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Global positioning devices are wildly used and loved by motorists who would like to travel safely through tangled and congested streets. Although, if you consider the history of global positioning devices, you soon discover that GPS devices were most commonly used by hikers and other people wandering the wild places who prefer to avoid losing their way. As designers went about advancing the technology for the newest GPS devices for drivers, the new technologies were put to use in the handheld GPS models also. These modern handheld GPS devices look very much like mobile phones as a result of their profile and colored screen. For your car, an excellent unit is the TomTom GO 740 Live GPS Navigator.

Quite a few of the GPS devices made for cars may even be used by hikers if they are familliar with the interface. Quite a few of the GPS devices made by TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan are small enough to carry around in your hand or slip into your pocket. Although if you plan on employing the appliance while walking or using only one hand, a dedicated solution could be needed. Here are a few products to look for.

Magellan Triton Series

The Magellan Triton series is an interesting collection to consider seeing as all of the models from the least to most expensive all appear similar. The most affordable models use a very suitable 2.2' QVGA color screen while some of the higher end models have a marginally bigger screen of 2.7'. Each of the devices sport a resilient design and to be waterproof, therefore you can confidently carry them around as you are crossing rivers or during rainstorms.

Some of the products have a special AdventurePack label attached to them which basically says that they are loaded with some special software called the TOPO! Explorer. Serious explorers ought to absolutely take a closer look at these packages. The advantage with Magellan's array of products is that they probably have a Triton model that fits your budget with over 5 products to pick from. For your auto, a great option is the Tom Tom GO 740 GPS.

Garmin Series

Garmin manufactures a large collection of handheld products and each particular series is made for various types of navigation. Considering one case in point, the GPSMAP 7X series units are all maritime-friendly and designed for sailing on the open ocean, but the GPSMAP 6X series units have a more durable casing for heavy duty usage, but are still relatively inexpensive and contain a comprehensive set of applications including microSD support and competent navigation.

The eTrex series are handheld GPS devices consumers should think about when finances is a major issue. They are easy to carry with quite a few of them having a monitor big enough to see with ease.

In case you consider yourself a serious traveler in need of a product which is really tough and prepped with advanced applications, the Colorado or Oregon series may suit you. Both series have a comprehensive touch-screen display, a function not included in other Garmin series, and they also have different maps particular for the exact model you get. For a great gps unit in your car, consider the TomTom GO 740 Live GPS Navigator.

Keep in mind that the aforementioned handheld GPS devices shouldn't be used while driving unless a non-driving navigator is using it. If you aren't looking for all of the advanced applications and want one device that is able to help you on the city street as well as the trail, it might be better to get an all-in-one device that you can keep in a car or by hand.