GPS Systems and Reviews

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Your One-Stop-Shop for Cheap GPS Systems

Having you been dying to get your hands on a cool new navigation, mapping or tracking device but just don’t think you have the money to buy one? They can be a little bit pricey overall, but because there is so much competition out there, the odds of you find some that are not as expensive is getting better and better. In fact, there are some brands and models that fall into the inexpensive category – and they don’t make you compromise the quality. So let’s look at a few cheap GPS systems to see which might work for you.

What is Considered Cheap?

Before we tackle the idea of finding cheap GPS systems, let’s uncover what is considered “cheap” in the GPS world. Usually, devices that fall under the umbrella of $250 or less fit into this category. If you find some under $100, it is likely to not be a reputable brand, or might be in bad condition. In other words, no matter what, you’re probably going to come out of close to $200 for a decent one, but in the entire landscape of systems, it is considered discount. 

Brands and Models

There are some brands and models on the market today that have great, top-of-the-line devices, but they are not necessarily known for offering cheap GPS systems, however, each company does offer one or two devices that are at a discount price. Let’s check them out.

Garmin – Garmin is one of the most reputable companies in the industry and its StreetPilot c530 device, that sits at around $250, is great for those who like a lot of accuracy, and a few extra features. It is a “plug and play” system that is ready to go as it comes out of the box. It monitors traffic jams, and has an optional traffic receiver as well. It lets you know when there is road construction, weather-related delays, and even offers alternative routes if necessary. It has preloaded maps, offers 2D or 3D perspectives, and even has turn-by-turn voice directions with street names.

Magellan – This reputable company is not normally known for offering cheap GPS systems, however, they do offer the RoadMate 2000 that sits at around $200 and gives you a true mapping experiences with an easy-to-read touchscreen, accurate instructions, and perfect reroutes if you’re caught in a jam and need a new way to go. It is very simple – even simpler than some of the devices found on this list – but it is reliable. What more could you as from a simple device?

Navigon – Navigon was one of the first companies to start the revolution of navigation units, and it is still moving strong with great devices. To accommodate customers who need a break with price, they offer the $250 Navigon 2100, which offers a 3.5” easy-to-read screen, a 3D Reality View feature, and text-to-speech technology. And if you want additional optional features, you can get Lifetime Traffic, and Zagat Ratings and Reviews.

Websites That Can Help

There are a lot of websites out there that dedicate their time to accumulating all of the cheap and discount items in the world that are for sale. So of course there will be some that can help you find cheap GPS systems. Here is a short list of some websites that have decent reputations for being reliable and having discount items:

ShopCartUSA.com – This website has a section dedicated to discount units and allows you to sort them by price – and even offers a list of websites that offer each product at different prices. This makes searching for discount devices easier because you don’t have to travel to a lot of different websites to do the searching and comparing on your own. 

Yahoo Shopping – Yahoo offers an online marketplace that accumulates all of the discount devices for sale by price then allows you to sort them by price. Unlike shopcartusa.com, it doesn’t have a function that lets you see the item and the list of all locations that offer it according to price. But you still get a sense of what is available and how much it will cost, which means it serves its purpose.

Cheap GPS systems are easier to find now than ever. But it is important that you make sure to do your research on not only the company and model of the system, but also the company offering the system, before committing your hard earned money to a purchase. After you feel comfortable with your decision, you can enjoy taking advantage of the many cheap GPS systems on the market that will actually give you the mapping, navagation or tracking experience you hoped for.

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Compare GPS Navigation Systems Without Becoming Overwhelmed

Trying to make your way through the streets of your city can be challenging enough with all of the road construction and traffic jams that have become a part of our modern transportation system. Throw in the idea of traveling to a new city, and you have your work cut out trying to make it from your hotel to the nearest gas station. In recent times, the remedy for this navigating trauma has been the introduction of a variety of GPS systems that help you map or navigate your way through any location in the country. But with so many now available to choose from, how does one compare GPS navigation systems without becoming completely overwhelmed?

Differences Between Devices

As you compare GPS navigation systems, you’ll notice there may be subtle differences between them based on brand, model, and price range. Of course, different companies are going to compete with each other to try to put out the best brands and models in each price category. And you can also expect for companies to have their models compete with each other based on price so that you can eventually be coerced into the more expensive models. However, the more reliable companies have done a pretty good job of keeping an appropriate balance between prices and features so that you can feel that you get the right number of features for the price you’re paying.

Choosing a Device

Now is the hard part. It’s time to compare GPS navigation systems so that you can choose the one you want to take home with you. There are many ways to begin your comparison process, but here are a few suggested ways to get started:

Look for Online Reviews – You can find a lot of great reputable information from online sources. However, anyone can create a website for as little as five dollars and a few HMTL skills. This means, anyone can put up true or false information about any topic. So be sure that your source is semi-reputable, and visit a variety of sources for consistency.

Visit in Person – Of course, you want to visit several devices in person before purchasing. Why? Because it is especially important that you know what you’re getting with navigation devices –you rely on the size of the screen, functionality, and many other hands-on features for operation. So when you decide to compare GPS navigation systems, be sure to visit an electronics store in your area to see which one you like – then you can purchase it online at a discount.

A Few Recommendations

Now that I’ve given you suggestions on how you can compare GPS navigation systems effectively, here are a handful that have great reputations on the market. This doesn’t mean these are the ones for you. Instead, just look at them as starter devices to help you compare.

TomTom GO 700 – This company has a pretty good reputation for handing out quality devices; and in particular, the GO 700 is known as a great one in its price category of about $300. For this price, you get Assisted Satellite Navigation, maps of both the US and Canada, traffic and weather updates, and Bluetooth capabilities. However, the best part for many is that it’s portable, which means you can switch cars if necessary.

Garmin Nuvi 350 – Unlike the TomTom product that sits at a lower price, the Nuvi 350 is closer to a four-digit price, but Garmin has one of the best reputations in the industry for accuracy, so they make you pay for their quality. With this device, you get a traveler’s reference, spoken directions, touchscreen controls, an SD memory card slot, a digital entertainment system, real-time traffic and weather updates, and automatic reroutes – a lot of features!

Magellan RoadMate 2000 – This device is the cheapest on the list, costing around $200, but you get a good amount for the price, including an easy-to-read touchscreen, great 2D and 3D maps, easy-to-understand instructions, and automatic reroutes in the even of a traffic jam. If you like simple and inexpensive, this is the way to go.

To properly compare GPS navagation systems is to truly know who you are. If you like a lot of gadgets in your everyday life then you’ll want a system with gadgets. If you like simple, go with a simple (and probably inexpensive) system. If you feel overwhelmed when you compare GPS navigation systems, slow down and return to this article. I guarantee in a short amount of time, you’ll have the perfect device for you in your hands.

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