GPS Handheld Devices – How Has This Breakthrough Technology Evolved?

A GPS or Global Positioning System was in the beginning produced and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to it being utilized for commercial-grade reasons, the satellite system was utilized by the military for day-and-night navigation for earth, sea and air operations. As the GPS became extensively utilized for commercial purposes, its operations extended to allow for surveillance and movement of individuals, map making, forestry, mineral exploration, tracking down of endangered wildlife in their natural habitation and much more.
In the beginning, the Global Positioning System functioned on prominent computer systems but finally; it has developed into something more pocket-sized – the handheld GPS. The beneficial news about the handheld GPS is that it operates just like the GPS in more elaborate devices and it give the the user the ability to produce information anywhere and anytime he or she may choose. Handheld GPS have now earned such a following that there are numerous individuals all over the world that invariably depend upon the handheld GPS to assist them in navigating across the earth and find places which are even outside the navigation and location discovery ability in just the recent past.
Popular Handheld GPS Models
There are numerous handheld GPS models that are accessible in the market today. One of the more popular models of handheld GPS is the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, which is believed as the quickest when it comes in locking in to satellites. This handheld GPS is outfitted with a 2.6 inch color screen, a barometric measuring device, an electronic compass and an extra Geocaching menu. Nonetheless, despite the fact that this handheld device is filled with many functions, it merely weighs around seven ounces and could last for roughly 18 hours utilizing two AA batteries. The Garmin GPS is rubberized and is water resistant. If you aim to wade or swim on your journey, you could rely on this handheld GPS to come through.
The other well known handheld GPS is the Magellan eXplorist XL. This handheld GPS is features a 3.5 inch color screen which can still be viewable when subjected to sunlight. The big screen of the Magellan would give you a benefit when watching the maps and acquiring the data you need. Even so, the downside of the Magellan GPS is that unlike the Garmin GPS, it does not feature an altimeter or electronic compass. This handheld GPS also weighs approximately 12 ounces, which is quite heavy in comparison to the Garmin. The battery life of the Magellan is around 15 hours with the usage of four AA batteries.

Listen to Corbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of electronics. If you would like to learn more go to Bluetooth GPS advice and at Lowrance GPS tips.
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January 13th, 2010 Comment (0) General

Tracking Kids with GPS

I’m sure you’ve seen stories on the news and in the newspapers about children that have gone missing. There is nothing sadder than a parent who experiences the loss of their child like this. The good news is that you don’t have to endure something like this because there are ways to avoid lost children with todays technology. I’m talking about GPS tracking for children. Through the Global Positioning System we can rest at ease knowing that our kids location can be tracked within several yards.
Kids GPS devices today are small devices and they can be in cell phones, backpacks, watches; even placed directly on the child’s clothing. The GPS device will then send out a signal allowing you to track the location of your children at all times. You can program the GPS device to send signals at intervals as short as 15 seconds for near real time tracking of your kids.
GPS technology works great for tracking kids that are at high risk due to child custody issues or similar problems. It is possible to set the device up so that it will alert you not only to the child’s location, but also if the child leaves a predesignated area or boundary. So you can know if your child leaves their school or the neighborhood playground or pool.
Imagine the peace of mind you’ll have when you know that you can simply log into your computer and instantly know where your child is thanks to the GPS tracking device. Some GPS devices also come with panic buttons that the child can use in case of an emergency. The alerts go not only to you, but also to the tracking service so the authorities can be notified in a timely manner.
Often when children are kidnapped the kidnapper will immediately get rid of any cell phone the child may be carrying to avoid being tracked. With a small unseen GPS tracking device attached to the child’s clothing you’ll still be able to track them and locate them quickly. You and more importantly the police will know exactly where to locate the child and this increases the chances they will be found unharmed dramatically.
GPS devices for small children can be as small as a watch or pager and they run on rechargeable batteries that last up to 24 hours. If you want something with a longer battery life you can get larger GPS tracking units that can transmit for up to 2 weeks on a single charge. Older children like teens can have the GPS units placed in their car to keep track of their locations and driving habits. Some auto GPS units can be programmed to send an alert when the car exceeds a certain speed limit.
While personal GPS units are not cheap you really can’t put a price on the peace of mind you’ll get knowing you can locate your child in case of some emergency. When the safety of your child is at risk nothing is too expensive. In addition to the cost of the GPS device itself you’ll also need to pay a tracking service which will run anywhere from $25-100 a month depending on the service and features. Having a GPS device tracking your child can be a great way to grant yourself peace of mind.

