Portable GPS Is For More Than Cars

Fort Wayne, IN - USA - September 17, 2010


GPS navigational devices are some of the most sought out “technology toys” in the US. Although many consider these devices to be “toys”, they’re also very helpful on the road as a Portable GPS system will usually guide you to your destination effortlessly and mistake free. The highest-rated Portable GPS models make it especially easy to enter destinations and they give the most helpful directions, some even by voice.

The most widely used Portable GPS devices are the Car GPS units, but there are Portable GPS units for fitness activities like running & cycling as well as devices made specifically for motorcycles, hunting & hiking, golf, and marine usage. You can even purchase Portable GPS devices for tracking your hunting dog. You can even get GPS technology on many smartphone types these days. The most popular manufacturers of these GPS units are TomTom, Magellan, Garmin, and Lowrance.

“A year or two ago, we never would have recommended portable GPS systems,” said Tom Mutchler, auto test engineer for Consumer Reports. “But now, in many cases, they make much more sense than the car manufacturer’s factory systems.” Tom Mutchler also said, “$150-200 can buy a very strong aftermarket global positioning satellite system, whereas car buyers spend upwards of $2,000 to add GPS as an option in their new vehicle”.

Aside from the cost, other advantages of the portable systems include the ability to use one system for multiple cars and to easily upgrade as new technology becomes available. That’s not to say the in-car systems don’t have some pretty major advantages of their own. First of all, they come with bigger screens, in general, and they’re clearly much more resistant to theft. It’s just a matter of whether the added expense is worth it. The one technology that may tip the scale in favor of the factory systems is voice recognition, according to Mutchler.

But high-end systems don’t necessarily mean buyers have to spend high-end dollars on their cars. Top-notch GPS systems are trickling down into lower-cost vehicles, including compact cars like the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Ford Focus. Honda’s system is hard to beat. Acura, Honda’s luxury brand, was the first to offer real-time traffic condition updates in its RL sedan, which has been a big hit with drivers.

There are pro’s and con’s regardless of the route you decide to go when purchasing a GPS Unit, but your options are plentiful.

More information on different Portable GPS products can be found at: http://gps-portable.net

Contact Information

Steven Hollingsworth

Media Coordinator

GPS Portable

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