Auto navigation systems and GPS devices are everywhere you turn in this day and age. You can find them in your car, boat, plane, even in your purse (if you have a PDA or cell phone with GPS capabilities combined with the right software and/or subscriptions). If that isn't enough for you, you also have the alternative and means of turning your laptop computer into a GPS device if that is what you want. The one thing you will want to evaluate when shopping for a GPS is ease of use.
Handheld GPS and vehicle navigation systems offer reasonable answers to ordinary travel related issues. They will not have all the answers all the time but they can be a great help most of the time. There are many styles and models of GPS and auto navigation systems that are available in today's market. Some people may not completely comprehend all of the smart tricks you can do with your GPS system. Here are a few things you may not have realized you can do with your GPS device.
1) No more lost cars. You can always find the spot where you parked your car by marking it.
2) You can track your route no matter where you go, making it possible to retrace your steps in order to find your way back where you started.
3) Some GPS devices will even allow you to 'go it alone' by offering the option of a digital compass rather than telling you step by step where to go, just verify that this option is available on the model you are considering purchasing.
Keep in mind however that GPS and auto navigation devices are not perfect. There are some problems that the brochures, boxes, and salesmen might have forgotten to mention.
1) You still need to carry around an Atlas or road maps for backups as there are occasions when the data for GPS units may not be current or accurate. Remember that roads are built, close, and in need of repair and maintenance all the time. It's nearly impossible to have one that is always correct up the minute.
2) These devices do not typically work well inside buildings or under dense forest cover.