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GPS
When you give the gift of GPS, you may not just be helping the recipient navigate his or her way around the streets--you could also be giving their fellow passengers a stress-free ride. Forget the paper maps; portable navigation systems provide text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, points of interest, and more. And contrary to popular belief, they've become quite affordable. Here are our GPS picks for the directionally challenged people on your holiday gift list.
Editors' top pick
The bottom line: If you can afford the hefty price tag, the Garmin Nuvi 660 is a solid-performing and versatile GPS device that offers all the navigation basics, tools for the world traveler, Bluetooth, and more.
The bottom line: Despite some very slight performance glitches, the Garmin Zumo 550 is a fantastic navigation system for motorcyclists (and cars), with good Bluetooth integration.
The bottom line: The TomTom GO 720 delivers with sleek looks, good performance, and a full set of features that includes a map-sharing function for the most up-to-date maps and a helpful safety tool.
The bottom line: Sporting a sleeker design and interface, the affordable Magellan Maestro series offers drivers an accurate in-car GPS device with useful trip information, thanks to its partnership with AAA.
The bottom line: Style and ease of use mark this basic portable navigation and multimedia device, but the Harman Kardon Guide + Play GPS-500 doesn't offer the same smooth performance and efficiency of competing products.
The bottom line: The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion delivers a sleek all-in-one navigation, productivity, and entertainment device to mobile professionals; we just wish it had better battery life.
The bottom line: The sleek Mio C520 is a good-value GPS device, packing in advanced navigation features, a large screen, and other extras for an affordable price. However, you can get a better user experience and smoother performance from competing systems.
The bottom line: The Rand McNally GPS Navigator is a nice portable navigation system for those who love road tripping, but its maps and interface could use refinement.
The bottom line: With an improved display and the addition of text-to-speech functionality, the Mio DigiWalker C230 is a solid and affordable entry-level portable navigation system for GPS newbies.
The bottom line: The Magellan CrossoverGPS is a versatile GPS, offering navigation help to drivers, boaters, and walkers, but it's tripped up by sluggish performance.
Thanks,
The CNET TV Team
