GPS Buyer Guide Features
What features to look for when shopping for a GPS system
Maps
Your navigation experience depends a great deal on the quality of your electronic maps. Today most of the GPS systems come preloaded with maps. The maps that come preloaded with your system may not be detailed street level maps.
An alternative may be to buy a GPS system without any preloaded maps and to buy the maps separately. If you are going to buy the maps separately make sure you check the cost of the mapping software. Some times buying the mapping software separately might cost you more.
Usually maps can be loaded into your GPS system via USB cables or via storage medias such as SD Cards, CD ROMs or DVD disks. A detailed map of the United States and Canada might take around 2 GB of storage space.
Most GPS system will have a list of points of interests. POIs are likely places that a user might visit. They include places like gas stations, bank machines, hospitals, car parks, and tourist sites.
Display size and display quality
The size of the GPS display screen will have direct impact on its usability. The bigger the screen size, its more easier to read information. A screen with higher resolution (that is more pixels) will enhance clarity.
Antiglare screens are ideal for in-car systems because they are easier to read on a very bright sunny day. Color displays are superior to greyscale units. But on battery operated units they might drain the battery more quickly than a greyscale unit. Also greyscale units are comparatively cheaper than color units.
Quality of the map graphics
Some GPS systems can provide a Bird eyes view of the map. This makes navigation more easier as the roads are shown in a 3 dimensional view.
Touch Screen
Most of the higher-end portable and in-car GPS systems in the market come with a touch screen. A touch screen reduces the number of buttons in the system and makes them more easier to use.
Voice prompts and instructions
Nowadays it’s common to see GPS units that can guide you by giving voice instructions. This is a very useful feature while driving a vehicle as it’s not safe for the driver to see the GPS display constantly.
There are two types of voice prompts.
1. The basic voice prompt technology
Provides generic instructions without referring to any names. For example ‘on the next 500 meters turn to your left’.
2. Advanced text-to-speech voice prompts
Refers the travel route using road names. Example: ‘On the next 500 meters turn left into Queens street’.
Text-to-speech voice prompts makes it easier to follow the travel routes.
Weight and Dimensions
If portability is a key requirement then you have look into the weight and dimensions of the GPS unit.
Bluetooth Integration
Bluetooth is a short range wireless technology for communication between various types of electronic devices. The devices that are interconnected via Bluetooth wireless technology creates a network known as a PAN (which stands for Personal Areas Networks).
A Bluetooth enabled GPS system can talk to a GPS enabled mobile phone. For example the user can call a hotel listed in the GPS map using a Bluetooth enabled phone and GPS system.
Multimedia
Capability to play mp3, wma files and dvd movies will be a nice addition to your GPS system. You get more value for your money since these entertainment features are bundled into your GPS systems.
Voice Input
Some GPS unit’s can take voice based commands. These systems are ideal for in car use since the users can operate the units without taking their hands off the steering wheel.
Data storage media and capacity
A GPS system primary needs a storage capacity to keep the electronic map. Systems that use hard drives and DVD disks can hold larger amount of map data (such the map of North America) while CD and SD card based system can only store maps of a region. Since SD cards are getting bigger in capacity and less expensive they may be able to hold more data in the future.
Durability
There are water resistant and shock proof systems in the market.
Other entertainment features
MP3 playback, audio books, picture viewers and DVD movie capability make your system more versatile. You can also save money by not buying these system separately and buying then all bundled together with you next GPS system.
Battery life
This is an important factor for portable GPS units. When you buy a battery operated unit look for one that might have support for and external power supply (example car cigarette lighter power adapter).