GPS UDPATE: So the GPS that I ordered — this one — showed up the other day. I’ve had it on the dash for a couple of days, just to see how it works. Pretty well. The maps are clear and so far seem entirely accurate. The routing doesn’t always choose my regular routes from place to place — which may be a flaw in the device but is more likely a flaw in my regular routes — and when I was stuck in traffic on Kingston Pike it found me a shortcut through a subdivision that I didn’t realize connected through to another main road. The voice directions are clear and come in plenty of time to make turns. It’s easy to use — I haven’t even looked at the manual, which, lamely, but typically these days is on a CD not in a print version. I think I’m glad that I sprung for the wider screen model — I’m sure that the cheaper nuvi 350 is plenty good, as lots of readers enthusiastically endorsed it — but the big screen does seem exceptionally clear. Haven’t really had a chance to test out the traffic receiver yet.

And apparently I’m riding a trend as sales of GPS devices are way up this season. Well, they’ve gotten cheap enough, and good enough, that even the people who were holding back are starting to buy them. That’s me!