GPS Systems and Reviews

Cheap Portable GPS Systems

Where to find cheap Portable GPS systems

Cheap Portable GPS Systems
We all want to save money.  We all actually need to save money in this day and age.  Yet, we want what we want.  For this reason, we need to learn how to become savvy shoppers.  We need to learn the secrets to shopping with success.  You can do this and you can find exactly what you need, including where to find cheap portable GPS systems.

First, to be a savvy shopper you need to know exactly what you want.  Okay, you want a cheap portable system.  That sounds good.  But you need to know more than this before you go shopping.  You need to know such things as:

What capabilities must you have?
What size do you need?
Is there a certain weight limit?
What about mapping capabilities?  How many maps do you want it to save at a time?  Do you need it to include maps of the United States as well as Canada and Puerto Rico?
How does it have to download additional maps through a USB port or a serial port?  Does this even matter?
Do you need extra functions such as a working compass, an alarm, sunset and sunrise times, speed readouts?
How many waypoints would you like to set per map?
Does points of interests matter to you?
Do you need the unit to work in a variety of lighting settings (including night)?

By knowing your real wants, you can narrow down the models and types that interest you the most and weed out the ones that don’t.  But do remember the more extra functions you add to your want list, the higher the system may cost you.

Now that you have your list you can begin your search.  Many people likes to begin their shopping searches online.  These searches are quicker and won’t cost you and gas mileage.  Where to begin?

You could begin at the official websites of the brand name GPS system you would like to own. This would give you the opportnity to check out the regular prices.   Most sites will also have links that will send you to other online stores and even help you find local retail stores that sells their brand name products at discounted or list prices.   The Garmin Brand site for one has such a listing.  You can find them at www.garmin.com.

Next you could browse some online electronic or sporting goods stores.   Check out their weekly bargains to see if they by chance have a portable GPS system that would fit your needs for a cheap or discounted price.

While you are at some of these sites, you may also want to sign up for their weekly or monthly newsletters.  Many of these will contain announcements of upcoming sales and even coupons that can save you money, possibly even on a portable GPS system someday.

Of course, you don’t want to forget the auction sites.  Sites such as amazon.com, ebay.com and even yahoo.com have many electronics for sale at some amazing prices.  Just be careful and read all the ads thoroughly.  Check to see if the seller offers any return policy and see if you can find out about the sellers past performance.  You can easily do this on ebay.com.  You may also want to stick with buying from actual ebay stores or other stores that are connected to the auction site instead of regular individuals.  Stores are more likely to give you a warranty period.

Should you use comparison sites such as Froggle.com, Bizrate.com or Pricegrabber.Com?  That question is up to you.  Yet, beware of the fact that you don’t always get the information on the merchandise you search for and you don’t always get the cheapest prices found on the internet.  In fact, many times these sites will actually steer you to other sites that are selling products at full retail price instead of discounted or cheap prices.

You should also never rule out your own local electronic, sporting goods or department stores when it comes to finding a bargain.  You can find many sales items in their weekly flyers.  Be sure to check these out as well as any coupon offers they may advertise.

Finally, don’t forget about checking out refurbished products.  You can sometimes find refurbished portable gps systems at cheap prices.  Refurbished items are generally checked thoroughly before offered for sale.  They are also generally sold with a small warranty period. 

Refurbished GPS systems can be found almost anywhere GPS systems are sold, including online sites, auction sites and at your own local retail stores.

Yes, you can save money when buying cheap portable GPS systems.  This doesn’t mean that you are buying a system that is inferior.  In fact, most likely you are buying one that is comparable to the retail version in all ways but price.

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How do you compare GPS systems?

Compare gps systems

If you are looking to buy a new GPS system, you probably think that you should compare the different choices you have before purchasing a certain model or brand.  But how do you compare GPS systems?  Where do you start?

Do you start by deciding why you want the GPS system?

Do you want it for navigational purposes?  These would be purposes such as finding directions while driving, tracking a map for hiking or jogging, finding your way back to land while you on the open water or do you want the GPS system more for a tracking purpose?  You may want to help track your young children in case they get lost or if something bad happens, you may want to track your automobile, you may own a fleet of vehicles and want to make sure your employees are staying on track and are driving safely, you may even want to track your teenage driver to make sure he/she is driving at safe speeds.

Do you start by the type of GPS system you want?

You should decide whether you want a portable GPS system, one that you can take easily with you from place to place and is completely mobile to a model that is completely dash mountable.  Which version is the type that you really need and want?

You may even want a laptop GPS system.
Do you start by deciding what features you definitely need?

This does help you weed out the models and brands that doesn’t have the features that will suit you and even the ones that have extra, possibly higher priced features that you don’t need or want, which in turn makes the GPS system more expensive than you need.  What types of features should?
You consider?

Mapping ability
How many maps are you able to save?
Display features, functions and even size
Day and night light displays
The position of the buttons and the ease of use
Point of interest
Speed alarms
Built in compass
Download ease and how the system hooks up to a computer (USB port or serial port)
Durability
Battery life
How quickly the batteries recharge
Can you track time, distance and speed
Do you want a system that includes a MP3 player or an audio player?
What kind of reception signal do you need?

Should you compare brands?

Do different brands make better grade GPS systems than other brands do?
Does the brand have to be a name brand?
Does the company that makes the brand have to be from a certain country or region?

Should you compare the internet reviews the GPS systems receive?

Do you know who has written all of the reviews you read?
Do you realize that some of the reviews are actually written by sellers of the GPS systems themselves and others are written by consumers or unbiased parties?
Be sure to find out who writes the reviews before you take the words to heart.

Should you compare the software programs that comes with each GPS system

Each GPS system comes with its own software programs.
Some GPS system may need additional software programs that can be downloaded.
Other programs may even need to be purchased.
Make sure you understand the software capabilities of each system that interest you.

Should you compare a GPS system that offers only functions like other devices?

Should you get a GPS system that doubles as a cell phone or a PDA or just add the GPS system to your current lap top computer?

Do you want to compare the GPS systems that have blue tooth capabilities?

If blue tooth capabilities is on your must have list, than you should definitely check this feature out on each of your top choices.   See how easy each is to use and what options that offer such as:

Spoken voice commands via the car’s speakers
Automatic pause of music to allow calls to come through

Should you compare the colors and styles of each GPS system?

This is up to you on how important these are to you.
Some consumers enjoy the basic black style while others enjoy bolder and brighter color choices.

Finally, should you compare prices?

This is probably the most important comparison you should make.  You should be aware that there may be differences in prices between brands and types of GPS systems you want.  There also may be price differences in how you buy a GPS system.  For instance, if you wish to save money you may be able to find a discounted GPS system on an auction site, at a local retail store during a sales event, at a discounted furbished price or even a list site at some websites if you do a little research.

How you compare GPS systems is up to you the, consumer.  Just make sure you pay attention to the details that matter to you the most.

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