GPS is one of the most desirable traits when looking for a PDA, but purchasing a PDA with GPS can be much more expensive than just buying a GPS card for a PDA. PDA GPS cards are very inexpensive and simple to install.

The PCMCIA GPS card for PDAs and laptops comes in CF form. CF is an abbreviation for compact flash, which is simply a card that can be installed in your PDA or laptop to give you GPS capabilities. These GPS cards function off of multiple satellites world wide to triangulate your exact location.

You can find a card for GPS on your PDA anywhere that normally sells PDAs or PDA accessories. When you are shopping for your PDA, be sure to look out for free PDA GPS cards that are a bonus feature when buying the PDA itself. This can save you money, even if they have raised the price of the PDA slightly to account for the GPS card.

If you own an older PDA model you m ay have to check to see if your PDA has a compact flash slot. If not, you will not be able to add a GPS card externally to your PDA. The good news is that almost all of the newer PDA models can use GPS cards along with other compact flash cards such as cameras.

GPS cards are very accurate to begin with, but the more there are on the market, the better they are getting. These days you can find smaller and more accurate GPS cards than ever before. Plus, and increase in GPS availability means that there will be more satellites in the future, increasing from the dozen or so that are already out there. The more satellites, the more accurate, so today’s GPS systems can tell you where you are within mere yards of where you are standing at any given time.

If you are looking for a PDA with GPS make sure to consider GPS cards that you can install by yourself as a viable option. They are very reasonably priced and simple to install. Make sure that your PDA has a compact flash slot so that you can add GPS without having to spend too much. GPS cards are getting smaller but more accurate. The PCMCIA is only one of the many GPS systems available, but nearly every PDA manufacturer now offers some form of GPS, whether it is included in the PDA or comes as a compact flash attachment.