Garmin

Remanufactured GPS Unit – Worth The Discount?

 If you’re looking for your first GPS navigation device or wanting to upgrade a different make or model, a remanufactured GPS unit, also called a refurbished GPS unit, may be just the thing for you.

Like a lot of consumer electronic equipment, the price, features and quality of GPS devices can cover a wide range. Prices for some basic models can start under $100 and climb quickly to over $1,000 depending on exactly what you’re looking for. Refurbished GPS devices should have the latest map and software updates installed as well as quality checks to make sure that all functions are working as they should.

A remanufactured GPS unit should also offer a one year manufacturers warranty. If the seller is unwilling or unable to provide this level of protection, I would move on and find a seller that could.

Used GPS devices are available from most major manufacturers including Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, Lowrance and many others.  You will want to look for the following important details before making a final decision:

* Manufacturers warranty
* Updated software and maps
* Significant price reduction compared to new model
* Reputable dealer with good history and customer feedback

You can have the GPS system you want at a fraction of the cost by purchasing a name brand, reconditioned GPS unit.   Click Here to get the best price on brand name, factory refurbished GPS devices from Garmin, Magellan, TomTom and others.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Paul Julian - October 27, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Categories: GPS Navigation, Garmin, Product Reviews, Remanufactured GPS   Tags: , , , ,

Automotive Gps Units

As with most gadgets new models of the same device are always being released. The Garmin Street Pilot GPS line has released their 7200 model which is supposed to be the latest, greatest thing in the world of GPS. The question is-is the Magellan GPS better than the earlier models?

The Features:

• The largest display screen yet at a whopping 7 inches.

• Text to voice command calls out driving directions and gives you a choice of voices.

• Auto calculates routes to any destination.

• Comes equipped with a built in A/V connector which allows you to hook up to a portable DVD player.

• Connects to either a Clear Channel or XM channel for up to the minute traffic and weather reports.

• Has a built in MP3 player and audio book player for driving entertainment.

A Very Entertaining GPS

This version of the Automotive GPS Units comes with many new bells and whistles. You can easily drag and drop music from your computer to your 7200 GPS without the need for extra software. Listening to audio books is also an option-great for long commutes or even longer road trips when regular radio stations are not available.

You also have the ability to hook up a portable DVD player and entertain those kids so you don’t have to hear “Are we there yet?” as much. All in all the Garmin Company has done a great job of adding extra entertainment features but these are all extras. When you’re buying a GPS for driving purposes does this newer and more expensive model really earn its keep?

So does it Get You There?

Most customers of this latest Magellan GPS say the driving directions are very accurate. They love the huge screen which makes reading the displayed maps very easy. The added bonus of being able to pick up traffic and driving related weather conditions via two radio station options (Clear Channel or XM satellite) seems to be a real winner with the users of the 7200 Garmin GPS.

This model also lets you customize your driving routes to avoid certain areas or roads and gets you out of traffic jams en route with a quick recalculation. Most people who purchased this unit also rave about the model’s easy plug and play abilities. Simply mount this gadget to your dashboard, turn it on and you’re ready to start plotting your first driving route.

The Downside

Every gadget has its flaws and this model of the Garmin Street Pilot GPS is no exception. The most common complaints where that this model does not display street names on the displayed map like other, slightly older models do. This can be tricky if you want to plot a new route on the go and do not know what street you’re currently on. On the same note, some users claimed that unless you were driving on a major freeway this Garmin GPS system did not announce the names of the exit routes available.

There were also a few complaints about the mounting hardware that hold the Garmin Street Pilot 7200 in place. The hardware has to be permanently mounted to the dashboard which didn’t go over well with some. Yet others claimed they liked the mounting system and that the Garmin was easy to put in and take out of the mounting system, making it very portable. So it depends on if a permanent attachment to your dashboard bothers you or not.

The Bottom Line

Overall if you’re looking for a GPS that does more than just tell you where to go this is probably the unit for you. Alternately, if viewing street names on your maps is important to you then you may want to skip this newest version of the Garmin Street Pilot and instead try the Magellan Maestro 3200. It does not have all the extras as the Garmin does but it does show all street names and is less expensive.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Paul Julian - at 4:19 am

Categories: GPS Navigation, Garmin, Technology and Gadgets   Tags: , , ,

Garmin nuvi 750 Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Garmin’s nuvi 750 brings two exciting new features — multi-destination routing and, “Where am I?/Where’s my car?” — to its popular pocket-sized GPS navigator lineup. Other features include spoken directions in real street names, MP3 player and photo viewer, and an FM transmitter that will play voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle’s stereo system.

The super-bright, touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light.aesthetically pleasing unit, it has a large screen and is thin and easy to put in a pocket and take with you. The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen.

Tired of getting lost in the mall parking lot? The Garmin nuvi 750 offers something new to help drivers find their car. All nüvi 700s automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount. That’s important for safety as well as convenience.

Check the lowest prices available for the Garmin nuvi 750 and other Garmin products.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Paul Julian - October 9, 2008 at 10:47 am

Categories: GPS Navigation, Garmin, Portable GPS   Tags: , , , , ,

Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

 Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS NavigatorNavigate without breaking your budget with nüvi 200. This affordable entry-level personal travel assistant comes with preloaded maps for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

For even more mapping options, nüvi 250 features preloaded maps for all of North America, while the transatlantic nüvi 270 includes preloaded maps for both continents. Like all nuvi 200-series members, the 200 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design–perfect for everyday navigation.

The nüvi 200 is built with a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 5.2 ounces.

The nüvi 200’s 3.5-inch (diagonal) display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.nüvi 200 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination.

Find the best prices on the Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Paul Julian - October 8, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Categories: GPS Navigation, Garmin, Portable GPS   Tags: , , , ,

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