There are a few different types of GPS devices on the market today and although they are all somewhat similar in functionality each one is built for a special type of user.
The four basic types are Mobile Handheld, Sport, Navigational and the Geographic Information System Device.
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Garmin Etrex Venture HC GPS Receiver publisher: Garmin price: |
The Mobile Handheld Device is typically used by the hiker, boater or hunter. It usually has the functionality to load maps, tracks and waypoints and many times it will function the same as a Navigational GPS device with a little less thrills because it has a more limited battery lifetime. This unit is made to be a little bit more rugged because the target user is more of an outdoor, backroad or trail type of person.
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Garmin Forerunner 201 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer publisher: Garmin price: |
The Sport Device is the smallest of all the GPS devices on the market. It is made to be lightweight and attached on the person using it. They are rugged, but not quite as much as the handheld devices. These are mainly targeted to mountain bikers, runners, walkers or someone who will want to collect their data without a lot of interaction with the device. You’ll find the screen is a lot smaller, even black and white and in general the device is a lot less interactive.
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TomTom ONE XL 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Maps of the U.S. and Canada publisher: TomTom price: |
The Navigational Device is fully interactive and targeted to those who want to tell the device where they are going and let it do all of the route planning for them. These devices will usually have a larger type screen and talk to the user when giving the user navigational data so it has a real hands off approach because you’re supposed to have both hands on the wheel when you’re driving. Most of these devices are removable and have a battery pack built into them, the battery life is a lot shorter on this type of device because of the large screen and interactivity. The Navigational system is usually sold with a set of fairly current map data which includes almost every paved road in the area that it is purchased. These devices don’t excel in an off the beaten path environment.
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Magellan 980781 eXplorist AC Wall Adapter publisher: Magellanprice: |
The Geocaching or Geographic Information System Device is probably the most expensive of all GPS systems and aimed at a more industrial type of usage, it is usually a PDA with a GPS built into it. These types are generally more accurate because they are used in a professional environment to collect, store and manipulate geographical information. They are used for mapping geography, sampling of water or earth, planning infrastructure and many, many other things. Some of these devices are now coming out with a system developed by Nikon that allows a camera and a GPS to pair via a bluetooth connection that allows the camera to record positional data from the GPS. This feature now makes data collection with a visual recording one easy step.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a GPS think about what you want to use it for, for what and how it will help you. GPSs are now coming built into some cellular phones and PDAs as well. With some of the explanations that are here you’ll be better informed to know what you’ll want to buy.
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