Long ago GPS systems were exclusive to military use but these days GPS navigation systems have entered the mainstream and are a very popular item with today's consumers. There are a variety of GPS brands from several different manufacturers. Leading the heard in technology and user experience is Garmin. The GPS units designed and manufactured by Garmin are considered among the best there are. Garmin was founded by Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao who saw the future when it came to GPS technology. Taking hold of the opportunity to develop GPS navigation systems for consumers, the Garmin Company was formed. Now days, Garmin GPS systems are top of the line units and represent the best in quality.The Garmin GPS line of navigators spans a number of different models for different uses. They offer vehicle navigation systems to help you get where you are going while driving. There are also portable GPS units made by Garmin that are quite popular among geocachers and outdoorsmen. Being the leading edge company that they are, most Garmin units feature the latest in technology such as touch screen, voice recognision and Bluetooth compatibility.In addition to selling GPS devices, Garmin also sells a line of map products that are compatible with their units. These maps extend the functionality of the GPS devices that they make and sell. If you are in need of specialty maps for your Garmin unit, it is as easy as purchasing and downloading the maps from the internet and synching them to your GPS device. This way you basic GPS unit becomes more useful for the specific purposes that you need it for the most.Garmin GPS navigators are also praised for their user friendly design features. Safety is important and features like spoken directions are a major advancement to vehicle mounted GPS units because the driver no longer has to take their eyes off of the road to get where they are going. The portable devices made by Garmin are best known for their fast synching and easy to read screens. The button designs on some handheld units have also received praise due to the ability to operate the device with a single hand.As the technology behind GPS devices continues to advance and become more a part of our lives, you can be sure that Garmin will continue to be at the forefront of all future technologies. When you are choosing a GPS unit, remember that investing in quality equipment from a well respected company will last you longer and be most useful to you in the long run. When you choose a Garmin device, you know that you are choosing quality and will end up with a GPS unit that will last you a long time.