Authored by Phil Dotree in Gadgets
Published on 11-01-2009
A good GPS can be great for drivers. Even if you’re good with directions, a GPS helps you navigate in unfamiliar areas. They can help you find nearby points of interest. They also usually don’t require any sort of monthly cost, and are update-able. The only problem with most GPS units is their cost–they tend to be expensive. Luckily, costs are dropping.
Here is a look at a few of the best rated GPS devices you can own for under $200.
1. Magellan RoadMate 1212 – Magellan specializes in cheap GPS units. They’re not shabby at all on features or durability, either. They’re very decent devices. The Roadmate 1212 can be found for under $100. It has a 3.5″ color, touch display. Points of interest are accurate and comprehensive. The whole device can be updated via a USB connection. It’s also built fairly rugged. I’ve used this GPS for over a year, and have done some dumb stuff to it. It’s been left out in cold and hot cars and dropped. It still functions very well. A 3 hour rechargeable battery can be charged from your car’s cigarette lighter. The Magellan RoadMate 1212 is great for drivers that want a cheap GPS for occasional use.
2. Garmin nüvi 265WT – Garmin’s a well known manufacturer of awesome car GPS units. With the Garmin nüvi 265WT, it’s easy to see why. The GPS has accurate maps and some really incredible features. Figure out the elevation level of various routes. Set proximity alerts for points of interest. Choose from several ways to map out a possible route to your destination. The Garmin nüvi 265WT also has a voice prompt that says the names of individual streets. This makes it a cool GPS to use if you don’t like the idea of constantly glancing over at its 4.3″ screen. The Garmin nüvi 265WT usually sells for around $180 online.
3. TomTom GO 720 – TomTom has consistently high-rated GPS devices. This particular model is a newer member of their product line. The TomTom GO 720 also goes for about $150, and has its own comprehensive list of cool features. TomTom uses “MapShare” technology to let GPS users around the globe share the best routes to certain places. You can also record your own voice prompts. Granted, I would be especially annoyed if my own voice came out of my GPS. If you’re a bit of a narcissist or a masochist, it’s a fun feature. This GPS can even interact with your phone. A very superior GPS from TomTom.
4. Magellan RoadMate 1470 – Another fine GPS from Magellan. This GPS is extremely simple for anyone to use. Points of interest are represented by simple touch points. Directions are spoken by street name with high quality text to speech. Quickspell helps you enter destination names in far less time. There’s even life traffic info. This is my favorite GPS made by Magellan. It’s absolutely a steal at only about $170-180 from some online retailers. A great car GPS to give as a gift.
Do you know of another great GPS for under $200? We’d love to hear from you. Post in the comments section below this article.
