GPS Systems are fantastic for anyone who drives long distances and needs help with directions. No longer is there the need to use physical maps and get confused. The depth of features contained in a GPS product is usually reflected by the price. This article will provide an overview of two of the most popular manufacturers of GPS Systems: Garmin and TomTom.
Garmin and TomTom are two of the most established sellers of GPS Systems. No doubt you have heard of these brand names before. Both companies produce a variety of portable software, ranging from hand-held devices to global positioning systems.
Garmin was founded in 1989 in Switzerland. It is the parent company of a group of companies formed by Gary Burrel and Min Kao. Hence the name 'Gar-Min'. The company grew rapidly, and had already sold over 3 million GPS systems in the year 2000.
Their main competitors TomTom are a Dutch auto navigation software producer, who also manufacture cell phones and person digital assistants. The company was founded in 1991 by Peter Frans-Pauwels and Peter Geelen. They are currently the leading navigation software producers in Europe.
If you are after a GPS for walking or hiking, then Garmin is the way to go, as TomTom don't offer stand alone units for this purpose. Other than that though, there is not much to separate these two great companies.
Garmin have models that are priced anywhere from $100 up to several hundred. Low end models such as the Nuvi 205 have features like predictive technology and fast satellite lock, but don't have any real time traffic features. For just $30 more, you could but the Nuvi 285WT, which has wide-screen display, blue-tooth, real time traffic and weather, and calls out street names.
Higher end Garmin models cost around $300. One example of a high end Garmin model is the 149OT, which has many advanced features. It even tells you which lane to drive in on a busy express-way exchange.
Garmin's main competitor TomTom have four different model lines: TomTom One, TomTom XL, TomTom Go, and TomTom Live.
The cheapest of these model lines is TomTom One. The One 125/125 SE, 130/130S and 140 all have a 3.5inch screen and full US maps. The 125SE and the 130S also include text to speech.
The XL and XLL series have similar feature to the One Series, but with larger screen of 4.3 inches. These models usually cost around $150 and up.
The Go Series models feature a 4.3inch screen with a navigation pack included, as well as voice control. These are usually priced for a little less than $300.
Live TomTom models are the most expensive, and usually cost around $350. These are the most advanced TomTom GPS systems available. They include advance features such as voice recognition and address input.
When looking for a GPS system to buy, make use of comparison websites to check for differences in features and pricing. Make sure you know what features you are after, and then consider how much you are willing to spend.
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Are you looking to find out more information on Garmin and TomTom GPS Systems, then look no further and check out our top of the line GPS reviews on all those tech gadgets out there.
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