If you own a small portable laptop, often described now as a netbook, you may like to consider the advantage of purchasing some PC GPS navigation software. This will enable you to simply load the software onto your portable computer and use it in exactly the same way as a regular GPS unit with the added benefit of having your computer handy. This is particularly beneficial to those in business, who may be carrying around several devices and wish to consolidate them into one device.
A major advantage of using a laptop as a navigation device is that the screen will be significantly larger than on a portable GPS unit. This enables you to see street names, place names and other written information in a much clearer manner, should you need to consult the help file, words will be a lot clearer and larger using portable PC GPS navigation software, it will also let you use voice activated software on your computer to control the GPS side. Most popular consumer software that uses voice dictation includes commands that you can use to control your computer as well as dictating words.
Although most PC GPS navigation software is fairly advanced, having it stored on a laptop computer will also allow you to use many of the other benefits associated with the computer, for example should you need to find a local destination or point of interest that is not included on the GPS unit. You could, if you have a portable Internet connection, simply Google what you are looking for. This will give you a postcode, which you can then put into your PC GPS navigation software. In addition you will also have the benefit of being able to use Google maps, which can run alongside your GPS hardware that you have plugged into your laptop; although it will not able to give you voice directions. You may find it is more up-to-date, and you will be able to use it as a handy backup should your PC software not include, for example, a new road.
However, unless you already own a laptop there will be little point in buying one simply to use it as a GPS unit as it could be quite costly. In this instance, you will most likely be better off purchasing one of the all in one units. Even the simplest come with a mobile Internet connection and can be used to Google. The choice between the two items really depends on whether you wish to use the technology for business purposes or leisure. How often you are going to use it and how much you want to spend.
Overall, from a technological point of view, having a PC installed with PC GPS navigation software and having the appropriate hardware for navigation is the most technologically advanced method of getting to your destination. However, from a cost point of view, it is rarely practical given the benefits of all in one GPS navigation systems. You will find that in 90% of cases this will more than suffice.
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