I don't know anything about the different models. Do maps cost extra? Are there any models to stay away from? Hope that wasn't a religion & politics question. :-)
No, not a religion and politics question. A mapping GPS comes with a base map out of the box. Usually pretty basic (yeah). You can buy maps to download to the device depending on what coverage you want. These can have a very high level of detail, depending. You can get, for example, USA maps or European maps, etc. These can be very helpful (or not, as the case may be). It depends on how frequently they are revised. A non-mapping GPS will normally give you a base map that is very simplified. You can set waypoints and you get position information but they do not have routing capability. A mapping GPS will have routing capability. The device will attempt to figure out, based on its map database, where you should go to get to a waypoint. Sometimes this works well. Sometimes it doesn't. Topo and basic road maps are somewhat dependable. Elaborate maps sometimes aren't. What is generally said in bicycle touring circles is that GPS is a nice thing to have but maps and compasses don't need batteries. I wouldn't bet my life on a GPS device. It's nice to have in certain circumstances. A friend of mine was lost in the Atacama desert on a motorcycle trip to South America. He had a (non-mapping) GPS. He said, and I quote, "I was lost, but I knew exactly where I was, I just didn't have a map."
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