The latest GPS from Garmin, the Nuvi 1450T scores lots of ticks over its rivals - it’s skinny thin, easy-to-read and destination entry is a breeze.

If standalone GPS are to stay ahead of the smartphone game, they have to offer much more than you can get in a phone app. Generally speaking, this is what’s happening - the price you pay for an in-car GPS is falling, and the features they’re offering is continuing to grow.

 The Garmin Nuvi 1450T  has just rated 86/100 in a recent CHOICE Magazine expert review (it’s their Best Buy), and at  rrp $349 it’s also well priced in the middle of the pack. (You can get a  great deal from Dick Smith - the Nuvi 1450T is just $289 until March14th.)

It performed well in the city test (most GPS units do), but what sets this unit apart from others is the Whereis map data. Preloaded to this GPS, Whereis is frequently updated and more detailed for rural/regional areas - so the real test of any GPS unit is `out bush’, so to speak.  That being said, all  GPS units fail sometimes - often in the CBD where they loose track of the satellites which results in incorrect positioning or complete signal dropout.

 The Garmin Nuvi 1450T has a rubberised back and a simple mount that sticks firmly to your windscreen. Just 16mm thick with a big 5-inch screen, it’s also very easy to enter destination info, thanks to the large keys on the virtual keyboard.

Turn instructions are posted prominently in the left-hand corner, lane guidance is there for most freeways plus full-screen junction view for motorway exits. A traffic messaging subscription is included in the price, displaying traffic incidents, planned roadworks, special events, accidents etc, either as a list or as a possible delay to your route. Other features include red light/speed camera warnings, you can install school zone locations, and the unit has text-to-speech.

Buy Garmin Nuvi 1450T $289, from Dick Smith on Lasoo. Offer ends March 14th, 2011.

The new TomTom XL 250 is the manufacturer’s latest entry-level windscreen GPS unit and is most notable for its simplified interface.

Externally, it looks similar to previous XL models, thanks to the basic styling and 4.3-inch resistive touchscreen. But once you start using the device, the difference becomes obvious, thanks to the new, simpler interface.

When you fire it up, two large icons appear on the screen: Plan Route and Browse Map. You can then use the device’s QWERTY keyboard to input information. There are also smaller buttons for functions such as adjusting the volume, accessing options and so on. Unfortunately, options to customise the unit aren’t as comprehensive as those for previous XL models.

Because the XL 250 is an entry-level model, don’t expect the most comprehensive features list around, but it does have text-to-speech (with your choice of a male or female voice), plus speed and red-light camera alerts (but not school zones). It comes loaded with the latest version of Whereis maps, and users can fix any map errors then share them with the community online using the MapShare service.

What you’ll find missing is those features that are nice to have, but not essential - MP3 playback, an FM transmitter and Bluetooth, to name a few.

The TomTom XL 250 is available for $249.

Buy a cheap TomTom GPS on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

These days it seems everyone is buying a GPS unit for their vehicle - but do you need one, and if so, which one is right for you? Our GPS buying guide will help you decide.

Do I need GPS?

Not everyone requires a GPS device for their car, motorcycle or other vehicle to get them from A to B. If the majority of your driving is around areas you are already very familiar with, then you won’t get that much benefit out of one. GPS is intended mainly for drivers who require directions with at least moderate frequency.

Do you do most of your driving in the city CBD? If so, GPS may not be worth it. Many GPS units struggle in high-rise areas, although some are better than others - so make sure you read expert reviews of the latest devices before purchasing.

Then there is the issue of tech-savviness. If you are at least somewhat proficient with gadgets then you will be able to use most GPS devices with ease. If, however, you struggle to program your 20-year-old VCR, then you may not be the ideal candidate (let’s not forget that everything seems ten times more frustrating when you’re in the car or in heavy traffic).

Last but not least, price is also a consideration. GPS units cost upwards of around $100 for the most basic units, all the way up to several hundred dollars (although if you’re lucky, you may get a very basic unit for under $100, but don’t expect miracles). So if you’re happy with your old street directory and generally stick to your local area, consider whether it’s worth investing in GPS.

Which GPS?

