The Traveller
Enjoy your next road trip with a new GPS
We round up the latest GPS units so you will never get lost again!
Does your brother pride himself on being a great driver? Maybe your mum thinks that she knows her way around town without a street directory. No matter whether your family members fancy themselves as top drivers, they aren’t as directionally capable as a GPS unit!
This Christmas, why not consider giving your loved one a new GPS unit (or pop one on your wishlist) so they will never get lost again? Aside from giving you turn-by-turn directions, GPS units are great for locating points of interest (POIs), saving your favourite locations and exploring new places, so your next road trip with the family can be even better! We've included our favourite GPS units that we’ve tested this year, comprising both entry-level units and top-of-the-range devices.
Plus if you're after a great online deal don't miss our round up of the best Christmas bargains!
Telstra Tough T90
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Telstra Tough T90 mobile phone
It may not be the most pleasing mobile phone to look at, b ut Telstra's Tough T90 does what it's designed to do – provide a solution to those who require a phone that can take some punishment. It's a little expensive, though.
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Olympus Mju Tough 6010 rugged digital camera
Olympus' Mju Tough 6010 is a rugged camera that can be operated in almost any conditions. It doesn't snap particularly crisp images even in ideal conditions, but if you can live with this there is only a small loss in quality at higher ISO ranges.
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ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (Seashell) netbook
The ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (Seashell) is one of the best netbooks on the market due to its small size, good looks and relatively roomy keyboard. It's not perfect, but it's an appealing choice for anyone -- especially a traveller -- who wants a very mobile netbook that's still quite easy to use.
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TomTom GO 750 GPS unit
The TomTom GO 750 adds voice control to its collection of features. Although it's far from perfect, this is yet another excellent TomTom GPS. The lack of traffic capabilities is a little disappointing at this price, but users will appreciate TomTom's interface and the overall navigation experience.
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Garmin nuvi 1250 GPS unit
Provided you don't require any advanced features and can live with a small display, Garmin's nuvi 1250 GPS unit offers an excellent navigation experience.
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ALK Technologies CoPilot Live 8 for iPhone
ALK Technologies' CoPilot Live 8 for iPhone app has an excellent user interface and a great map screen, but erratic GPS performance and a few missing features hinder its appeal. With future software updates to correct its issues, this GPS app has the potential to be one of the best available for the iPhone.
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Navman C40 GPS unit
At just $199, the Navman C40 is certainly cheap and for the most part it does a reasonable job. It is essentially an older GPS unit with updated software, though; Mio's Moov range is a valid alternative at a similar price.
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Uniden TRAX 5000 GPS unit
With an extra-large display, a good user interface and some nifty mapping features, Uniden's TRAX 5000 is certainly good value for money. It has a few niggles that detract from the overall experience, though, but if you can get past these you're left with a competent GPS unit.
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Nokia 6710 Navigator smartphone
Nokia's 6710 Navigator won't replace your standalone GPS due to its small screen. For a mobile phone though, it provides a solid and smooth navigation experience thanks to a combination of good hardware and well designed software.
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Garmin nuvi 1260 GPS unit
The inclusion of a Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone makes the Garmin nuvi 1260 GPS unit good value for money. If the smaller display and the limitations it brings doesn't concern you, then this GPS unit offers an excellent navigational experience for a fairly low price.
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Mio Moov A350 GPS unit
The Mio Moov A350 represents great value for money. While its performance isn't spectacular, it does a very good job for the asking price. If you're on a budget and need a cheap GPS unit that does the basics, look no further.
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Garmin nuvi 1390T GPS unit
Simple but effective maps, clear voice instructions, fantastic lane guidance and a speedy GPS receiver make for an excellent navigational experience on the whole. The Garmin nuvi 1390T may not be as flashy as some competitors, but it more than makes up for the lack of bling.
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TomTom XL 340 GPS unit
TomTom's XL 340 is a little pricey when compared to competing GPS units with similar features, but what you get is a great user experience. An excellent interface, lane guidance, IQ Routes technology and a slim design make this another great TomTom GPS.
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Navigon 4340max GPS unit
Navigon’s user interface and map display aren't as appealing as those on some competing GPS units, but the 4350max remains good value at this price. Features like MyRoutes technology, lane assistance, Reality View Pro and Bluetooth hands-free give you excellent bang for your buck.
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Sygic Mobile Maps 2009 iPhone app
Sygic's Mobile Maps 2009 iPhone app is far from perfect, but it’s a great start. Lane guidance, signpost display and speed limit notifications are all included. There are plenty of bugs that need to be ironed out, but with software updates this app will get better.
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TomTom ONE 140 IQ Routes Edition GPS unit
TomTom has added its IQ Routes technology and advanced lane guidance to the entry-level ONE 140 GPS unit. The changes from the previous model are minimal, but with each iteration this excellent GPS series continues to improve.
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Uniden TRAX 430 GPS unit
Uniden's TRAX 430 in-car GPS navigation unit provides good value for money. It offers the latest Australian maps, camera alerts, text-to-speech navigation and 3D landmarks, but Bluetooth and traffic capabilities are notable omissions.
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Uniden TRAX 436 GPS unit
Uniden's top-of-the-line GPS device, the TRAX 436, offers great functionality at a reasonable price. Though some of this functionality can be improved, it is a good buy if you want a good GPS car navigation device without paying through a premium.
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Parrot MKi9200
The MKi9200 is an exceptional car kit, especially for iPhone owners. Excellent audio quality, voice recognition technology and the ability to connect to a wide range of music sources make this an all-round winner.
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Kogan Technologies EziNav GPS
Kogan's EziNav GPS device is a great option for those who need GPS navigation but don't want to pay an inflated price.
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Garmin nuvi 265W GPS unit
Garmin's nuvi 265W isn't outstanding and does have a couple of faults, but its ease of use and simple operation will appeal to many users.
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TomTom GO 730 GPS unit
TomTom’s latest addition to the navigation market continues the company’s fine form when it comes to the user experience. The GO 730 adds some excellent software features to a package that we’ve come to know and love.