Portable GPS units

Portable GPS units are drawing the attention of many due to its compact and easy-to-carry features. They can be used conveniently in outdoors by travelers, hikers and bikers. There are also portable car GPS units that you can change from one car to another with ease and there is also price advantage. These units are much cheaper than their in-dash counterparts.

TomTom Rider GPS

The lower end portable GPS units come in small, sleek designs, available for competitive prices and also much easier to use. But for all that, they have some disadvantages such as small screen size, limited memory capacity and lack of features like voice instructions or Bluetooth integration.

However, with high-end portable car GPS units, you get bigger display and larger memory storage options like hard-drive or DVD drive so you can load the complete map of the UK. Most of these high-end models come with hard drive means you upload the required maps once for a while. They also present user-friendly, easy-to-use interface with bright, colour-ful, easy-to-mount, touch-screen LCD display. Other features like MP3 & DVD player, FM radio channels, Bluetooth connectivity and audio books add entertainment element to the regular features.

Car GPS Systems

Car GPS systems are becoming commonplace nowadays. One of the main advantages of having Car GPS unit is that you can use real-time traffic reports so the driving has been never easier, making you feel more relaxed even when you drive through heavy traffic.

Automotive GPS satnav systems come in two designs:

• In-dash or in-car GPS units
• Portable Add-on GPS units

TomTom Go 930 in-car Navigation system

In-dash car satnav unit has to be permanently fixed in the car and you cannot dismantle it so that it can be used in other vehicles. Although, this sounds a drawback, in-dash units offer some of the high end features that you cannot find in lower end portable GPS units. Large, clear display and distinct, text-to-speech voice directions in in-car GPS system quite excel similar features in high end portable car GPS units. Since, you don’t need any accessories with in-dash unit; the whole system looks tidy and sits pretty within the interior of the car. For all that, they are far expensive, nearly cost two times more than the portable units.

TomTom One – Portable Car Navigation System

Portable car GPS system is made up of accessories like suction cup, batteries, antennas and power adapters, wires etc. You would fix the suction cup in the windshield and connect the other accessories with the system. Portable add-on GPS unit are easy to install and remove and can be used in different automotive vehicles.

PDA / Handheld GPS units

Mio P360 PDA GPS unit

Personal Data Assistants or PDAs include Palmtops or Pocket PCs. Using the add-on adaptors you can simply connect your PDA with a Bluetooth enabled GPS Receiver and use it as a navigation tool. Since, the connection uses Bluetooth, you don’t need wires and also provides mobility.

TomTom Navigator 6 (Wireless Bluetooth GPS Receiver)

Some PDAs come with in-built GPS receiver, antennas and preloaded maps and you can take them to anywhere you like with ease. Handheld GPS units are quite useful as it serves two purposes – you can use them just like PCs as well as navigation tool.

GPS enabled cell phones, smart phones

Mio A701 GPS PDA phone (smartphone)

Recently, many cell phones and smart phones come with in-built GPS receiver. With the phone operators offering GPS service along with maps, routes, points of interests and voice guidance, you can use the phone as a navigation device.