| GPS systems used to be the domain of the | | | | On the other end of the spectrum are PDAs that |
| military and companies that could afford this | | | | do not have any GPS capability built in. This does |
| relatively young technology. Used to accurately | | | | not mean that you cannot take advantage of all |
| pin-point locations on the earths surface these | | | | that GPS has to offer because you can purchase |
| devices have gravitated into the consumer | | | | additional hardware and software that will do just |
| market and are now more then affordable for | | | | this. For instance if you own a Palm m500 the |
| just about anyone. The technology has advanced | | | | Magellan GPS Companion system is the perfect |
| so much in the last few years that many GPS | | | | plug-in for you. It will turn your palm into a fully |
| providers have plug-ins that allow you to turn | | | | functional GPS receiver. |
| your PDA into a GPS unit. | | | | There are also hybrid type PDA/GPS units that |
| In layman's terms a PDA (Personal Digital | | | | are a joint effort between PDA makers and GPS |
| Assistant) is a pocket computer that basically fits | | | | makers. An example of this type of unit is the |
| in the palm of your hand. Think Blackberry and | | | | Garmin iQue300 which was the first PDA device |
| you get the general idea and in fact many of | | | | to include GPS technology built in. Its operating |
| these PDA's have developed into cell phones, | | | | system is the Palm OS 5 while Garmin provided |
| giving you communication and computing | | | | the GPS functionality. This device went so far as |
| capabilities that we could only dream of only 10 | | | | to be able to respond to voice commands. |
| years ago. | | | | There are a variety of choices when it comes to |
| There are a few things you need to think about | | | | PDA style GPS devices. Which works best for |
| when it comes to PDAs and GPS. First off many | | | | your needs is something that you will need to |
| of the newer PDA/Cell Phone devices come with | | | | determine. The best way to figure this out is |
| GPS capability already built in. In some cases you | | | | through thorough research of the different units |
| may have to pay extra for this feature but it | | | | and deciding which GPS unit will do what you need |
| takes much of the guess work out of deciding | | | | it to. |
| which GPS system will work best for you. | | | | |