To learn more about tracking kids with GPS and tracking teens with GPS visit the authors website.
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January 3rd, 2010 Comment (0) General

Kids Need GPS For Safety

The decision on whether to buy your kid a GPS or not is a big one. The costs associated with buying these devices are not insignificant. Often times they can cost hundreds of dollars just for the device. Add to that a monthly service fee for the ability to actually use the tracker and you can be talking about hundreds of dollars a year. A GPS for your child is something that you shouldn’t consider lightly, but you should definitely still consider it.
Here is why: a GPS can give you unparalleled peace of mind as well as be the difference between life and death if there very worst were to happen to a member of your family.
The peace of mind available in knowing exactly where your child is is very helpful for you and your family. Imagine being at work and having the urge to make sure your child is safe and exactly where they are supposed to be. In the past you would have to have a cell phone where you could call your child’s school, friend’s parent, or sports coach. But with a GPS tracking watch or other GPS tracking device for kids all you would have to do is power up your computer, log in to your tracking providers website, and find out the exact position of your child in the world.
Another key feature of most kid GPS devices is that they have a feature that allows you to set boundaries for you child. If they ever go outside of those boundaries then you will automatically be notified. This is really great for those who live extremely busy lives at work but still want to keep tabs on their children. If your child breaks the boundaries that you have set up for their safety you will know about it. Different providers provide different options, but you can get an email or text message depending on your preference.
Both of these features allows you to calm any fear or concern that you might have as a parent about your child’s safety.
But what if the worst does end up happening. You are at work, busy bringing home the bacon and all of a sudden you get a notification that you child has gone outside of the boundaries that they know exist for their safety. Your child would never willingly break their boundaries because you have had talks with your child where you let them know the seriousness of doing so. This is for real.
Luckily, they have a GPS on them – tracking their location in real time for you and the police to recover your child in no time at all. Imagine being able to tell the police the exact location where you child is, what direction they are heading, and the speed at which they heading in that direction. Do you think that information would be useful in helping the police track down your child’s kidnapper? Of course!
You child could be back at home with you safe and sound within the hour – all made possible through the power of GPS. If your child is at high risk for abduction or is particularly prone to wondering, then you might want to seriously consider a GPS device for your child. The peace of mind might be worth it alone.

A GPS tracking watch can be an important part of helping you keep tabs on your kids. Need help with your device? Check out our kids GPS tracking watch wisdom at GPS For Today.
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December 25th, 2009 Comment (0) General

Make Your GPS Kids Tracking Watch About Adventure

Kids love adventure. This is doubly true of boys. They love to turn all sorts of thing into some type of quest or battle. Sticks quickly turn into guns, boxes into forts, and imaginary men into enemies to be vanquished. At the heart of every boy is the spirit of an adventurer.
This can often be misunderstood in boys to be ‘misbehavior’ or ‘disobedience,’ but that is not really what it is. Instead the boy is just trying to live out what he is – a brilliant and daring man, longing to do something great with his life. Knowing this, you can help your child grow in this as well as keep get them to wear their GPS tracking watch. The thing is to appeal to their spirit of adventure to do it.
The absolute best way to introduce your child to their GPS tracking device is to make a connection to it and the spirit of adventure that already rests within them. There are many ways that you can do this, depending on which adventurer your child is particularly fond of.
Do they like archaeologists like Indian Jones? How about the Dora the Explorer? Are they into Bob the Builder? Thomas the Train? Any of the these childhood heroes could definitely benefit from the use of a GPS device. All you need to do is suggest to the children that these individuals already use them.
This should not be very hard since many of these types of people already use GPS in real life. Archaeologists really do use GPS to record the locations of their finds. Sometimes they even use two units at the same time to get an even more exact reading on the location of the item.
Explorers, the police, constructions engineers, and trains all use GPS in one way or another in real life. By making the connection between your child’s favorite hero you are already building an in with your child. Combine that with the foothold of trust you already in your child’s life and helping them to wear their safety device and to treat it with respect and awe is completely within your grasp.
The next phase is to go on an adventure with your child using their device. This will help give them some experience with their GPS kids device and help you guide the conditions under which they have this experience.
For this adventure be sure to bring a real time GPS tracker of your own or a internet enable phone so you can check your status with your child in real time. Consider going to your favorite park where you go on some imaginary adventure with your child. Be sure to pull out your GPS unit at key moments in the adventure to help reinforce the idea that being an adventurer can be related to the device that you want them to have for their safety.
By doing this you will help ensure that they will have a healthy respect for their device and keep it safe. After all, if Indiana Jones needs his GPS it will help give your child incentive to keep his by his side. And that is exactly what you want as a parent – your child safe.
It is also important to realize that a GPS tracking watch is only an effective safety tool if it is used in additional to more traditional safety information. Be sure to share with your kids the basic principles of childhood safety. This will go a long way in ensuring that you kid can handle themselves safely in a multitude of circumstance.

