There is no doubt that gps navigation devices have changed the way we find our way around. Trying desperately to fold a map with one hand and read the roadsigns at the same time is fortunately a thing of the past. The real problem now is not whether to buy, more which of the hundreds of models out there is the best choice? There are a few different things that you should be looking out for. The Garmin nüvi 1490LMT 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates is a great choice for most people.
Garmin has an excellent reputation in satnav devices and with good reason. The nuvi 1490 is another example of combining a host of features in an easy-to-use package. The first criteria for this type of unit must be how easy it is to find your route and then actually follow it. The Garmin scores very highly here. The 5 inch screen is backlit and sunlight readable which means you are never squinting to read what is there because it is too small or just not visible in bright light.
It might be essential to see what is on the screen, but what about planning the route and programming the 1490LMT? We’ve all wanted to throw this sort of device out of the window in frustration because it is just too complicted. Once again, this is simply not an issue here. Intuitive menus and a high-quality touchscreen make this a piece of cake to set up and operate. Just two simple questions greet you as you switch on: “where to?” and “view map”. Talk about easy to use!
However, ease of use doesn’t mean that the Garmin nüvi 1490LMT 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator is basic or devoid of features, in fact it is quite the opposite. You can do everything from preview the route visually to specify points on the route, including nearly 6 million pre-loaded points of interests. Directions are also given clearly by voice as well as on either a 2D or 3D map, whichever you prefer, giving you ample warning of the correct lane to choose or an upcoming roadsign.
You can actually go a whole lot further than simple in-car navigation though. The pioneering cityXplorer option will tell you the best way to get around town, whether walking or taking public transport. These city maps can be downlaoded from as little as 9.99.
And if you are one of those people who is never far from their mobile phone, the integrated bluetooth technology lets you call hands-free using the Garmin’s touchscreen and microphone for one-touch dialling.
Of course, any product worth its salt today needs to include some sort of green technology. The ecoRoute facility will be the biggest advantage of the 1490LMT for many. It will calculate the most-fuel efficient way of getting to your destination as well as the shortest or fastest. It even keeps track of things like average fuel use which is great for learning to drive in a more eco-friendly style.
You might be thinking that all this is going to be coming with a hefty price-tag and the answer is that it isn’t going to be as much as you might think. Why is this? One of the biggest costs of a gps device is not the actual purchase price, it is keeping up to date with the maps. The Garmin nüvi 1490LMT 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates does exactly what its name suggests. The LMT actually stands for Lifetime Maps and Traffic. This is a big saving and actually gets bigger the longer you use the device. The Garmin quality means this isn’t going to be falling apart on you any time soon and gives real value.
Of course, there are many more options that are going to be useful at various times, from the “where am I?” emergency locator, to local emergency addresses and tools like a jpeg viewer and currency converter. In fact, for something that is easy to use straight out of the box for even the biggest technophobe, it also has enough to keep the geeks busy for months as well.
Overall The Garmin nüvi 1490LMT 5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates really does offer a complete navigation solution. It ticks all the boxes in terms of functionality whilst offering the latest in gps technology. Anyone looking for this sort of device would want to keep this particular model at the top of their shortlist.
