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Saturday, June 18, 2011
TomTom ONE 140-S 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
TomTom ONE 140-S 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
I was a previous owner of the TomTom One XL (which I liked) and decided to replace because the map was getting out of date and the device was too bulky. And I wanted new features. I did a lot of research and settled for the One 140-S. I didn't really consider Garmin all that much because I'm familiar with the TomTom interface and software.
Compared to a Widescreen GPS Device, 3.5" is small. If you do not have good vision or have fat fingers, go for the widescreen. But for most this will work just fine and is actually preferable to bigger models.
The device is very attractive (new black color) and boots up much faster than my older model...a lot faster. It locks into satellite signals generally within a minute of finishing its boot sequence.
The mount although kind of funky is much better than my last model which kept falling off. The arm is not very flexible (very rigid) and you play with it too much, the screen will fall off. You might want to use a beanbag mount. But attached properly, it will not fall off the windshield or dashboard mount (as long as you give it a tight twist).
The map update feature appears to the most controversial aspect of this device and is responsible for a lot of the bad ratings. For all those whining about being unable to do the map update due to lack of space...just delete all the voices that aren't English. That frees up more than enough space to do a map update. That's all, problem fixed. Maps are updated by TomTom every 3 months. Pay $51.80 if you want the next four map updates. Or just use the device for a year or two and buy something new and better.
Of all the ~$100 GPS devices, no device that hasn't been discontinued has more features (Navigon rest in peace). IQ Routes, Lane Assist with Street Signs and Street Name Speaking are features generally reserved for $150+ devices. Unlike my last TomTom this automatically switches to nightview without intervention.
Unlike Garmin devices, all TomToms come with a USB cable and the TomTom Home application is easy to use. USB/Car Adapter cables require some nails and careful alignment to attach and detach. Not sure why TomTom couldn't overcome this design flaw.
There is no free space for additional maps, no bluetooth and no SD slot. So if you want a map of another country...you need to delete the US/Canada/Mexico map. You get around 70 megabytes of free space to download or store additional files. For most people who want just a GPS device this is just fine. The rest can buy a TomTom Go.
Whether you like Garmin/Magellan (Navteq) or TomTom (TeleAtlas) maps better is your point of view. So I do not want to comment on the map appearance. TomTom maps have improved since they taken over TeleAtlas and is more 3D-like than before. With street name speaking guidance, the appearance of the maps is less crucial? Perhaps devices in the future can use satellite image maps (ala Google Maps) or a 3D view that is killer (not literally).
The text-to-speech engine has some flaws. The I-405 and I105 are pronounced as Four-Five and One-Five. Zeros appear to be ignored. Foreign sounding street names are badly mangled. But unless you have ADD you can definitely still make it out. The amount of directions the device reads out to you is very customizable. For those who are hard of hearing, you can set the device to 80-90-100% level and it is extremely loud. Those who say the sound is faint, obviously are having the radio on real loud or talking on the cell phone.
If you are trying to type while driving, the small screen makes it difficult (but you shouldn't be doing it anyways). The lane assist feature is extremely helpful, especially for those driving in downtown areas with confusing thru-traffic and confusing interchanges and exits.
As with all GPS devices, it doesn't always pick the best route nor does it make the "you have reached your destination" exactly at the precise location. It never hurts to study the area you are driving to in advance a bit.
Pros: IQ-Routes, Text-To-Speech, Lane Assist, easy to use interface (no need to read manual), includes usb cable and free first map update, inexpensive yet attractive, and thin (although the mount makes it a bit bulky). MapShare Corrections and GPSQuickfix updates are free indefinitely. POS Database at 7 million+ is among the largest. Street names read out loud and tons of customization features.
Cons: Screen space is very cramped at 3.5", touchscreen is not always sensitive and may annoy you when you have to press things twice, map interface is not high tech, map updates beyond the first free one are expensive (but so are Garmin and Magellan), no bluetooth, no sd slot, traffic receiver costs extra plus require annual subscription. Mount is not very flexible, cable is difficult to attach. Text to speech leaves more to be desired.
The battery life will last about 90-120 minutes of use, which is the case for just about all GPS devices out there.
TomTom ONE 140-S 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now TomTom ONE 140-S 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
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