Joe writes a gps tracking watches guide and as well as provides information on refurbished GPS.
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December 21st, 2009 Comment (0) General

The Many Uses Of GPS Tracking Watches

GPS watches are mainly used for fitness and people tracking purposes. However, this is not the only use of these powerful devices. They can be used in many, many ways if you are imaginative enough to think outside the box. Here are just a couple additional uses.
One of the powerful uses of GPS tracking watches is the power to measure things. Most fitness watches enable you to track the exact path of your exercise routine, giving you the distance you traveled as you ran for forty-five minutes. This can be harnessed measure objects, large objects, that you always wondered just how big these objects are.
Thinking about how large your apartment building is? Or the distance between you and your your favorite park? Or just how close the nearest ice cream shop is? Well a GPS device is just what you need to find this information out. Since they can also interact with computer mapping programs you can get a birds eye view of the distance you traveled.
Another interesting thing you can do is go exploring with your GPS watch. Many of these devices have the ability to set way points. These enable you to mark the exact locations of special or remarkable geographic features on journey’s through the wilderness. By using this feature you can see understand the geography of an area better or get an idea of exactly where that landmark you always pass by is exactly. This can create a nice discussion piece with other outdoor adventurers and help foster collaborative exploration efforts.
It is also very helpful for exploring new urban landscapes. Those on business trips can help themselves interact with their environment in new and sometimes strange places. By using way points you can give yourself freedom to explore side streets and back alleys that you would normally never consider going down for fear of loosing your bearing on where your hotel or hostel is. This can be done away with if you have a GPS watch to point you back home.
Still another use is to analyze your commute. With gas prices being what they are it is always helpful to drive as efficiently as you possibly can. In addition to other gas saving techniques, you can drive around wearing your watch, using its power to silently and efficiently track and monitor your speed to help you test. This will help you understand how much of your time is spent in bumper to bumper traffic and how much time you are traveling the posted speed limits. It will also be able to assist you in determining how quickly you accelerate and decelerate – important metrics for fuel efficiency.
In addition to gas saving information, if these devices are paired with a heart rate monitor they can provide information about your level of stress during your commute. Is there an noticeable difference in your heart rate depending in the speed at which you travel home? Is your commute stressing you out? A heart rate monitor might be help you better understand this portion of your commute.
As you can see, GPS tracking watches have tons of uses in many different situations. Their ability to record many different layers of information is the key behind their versatility.

