Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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108 of 110 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classy device that is easy-to-use and fun, October 27, 2004
After using a GPS navigation system in a rental car, I decided I needed to purchase one for my own. I researched a number of devices, both online and at retail shops. The "TomTom Go" is definitely a stand-out among all the devices I investigated.
The TomTom Go arrives in a classy box... evidence of the manufacturer's zeal for producing a first-class device. Set-up was fairly easy and intuitive... and it started working right out of the box. A quick introductory "tour" is shown on the screen that gives a great overview of its capabilities.
If you purchase the U.S. model of the TomTom Go, the device is pre-loaded with "major highways of the United States." This provides general maps of most interstate highways, along with many state highways and major roads.
Also included, free-of-charge, is a stack of CD's that include more detailed maps of other regions of North America. To install them, you simply plug-in the TomTom Go to your PC (using the included USB cable.) Then install the maps that are important to you. The device comes with a 256mb SD card installed. I kept the "major highways of the U.S." map, and added the entire Northeast and California maps, with room on the SD card left to spare.
The GPS unit can operate by plugging into AC or DC power (both cables are included), or can operate using its built-in rechargeable battery. Most people will probably use the included cigarette-lighter adapter for continued, easy use. The battery fares quite well on its own; mine lasted 6 hours without needing a re-charge.
At this point it is worth mentioning: this device is ENTIRELY self-contained. While you can use the included hardware to mount it, along with the included power cable... there is no real installation required. You can quite literally pick up the device in the palm of your hand, carry it to another car, and be on your way with a fully-functional device.
As long as you've supplied power to the device (or given the battery an initial charge), you're ready to go. Within minutes, I was navigating to various destinations easily. You operate the TomTom Go by using intuitive menu options on its impressive touch screen... which offers a bright, crisp display. The 3D view is intuitive and fun. A slick zoom feature allows you to see a birds-eye view (or helicopter's eye view!) of the road... including geography and town names, for miles ahead!
At night, a very handy night-vision option can be used, which gives a low contrast view for safer driving.
(Note: When using the TomTom Go in a rented convertible, I must admit the display could get a little washed-out from the sun glare. This just depends on the angle of the sun, and was a problem only 20% of the time.)
The manufacturer's website offers additional accessories and installation options, but the kit comes with everything you need right out-of-the-box, including cigarette lighter adapter, AC adapter, USB cable, SD card and a certificate for a free carrying case (which you order online, apparently.) Other available options on their website include a professional mounting kit, supplemental antenna, and colored faceplates.
It is important to have a PC and internet access, so you can install the additional maps and register the unit online.
The manufacturer's website offers additional downloads, including supplemental narrator voices; some of them are definitely tongue-in-cheek ("Zappa" guides you with a Southern California valley girl accent!)
I was taken aback at the seemingly low price, compared to other GPS systems. I worried that I might be 'settling for less' by not purchasing a more expensive unit. But make no mistake: the features are comprehensive, and there is NOTHING cheap-feeling about this device.
That being said, I do have two complaints about the TomTom Go:
Complaint #1) When starting up, sometimes it takes up to 5 minutes to register the satellite signal... even on a clear day with no obstructions to the sky. This was a bit disappointing, as other GPS systems can usually register a signal in less than a minute. I'm not sure why this happens, as TomTom Go's computer itself has virtually no warm-up time. (Literally, it takes perhaps 2 seconds to power-up and then it's ready to use.) Once a satellite signal is established, it stays pretty solid.
Complaint #2) Listings for points-of-interest (such as restaurants and gas stations) didn't seem complete. In the Los Angeles area, for example, a search for restaurants produced numerous locally-owned establishments, but was nearly void of standard fast-food joints such as McDonald's. (This could simply be due to the overwhelmingly large number of restaurants in California though. Dunno.)
All-in-all though, I can't say these are major issues. They are minor tarnishes on a nearly-perfect little system.
One more quick note: make sure to purchase the correct device. This one I'm reviewing here is the "TomTom Go." There are other devices from TomTom, but they may be add-ons for PDA's and computers.
In summary, TomTom Go is a classy GPS device, reliable, easy-to-use, and offers a near-perfect balance of style, usability and value.
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49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
works really well!, September 19, 2004
i bought it for 759 when it first arrived the states, and it's selling at 66X at harmony compXXXXXXX now. it sounds expensive, but actually it has its own value.
first of all, it looks great. unlike ANY other PDA nav systems, this one matches your car. i usually put it on the left side of the steering wheel, on the windshield. the display is really bright and clear. the speaker is amazingly loud too. the built quality of the accessories and tomtomgo itself is very solid and flexable, which does not make it feel "cheap". the battery can last for 4 hours that i consider very reasonable for such a good display.
it comes with a 256mb SD card for storing maps, which is more than enough for most people.
the OS, to my suprise, is very easy to use; even my friend, who is a computer idiot, know how to use it within 1 minute. the GUI is very simple and functional. in addition, the system is very stable, and i have never encountered any problem till now. the CPU is pretty fast too.
however, it sometimes does not show the shortest distance, and also doesn't speak out the name of a street or raod, which is the major con of this product. it does not support OSX either. ( but i think u can still download those maps from the CDs into the SD card by a card reader, but never tried). it should also comes with a display cover to avoide finger prints too.
it does provide an "eagle eye" map viewing function, but i still prefer the tradition 2D one more. at least, it works better for me.
to conclude, i recommand this nav system to anyone. you get more than what u paid; this is a very high quality product. even the box has some kind of design too (although it is copied from iPod's box..)
P.s. This is my first review on amazon.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!, December 6, 2004
I purchased 3 units because I could not make up my mind between the Garmin Quest, TomTom Go and the Megellan 700. Staples suggested doing this because they have a 14 day return, So I could try them out.
Number one the Garmin Quest. A great product, very accurate and fun to use. But I wanted a touch screen.
Number two the Megellan 700 $1200.00 unit. A piece of junk. It could not even find my house. The street has been there for 6 years. Buzzing noise when talking. The scroll would get stuck and it got very hot. No way would I keep it.
Number three the TomTom Go $736.00. Very accurate, great touch screen. Great looking on the dash of my Benz. The only problem with it and why I only gave it 4 stars is the display, it is very hard to see in the day light. That is the ONLY bad feature. I love the birds eye view when I can see it. The voice is load and very clear. You can download different voices. Don't worry about it only having a 256MB SD card, you can purchase up to a 4GB card.
Bottom line, the Garmin Quest is another great product, but just too small.
I decided to keep the TomTom Go. Best for the money. Support also says they are working on an accessory to help see the display in the day light.
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