GPS devices come in three flavours: dashboard, portable and handheld. Dashboard units are the ones that are incorporated into the vehicle’s actual dash - usually during the manufacturing process, though they can also be installed later. Dashboard GPS units tend to be more expensive, however they look neater than the portable kind and tend to work better with other devices installed in the car. Maps for these units are usually stored on either SD card or hard drive.

Portable GPS devices meanwhile can be attached to the interior of your vehicle via suction cups and are powered by a car charger. They are cheaper than the integrated dashboard models and are usually either SD card or flash memory-based.

Last but not least, GPS is also available on handheld devices, both standalone units like as well as smartphone-type devices such as the iPhone. These tend to be smaller and less powerful than the two types mentioned above.

Screen size

Generally with GPS units, bigger screens are better, given that you’ll be reading from the screen in the car. Portable devices usually have either a 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch widescreen, which will of course cost you more.

Voice navigation

Many devices today offer voice navigation as well as on-screen instructions, though some entry-level models will only provide on-screen instructions. Be careful with GPS units offering voice navigation, however - some overseas software struggles with Australian accents and pronunciations so it’s a good idea to listen to a demonstration before you buy.

GPS maps

Australian GPS devices are generally powered with maps provided by Whereis, with updates available periodically via the manufacturer’s website. It’s important to update your map information regularly to account for any road changes.

Other GPS features

Some of the more expensive units offer other features, which aren’t really necessary to the function of getting you from A to B, but can be a nice add-on. These features include Bluetooth, MP3 playback and more.

Best GPS devices

There are several manufacturers of quality devices, including Garmin GPS units (such as the model pictured here). Also worthy of consideration is Navman and TomTom GPS devices, especially the ever-popular TomTom ONE and TomTom GO units.

Buy cheap GPS devices on sale

Guide originally published June 3, 2009; updated August 12, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

The Mio Moov 370 GPS unit has been available for over a year, but is still one of the leading products in its class.

Mio and Navman GPS units are both made by the same manufacturer (Mitac), so it’s no surprise to see cross-over between the two. The Mio Moov 370 actually uses an interface from older Navman units, which is a great plus - it makes it very easy to use the device.

It also means that performance is very good. The 370 is quick and responsive, especially when it comes to providing live traffic updates and detour options.

The feature set is also somewhat impressive, especially considering the sub-$600 price tag. The Moov 370 boats Bluetooth hands-free calls, 3D landmarks, TMC Traffic Channel compatibility plus the lateset NAVTEQ maps. At the heart of the device is a rather nice 4.3-inch anti-glare widescreen.

The Mio Moov 370’s Australian retail price is $259.

Buy a cheap Mio GPS on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The new TomTom Go 950 GPS unit is billed by its manufacturer as “the ultimate GPS for demanding drivers”, although it is missing some of the added extra features we’ve come to expect from devices in this price range.

With an Australian recommended retail price of $649, you would expect the TomTom Go 950 to have just about every feature imaginable. Luckily, those features it is missing, such as an MP3 player and FM transmitter, tend to fall on the “nice to have but non-essential” heading rather than “must-have”. Luckily, features such as Bluetooth, text-to-speech, voice commands, lane guidance and junction view, speed and red light camera alerts (via an audio alert) plus dead reckoning are all present and accounted for.

The TomTom Go 950 isn’t going to win any awards in terms of design, though it is equipped with an above average window mount, at least when compared to some of TomTom’s earlier efforts. It’s a fairly chunky device and features a 4.3-inch touchscreen with resolution of 480×272, complete with on-screen QWERTY keyboard.

This device would be ideal for anyone who travels a lot, since TomTom has loaded it with maps for not only Australia and New Zealand, but also the US, Canada and Europe. Overall this covers 39 countries.

Buy a cheap TomTom GPS on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The new Mio Moov A350 is a cheap, entry-level GPS unit that will give you basic functionality with a minimum of bells and whistles.

In fact, with a recommended retail price of $199, the Mio A350 is one of the cheapest GPS satellite navigation devices for cars on the market, unless you include the no-name units you can pick up very, very cheaply (but these unbranded devices have their fair share of flaws and usually don’t last very long).