Joe teaches people about the benefits of owning a gps tracking watch and how to benefit from a refurbished GPS device.
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November 4th, 2009 Comment (0) General

How Dads Can Use a GPS Tracking Watch Wisely

There aren’t many bad things about being a dad, but there are some. One of them is having to leave your wife and kids to go slave away at a job so that your wife and kids can eat.
Men seem to play a strange game in modern society, being obligated to provide for the needs of their family while at the same time being particularly responsible for the emotional, psychological, and mental development of their children, especially the boys. The job requires that they spend the majority of their time away from their child, preventing them from doing both.
In ages past it was not this way. Fathers had a major responsibility in training their children in a trade. Fathers would take their sons with them to work and teach them the family trade. Most of their day was spent with their children, showing them how to become a man and acculturating them into society.
It is certainly not that way today. Children have their own version of work (i.e. school) that we send them to everyday. There the responsibility to teach our children how to become productive members of society is handed over to government bureaucrats and professional nannies. There are ways to buck this system of institutionalized parent-child separation (home schooling is one), but many of them are cost prohibitive or socially unacceptable.
However, there are still ways to use technology to get back some of the ground lost in parenthood.
One particular device that can be used in this way is a GPS tracking watch. While gadgets are not exactly the best answer for this particular problem, the can help span the chasm that separates the modern man from his children. Also, since GPS devices are becoming increasingly available to the public this idea could be used with more than just a GPS tracking watch. The idea I am about to describe can also be another way that you can utilize your GPS, making it an even better purchase than before.
The first step to making a connection with your child when you go off to work is to wear your GPS watch to work. While you are on your way your watch will be silently and accurately logging all sorts of useful information such as you location in space, what time you were at that location, your speed when you were at that location, and your heart rate if you have a heart rate monitor on your watch.
Once your day has been recorded by your watch the next step is to upload that information into you computer and get it into one of the many free mapping programs available on the internet. These programs often have a three dimensional option that will be vital when you undertake the next phase of the plan.
In this portion of the plan you sit down with your child and you show them your day on the map. This could be boring for those desk monkeys who sit in a cubicle all day long answer phones and saying, “This Kevin in accounting, how may I help you?” You will need an extra dose of imagination to make your day come alive to your child, but this is necessary for them to see since they will probably have a similar job someday in the future.
If you are in a profession that has you constantly moving, like an officer of the law, a plumber, a postman, or a construction worker, you will probably be able to relay your day to your child simply and easily. You will not need to dream up things to share because your day will take you to all sorts of interesting things – at least to a child’s mind.
You could bring up the odor of a particular house you had to work in, or the mean looking canine you saw, or even the old lady that was driving terribly and show them exactly on a map where it happened – and in 3D. Kids love that stuff. Then you could tell them what you did at that house, or why you were on that street, or where you were going when you saw the old lady driving. Then you can show them some secret of your trade that will be useful to them. You could even let them practice it on something together so that you are taking an active roll in their life.

Joe teaches people about using a gps tracking watch and GPS fleet tracking.
November 2nd, 2009 Comment (0) General

How GPS Tracking Watches Function

Long gone are the days when humans had to rely solely on the stars to know their general position on the earth. Today we have the highly accurate GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites that rotate around the earth, constantly transmitting information. This information can then quickly be analyzed by computers to trilaterate the receiver’s exact position to within a few yards. That is information much more accurate than looking at starts.
This technology has rapidly advanced since it was initially created. Since then we can now put one of these GPS receiving devices in something a small as a watch, bringing GPS technology down to the personal level.
A GPS tracking watch will do all the normal things a watch can do – fit on your wrist, tell the time, and look really cool for all the ladies (or gentlemen). But GPS tracking watches also allow you to do some other things that really can enhance certain aspects of your life, like your fitness routine.
It can do this because GPS technology enables it to track and record things like your location, velocity, and altitude. This basic information can be used to generate maps within the watches computer so that you know the location where you started and the course you took away from that starting point if ever you want to return. Not only can you save a starting point, but you can also set “way points” as you find interesting objects or landmarks.
Since GPS watches are also computers they have the ability to record and receive additional data. This is particularly useful to the person training for some type of athletic event. Triathletes, marathon runners, kayakers, cyclists, and even sprinters can benefit from one addition piece of equipment – a heart rate monitor.
A heart rate monitor does exactly what you might expect, it measures the heart rate of the person wearing it. These are normally bands that you wrap around your chest underneath your shirt as they require direct skin contact. Then they transmit your heart rate information to your watch which it then records along with all your other data.
This can be very useful in analyzing which parts of your workout or training regimen works your heart the hardest. It can even help you during a race to help you pace yourself or to become aware that your heart rate is getting to high and that you need to pull back a little to ensure that you have the energy to continue. The more information that you have the better equipped you will be at making the right training and race day decisions.
Once you have all this information (distance traveled, speed, heart rate, change in elevation) it would take forever to process all of it yourself. Here again the GPS tracking watch has you covered. Most makes come with some type of analysis software or easy to use web applications. These are really useful for seeing graphic representations of your workouts and they are gr

