You get What You Pay For

Tom Tom has a nice lineup of GPS units that can save some good money up front. They are usually cheaper than what I consider higher end units and are functional for the intended purpose of helping you find your way.

Most complaints about GPS units are almost universal. This I believe is due to the glitches in GPS mapping. For example, any unit I have used shows my house 2 blocks further north than it actually is. Even though I have sent numerous emails to several mapping companies about this nothing to date had been done about it.

Tom Tom makes a nice compact unit that is powered up via USB and can be charged using a house, car, or laptop by using any combination of adaptors. This makes it easy to use and charge under almost any circumstance.

The small size makes it easy to carry and it can be set for driving or walking maps, which is nice considering older units would have you walk the same way it would have you drive. Meaning you could walk several blocks around One Way streets to get to your destination.The one thing about Tom Tom I never cared for was the video game type display. It is not as nice as other units that have more of an actual paper map type display. I prefer the map like display as you can see better ahead of time where you need to turn off versus having to trust the GPS voice.

Tom Tom also has the feature will it will tell you to turn at the 400 yard mark, and will display the street name at the bottom of the unit as to what street to turn. But many times it is telling you to turn right AT the intersection as well. A loud TURN NOW is heard at the intersection. However, Garmin and others do the same.

Tom Tom could use a better Point of Interest ( POI )database. For example looking for a courthouse the other day I typed the address in, it told me the address did not exist. It did not even have the courthouse in the POI database so I had to second guess it and allow the unit to get me close.

The POI function is also not detailed like other units are. Having been used to a Cobra POI database, once punched up it shows address, proximity to where you are, and phone number. Tom Tom shows everything in the area ( such as Dunkin Donuts ) but with no address or other information. This will be frustrating as you try to find a chain restaurant or hotel with the same name.

The GPS hooks up fast to the satellites, I'll give it that. Usually within 20 seconds it finds a lock and that to me is a nice feature. However, because the compact size you will find that purchasing the external antenna will be a benefit as the internal one seems weak many times unless you are in the open on a very clear day. I highly suggest spending the extra cash on an antenna.The unit has nice Favorites sections to punch and go after setting up, and it remains in the memory until you erase it. This is nice and easy when on the road and having to hit several places in a short time.

The menu is easy to use but has so many features I would never suggest trying to set up a route fully unless you pull over or have it all set up prior. But with Tom Tom and it's internal battery you can do this in a hotel room or restaurant with no external power source if the unit is charged.

The Touch Screen is easy to use and navigate, but a bit busy.

It had an array of voices, male, female, local, foreign, and several languages as well. This makes it easy to use and understand by virtually any person around the globe.

The mount is small and clips into the unit but the suction cup tends to pop off in tight turns, hard stops, etc. They have an extra one you can buy with more versatility but not cheap either. It has Blue Tooth functions but not for all phones. My LG phone on Verizon will not work so the function is useless to me.It has Live Traffic and Weather, but to me Traffic on GPS is a farce and unreliable at best, and it costs 12 bucks a month. AM Radio comes free with my stereo and I get faster better coverage.

It has an SD card for all the information which can be upgraded cheaply and easily. This allows for better information loading and computer backups in case of failure.

So the full pros: Compact and very easy to carry. Fast Sat Lock, numerous powering options. Cheaper than many other units.

Cons: Mapping looks like an old video game from the 70's. POI database is cheesy and not as detailed or full as other units on the market. With the price drop in GPS units now, a Tom Tom can be picked up pretty reasonably and for basic GPS functions will give you what you need.

If you prefer more detailed mapping and POI, this will disappoint you. If you are more frugal and just want basic GPS with some decent features, the unit will be a great buy.