Training wheels: in-car GPS devices for beginners
Bonnie Cha,
Senior Associate Editor
May 11, 2006
In theory, driving from point A to point B shouldn't be such a difficult task, but sometimes you miss exits, and sometimes you're just plain lost. Do yourself a favor and get a little roadside assistance from an in-car GPS device. If you've been reluctant to invest in these navigation gadgets because they're too complex or expensive, don't be. These five systems are easy to use right out of the box and affordable, but more important, they provide text and voice-guided directions, automatic route recalculation (in case you veer off course), and a healthy points-of-interest database. See if one is right for you.
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| Price | $148.95 | $299.99 | $629.99 | $579.99 | $214.95 |
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| Review date | November 14, 2005 | May 09, 2005 | May 11, 2006 | October 11, 2005 | February 09, 2005 |
| The Bottom Line | Don't let its diminutive size fool you--the Garmin StreetPilot i series is a powerful, feature-rich GPS system with an extremely user-friendly interface. | The Garmin StreetPilot c330 may lack some of the features found in its more expensive siblings, but it's accurate and easy to use. | The Lowrance iWay 350c delivers solid GPS performance at a reasonable price, and it offers a few cool entertainment features normally found in more expensive models. | The TomTom GO 300 delivers lightning-fast route calculations, colorful maps, and concise audible driving directions. We only wish the screen were easier to view in bright sunlight. | Magellan's RoadMate 300 lacks some of the features found on more expensive vehicle navigation systems, but it's still a solid performer. |
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| Features | |||||
| Included GPS accessories | PC cable Car power adapter Windshield holder 128 MB TransFlash Card | PC cable Car power adapter Windshield holder | USB cable Mounting bracket Car power adapter | SD Card PC cable Carrying case AC power adapter Mounting bracket Car power adapter | PC cable Mounting bracket Car power adapter |
| Audible assistance | Info unavailable | Navigation instructions | Navigation instructions | Navigation instructions | Navigation instructions |
| GPS PC connection | USB | USB | USB | USB | USB |
| SBAS system | WAAS | WAAS | WAAS | Info unavailable | WAAS |
| GPS receiver | 12 channel | 12 channel | 16 channel | 12 channel | 14 channel |
| Antenna | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Detachable |
| Weight | 5.3 oz | 10.4 oz | Info unavailable | 10.9 oz | 9 oz |
| System features | Custom POIs Built-in speaker | Info unavailable | Built-in speaker Preinstalled POIs Built-in FM modulator 2D / 3D map perspective | Preinstalled POIs TomTom PLUS ready 2D / 3D map perspective TomTom PLUS ready (via Bluetooth) Optional external GPS antenna connection | Built-in speaker Preinstalled POIs 2D / 3D map perspective |
| Destination | Automotive | Automotive | Automotive | Automotive | Automotive |
| Included GPS software | MapSource City Select North America NT | MapSource City Select North America NT | NAVTEQ ON BOARD | TomTom GO USA TomTom GO Canada | Magellan RoadMate USA and Canada maps |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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