you might think. It all lies in deciding what you will be using your GPS device to accomplish. You need to know where you will be using your device in order to use it properly. By this I mean will you be using your GPS system for driving, biking, hiking, boating, or 'off-roading'?

Occasionally you will find that your goals and desires of your auto navigation system or GPS will require use in more than one of these instances, the good news is there's a device for that too! Seriously, there is a device that is suitable for almost every possible need and use. If you plan to use your auto navigation system exclusively for driving your automobile, you should probably choose a system such as one of the following: Magellan RoadMate 2200T Portable Navigation System, Garmin StreetPilot c530 Automotive GPS, Tom Tom One, Tom Tom GO 910 Automotive GPS System, or Navman iCN 750 Vehicle Navigation with Camera. These systems each offer something unique to consumers while also delivering some of the same popular features that consumer's love. Some of those features include turn-by-turn directions, landmark identification, important stops and destinations along your route, and popular restaurants along the way.

If you want something that is a little more versatile than your typical stand-alone navigation system or GPS then you might want to check out the many options afforded by the handheld GPS systems on the market today. Many of these will require an upgrade of some sort in order to be useful for turn-by-turn destination information but are excellent for those taking the fun off the beaten path and off road. For those who love adventure in the great outdoors the following handheld GPS systems offer an excellent choice for keeping you on track and in the know: Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Color Handheld GPS Unit, Magellan eXplorist 600, and Lowrance iFinder Hunt Color.

For those who currently own a laptop or PDA software and hardware add ons can turn your device into a GPS system. These offer a more affordable option to the stand-alone navigation system and are an attractive incentive to many potential consumers. You will also find the widest variety of features within this particular category. Most of these devices offer the hardware as well as the necessary mapping software as part of the package. This allows them to have relative portability while also offering the full features of the stand-alone navigation systems. Some of the laptop or Palm systems that you may wish to consider are the following: Garmin CF Que 1620 Compact Flash GPS, Tom Tom Navigator 6 Bluetooth, DeLorme Earthmate Blue Logger, and the Garmin Mobile 20 Smartphone GPS System.

These are by no means all inclusive of the many wonderful and exciting products that are available in today's market for those interested in purchasing an auto navigation system. You should also keep in mind that new technologies emerge on a daily basis. With that in mind, prices on existing technologies are steadily decreasing, as prices on new items are often still quite high. It is very possible to get a great deal by shopping last year's top of the line navigation toy and skipping the high-end navigation gadgets of the current year.

Another way to save money on navigational aids and devices is not to shop among the top of the line devices. Instead of shopping for those that are priced highest, elect devices within the middle of the price range. These devices generally offer the same excellent quality as the more expensive devices without the over inflated price tags. You should also remember not to pay extra for features that you won't be using. Having an extra feature or two shouldn't be a selling point if you won't be using those features.

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Pros and Cons of Auto Navigation Systems and GPS Devices

Auto navigation systems and GPS devices are everywhere you turn in this day and age. You can find them in your car, boat, plane, even in your purse (if you have a PDA or cell phone with GPS capabilities combined with the right software and/or subscriptions). If that isn't enough for you, you also have the option and capability of turning your laptop computer into a GPS device if that is your desire. The thing that most people forget to check out or ask about when looking at all the nifty features of unit A over unit B is how easy is the unit you are considering to use?

Handheld GPS and auto navigation systems offer sensible solutions to common travel related problems. They will not have all the answers all the time but are a great help most of the time. There are many styles and types of GPS and auto navigation systems that are available in today's market. Some people may not fully understand all of the neat tricks you can do with your GPS system. Here are a few things you may not have realized you can do with your GPS device.

• 1) You can always find the spot where you parked your car by marking it. Talk about a treasure hunt where "X" marks the spot!

• 2) You can track your route while hiking, biking, or horseback riding so that you can retrace your steps in order to find your way back where you started.

• 3) Some GPS devices can even allow you to 'go it alone' by offering the option of a digital compass rather than telling you step by step where to go (if this interests you, check the package details to see if this is available on the unit you are considering).

Keep in mind however that GPS and auto navigation systems aren't fail safe. There are a few problems that the brochures, boxes, and salesmen might neglect to mention.

• You still need to carry around an Atlas or road maps for backups as there are occasions when the data for GPS units may not be current or accurate. Remember that roads are built, close, and in need of repair and maintenance all the time. It's nearly impossible to have one that is always correct up the minute.

• These devices do not typically work well inside buildings or under dense forest cover.

• Batteries, batteries, batteries. These are worse than digital cameras when it comes to burning through batteries. This is one reason that people tend to leave them charging at all times if you're leaving your car with your unit be sure you have extra batteries for backup as it is quite likely that you will need them at the worst possible moment.

• GPS units do not recognize the existence of mountains, rivers, and other obstructions in your path so the directions and coordinates they give can occasionally be misleading.

There are many pros and cons when it comes to not only auto navigation devices but also for handheld GPS devices as well. Be sure that you try out the model you are considering before you buy it if at all possible. This will make your decision much easier and allow you to see whether or not you will be able to easily use and understand the auto navigation system you choose.

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The Privacy of Auto Navigation Systems

There is a great amount of concern about the privacy aspect of GPS and auto navigation systems and devices. Many people are strict guardians of their privacy as it has become so sacred and so easily invaded. I for one, certainly understand that desire to maintain one's privacy and do not endorse on any level using these types of devices in order to invade the privacy of total strangers or bending the law and legal protections we have in place in order to protect people from actions such as this.

On the other hand, it is great to know that if I make a 911 call from my GPS enabled cell phone, I can be found even if I have no clue as to where I am actually located. The same holds true for On Star. You can be located by the GPS information that the company has access to. The really good news is that you are not completely sacrificing your privacy or your right to that privacy for the sake of security. There are very strict laws in place to protect your privacy from invasive eyes, even during a legal preceding and there is also case law and precedence to support the understanding that your GPS coordinates cannot be given out even if there is credible evidence or reasonable suspicion.

Privacy is so important in America that it has been guaranteed to our citizens. In this day and age of big brother and with the fear of the horrible things that could happen being sensationalized in Hollywood, the idea of privacy isn't as foreign of a concept as we thought it was.

The idea of privacy and invading privacy is another reason that many parents are more than a little hesitant about utilizing the GPS tracking capabilities of their children's cell phones. While we struggle with the notion of invading the privacy of our children we also know without a doubt that we want to protect our children from potential harm with every fiber of our beings. That protection includes protecting them from themselves on occasion no matter how distasteful that process may be.

Knowing where our children are at all times is one of many ways that we can help protect them from the evils of the world while also being available at a moments notice. The flip side of course is that our children can find us whenever they need us also so we are essentially sacrificing some degree of our privacy in order to be available to our children at all times and to know where they are. Be sure to remind your teen or preteen of this whenever they grumble that you are checking up on them.

The price to pay for these services is marginal when compared to the wonderful benefits they offer families with children, teens, or even elderly who may need to be monitored for whatever reason. Protecting our loved ones is one of the many benefits of auto navigation systems and GPS technology that can't be measured with a price tag or a certain weight in gold. Whether you decide to make use of this technology for you and your family you should rest assured in the knowledge that you aren't exposing your day-to-day travels to any passerby. Your privacy is still safe from strangers, while your family may be a different subject all together.

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