The Pros and Cons of A Simple Handheld GPS

The Lay of The Land

Creative Commons picture by CarbonNYC.
The majority of modern GPS devices are quite fancy. Their displays are big enough to let to you count the rays from Janet Jackson’s sunburst jewelry. They have databases that contain information about every major road on the continent. Some of them even have an internet connection so you can easily find the nearest waffle house next time you stroll through Tulsa. These $500 devices have a clearly defined niche right on your car’s dash. However, much like coral and tropical frogs if you take them very far out of their niche, they die. These devices can not survive long without a car’s steady supply of electricity.

On the other end of the GPS spectrum are devices designed for hikers. They are often about the size of a late ’90s cell phone and intended for use far from power outlets. Several are even waterproof, can last over 15 hours with only two AA batteries, and cost only 100 dollars. Unfortunately they bring with them a lot fewer creature comforts. The displays are often black and…kind of grayish. They are allergic to internet connections, and their maps are rarely very detailed and sometimes nonexistent.

If you would like some directional help outside of your car, the small, cheap, minimalist ones are better.

The Virtues and Costs of Minimalism

Pro

If you are willing to carry one around, these little devices can help you make it back to your hotel after dinner and point the way to that incredible, and hard to find, garden. It is hard to under-emphasize how useful it can be to know which direction you should be going. Knowing how long you need to be going in that direction can also help decide when the cab is worth it.

Con

That little arrow is another mouth to feed with you hard earned batteries. Rechargeable batteries can help, but then you need to…recharge them. It is an added hassle. Not to mention that you actually have to carry the thing. It was annoying enough when cell phones were actually that size, now you might be carrying your cell phone, your camera, and one of these.

As ironic as it is for a locating device, they can also be lost by their owners. You might one day find yourself looking for a device that mocks you by clearly displaying where it is. If you find it, it will tell you where to find it.

Creative Commons picture by swanksalot.

Verdict

Beats me.
Maybe it is worth the c-note and carrying around so that you can find the way back to your hotel at night. Maybe your internal sense of direction is pretty good already and it would just be extra weight.

On the plus side if anyone traveling with you asks “are we there yet” you can respond with a “look at the screen punk.”