Whether we know it or not, Global Positioning Systems have become integrated into our every day lives. From our cell phones to our automobiles, we use a GPS to navigate our way around our cities or companies are using it to track their fleet of trucks. As an outdoorsman I have always wanted a handheld GPS to help navigate my way around unfamiliar territory while hunting and fishing, but I never really thought I "needed" one until I tried navigating my way down an old fire trail in an area where I had never been before....at night. I eventually found my way back to camp, but it took a lot longer than I had planned because I had mistakenly followed the wrong trail. Lost, not exactly, but if I had been using a GPS instead of a compass I would have never made that wrong turn. Hopefully those days of getting turned around in the mountains are over because I just picked up a Magellan Explorist 500 handheld color GPS System from my friends at Geeks.com.

     GPS systems have come a long way over the past few years. The first GPS Systems that I remember didn't have color LCD screens and sometimes navigating your way around with one was easier if you just left it at home. So when I received the Explorist 500 I was pleasantly surprised by its capabilities. But before I tell you about my experience with the Explorist 500, let's have a look at the specifications.

Features/Specifications:

GPS Outdoor Navigation System 2.3-inch color display 4 navigation screens  Built-in 8 MB base map of North America Built-In Mapping   Store Up To 5 Track Logs, Each with 2000 Track Points Store Unlimited Track Log Files with optional SD card MapSend Compatible with Detailed Street Maps & Topography Charts TrueFix GPS technology for  reliable accuracy to within 3 meters 14 parallel channels, supported by WAAS and EGNOS Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems  Area/Perimeter Calculation: Instantly see the distance and area between any geographic ports  Geocache Manager: PC application to download and organize coordinates from the Internet  Satellite status: Monitor the GPS satellites tracking your position and get information about their status Multi-language menu support: English/French/German/Spanish/Italian/Swedish/Finnish/Portuguese/ Dutch/Norwegian Water resistant and rubber armored SD memory card slot (card not included) Up To 17 hours of continuous use USB Data Port

Unit Dimensions:

• 4.7 x 2.2 x 1.3-inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 5.3 oz.

Regulatory Approvals:

• CE

Package Includes:

• Magellan eXplorist 500 Handheld Color GPS System
• Users manual
• MapSend manual
• Installation Wizard
• MapSend Software
• Li-ion 3.7V rechargeable battery
• USB cable with power tap connector
• AC adapter (100-240V, 50/60Hz, 0.5A)

Additional Information:

• Model: eXplorist 500
• P/N: RF980771-05
• UPC: 7 63357 11519 2

Product Requirements:

• Secure Digital card
• CD-ROM drive
• USB port
• Power outlet