GPS Systems and Reviews

Choosing personal GPS systems

Tips on choosing personal GPS systems

Choosing personal GPS systems
If you are on the market for a personal GPS system, you are probably wondering if there are any tips that can help make your purchase choice easier and more budgets friendly.  Of course, there are tips.  But it may take a little work and a lot of thinking on your part.

Tip number one

Know what you can spend.  This means you should know exactly what you can spend that will not hurt your monthly or weekly budget goals.  Yes, this may mean that you have to sit down with pen and paper and do the math.  If you decide to purchase your new personal GPS system with your credit card (and yes there can be advantages to this.  Some credit cards will offer you extended warranties on things you buy, etc) make sure you are able to actually afford it.

Tip number two

Actually know what type of GPS system you want. 

Do you want or need a personal GPS system that will work in your automobile to help you navigate your way?

Automobile GPS systems are great for finding exact addresses. 

They also come with many wonderful options.  Plus, they can either be dash mountable for a fixed position or be bought in a portable style so the user can move it from vehicle to vehicle.

Do you want a personal GPS system to help you with some of your sporting activities?  A personal GPS system is perfect for routing your jogging or hiking trails, for back tracking your courses, for measuring your speeds and distance.  Plus, they can help you find your way back to your course if you are to ever stray from it.

Tip number three

Understand the capabilities that you need and then make sure you purchase a system that comes with at least the basic of these.

If you scrimp on the capabilities that you think you need or know you need just to save money now, you won’t be happy with the system.  This means you have failed in purchasing the best system for your money or budget.

For this reason, it is also essential that you ask what each system can do and if you don’t understand something ask for further explanations.

Tip number four

Do your homework.   This means do some research on the different brands, models, types and styles of personal GPS systems that are on the market today.  As you are researching, think about which ones would fit your needs.  Does one style or model stand out above the rest?  If it does, this may be the one that is suited for your tastes and needs.

While you are doing your homework, read the reviews and the ratings systems of many of the different models and brands.  Remember that the basic things you want to know about each brand and model is:  Accuracy, price, ease of use, capabilities and then possible the extra added features.  By knowing what others feels about these factors you may want to change your first opinion of which gps system to buy and go with another choice.

Tip number five

Remember weight and style is also factors.  If you are going to be using personal GPS systems that are a portable or a hand held model, you need one that is light weight and that is easy for you to carry.  This is even a greater factor if you plan on using it during sporting activities.

Style can be a factor if you are one who worries about how things looks and blends.  If you want a system that comes in colors besides the basic black, your search may be a little harder, but well worth it to you.

Tip number six

Are there extra features that you have to have?   Yes, this can go along with tip number three under those capabilities.   But beware extra features such as Mp3 players, video players, etc, may cost you more in the long one.  Yet, if you just cannot stand to go running without your Mp3 player, it may be worth extra money to invest in a Gps system that has this addition so you do not have to mess with yet another device.

Tip number seven

Know when your local retail stores and online stores have sales.  This may mean signing up for newsletters, buying more local papers or just talking with sales people. 

The advantage?  You could save money on the brand you want to purchase.

If any of the sales staff are extra friendly, you could even ask if that certain brand you like is going to be on sale any time soon.
By following some of the above tips, you are more likely to find a quality gps system that will not only meet your needs, but one that you will actually enjoy owning.

 

Tags: automobile gps, best gps systems, Budget Goals, Budgets, Capabilities, Choosing personal GPS systems, Credit Card, Credit Cards, Exact Addresses, garmin gps, gps navigation systems, Gps System, gps systems, handheld gps, Hiking Trails, Math, Money, Pen And Paper, Personal Ad, Personal Ads, Personal Gps, portable gps, Tip Number, Warranties

Choosing personal gps systems for your all your needs

Choosing personal gps systems
You should take care in choosing personal gps systems for all your needs and wants, just as you would any other purchase.  Where do you start?

Most people will tell you to start at the basic factor, the price.  In fact, most people would be right in thinking this is a basic factor to consider.   If you don’t consider the price, you may be considering a purchase you can’t afford.  Sure you could say I could put that purchase on my credit card and I will be all right.  Maybe you can. Maybe you shouldn’t.  That question is up to you.   But do at least be aware of the price of every gps system you consider purchasing.

Next consider how you want to use a gps system.   Do you want a gps system that will work outside, in any climate, in any light and one that has a lot of battery life?

If these things are important, they need to be on your list of needs and wants.   Plus, you may want to add the fact that a portable unit may also be the perfect type of gps system for you.

Maybe you answered that you want a gps system that will work in my car.  One that will easily show me the way to my next destination.  Maybe you also said that you wanted one that could speak not only turn by turn directions to you, but could give them in speak to text language, as well.  If this is the case you may prefer a dash mountable system instead of a portable one.

Yet, you may have answered that you want a gps system that you can take out on your boat.  You might have added that you would love one that also had a built in fish finder, a tide indicator as well as the estimate time of sun rise and sun set.  If these needs are important to you, then you may want a marine gps system.

Once you decide on your basic needs and the basic concept of the type of gps system you need, then you can go on and decide other things such as:

Ease of use:

How important is this to you?  Do you need a system that basically anyone can use? 

The display function and size of the gps system

Do you care about the size?  Do you want one that is extra light weight?  Do you want one that will fit easily in your pocket or purse.

What about the display features?  Do you have to have a display unit that is colorized? 
Do you need certain sized buttons or ones that are placed in certain places?  Do you like touch screens?

Are there certain features you just have to have?

For instance, if you are purchasing a navigational system does it have to have a certain number of maps all ready downloaded or maps of a certain region?   What about preloaded points of interests?  Do you have to have one that will allow you to add customized ones, too?  Do you also need or want to be able to save the history for so many days or be able to save a certain number of addresses?

If you are purchasing a gps system that you will be using to help course your way for jogging, hiking, biking, etc reasons, do you insist on having a track back feature, a feature that will save a certain number of previous courses used for recording purposes, a feature that will allow you to track not only your speed but your distances?

What about extra features?

Are there any that you must have such as:

Audio players
Audio readers
JPEG picture readers
Compasses
Audible alarms

Finally, you need to choose on how you would like to purchase your gps system.   Do you want to purchase it at a local store (where sales people can bug you) or online (where you have to pay shipping costs and wait for your purchase to arrive).   Of course, this choice will also depend on where you live and the amount of time you have to spend either shopping locally or online.

If you decide to shop locally, remember your ideal gps system may be found at your local

Major department store
Sporting Goods store
Pet store
Electronics Store
Auto parts store
Flea markets
Trade shows

If you decide to shop online, be sure to check out:

All major department store sites
All major sporting good sites
The actual brand name sites of the gps systems you like the best (Example Garmin gps systems)
Online auction sites (Ebay)
Small online sites that sells gps tracking systems (you may find a better bargain than at the bigger sites, just type in gps systems for sale and see what appears)

Remember when it comes time for you to buy your next personal gps system the key word to remember is the word personal.  Personal means something for you.  This should also mean choosing only something you can really afford, something you really want and need, plus something you really like.   Don’t forget the like part in your choosing decision.

Tags: Battery Life, Car One, Climate, Credit Card, Estimate Time, Fish Finder, gps navigation systems, Gps System, gps systems, gps units, marine gps, Personal Gps, Sun Rise, Text Language, Tide