I've always wondered how accurate auto navigation systems like GPS really are. They've always seemed a little extravagant to me, and the thought of driving around with a computerized voice telling me how to get somewhere seemed a little too futuristic to be true. But that changed when I was on vacation recently and had the opportunity to use a rental car equipped with one of the new auto navigation systems.

I kept my eyes on the auto navigation system the entire time we were on the road. My friend eagerly explained how the thing worked. Apparently, he had purchased a top-of-the-line GPS auto navigation system that tracked the car's position via satellite. I watched the map closely, and sure enough, it was as accurate as could be. I mean, we would pass a landmark out on the side of the road while the on-screen map was showing the exact same thing! I next asked my friend how easy it was to find new locations using these auto navigation systems. He said all he had to do was type in an address or phone number using the touch-screen menu, and the shortest route would appear within seconds. I decided there and then that I had to check out some auto navigation systems for my own car.

When it comes to choosing among the varieties of handheld GPS out there, ease of use should be the first feature you look for when pricing auto navigation systems. If something is too complicated, it isn't a good idea to have it in your vehicle. You'll never make it to your destination if you are fiddling with your navigation system and wreck. Look for one you can easily learn to use, and one that has a display you can easily make sense of when used. You may find that some models have too small of a display screen and that they features are complicated. You want to skip a model that is not user-friendly.

Regardless, auto navigation systems will make the journey much more enjoyable. You basically just program your destination in the device, and it takes over. Once it has your address, it will use its antenna to pinpoint your current location. Then it will begin routing. Simply mount the auto navigation system in your vehicle and take off. It literally tells you where to go every step of the way. How awesome is that! You will never get lost again. So far my wife and I have used auto navigation systems on a number of occasions. They're not just for traveling a long distance you know. Take advantage of handheld GPS whenever possible. It will save you oodles of time, effort and frustration.