There was a time when people used to rely on paper maps to get around their cities and countries. But with devices such as the iPhone and all the personal navigation devices on the market, you won't have to rely on a paper map to get the job done. It's just not time efficient. Besides, your navigation device is more than capable of displaying digital maps that are as easy to work with as those paper ones.
There are plenty of navigation devices on the market. But not all created equal. They all come with lots of different features and different level of performance. So if you want to find the best GPS, you will have to do some research.
GPS Buying Guide: how to choose the best navigator
Here are a few factors that you need to pay attention to find the best device for your needs:
Brand: brand is not everything, but it's good to know that the company you are planning to work with has a decent track record. Garmin and TomTom are known for providing the best overall NAV devices on the market.
Screen Size: If you are looking for a NAV gadget that lets you keep your eyes on the road and provides you with an easy-to-ready set of instructions, you may want to go for a bigger screen.
Text-to-Speech: a must have. Without text to speech, it's just too easy to miss those turns.
2D/3D view: 3D capability is not a must have but it makes it easier to go through the routes and stay on the right track.
User Interface: Any gadget that requires you to read a thick book to find out how to get it to work is not worth trying.
Lane Assistance: worried about not changing your lane in a highway soon enough? That's why you should go with a NAV package that lets you know ahead of time when you need to change your lane.
Bluetooth: many states are making it illegal for folks to talk on the phone and driving at the same time. Hands-free-calls are still allowed, however. If you are a big talker, you should choose a blue-tooth capable unit.
Information for Driver: new models come with additional services that help drivers get more out of their driving experience. TomTom gives you access to Google Local. Dash Express uses the Internet to get useful info from other owners. The info comes in very handy.
Routing Options: these days most top models come with multi-routing features. Some even allow you to do complex trip planning.
Traffic: avoiding traffic is one of the best ways to save time. If you are stuck in traffic all the time, you should use a traffic unit to avoid those buy areas.
Price: you don't want to break the bank on a model unless you have a need for all its fancy features.
The more research you do in this regard, the better off you are. I don't know about you, but I'd rather get the right model with my first try.
Best GPS Ratings
We at GPS Garmin.com/express have gathered and ranked the best GPS devices on the market. To view our GPS Buying Guide [http://garmincomexpresso.com/] or more information on best GPS devices, log on to [Garmin Express].