TIME Tech Buyer's Guide 2006

More Categories:

GPS Navigators

Cell Phones

Cameras

Audio Gear

iPod Gadgets

Laptops

Video Games

HD Video

previous | next

JAMES WORRELL FOR TIME

Celestron SkyScout $400
celestron.com
Point it skyward and it uses GPS to name whatever heavenly body you're looking at. Where's Cassiopeia on this fine winter's night? Sky Scout will steer you to her. Full of facts and folklore, it makes those night skies a whole lot friendlier.

A GREAT GUIDE
Portable GPS navigators are perfect for anyone who hates reading maps and asking for directions. They're small enough to go where you go and smart enough to show you the way there. They have built-in maps of the entire U.S. and Canada and use satellites to track your position at all times. Just stick one on your windshield, and it will suggest shortcuts, show what curves lie ahead and, in some cases, even help you avoid sticky traffic.

The price is right In years past, cheaper GPS navigators were hard to use and required loading maps from a cd inside a computer. Now even our most affordable pick is ready right out of the box. Higher-priced navigators, like the Garmin, provide even more comforts. Some connect to your cell to act as hands-free speakerphones.

NEXT: Portable GPS