So it’s no surprise that the A350 comes with the bare minimum of functionality. Mio has equipped it with a 3.5-inch anti-glare touchscreen, which is on the small side for an in-car GPS unit and could prove inconvenient if you have big fingers or bad eyes. However if space is a consideration, the smaller size will suit you.

The device comes pre-loaded with the latest MioMaps as well as safety and school zone alerts, so you’ll be pre-warned about red light and speed cameras, railway zones, blackspots, town entry points and the like. Also pre-loaded are 100,000 points of interest.

At this price, naturally there is no text-to-speech functionality, nor is there Bluetooth, MP3 support or anything else that isn’t essential for the device to perform its core function. Which is, of course, getting you from A to B, so if this is all you want and nothing more, the Mio A350 is worthy of review.

Buy a cheap Mio GPS unit on sale

By Caroline Warnes

The Nokia 6710 Navigator is the manufacturer’s third entry in the series, which offers phones with an emphasis on GPS functionality.

And while the Nokia 6710 Navigator certainly offers excellent GPS performance, some may find the device’s 2.6-inch a little too small for reading purposes when you are using the phone for directions.

Screen size aside, the 6710’s GPS reception is exceptional (despite some minor glitches in city areas) and it comes bundled with a car mount and Nokia Maps software (which is powered by Navteq maps). You can use the phone’s in-built touch panel to navigate around the maps and zoom in and out. The touch panel can also be used in the web browse, media gallery and with the camera.

The other highlight of the Nokia 6710 Navigator is the 5-megapixel camera, which offers a range of options including sequence shot mode and macro focus. Image quality is exceptional for a phone camera.

The Nokia 6710 Navigator’s Australian price is $629. It comes in either chestnut brown or titanium.

Buy a cheap Nokia phone on sale

By Caroline Warnes

The new Navman MY30 is the latest entry-level model in Navman’s range of GPS units and as such comes with some decent basic features.

Carrying an Australian price of $299, the Navman MY30 comes equipped with a 3.5-inch touchscreen (the large on-screen icons are a bonus for the short-sighted and clumsy-fingered amongst us) plus text-to-speech functionality, camera and school zone warnings, junction view and lane guidance for some main intersections. All this is courtesy of the latest Navteq maps that come pre-installed.

Another nice feature of the Navman MY30 is keyword search, which makes it much easier to input your destination by simply searching on a street name.

This is a decent peformer in the entry level GPS category in Australia, and is definitely worthy of review for anyone looking for a decent basic model, along with some of the basic TomTom ONE GPS units.

Buy a Navman GPS unit on sale

By Caroline Warnes

TomTom has unveiled two new GO GPS units, which will be added to the range early in November.

The two new models are the GO 730 and 930. Both feature TomTom’s new IQ routes technology, which was developed using average speeds measured on real roads rather than static maximum speeds per road type. This allows the device to more accurately predict the fastest route.

Other inclusions are Advanced Lane Guidance, which shows the lane to take at intersections, and Voice Address Input, so you can tell the unit your destination rather than inputting it manually.

Both models also come with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a built-in FM transmitter and a safety camera database.

The high-end TomTom GO 930 also comes with a few extra features, including world maps, Bluetooth remote control and Enhanced Positioning Technology, which allows it to work seamlessly even in tunnels.

The TomTom GO 730 will retail for $549 and the 930 will retail for $849. For an extra $100 you can purchase get the Traffic version of each model, which includes a traffic receiver.

Click here to find offers on TomTom GPS devices from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Cobolt’s GPS unit is a good basic satellite navigation device that won’t break the bank.

It is currently on sale from selected Sam’s Warehouse stores for $157, however mention Lasoo for tomorrow (October 10) only and you will be able to buy it for just $99.

Those stores include Cannington, Rockhampton, Modbury, Townsville Kirwan and Toowoomba.

The device features a 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen, Navteq maps, turn-by-turn voice navigation, a built-in speaker and headphone jack. It offers support for MP3 and JPG files so you can listen to music and view photos. There is also a USB connection and SD card input.

An in-car DC charger and suction cup mount are also included in the box.

Click here to find offers on GPS units from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes