GPS vs. Cell Phone GPS - LAPTOP Magazine
We use the GPS Navigator feature in our Verizon wireless phone often. I had originally wanted to purchase a dedicated GPS unit - but the price was prohibitive. I didn't really need it for work, its just that I like gadgets and this was essentially an expensive toy. I couldn't quite justify $700 + for a new toy right now.
At that time I was due a new phone from Verizon under my contract. Low and behold - the new phone does GPS. And it does it quite well. We find ourselves using it more than we thought. Kids travel soccer games - check. Funeral home - check. Vacation navigation - check. Meeting friends for a bike ride somewhere - check.
My wife is the kind of person that doesn't know she needs these electronics until she gets them, uses them, and realizes their usefulness. She didn't get why we needed a TIVO at first - now just try to pry it away from her. If that TIVO goes bad she would be sending out immediately to get it replaced.
GPS on your phone positives
We use the GPS Navigator feature in our Verizon wireless phone often. I had originally wanted to purchase a dedicated GPS unit - but the price was prohibitive. I didn't really need it for work, its just that I like gadgets and this was essentially an expensive toy. I couldn't quite justify $700 + for a new toy right now.
At that time I was due a new phone from Verizon under my contract. Low and behold - the new phone does GPS. And it does it quite well. We find ourselves using it more than we thought. Kids travel soccer games - check. Funeral home - check. Vacation navigation - check. Meeting friends for a bike ride somewhere - check.
My wife is the kind of person that doesn't know she needs these electronics until she gets them, uses them, and realizes their usefulness. She didn't get why we needed a TIVO at first - now just try to pry it away from her. If that TIVO goes bad she would be sending out immediately to get it replaced.
GPS on your phone positives
- No upfront money needed. The first month is free, $10 a month afterwards. There is also the option of using it occasionally for $4 for a 24 hour period.
- Its handy - always there.
- It constantly has the latest software AND location maps - no upgrade required
- Advanced features (ie. voice directions, local search) for the low pricing structure.
GPS on your phone negatives
- Small screen is not as visually appealing as a full sized unit.
- If you keep it on for an extended period you could have purchased a full unit for the cost.
At any rate, its a good option to try it out and see if GPS navigation works for you and fits into your life. You can always upgrade to a full featured model if your situation warrants.
[update]
It was pointed out to me that another benefit of the cell phone GPS model is that when you do a local search for some establishment, you can press the send button and call them. Can't do that with a dedicated GPS!
Hi Glenn, Glad to see there are more gadget lovers out there. GPS is becoming very useful, and I predict it will be as obvious to have that our mobiles are now. I come from a Scandinavian country where the population is generally very eager to try out new technology. The only place I have been where they are more into it than us is Japan. The US, I regret to say, is a bit slow on this.
ReplyDeleteI write to support your loving of gadgets and you can tell your wife that you are just being foresighted when using the gadgets and refer to places like I mentioned above. I'd go for both a regular full fledged GPS AND a mobile now. In the future the mobile will certainly have a decent GPS also.
I do not know if you care about the climate change, water cycle and geohazards, but now you'll know it's the same GPS technology we use for that as you use when finding out where your kids are going to play soccer. Learn about how useful your gadget technology is at this travelogue http://www.geodeticjourney.org.
Besides - playing with gadgets has it's value in itself - it is healthy for you :-)