Handheld Devices
What In Dash GPS Systems Are Available?
Have you been interested in getting help navigating through your town, but don’t know where to turn? Well, I have good news for you. There are tons of global positioning devices on the market today that can not only provide great maps to help you get where you need to go, but there are even more sophisticated units that can provide turn-by-turn instructions to your destination. There are typically three types to choose from: handheld, portable, and in dash. However, in this article we will focus on in dash GPS systems. So if you’ve been wanting to learn more about these unique units then you’ve reached the right place.
What Are the Benefits of In Dash GPS Systems?
There are tons of benefits to purchasing these systems. One is that once it is in your car, it stays there for good. You don’t have to worry about someone breaking in and easily removing it. By the time they get it out, someone will catch them and save your system. Also, many in dash GPS systems come installed in a new car. So you can take advantage of that part of your mission being accomplished with your purchase. In addition, you might be able to take advantage of extra options that the dealership is offering in the cost of your car – so essentially, you might leave with a better deal than you would have if you had someone install the device into your vehicle later. Also, many of the installed systems have more impressive features, such as huge hard drives, DVD players, and larger screens.
There are some cons, however, to these devices. If you have more than one vehicle and want to be able to move your device from on to the other, then you won’t have the same flexibility as with a portable device that you can move from car to car. Also, if you reach your location and want to get out of the car, you won’t have any additional assistance in trekking outdoors as you would with one of the handheld devices on the market. It is important that you keep all of these pros and cons in mind when you consider which type of unit you want to purchase. But for the sake of this article, we’ll assume you want to purchase those installed directly into your vehicle.
Now, let’s look at some in dash GPS systems available on the market:
Pioneer AVIC-Z2
This system is considered the ultimate in HDD navigation. It comes equipped with a 30 GB hard drive that lets you enjoy information and convenience on the road. It has an extremely fast processing speed and a huge Tele Atlas that offers 12 million points of interest – this means you can get where you need to go with ease. Some other features of this device include a huge music library, DVD playback, a large 7 inch screen, iPod controls, 3D landmark icons, point addressing, traffic flow lanes, Bluetooth compatibility, turn-by-turn voice instruction, and text-to-speech technology.
Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U
This device is considered one of the better in dash GPS systems on the market; however it does have some similarities to Pioneer device mentioned above. It has a 7 inch screen and is a DVD player and navigation receiver in one. Customers love its easy-to-understand LCD display and touchscreen control with audio, video and navigation functions. The picture is a sharp as your television set so that watching movies will make you feel as if you are at home. But being able to enter destinations and reach them with ease is the major selling point of this system.
Some other features of this unit include SRS Circle Surround, SQ7 7-band equalizer with six preset sound curves, Dolby Digital Decoder, 30 GB of memory, voice guided turn-by-turn directions, over 12 million points of interest, an SD memory card slot, and a Bluetooth receiver and iPod adapter to help you bring more of your world to the car.
• :
There are a lot of other in dash GPS systems available for you to take advantage of. As mentioned previously, some will come as a standard or optional feature in a new car you purchase, so you will want to take this into consideration when looking at devices that spark your interest. But the two in dash GPS systems mentioned in this article will give you are great steppingstone into choosing your own device. So that when you begin to narrow down your options, you’ll know exactly what you want and need.
Want to Know the Best Handheld GPS Devices?
Have you been wanting to search for the best handheld GPS devices on the market but don’t know how to get started? This article will help you learn how to determine not only the best available, but the best for you.
What to Choose … What to Choose …
Sometimes it’s hard to make a decision as to what is the best for you when others are already shoving what they see as the best handheld GPS devices down your throat. So how do you choose? The best way I’ve found to have success with choosing anything that I know will be somewhat of a substantial financial investment is to take my time until I decide what it is I want – despite what others say. I know you’re thinking, “Okay … but what if I don’t know ANYTHING about what I’m about to purchase?” That’s where research comes in. There’s nothing wrong with learning something new is there? I love the challenge of buying something I know absolutely nothing about, because by the time it’s found its way into my home, I’m an expert in its field.
To help you learn more about not just choosing the best handheld GPS device, but choosing the best one for you, feel free to use the question and answer session I give myself so that I make sure I really want what I’m purchasing:
Do I care more about money or quality?
When dealing with electronics, this can be a tricky question to ask yourself because money may or may not be directly related to quality. For example, you know that you can visit a dollar store and find a perfectly acceptable bottle of ketchup that probably will taste great, but if you buy a camera from there, you may not be happy with the quality. However, you may very well be able to buy a camera for $100 that works just as well as one for $200. This is why when searching for the best handheld GPS system; you need to read magazines for expert reviews that can help you determine what is best for the money.
What features am I looking for?
This is another important question to consider. Think about it. If you are not a gadget lover, then you are not going to be interested in the navigation device with Bluetooth, MP3 player, and games. You are probably going to be more interested in sticking to the basics. However, if you do love those extras then you’ll want to seek out the devices that have more features. You will also want to consider that many handheld devices are meant for those who love to trek around outdoors. Some work to navigate on the roads, but they are not as convenient portable devices that mount on the dashboard. So be sure to keep this in mind when choosing.
Have I seen the device in person?
We are in an age where online purchases are taking over. And there is nothing wrong with buying items online seeing that you often find better deals on the Internet. However, when you buy online, you don’t get the benefit of touching the device, something that is important for these types of systems. The ease of using the interface, the color sharpness in dark and light, the map and navigation quality, and even how it feels in your hands are all important when deciding the best handheld GPS system. You can’t take any of these factors for granted, which is why I suggest visiting them in person – even it you have to go back home to purchase one at a discount online.
So Which Are the Best?
After going on about what strategies you should use to determine the best, I will offer those known as the best handheld GPS devices on the market today. The Garmin eTrex Camo is a great device for those who love to have fun in the outdoors and want to fish or hunt. It is rugged and durable, is able to keep track of up to 500 paths you’ve trekked, and is waterproof in case it gets submerged. Another device to consider is the Magellan SportTrack, a device that works for tons of sports, including fishing, hunting, biking, boating and hiking. It is extremely accurate, working with all 12 orbiting satellites for perfect geographic precision. It also tells you the Sun’s and Moon’s positions in the sky and can let you know perfect times to seek fish and game, making it one of the best handheld GPS devices on the market according to reviewers.
Our Best GPS Postings
- Garmin 010-00697-11 Oregon™ 550T Portable GPS System
- Garmin 0100069741 – Oregon™ 450T Portable GPS System
- Garmin 0100069740 – Oregon 450 Portable GPS System
- Garmin 0100084001 – GPS 72H Handheld GPS
- Garmin 0100072705 Zumo 665 Motorcycle GPS
- Garmin 0100072700 – Zumo 660 Motorcycle GPS
- Garmin 0100063000 – eTrex Vista HCx Handheld GPS
- Garmin 0100078000 – eTrex Vista GPS Receiver
- Garmin 0100077900 – Etrex Legend® H | Gps Systems
- Garmin 0100063100 – eTrex H Handheld GPS
- Garmin 0100078101 Dakota™ 20 Portable GPS System
- GARMIN 0100078110 Dakota™ 10 Portable GPS System Bike & Hike Bundle
- Garmin 0100062245 – Colorado 400T
- Garmin 010-00596-01 – Garmin Astro 220 Bundle with DC30 Collar and Hard Case
- Garmin 0100069731 – Approach G5 Touchscreen Golf GPS System