In article
<57ee0fb6-0ba5-4daf-81e1-4f3d37d4bae5@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,

So the in-car units are aimed at stupid people.

Is that what you're saying?

I guess there should be in-car music systems such that the same people
don't have to buy iPods and worry about leaving them in the garage or on
the picnic table or...

1) Typically in-car screens are larger and brighter than portables.
2) Design is integrated into the interior you don't have loose cables
hanging.
3) Typically the antenna system is better so satellite acquisition is much
faster than with portable systems.
4) Many in-car systems have 'dead reckoning' which allows position change
estimate when satellites are not available (in tunnels, parking garages,
etc.)
5) But the major benefit is that you don't have to 'put them away' every
time you leave the car to avoid theft.

All things considered, however, I think my Garmin Nuvi 750 is a better
system than our 2002 Lexus LS430, not even considering it was about 1/5 the
cost.