GPS systems are a good find

Q Do you need to pay to use a GPS satellite navigation system? If so, what does it cost?

J. MARCUS, Carrick, Pa.

A There are no subscription fees for using a satellite navigation system. The system calculates your position using free government GPS satellites, then preloaded map software displays your location and directions on the screen. Once you have the unit, you can use the preloaded software as long as you wish at no additional expense. The map software also includes information about local points of interest such as entertainment, restaurants, banks, ATMs, shopping and emergency services. You can search by name or location type to find destinations, get directions or obtain business phone numbers.

Most manufacturers recommend that you update maps at least once a year. It is not absolutely necessary, but high-growth areas can change as much as 20 percent annually. How often you update is up to you and how satisfied you are with the way the unit is performing. A typical update costs $65 to $80 and is usually provided via DVD through a USB connection.

Now available are two groundbreaking GPS systems incorporating cellular modems, the Internet-connected Insignia NS-CNV10 and NS-CNV20 from Best Buy. Both have Google Search to find points of interest and show real-time gas prices for your car's location. For easy destination entry, you can use Google Maps on your computer and forward destinations to your unit via e-mail. Both units pair with your Bluetooth phone for hands-free operation, and local traffic information is provided conveniently in the corner of the screen.

The units sell for $399 and $499 (different screen sizes) and include a year's worth of connectivity, as well as quarterly map updates by a technician at any Geek Squad location.

If you want to try GPS before splurging on such an advanced unit, systems from Magellan, Garmin, TomTom and Mio will get you started for less than $200. Once you have experienced the benefits of a navigation system, you won't want to be without one.

AMY SHERIDAN, ERIE, PA.

A For the money, you can't do better than the Creative Zen Stone Plus with Built-In Speaker (www.creative.com). Available in four colors and shaped like a smooth, round stone, it is one of the few tiny units to include a display, a clear advantage over the iPod Shuffle. It also has a stopwatch, an FM radio and a built-in voice recorder. It sells for only $49 for the 2-gigabyte version and $69 for the 4GB version (holding 20 and 40 hours of music, respectively).