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Portable GPS Reviews and Buying Guide: GPS, or global positioning software, has revolutionized mapping and travel accessories. Many cars have built in GPS navigation systems to assist drivers in finding their way. You can simple type in or say your address or destination and the system will automatically give you a detailed map and verbal directions to the place. Lots of rental cars are offering car gps systems since many travelers find themselves in foreign cities or out in the middle of nowhere with zero clue as to get to their final destination. It's easy to get lost in a city with one-way streets or in large metro areas where freeways zig and zag all over. The portable GPS devices have really taken off in the consumer market as they have dropped in price and become more affordable to the average person. Garmin and Magellan are perhaps the two biggest brand names in portable GPS devices. The Garmin Nuvi is my personal favorite but the Magellan Roadmate is a pretty good deal as well. Unlike GPS systems that are built into your car, a portable device can be taken anywhere. These handheld GPS units are ideal for walking through cities, hooking them up in a friends car as you drive across your state, and using them while on a hike in the backcountry. A personal navigational system can be the difference between life and death. Recently we had a person die up in Oregon when they lost their way in a snow storm while crossing a mountain pass. If that person had carried a portable GPS device they could have stayed calm and probably found the shortest way back to civilization and saved themselves. Many mountain climbers are now required to carry a GPS tracking device on them while doing their climbs so that in case of emergency they can be found and rescued quite easily. Portable GPS devices cost between $250 and $1500. The models under $500 are excellent in terms of navigational directions but require a bit more effort on your part. You will have to load maps on the device using a memory card with budget models versus the expensive ones that have more features. The screens are fairly small on the cheaper handheld gps systems, but don't let that deter you from getting one. Look for ones that have a mount which you can easily hook up in your car or on your motorcycle. Most will operate just fine through your cars battery, but some have rechargeable batteries so you can use it up to 15 hours. The moderately priced GPS units (under $500) will fit in your pocket if you plan on taking them into a city for walking directions. You want the menus to be easy to read and intuitive - it shouldn't take more than a few touches on the screen to find a restaurant, gas station, or even a hotel. Touch screens are essential to easy navigation. Find a model that has text to speech technology so it can read street names and not just give general directions. We found some great reviews online at CNET, GPSreview.com, PCMag.com, and Amazon.com. Consumer Reports did a recent portable GPS device test and found several models to be "best buy" candidates. Electronics retailers carry GPS units like CirCuit City, Best Buy, Frys Electronics, and Radio Shack. You can find them online at Amazon, Dell, Buy.com, and Tigergps.com. Best Handheld GPS Device: The Garmin Nuvi 660 ($500) has come down in price to make it the best choice for handheld gps. It is really like having a personal navigational assistant with maps for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The 4.3 inch screen is definitely wide enough to view even while driving your car and following directions. I like the fact the screen is easy to read during the daylight hours as well as in the evening. The colorful widescreen has simple, yet intuitive menus that let you choose from recent destinations, hotels, restaurants, etc. You get 3D or 2D map perspectives and turn by turn voice directions that will actually speak the street names. Just listen and follow the Nuvi to final location. Get traffic updates on the Nuvi as well. The vehicle suction cup mount allows you put the Nuvi on your dashboard and pay attention to the driving while it navigates. These devices are truly a great invention and most cars will have some kind of GPS device within a few years. The Garmin GPS Nuvi is so small it fits in the palm of your hand and works as a portable GPS unit when walking through cities as well. Available online at Amazon.com or in stores like Circuit City and Best Buy. Cell Phones With GPS: Owning a cell phone with built in GPS could save your life. There are countless stories of hikers or car accident victims who call 911 or another rescue service and the authorities are able to locate them through GPS coordinates. The Nokia N95 has built-in GPS mapping and location-based mobile search for about $650. The FCC is working on requiring 95% of all cellular phones to have GPS services built into them. Look for phones like the Apple iPhone to include GPS functions in future models. Top Rated Portable GPS: Three models come to the forefront in the portable GPS device market - the Garmin StreetPilot C330, the Magellan Roadmate, and the TomTom One. All are priced at $300 or less and give the end user a good experience and the ability to find their way by using directions and maps provided by the unit. The Garmin StreetPilot c330 Vehicle GPS Navigator ($199) is a great under $200 GPS device that works best while traveling in cars. The database features up to 6 million points of interest ranging from ATMs to gas stations to hotels. The 3.5 inch screen is easy to read and bright enough to see with a 16-bit color display. The unit comes pre-installed with street maps, although some reviewers on Amazon say the data is a touch old. You can get updates from Garmin for a fee. For a bit more you can buy the Magellan Roadmate 2000 for $240 which was given a Consumer Reports "best buy" award. You get one-touch access to detailed maps and the 3.5 inch color touch screen display is simple to navigate. The pocket sized unit is great for business or personal travel needs and the built-in battery lets you take the device on the move for up to 3 hours. Lastly, the TomTom One is another "value" buy when it comes to portable GPS units. Selling for just less than $240 it's considered the best selling portable navigation device. The pre-loaded maps and sleek design are what make this unit a top seller. The 3.5 inch screen is more than enough to view your destination and find the fastest way there. Comes with a 2 year warranty and it Bluetooth compatible. © 1999-2008 Funskins.com - Product Reviews