This article will discuss the manufacturers of automotive GPS and what features you need to be constantly alert for before you make a purchase. By the end of this article, you should have enough information about auto GPS units to feel armed with the right knowledge and confidence.
First, a few words about the leading three manufacturers in the US.
1) Garmin has the deepest and broadest line of products. Their Nuvi line is attractive for many buyers. These devices have a lot of features packed into a sleek design that can fit into your pocket.
2) Tom Tom is Garmin's biggest competitor in the US that has attained this position due to fierce pricing. Consumer Reports recently listed the GO 920T as one of the best GPS devices to buy. If you buy it now, it will cost you a little over $400.
3) Third place is occupied by Magellan, one of the first companies to enter the automotive GPS market. Their most popular line of products is Maestro for reasons similar to Nuvi. Another great selling feature of Magellan is that they have partnered with AAA and use their tour book pre-programmed into their GPS's.
These three vendors of auto GPS units control almost 90% of the United states market to the point that anyone that has done research will see little reason to buy anything else.
The number of features you should be considering are several.
All auto GPS units have touch screens, pre-loaded maps with at least the lower 48 States and a database of pre-configured destinations, also called Points of Interest (POI's).
Now here are some of the more advanced features you should consider and probably not settle without.
1) Wide, full color, glare-free screen that is at least 4.3-inches when measured across the diagonal. 2) Voice command recognition. 3) Pronunciation of street names instead of "Turn Left Here!".. 4) Advanced re-routing or the ability to enter more than one destination. 5) Bluetooth capability so that you can use the GPS hands-free while focusing on traffic and road conditions. 6) Instant traffic and weather alerts.
Extended maps, street name pronunciation, real-time weather and traffic alerts (needs subscription) amount to an extra $200. Garmin Nuvi does these very well. The wider monitor and Bluetooth can step up the price over the $400 mark. Multiple point routing costs another $50 or $100.
Other, relatively superfluous features, like 'photo album', are offered. For simplicity, I have excluded these less important add-ons. In the automotive GPS marketplace, the competition under the $400 is quite fierce. Above that price mark, Garmin dominates the marketplace. If you are willing to spend more, I recommend you look at Garmin's 700 and 800 product line.
To a first-time buyer, the automotive GPS marketplace seems overwhelming. It is natural to not consider several things. But by reading an article like this will help you wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units somewhat better.
First, a few words about the leading three manufacturers in the US.
1) Garmin has the deepest and broadest line of products. Their Nuvi line is attractive for many buyers. These devices have a lot of features packed into a sleek design that can fit into your pocket.
2) Tom Tom is Garmin's biggest competitor in the US that has attained this position due to fierce pricing. Consumer Reports recently listed the GO 920T as one of the best GPS devices to buy. If you buy it now, it will cost you a little over $400.
3) Third place is occupied by Magellan, one of the first companies to enter the automotive GPS market. Their most popular line of products is Maestro for reasons similar to Nuvi. Another great selling feature of Magellan is that they have partnered with AAA and use their tour book pre-programmed into their GPS's.
These three vendors of auto GPS units control almost 90% of the United states market to the point that anyone that has done research will see little reason to buy anything else.
The number of features you should be considering are several.
All auto GPS units have touch screens, pre-loaded maps with at least the lower 48 States and a database of pre-configured destinations, also called Points of Interest (POI's).
Now here are some of the more advanced features you should consider and probably not settle without.
1) Wide, full color, glare-free screen that is at least 4.3-inches when measured across the diagonal. 2) Voice command recognition. 3) Pronunciation of street names instead of "Turn Left Here!".. 4) Advanced re-routing or the ability to enter more than one destination. 5) Bluetooth capability so that you can use the GPS hands-free while focusing on traffic and road conditions. 6) Instant traffic and weather alerts.
Extended maps, street name pronunciation, real-time weather and traffic alerts (needs subscription) amount to an extra $200. Garmin Nuvi does these very well. The wider monitor and Bluetooth can step up the price over the $400 mark. Multiple point routing costs another $50 or $100.
Other, relatively superfluous features, like 'photo album', are offered. For simplicity, I have excluded these less important add-ons. In the automotive GPS marketplace, the competition under the $400 is quite fierce. Above that price mark, Garmin dominates the marketplace. If you are willing to spend more, I recommend you look at Garmin's 700 and 800 product line.
To a first-time buyer, the automotive GPS marketplace seems overwhelming. It is natural to not consider several things. But by reading an article like this will help you wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units somewhat better.
About the Author:
Michael Torc is a member of Mensa, a C programmer and a GPS enthusiast. He recommends a visit to http://www.automotivegpscentral.com where a prospective buyer can see what consumers buy and read product reviews written by experienced users. This and other unique content '' articles are available with free reprint rights.
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