I want to get a nice portable GPS navigation device, and I’m not against paying more for quality. However, most of the high end navigation devices I’ve looked at come with crazy features that I know that I’m never going to use (e.g., mp3 player, iPod port, bluetooth calling, etc.) I’m concerned that what makes these things cost more is not improved accuracy and usability of the navigation device itself, but these extraneous features.
What I’m looking for is an accurate, reliable device that will give me good directions and allow me to change the route (bypass certain roads or highways, add additional stops) as I please, without all the bells and whistles that are not directly related to navigation.
A good place to start is www.cnet.com. They’ve reviewed tons of GPS devices and give a good overview for the different features. Keep in mind though, it’s not particularly detailed and a lot of it is subjective.
Do you want a bigger screen? Do you want to be able to input multiple destinations (or optimize the route)? Do you want to be able to view the detailed directions list? Do you want a lot of up-to-date points of interest? Sometimes the menus are not intuitive, but maybe that doesn’t bother you.
One of the most popular - and well reviewed - ones is the Garmin 350. I think Costco has the Garmin 750, which has a few more features, right now for $199, which is a good price.
I have one from www.intellinav.com. It’s pretty basic, and probably overpriced, but I really like the fact that it has a detailed directions list (so you can check where you’ll be going ahead of time) and it tells you what side of the street your destination is on.