My wife does a lot of driving for work and wants a dash cam for Christmas. I know nothing about them other than standard camera specs like resolution. I need some learn'n. What brands are good? What features are worth the money? Anything else I should be considering?

I haven't bought one lately but I always like the low profile kind. So many of them look like you've got a normal digital camera stuck to the window.

I've had at least 4 over the years, they don't handle rough handling.
Few years back, I pulled into a hotel parking going for a space another car coming from another direction beat me to it, So I stopped short and watched the driver in the next the space I originally wanted, enter their PU and prepare to leave, so I sat there waiting.

PU started backing up and I could see the front tires pointing in the direction to miss me as the PU slowly got closer. It was daylight and I was plainly visible. At the last second the front wheels steered into me and I was all over my horn trying to prevent a collision. I could not back up because of heavy traffic in the road behind me I had just turned off of. The pedestrians in the vicinity all stopped in their tracks as I used my horn, but to no avail. After we made solid contact, the driver pulled forward and turned the wheel the opposite direction, causing even more damage, and then she stopped,

We both exited the vehicles, and she wanted to know why I ran into her.

I had it all on my dash cam. I had $1k in damages, she had a scratch on her bumper.

I need a new GPS, so I checked out the Garmin booth at the PRI show in Chicago. They have a couple of dash mounted GPS units with built in camera's, not sure I want to go that route yet, recording what I do on the road may not be in my best interest...

this guy's video is interesting. he gives recommendations as well.

I went with the garmin mini2's for now. one in the front and one in the back.
saves from figuring out how to get wiring routed up front.

you aren't reading plates unless they are up close, but it will see the action.