The real meaning of GPS

One of the gadgets of choice this Christmas is a GPS navigation system for the car. In its latest flyer, Datart is offering five models, priced from Kč 5,490 to Kč 12,990. At prices like this, you might legitimately expect an unparalleled work of electronic art. But as anyone who owns one or who often rides a taxi in Prague no doubt knows, these systems don't always propose the shortest route or even get you where you want to go. Prague cabbies, esp. the young ones, love the devices, because they eliminate the need for them to learn their trade and also facilitate the fine art of taking their passengers for a ride. Some of the navigators are so inaccurate that one of our readers said he thought GPS stood for Goddamn Piece of Shit (excuse our French). After all, they're all "Made in China." Our buying advice: Wait for software improvements, and buy a map instead. But make sure it wasn't printed in China. [Czech Republic global positioning system navigational flier]