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The USB Interface
A laptop GPS connects to a laptop (or really any compliant personal computer which can include desktop computers) via a USB (universal serial bus) wire. Because a USB connection delivers both electricity and data, no extra wires or batteries are required. Unfortunately, laptop GPS devices exist only with a USB connection, meaning that no integrated models have been introduced yet, so the device will have to be carried around along with the laptop.
Pricing Versus Performance
Laptop GPS devices can be as little as fifty dollars, although these models are very basic GPS devices that essentially tell position and nothing else. By increasing the budget for a device, a user can add a wide variety of features, such as a full color map updated with the latest traffic conditions, points of interest for a user (such as a list of restaurants and movie theaters in the local vicinity), and voice directions to each destination. Better yet, these devices don't rely on batteries, so you never have to charge them. As long as your laptop battery has a charge or you use an AC adapter, these devices will work.
The very high-end laptop GPS models can cost thousands of dollars, but for all intents and purposes, the one hundred to two hundred fifty dollar range will suit all but the most demanding consumers just fine. These models include almost all of the features of those devices that cost thousands of dollars, so consumers will know they are getting the best performance to price ratio available. A poorly kept secret is that the best value in any market lies in the middle range of products, away from the very cheap and grossly expensive.
However, the USB interface allows laptop GPS devices to be used across several different generations of computers, making them investments for the foreseeable future. Because they're such bargains, these devices are fast becoming the norm in the mainstream market. Cheaper than standalone models, laptop GPS devices can save you money while giving you unparalleled versatility.
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