GPS Systems and Reviews

6 Tips for buying Auto GPS Systems

Auto GPS systems
If you are in the market for an auto GPS system, you may wonder if there are any tips that can help a consumer buy a better quality brand at an affordable price.  The answer is yes there are tips and factors that can help you to make a better choice of purchase.

First, decide what type of auto GPS system you want?

Do you want one that is portable and that you can take from place to place? 

A portable Auto GPS system can serve additional purposes as well as finding street directions.  You may also be able to use it during sporting activities such as hiking and jogging.  You may also want a portable auto gps system if you have more than one vehicle or if you think you may be sharing the system with another driver in your household. 

A dash mountable auto GPS System is nice if you are sure you don’t ever want to use the system somewhere else.  Since it is mountable you know it is safe and won’t get damage from being moved from place to place.  You also know that it won’t as easily get stolen.  Some dash mountable models also have extra features that the portable models do not have.

After you decide what type of auto GPS system you want, the next biggest tip that can help any consumer is to know what you can actually afford to spend.  This means you may need to take the time to actually do a budget.  In doing this extra bit of work, you will be able to weed out the capabilities that you must have out of your current price range, you will find out if it is time to come up with a savings plan or a plan on how you can earn some extra money before you waste too much time shopping and comparing auto GPS systems.

Now that you know the type of Auto GPS system you want and the amount you can spend, you can start thinking about the capabilities you may need.  Tip number three; learn what each capability means and if you actually need it.

What are mapping abilities? Maps are of course one way that the GPS system shows you directions.  You can also use it to track your own courses.  Make sure you understand how many maps are all ready preloaded onto the GPS systems and how many you are able to save.

What are points of interests?

Points of interests are common interests that consumers have found along major interstates and highways.  These can be broken down by restaurants, motels, amusement parks, rest stops, etc.

What does text to speech directions mean This is a type of directional system that comes with most mid to high prices auto GPS system.  To put it simply directions are given as if they are being read like this:  Turn Right on State Street in 400 yards instead of just turn right in 400 yards.  It does well at reading common normal sounding words, but the GPS system still has trouble recognizing harder words.

Tip number four:  Read some online consumer reviews You can learn a lot from what others say about a product they have actually bought.  But be sure that the review was actually written by a consumer and not a person trying to sell the product.  Look at the web site address for an idea as to who owns the site.  If the product is in the sites address the review was written by a seller. 

If you check out the reviews at auction sites, remember the actual reviews at such sites like amazon.com is clear down on the page.  The top part of the page is a description of the product written in hopes of selling the product.

You may even want to read some of the lists of the current best selling auto GPS systems.  This will give you a better understanding of each product and a clearer understanding of the prices of each system.

Tip number five:  Watch for sales or look for discounted prices Both local retail stores and online stores have sales.  Check your local papers and sign up for newsletters at websites that sales the Auto GPS systems that interest you. 

Tip number six:  Don’t be in a hurry when you actually do shop Take your time when you actually do go shopping for that next Auto GPS System, whether it is an online purchase or a store purchase.  If it is online purchase, read all of the fine print.  Make sure you understand such things as warranty, shipping and handling fees, the amount of time for shipping. If you are shopping retail, make sure you understand the warranty details as well as the return policies.

Finally, once you get make the purchase, be sure to read the brochure and all the leaflets that goes with your new Auto GPS system and enjoy.

Tags: Ads Auto, Auto Ads, auto gps, Auto Gps Systems, Budget, Buying Auto, Capabilities, Capability, Extra Money, Gps Auto, gps navigation, gps navigation systems, Gps System, gps systems, Household, Mapping Abilities, Maps, Models, portable gps, Quality Brand, Shopping, Street Directions, Tip Number

Checklist for Buying A GPS Navigation System

Everyone around you has already bought a GPS navigation system, but now you feel that it is your time to get one. What do you need to know before you make that purchase? We have compiled a checklist to help you decide which unit will be best for you.

Model and price is something that you must pay close attention to. If you’re comparing the same model for price make, sure it is exactly the same one. One letter or number can really change the price and the features on it. This is why you must make sure it is the right one so you can get accurate pricing for the model you are looking at.

Warranty will vary on many different models. Some companies will give you longer ones than others so this is something to consider. The only thing is make sure you know exactly what it will cover because different companies cover different parts of the GPS navigation system.

Runs right out of the box. Many times people like navigation systems that are ready to run out of the box. The truth though is many units just do not do that. If you want a unit like that you must be very carefully as some companies have a different perception about what run out of the box means. Size and weight is something that you must look close at as well. If you want something compact, there are many models to choose from. Most are very lightweight and all this must be considered when making a purchase.

One of the biggest things on GPS navigation systems checklists is screen size and colors. Most people will tell you the bigger the better, but not pixel size is something that is just as important. Pixels determine how clear your screen will read. Even if you get a bigger screen but the resolution is not very good, than it really is not worth the extra money that you will have to pay for it.

Most of the time you should have no problem seeing the display on your GPS navigation system, but when the sunlight and nighttime arrives many times it can be a problem. Companies have realized this fact and most now have a Day/night mode, which usually automatically adjusts it so you will always get the best performance possible. Controls are something else that you will want to look into. Most models now come with touch screens, but a word of warning with that as well not all are created equal. Yes, two models could have touch screens, but how they work can be different so take that into account.

Mapping is another area with GPS navigation systems that you also want to look careful into for a couple of reasons. Most navigation systems use maps that are a year or two old so you should look for a system that has a way for you to update them. The second thing that you need to look for is how frequent does the unit updates the maps that are pre-loaded and can you buy or add other maps to use. These are very important especially if you travel a lot.

Text to speech is a function where the GPS navigation system will announce every turn you have to make or what street you may need to be on. This is important because it keeps your eyes fixed on the road and not on the unit. Route planning is also very important. Many different models are making this a priority as it use not be one. Many extra features are being introduced that you may want to look into. Some of those include Bluetooth technology, MP3 players, DVD players and displaying pictures. Probably out of all those, the Bluetooth is the feature that people will use the most.  This feature lets you answer your phone through most GPS navigations systems if it is compatible. This is the only drawback as most units are not compatible with every phone so that is something that you will need to look into.

The checklist above is some of the things that you will need to look at when purchasing your first GPS Navigation system. Most people just grab a unit that a friend recommends or grabs one that looks nice. Do not make these mistakes. Do your homework and study the models you’re considering so you can get the most out of the hard-earned money you will be spending. Just buy what you need and do not buy more just for the sake of owning it

Tags: Checklists, Colors, Different Companies, Extra Money, Gps Navigation System, gps navigation systems, Gps System, gps systems, Models, Nighttime, People, Perception, Sunlight, Truth, Warranty