Driving with GPS-GPS buying guide

  In-car navigation isn‘t for everyone; the price alone will cause many people to forgo this technology in favor of the good old paper map. However, if you drive for a living, or like to visit different places on the spur of the moment, GPS can make the driving more enjoyable, leading you to major attractions or guiding you through quiet, scenic back roads. As a business tool, GPS can be a tremendous aid for field service or delivery personnel, or if you frequent different cities on business trips. As the technology advances and we start seeing more real-time traffic report capabilities, it will be easier to avoid the bumper-to-bumper grind.

 

   Like any technology, GPS isn‘t foolproof. You still have to rely on a strong satellite signal to pinpoint your position on the planet, so if you‘re driving in a heavily wooded area or an urban jungle, you have to have a good idea of where you‘ve been and where you‘re going, as you may no longer be tracking your actual location. It‘s important to remember that GPS is a navigation aid that will enhance your driving experience, not an automatic pilot. Still, if you‘re prone to wrong turns and are constantly getting lost, this technology is for you.

   Nearly all vehicle GPS systems come with a warning stating that drivers should not enter information into the unit while operating the vehicle. Some models actually lock the on-screen keyboard and touch-screen capabilities while the vehicle is moving as a safety precaution. Unless the device has the capability to accept voice commands, searching and creating routes while in motion should be left to a passenger, even if it comes with a remote control. With voice-guided driving directions, the driver doesn‘t have to glance at the screen; instead, it‘s a matter of waiting for the voice prompts to get you moving in the right direction.

   Other than helping you get from place to place, automotive GPS systems offer little else in the way of entertainment, although we‘re seeing more models integrate such features as MP3 players, image viewers, and audiobooks. Also, off-road drivers will find GPS useful for exploring unpaved terrain and creating their own rendezvous points and trails based on their latitude and longitude coordinates.