Loading ...15 Things Better Than An Ugly Tie: GPS Navigation System
67% of all divorces in the United States are caused by women nagging Men about directions while traveling. I’d certainly be on my 2nd wife by now had it not been for my Garmin Nuvi 660. GPS has revolutionized the way people travel and consequently the way couples fight. Just this past weekend, we hosted several out of town guests and everytime we asked, “do you know how to get out of here (our neighborhood)” they all responded, “yeah, we have GPS”.
There is a unit out there for everyone and I guarentee once you get one, you won’t know how you lived life without it. From finding the closest Panera coming home from a family vacation to finding the best Steak House in the middle of your out-of-town golf outing, GPS systems are priceless. The biggest problem is that there are so many features to choose from it’s tough to know which one to purchase. Once again, never fear fellow Mantuarians. The Founding Father is here to show you how to pick one that’s just right for you.
First, you’ll want to identify what features you want your GPS to include. Here are some common ones and my opinion on each of them:
Screen Size - This is one area I did not scrimp on. Good GPS systems have touch screens that get you through the many menus and options available. Finding the closest BBQ joint with your fingers can be tough enough, and doing it while driving can be downright dangerous. If you have sausage fingers like me or are not limber enough to beat Slash on Guitar Hero, you’re gonna need a big screen. I have a 4.3 inch screen on my 660 and use every inch of it. I DEFINITELY suggest you do the same.
MP3 Player - This was one feature I thought I really wanted in my system initially, but unfortunately I can’t remember the last time (or any time) I used it. With the advent of Blackberries, iPods, Sirius Satellite Radio and everything else in between there are simply too many “other” ways to listen to your music and whipping out the GPS system to listen to your Bob Dylan boot legs will not be one of them. Even if it was you should know that the FM transmitters these devices use to play the music through the car radio absolutely SUCK! When traveling, I have a better chance of getting road head out of my wife than of getting an audible song out of my 660 through the FM transmitter. The only time the quality of the music coming through the GPS MP3 player is even remotely acceptable is when it’s plugged directly into headphones or a stereo which sure as hell isn’t going to happen while you’re driving anyway. This is definitely a feature that sounds better than it turns out to be in my opinion. DO NOT make this a requirement when choosing your GPS system.
Bluetooth - This is a tough one. I use the Bluetooth on my GPS every once in awhile, mainly because I have it. More times than not, the person on the other line suggests I sound “remote” or “pingy” and I end up disconecting it and putting the phone up to my ear anyway. That said, there are now states that require you to use a hands-free system while driving, so taking advantage of your GPS’s capabilities in this arena may be a better alternative than this:
FM TMC Traffic Receiver - If you do a lot of traveling in and around major cities (see coverage map below), this is a must have. While I don’t live in the heart of a major city, I’ve been saved multiple times by the FM TMC Traffic Receiver while traveling through them. I would DEFINITELY make this a must-have feature on any GPS.
JPEG Picture Viewer. This is what cell phones and iPods do best. DO NOT consider this a required feature. Save your money for a nice single malt scotch.
Speak Street Names - The only thing more annoying than your wife screaming directions in your ear is this automated version of a female voice doing the same thing. Although it is very accurate and able to say custom location names clearly, I never use this feature and have mine turned off.
Please Note: Even though I DO NOT endorse this feature, there is nothing funnier than having an electronic robo-slut’s voice say, “Now arriving at Big Al’s Pleasure Dome“.
Voice Recognition - I can’t say I’ve ever used Garmin’s voice recognition, but I have tried VR with my Blackberry, Vista Home Computer, and On-Star. Simply put, this technology is still in its infancy and has a long way to go before it is even close to being reliable in my opinion. I can’t imagine Garmin has anything over the other players in this space, so I DO NOT emphasize this feature as a requirement.
In Conclusion - The real value of GPS systems is their ability to get you from point A to point B, which is a function of all models. Be careful not to get too wrapped up in all the extra features that are available. While I will make a pitch for the larger screen size, all the other options are nothing more than marketing ploys that reinvent the wheel. The bottom line is that you want to get from here to there and even the simplest of models will do that for you succesfully. Save the extra bucks for the #1 thing every Man must have this Holiday season…coming soon!
Here are 3 Great GPS systems for every budget:
- The Garmin Nuvi 255W
is the perfect GPS system. All the features you need at a price that can’t be beat. Suggested retail: $279.99.
- I’ve personally got the Garmin Nuvi 660
- Being the Mercedes Benz of GPS, the Garmin Nuvi 880
Be A Man.
-The Founding Father
Filed under: Gadgets & Tech, Seasonal, Stuff You Should Own, Survival
