What should you be looking for in a GPS unit?

So you have decided that you need a

GPS unitfor your personal use. Well youhave two choices, either an in-car system or a personal handheld device. If youneed to travel a lot, have a bad sense of direction, or you might just want toupgrade yourself to the latest in GPS navigation technology.Manufacturers are offering a growing range of practical applications for this newtechnology. Before you rush in and buy, here are a few things to bear in mindwhen shopping around. I suggest you consider the following:What type of GPS unit is best for your needs?1. If you currently use a street directory, drive alone or travel to unfamiliar areas,then an in-car GPS unit could be of great benefit to you. It will take away all thestress of reading a street directory in unfamiliar areas.2. If you frequently rent a car or use different cars regularly then a fixed in-car system is of little use if you can't take it with you. Then go for a portable, in-car unit.3. If you use a mobile phone, PDA or notebook computer you should consider an add-on to give it GPS functionality. More and more mobile phones areshipping with built-in GPS receivers. Even if your phone doesn't have one of these built-in, there are a range of GPS receivers that can be added on to give itthis functionality.4. If portability is what you are looking for then a compact unit that you can takewith you anywhere is the way to go.5. For in-car use, go for a unit with a large (at least 3.5in) and high qualitydisplay. Choose a unit that can be upgraded (with more memory, extra/newmaps and software upgrades – often via an SD card slot), preferably one thatcan be linked to a PC or notebook via a USB connection for downloading newinformation.6. If your requirement for aGPS unitis primarily for marine navigation, then aspecialist marine GPS unit will offer features you won't find in a land-based unit –like fish finders, depth sounding, information on buoys and navigation aids, andcoastline charts designed more for boating than driving. If you go for a marine-type unit, or are traveling outdoors, make sure the unit you select is water resistant or even better, waterproof.

Important note

: When using a handheld GPS or mobile phone while driving, it isnot just difficult but also dangerous (and most likely, illegal). Make sure it can bemounted securely for in-car use and used hands free where possible.7. You will probably need a continuous power supply for your GPS unit. So, lookfor additional battery packs or a car cigarette lighter adapter for re-charging andcontinuous power.8. If your requirement for a GPS unit is for personal use for recreationalpurposes, then you can’t go past the Handheld GPS device. These devicesrange from simple tracking units in the form of wristwatches to sophisticated highsensitivity GPS receivers with built-in cameras. Most of these devices come withpre-loaded software for normal city life or the rugged outdoor types with software