October 24th, 2009 Comment (0) General

Picking The Right GPS Tracking Watch

There are many different uses for GPS tracking watches and many different styles of watch depending on the use. Matching the right watch to your specific need is probably the most important thing you can think about when deciding what watch to purchase. Most watches can be used in a variety of ways, but only some types of watches will have the functionality that you are looking for so the most important thing to ask is, “What am I getting this GPS device for?”
Those looking for fitness watches should definitely consider the different options available to them. There are a few main brands that offer GPS enabled watches. These include Garmin, Suunto, and Timex among others. The most important thing to look for in your fitness watch is if the watches functionality meets your needs. Most brands and styles have the option to have a heart rate monitor in addition to all the GPS tracking and this adds a nice layer of information to improve your fitness.
In addition to the heart rate monitor, look for a watch that receives the GPS signal without the use of a GPS pod. These pods can be very cumbersome if you are on a run, swim, or bike and you don’t want to be thinking about your pod while exercising. These pods can also be heavy and could create an embarrassing moment when the weight of it pulls down your pants!
Another application of GPS watches is to monitor and secure your children. Nobody wants their child to be abducted or to find out that they are lost, but if you do you want to know that you will be able to find them soon. Unfortunately, many of the kids watches are still in development or do not have the functionality that you might wish that they did. This should be changing in a couple of years as technology improves and companies learn what concerned parents really want.
A key ingredient to making a wise purchase here is talking to the company that you are thinking of buying from. Make sure that they have a service plan that truly meets your needs and fits within your budget. Most child devices not only cost money up front for the device but also have a monthly service fee that can be comparable to a phone plan. As good questions and get informed before you pull the trigger on this one.
Lastly, there is GPS tracking for those suffering from dementia or other disorders or disabilities. These can be great ways to keep tabs on our loved ones, especially those prone to wandering. Without the proper faculties to find their way home, individuals in these conditions can get very scared very quickly. With the use of GPS technology you can quickly find these individuals and get them back home where they can be both comfortable and safe.
As we continue to expand our ability to utilize GPS in the consumer market the capabilities of GPS tracking watches will continue to grow. This will enable consumers to take full advantage of this technology and to get the location information that matters most to them.

October 23rd, 2009 Comment (0) General

GPS Tracking Watch Makers

If you want to buy a GPS tracking watch you will want to know what qualities make the best watch. You are also going to want to know which companies make these watches. There are a handful of manufacturers in the market, include three big names in watch making or GPS technology. These three are Timex, Garmin, and Suunto.
Each brand offers a different interpretation of the same basic principle – a watch that is also a GPS device. However, it is important to realize that these devices fit on your wrist. Because of this they will not give you turn by turn instructions. They are not voice activated. They don’t have a nice little display that will give you a map of the world if you zoom our far enough.
Instead these devices help you track where you have been, how quickly you got there, what changes in elevation you experienced, and your heart rate (if you have a compatible heart rate monitor too). This is a very different GPS unit than most people are familiar with, but once explained it does make a lot of sense.
These watches do receive signals from the satellites that orbit our earth. They are accurate and they can be used in a variety of different real-life situations. They are mainly used for fitness though. That is because GPS information (speed, elevation, distance) are all important for training purposes.
Each GPS watch is very much like a watch in that it has a wristband and visual display. It can tell the time in a very accurate way. They are often lightweight and easy to manage.
Aside from these basic features, you will notice that each manufacturer has their own interpretation on how these watches should work and function. Some watches have the GPS receiver within itself while others require you to take a GPS pod with you that will transmit the data to your watch. Both have their benefits, but it appears that more people favor the self-contained GPS watch than the pod one.
Garmin generally has the self-contained GPS tracking in their watches. These models include the Forerunner 205, Forerunner 305, and Forerunner 405. These watches can seem a little large on the wrists, especially the older versions, but are generally light weight enough that you don’t really notice the difference. However, since the watches are so large this can pose a problem form small wristed individuals who already use up the entire wrist band on a normal watch.
Timex is also offering a fitness watch. The brand name for these watches is Body Link. These watches are of the pod variety mentioned earlier. Timex has a long tradition of creating quality watches and these generally follow that trend.
Suunto is the other major player in this field. They have a watch that they try and market as a military GPS watch that allows you to set waypoints for field actions. It is essentially a glorified fitness watch without some of the benefits, like heart rate tracking.
Now is a great time to buy GPS tracking watches. It should be even better five years from now as technology improves and more features are put into them. One day you may even be able to get those turn by turn instructions on your watch.

