If you’re looking for some cheap portable GPS systems, you’ve reached the right place. There are not many quality devices on the market that are also considered discount or cheap, however there are a few. In this article, we will look at the handful that have a good reputation in the industry for being accurate and reputable, while at the same time offering great prices for some additional features. Want to know which ones they are? Let’s get started!
Cheap vs. Quality
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that you can find cheap portable GPS systems that will offer some type of high quality performance. But many companies are now finding that if they keep the quality and simply eliminate some of the features they can sell them at a cheaper price. For example, Garmin has been around for several years selling top-of-the-line systems to willing customers, however many of their units can get into the “pricey” category. But recently that have determined that it is just as profitable to offer less expensive products to a capture a wider market – and it worked! Now they have plenty to offer making them and their customers happy.
What Products Are Available?
There are quite a few cheap portable GPS systems (falling at or below the $250 mark) currently available. Let’s take a look at a few:
Garmin StreetPilot c340 – This unit is priced at around $200 and gives a good name to the cheap portable GPS systems on the market. It definitely does not offer everything the more expensive ones do, but what it does offer is standard navigation features, a beautiful 3D view, an easy to understand touchscreen, and a very long battery life (approximately 8 hours). Some additional features you can look forward to with this unit include a photo sharing option, and some games. So while it’s not the most impressive unit, it gets the job done and even offers a few extras, making it worth its
Cobra Handheld Navigator – This portable navigation unit is great because it can be used on the roads and off, making it a versatile addition to the list of cheap portable GPS systems. It includes maps of the continental United States, as well as some cities, territories, and boundaries in both Canada and Europe. So if you like to travel, and like simplicity, this unit with a $250 price tag is worth investigating further.
Magellan RoadMate 2000 – For about 250 bucks, you can get a lot of features in an attractive package. The Magellan RoadMate 2000 is simple, but very handy. First and foremost, it is a great navigation system that offers turn-by-turn voice and visual instruction that helps you avoid traffic and the highways and major roads. It offers an intuitive touchscreen menu that provides access to advanced applications like multi-destination routing, SmartDetour and QuickSpell. And it also offers access to over 1 million points of interests so that you can avoid looking up the address to every business or public location in your city and beyond – it’s already stored in the device for you!
TomTom One – TomTom, like the other companies on the list, is known for releasing reliable systems that get the job done and then some. This particular model is very simple, which is why it comes with a $200 (and sometimes less) price tag. It is extremely accurate with great mapping directions and a user-friendly touchscreen. In addition, it has preloaded 2D and 3D maps of the entire United States and Canada (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico). It offers audible turn-by-turn directions in over 30 languages and in over 50 different voices as it announces the streets you are approaching. And it has a great MapShare feature that lets you and others who own TomTom devices improve the maps you all share as you notice changes in your local geography. It doesn’t have the MP3 player and other entertainment features that some other devices offer, but it does give you a great deal of functionality for your money. What more can you ask for?
As you see from this article, cheap portable GPS systems don’t necessary equal lesser quality. In fact, you may find that by purchasing the more expensive units, you are acquiring a lot of features you just don’t need. So the next time you are looking at cheap portable GPS systems, don’t turn your nose up at them. Instead see what they can do for you. You might be surprised at their quality.
By: Jeffrey Meier
Posts Tagged ‘Job’
4 Factors to Consider When Choosing an Auto GPS
October 24th, 2009
There are many factors in choosing an GPS for your auto. Most depend on personal likes, dislikes and wants. Some factors do boil down to hard points.
They are:
· The receiver.
· The number of points of interest.
· Quality of the routes.
· Price
The receiver you want is the SiRF’s high performance. SiRF Star III chipset is a must have. This receiver enables you to get reception in areas you have not in the past, like behind tall buildings and in canyons. Reviewers have praised the SiRFstarIII chipset for its superior sensitivity and tracking capabilities. GPS receivers based on this chipset have routinely performed better than receivers based on other chipsets. All the models form the top manufactures utilize this receiver. However you co need to be careful. There are GPS units from top manufactures without this chipset still in the market place. Also some units with this receiver have been discontinued. Check out my blog to see a list of GPS units to avoid.
The next feature is the number of points of interest the unit comes with. This varies from a few hundred thousand to several million. These points of interest are important when you need to find a gas station fast. A general rule is the more expensive the GPS the more points of interest it will have. Points of Interests can also be added. The process varies by GPS. I know with some TomTom units you can add your own from your computer.
The quality of the routes is the heart of the GPS. The routes are why we buy and use GPS’s. Even with the same receiver and maps the routes will vary between units because of the algorisms used the route will vary. Garmin is ranked by most as the best. Magellan is ranked a close seconded. TomTom is ranked third among the top the manufactures.
Price is a factor because it affects the features you will be able to get. There are many excellent base units the do the basic GPS job. The base models are hundreds of dollars less than the top end models. For example, if you are willing to give up a FM transmitter and MSN for live traffic and you could save as much as $400.00.
The process of choosing a GPS for your auto should look like this:
· Set a maximum price to spend.
· Make sure you are getting the SiRF Star III chipset.
· Review the customer ratings. Every manufacture is capable of producing a poor model.
· Look at the number of points of interest included. Also research the cost of adding more points of interest to the unit.
Do these things and you should be able to find the best auto GPS for you.
By: Alton Morris
