How to buy a GPS device for Mother’s Day

After a lifetime of dear ol’ mother telling you what to do, how to behave, and where to go, Mother’s Day is an annual occasion to show your appreciation. This year, you might consider returning her maternal favors with a portable GPS navigation system. A recent visit from my out-of-state parents had me thinking that a basic, entry-level device would be money well spent.

Between $150 and $200, you can find good, general-purpose GPS devices that are well-suited for occasional use, including the pink Garmin Nuvi 200 shown here. If Mom has a demanding commute or penchant for road trips, a model with a wide screen and spoken street names would no doubt be appreciated.

In our online GPS buying advice and video, we detail numerous factors and features to consider in choosing a portable navigation device, leading you to our comprehensive ratings, dynamic GPS product selector, and model overview pages filled with facts, figures, insights, and user reviews. By doing the quick-and-easy research, you can ensure you give Mother (or Father if you’re shopping early) a good GPS device on their holiday.

However, I encourage you to go a step further to make it a good gift.

Rather than order the GPS device online and have it shipped direct to her, send it to yourself or purchase it locally. With the device in hand, charge up the device and program it for her. Enter her home address, save into Favorites the addresses for family, friends, and likely vacation destinations where she is likely to use her new electronic assistant.

Many devices include a photo viewer. Go ahead and load up digital family pictures, giving her a mobile slide show.

Once you’ve personalized the device, gift wrap it, and treat her to a helpful, heart-felt surprise.

No doubt she may have questions about how it works, but because you set it up for her, you’ll be conversant in its operation. In a pinch, the owner’s manuals are typically available online, making it easier to help from afar.

And if you don’t use this idea for next Sunday, there’s always Father’s Day…

—Jeff Bartlett

See other gift ideas for Mother’s Day in our special section.

For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums. 

Comments

[Marc David Miller]

I have to think that the feature of adding a slideshow of favorite pictures is at best a needless addition (one that costs nothing, but also adds no value), and at worse a potential contributing factor to highway accidents and death.

[RFC]

Be cautious of putting your home as the GPS 'Home'. If your GPS is stolen from your car whilst away from home, it has been known for the burglar to visit you home by using the GPS.

[UnclePen]

Marc and RFC - You are both paranoid. Live a little. Give up the fear of everything.

[DBs]

I guess 'they' could visit any home even without a navigator.

I would think they would want to stay as far away as possible from the person they stole it from.
In fact, there might be a bigger fear you could track them from home (that technology does exist).

[Richard]

Bought a Pioneer AVIC-S2 for my wife (mothers day) highly recommended. All she needs is a simple unit that an address can be typed into, executed and utilized. The S2 is difficult to figure out, the screen too small (unless one has small fingers) to utilize the touch and impossible to figure out w/ the manuals. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Debbie]

I have recently just purchased a GPS Tom Tom.l I'm 54 and found this brand very affordable as I only needed something simple and clear to operate with a large screen. Tom Tom brand has turned out to take the stress out of venturing out for an impromptu trip out without knowing the area. My aunt (79 years) in the Kootenays was so impressed also purchased the same GPS unit locally for the same price. She also found it very easy to operate and visualy easy to read.

Debbie