The main GPS navigation product manufacturer in terms of number of units sold is Garmin. They continually bring out more products to keep up with the need for GPS navigation products for more and better GPS performance. That and the competition from their chief rival, TomTom, keep them busy. There’s no doubt of the fact that the functionality and reliability of GPS navigation devices have improved over the past two or three years, and as long as people keep their maps current, there are fewer and fewer stories of drivers getting lost. One aspect that specifically helps is the ease with which the new array of Garmin GPS devices locks onto the satellites quicker and more reliably. This was probably one of the primary problems with their previous products—and not just Garmin because TomTom had similar problems. The advance in technology has meant that this aspect of GPS navigation has improved. Let’s have a look in more detail than at the new Garmin releases.
The Nuvi 2200 and 2300 series are currently being released by Garmin, and there are plenty of features to look at when comparing and contrasting the different units. By far the most difficult thing for potential buyers is to find out what the differences are between them because some of them can be quite subtle. There is certainly a wide range of recommended retail prices ranging from $159.99 for the Nuvi 2250 up to $299.99 for the Nuvi 2360 and Nuvi 2370. Of course, these products are available or will be available if they have not yet been released, for less than this. You have to shop around to find the best bargain.
Let us look into what some of the main differences are in the various models. The top-of-the-range products come with voice-activated navigation. This is a great feature for those of us who like to be able to keep our hands free while driving. The mid-and upper-range devices have lane and junction assist. This gives a warning of which lane to be in at any time. The top-range models also come with a 3-D building view. This is good if you are one of those people who can imagine their position from a 3-D perspective. It might also be confusing to some users.
Another thing that separates the higher-priced GPS units is the Bluetooth support. This is a great feature for hooking up your cell phone or any other Bluetooth-enabled device to your GPS.
Screen sizes are either 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch depending on the model. It is amazing what detail can fit onto such screens. To look at the new devices look very similar or even identical. It doesn’t help that Garmin uses similar graphics on their product pictures, and that makes it difficult to know which one you are looking at.
The new Nuvi 2200 and 2300 series are being released between the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. This means there will be no shortage of new devices to choose from. With TomTom also developing new products, there is plenty to keep GPS buyers happy.