I often thrift and resell items, and I've come across several old dashboard GPS units like Garmin and TomTom. I notice these devices are not selling well, often being given away for almost nothing. I have a few of these lying around from grab bags where I focused on other items and I'm curious—can they be repurposed? I'm wondering if there's any way to use their screens, boards, or chips for other projects. It seems like these gadgets came and went pretty quickly, transitioning from printed MapQuest directions to smartphone GPS apps in no time. I have found success selling niche GPS units for golf, hiking, and trucking, but the average consumer models don't seem to fetch a good price. Are there any alternative uses or demands for these old GPS units in tech?
1 Answer
You might be able to repurpose them since many of these units run on versions of Windows. I've seen people crack them to run custom software, which could turn them into mini PCs. I actually use one in my RV to navigate without using my phone's data. It's just handy for certain trips!
Thanks for the info! That sounds like a great idea for my travels!