Joe writes gps tracking watch tips and instructs companies on how to the find the best deals onGPS fleet tracking for small fleets.
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October 21st, 2009 Comment (0) General

GPS Sport Watches

People often question how much GPS functionality can be jam-packed into a wristwatch form factor. Some even question if they would be able to use the positioning figures to get information to their desired location.
The Global Positioning System or GPS is currently the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System. Utilizing a group of at least 24 medium Earth course satellites that sends out precise radio signals, the method enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, and direction. GPS is free for casual use for the good of the public, and these days one can find GPS incorporated in watches, cars, digital maps, etc.
People frequently wonder how much GPS practicality can be crammed into a wristwatch. Will it be possible to download maps and watch the progress?
GPS technology is a wonderful feat of human advancement, which is readily available in your local electronic stores. This allows anyone to determine his or her exact time and location in seconds. Get this information continually by buying a GPS watch.
GPS has developed into a broadly used aid in direction finding worldwide, and a helpful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses. GPS also provides a specific time location used in many applications as well as scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks. It may be remarkable to note that the cost of maintaining the GPS system is approximately US$750 million per year, including the replacement of aging satellites, and for research and development. The satellite assemblage is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing.
Purchasing the best GPS watch for you would be easy by following these 5 simple steps:
Step 1: Know what you require in a watch. Uses of GPS are limitless! Decide whether you want to use your GPS watch for training, sports, navigating or locating. You’ll have your options by cutting them down once you already know what you need.
Step 2: Evaluate the prices. Online sites make prices of different brands available for comparison. Compare prices of GPS watches to others before you buy one.
Step 3: Check for its availability in stores. Some of the best GPS watches are being sold in large chain stores. Even if they don’t have it on stock, they can order it for you. Call ahead or check online to make sure they have what you’re looking for.
Step 4: Look for a good deal. You may be able to order the same watch at a lower cost. During the holidays, you may catch these prices being marked down.
Step 5: Talk to the agent. Make sure you have someone to ask questions to before buying your preferred GPS watch. Know what’s the most popular or the most raved watch from sales representatives.
With these 5 Steps, you’re on your way to getting the finest piece of technology around your wrist. With a GPS wristwatch you will never go astray, and you will always be on time.
Here is one of the best GPS sports watch.
X9i Black Suunto GPS Wristwatch
Suunto X9i is best for camping and hiking having a compass, alarm, chronograph, altimeter, dual time, and is water resistant.
Fully fitted with GPS, a compass, barometer, altimeter and chronograph, Suunto X9i has everything you needed for a successful journey. Apart from whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, or going on a fishing expedition, Suunto X9i will ensure you get through even the knottiest situations.
Product information:
• Altimeter- altitude, altitude alarm, vertical speed, thermometer
• Compass- Bearing, bearing tracking, graphic compass rose
• Watch- Calendar, dual time, three alarms with date feature, stopwatch
• GPS- 12 channels, Resolution 1meter/3 feet
• Barometer- weather alarm, absolute pressure, temperature, sea level pressure, weather movement graph
• Menu-centered user interface just like cell phones
• Power supply- USB cable and a universal power supply
• Water resistant upto 10 bars
• PC interface software + USB cable
Part #: 5216-SS012029110 / Suunto RCO5388
Sellers Found: 3
Available Since: Jul 18, 2006
Lowest Price: $399.20
Color – Black
UPC
045235400768

October 20th, 2009 Comment (0) General