I've tried a few automobile GPS devices in the past and usually been disappointed, mainly by the absence of a voice command that talks me through directions before they are needed. I bought a Garmin StreetPilot C340 recently and have to say it is simply astounding. It's plug and drive -- you plug it into your cigarette lighter, wait a few minutes till it acquires satellites, answer a few set up questions, type an address into a touch-screen keyboard and hit "go". It's like having a perfect navigator beside you.

It contains the entire US maps. I have found it accurate (so far) in the most obscure areas with roads and it has shown me faster ways of getting places that I assumed I knew well and have driven to for years. Whenever you make a wrong turn or run into traffic or a closed road, it immediately recalculates the best route and tells you (in a never-critical woman's voice!) what to do. It's one of those tools that will just keep you saying "wow". It is a life changing, time-saving, stress-reducing tool.

Once you're tried it you will think it's cheap for about $650. This is also a tool you will want for people you love.

-- Vincent Crisci

Garmin StreetPilot C340
$624
Available from Broadway Photo
Also from Amazon