Price Comparison GPS – Find the Right Model to Fit Your Budget
In this article, I’m going to talk about what you can get from the three major manufacturers of GPS systems and approximately how much it’s going to cost you.
I’m also focusing exclusively on after-market, automotive GPS receivers-not the kind you take hiking, but the kind you see mounted on people’s dashboards. To get started, let’s talk about GPS systems in general first, so you understand what they do, what their basic features are, and what additional features you can upgrade to.
What GPS Systems Do
GPS systems (or receivers) are electronic devices that show you where you are on an electronic map and tell you how to get where you want to go via some sort of voice instructions.
All GPS receivers also have a database of Points of Interest (POIs). These are pre-programmed locations of gas stations, restaurants, state parks, hospitals, well-known buildings, etc. Basically these are public destinations.
GPS receivers also all come with the following:
* A touch screen interface
* A choice of “views”-either 2d, which looks just like a map, or 3d, which looks a little more realistic
* All of these devices auto-calculate your route to your destination. Usually you can choose between shortest or fastest route
* Come pre-loaded with maps. Even most of the base price units have maps of the lower 48 states
Upgrades
Popular upgrades are:
* A wider screen, 4.3 inches diagonally as opposed to 3.5 inches
* Saying the names of the streets, instead of just saying “turn here.”
* More maps
* Bluetooth integration for hands-free calling
* Real-time traffic and weather
* Millions of POIs, instead of a few hundred thousand
* Multiple route calculation
Price Comparison GPS
GPS systems range in price from around $150 for base units to $1,000 for Garmin’s top of the line Street Pilot 7000. You can get a lot of bells and whistles for $200 to $300.
Magellan’s Maestro line currently runs anywhere from about $150 for the Maestro 3100, which has a 3.5 inch screen, maps of the lower 48 states, and about 750,000 POIs. The top of the line Maestro, the 4250, currently runs slightly more than $250. With the 4250, you get a 4.3-inch screen, maps of the U. S. and Canada, 6 million POIs, real-time traffic capability and Bluetooth.
Garmin’s GPS receivers are comparatively priced. Their introductory model, the Nuvi 200 does about the same thing as the Maestro 3100, and runs about the same amount of money. Their top of the line Nuvi 770 currently costs slightly less than $600, but it has every feature imaginable-4.3-inch screen, more maps, huge POI database, says street names, real-time traffic and weather, Bluetooth, and much, much more.
The other main manufacturer, Tom Tom, has fewer models to choose from, but they make a great product and their prices are in line with Magellan’s and Garmin’s. Their base model, the Tom Tom One, runs slightly more than $150. Their top of the line model, the GO 920 has a 4.3-inch screen and all of the other features.
To learn more, your next step needs to be finding an informative website where you can actually browse, look at pictures, and compare models.
Related reading:
Mobile GPS Tracking
Categories: Car GPS System Tags: Budget, Comparison, Find, Model, Price, Right
Tips To Find Hot New Car Accessories
Just about everyone who has invested money in the purchase of a vehicle for their personal use whether it be a car, truck, SUV, minivan or a hot new motorcycle, likes to add or replace some kind of accessory. Even if you already know what you want, what style, color or brand that you want, you might go to several stores in your area and find that it is either too expensive for your budget, or it is out of stock. Sure, they can reorder the car accessory that you want, but it could take a week, two, or more to get it.
The internet is a worldwide shopping mall that provides millions of products so why not take advantage of it to shop for your car accessories. There are a great deal many sites that feature every imaginable, from the simple and plain to the hot new ones that are available now. From decals, “plain Jane” floor mats or mats with colorful graphics to high tech GPS systems and cameras that allow you to see the outside of the back of your vehicle so you can tell just how close you are to something when backing up. If you think about all the accessories in between, it can be mind-boggling. Within that shopping mall is a worldwide web encyclopedia full of information that is literally at your fingertips to help you find the hot new car accessories that you are looking for.
Driving around town to all the different places that will maybe or maybe not have the item you are looking for takes time and money also when you consider the gas you use just to look for it. Internet shopping really is a great alternative when you consider those things.
Another plus is that there hundreds more stores online than there is downtown. Most online vendors supplying car accessories provide free shipping and also same day or next day shipping. That really is quite a deal and you do not have to go anywhere. Prices online are generally a lot less too, saving you even more of your hard earned money.
If you do not already know the exact brand name, style, color, etc. of the car accessory that you want, and you have a little time to spare, you can even ask questions online. Just click on the “contact us” link for the web site. Most sites also provide a phone number you can call so you can talk to a live person and get your questions answered right away and you have the option of making your car accessory purchase while you are on the phone with the salesperson.
No matter what the hot new car accessory is that you are looking for or wanting to replace, you are most sure to find it if you shop for it on the internet. The savings of time and money are a great advantage and you will undoubtedly find another hot new item for your car or truck to consider adding. Another thing to think about too is that it never hurts to have an extra of certain items therefore saving even more time by purchasing that “extra” at the same time.
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Accessories, Find, Tips