Exploring Garmin GPS Navigation Options

Garmin GPS navigation systems have been helping people find their way since 1989, which is when the company was founded by Gary Burrell and Min Kao. At the time, the company was founded in the hope of providing Global Positioning Systems for uses in both aviation and marine settings as well as for the every day consumer driving on the road. Today, Gamin GPS navigation systems are among the most popular of all GPS brands available.

My Garmin Nuvi Slim GPS

A World Leader
Garmin GPS navigation systems are so popular and so commonly used that the name has almost become synonymous with the term GPS. In fact, the company is the largest manufacturer of consumer GPS systems, having sold millions of receivers to consumers since the company was first founded. The first Garmin GPS system was the GPS 100, which was a panel mounted receiver that was actually developed form the marine market. This receiver sold for a whopping $2,500 and was an instant hit. In fact, after being debuted at the International Marine Technology Exposition in Chicago, the company received orders for 5,000 units. The company quickly expanded and has since added dozens of different models to its product line.

Checking Train Speed

A Growing Company
By 1991, Garmin GPS navigation systems were being used by military personnel and played an integral role in the Gulf War. In 2000, the company also began marketing its systems to recreational runners by launching the Forerunner series. Soon after, the Foretrex, which is a Garmin GPS system that is worn on the wrist, was introduced to day hikers, sailboat racers and off road mountain bikers. Finally, the StreetPilot, which was meant to be installed in vehicles, was introduced to the consumer.

Garmin Streetpilot

The StreetPilot was a key-operated, monochromatic device. But, Garmin soon followed it up with the StreetPilot ColorMap, which offered a 16-color display. The company later introduced an even more advanced version called the StreetPilot III. Today, the StreetPilot line offers a wide variety of GPS navigation units to select from. One of these more advanced lines within the StreetPilot line is the c-Series, which offers Bluetooth support and features a large color touchscreen.

It navigates by both display Instruction and Voice

One of the more popular lines of Garmin GPS navigation systems currently on the market is the eTrex series. The most basic of the models within this series is commonly referred to as the “eTrex Yellow.” More advanced models in the series include the Venture, Summit, Vista and Legend. Each of these devices includes extra features that are not found with the base model. Some of the extra features that may be found with the more advanced models include a city database, altimeter, highway maps, digital compass and more.

New Garmin Nuvi 360 with text-to-speech, bluetooth, and 6 million POI.

Garmin also offers handheld devices, such as those found within the Geko series, as well as a line of PDA-GPS receivers. In fact, Garmin’s iQue M4 was the first PDA that came pre-loaded with maps and did require loading with a PC. Other innovations include the nuvi series of pocketsize navigation devices and the Garmin Mobile PC navigation software for laptops.

written by Darren