Six steps to buying the right GPS

GPS navigators are topping holiday wish lists as never before, yet with hundreds of models in the market place, how do you decide which one to buy?

Here are six steps to ensure that you get the right GPS:

Make sure the GPS has at least 4.5 million points of interest (POIs). This will allow you to search for most stores, restaurants and other locations by name. Otherwise, you will need to manually enter the address. All Garmin car units have six million POIs; other brands vary the number according to the price of the device.
Buy a brand with an intuitive interface. This is often a trade off between ease of use and flexibility. Garmin is the best brand for ease of use. Tech types that like to plow through multiple menus might prefer the flexibility offered by Mio receivers. TomTom provides a nice compromise between intuitive design and flexibility.
Check to see what maps are included.
Don't buy an older unit. Beware of holiday specials offering GPS units introduced two or three years ago. Newer units have greatly improved satellite reception and much brighter screens. Older units may have out of date maps.
Know what features you want. As you get into high-end units, options include live traffic information, an MP3 player, Bluetooth for hands-free cellphone use, even an FM transmitter for streaming directions and music through your car stereo speakers.
Finally, read online reviews and comparison shop at an independent website such as GPSTracklog.com, where you will find feature charts, comparisons to similar units, links to additional resources, and price comparisons from trusted vendors.