120 of 122 people found the following review helpful:
Absolutely the best GPS I've had so far
So far I had owned 3 GPS devices: the Tomtom One 3rd edition, the Garmin nuvi 350 and this latest Tomtom 330s model. Before owning, I have used the Garmin Streetpilots given by many car rentals.
By far, this is the best of the three:
Pros:
- Wide screen
- Text to speech
- LOUD speaker (I've read some reviews of a soft speaker - I...
209 of 226 people found the following review helpful:
Okay, but not great
After reading an early favorable review of the TomTom 130s, I was confident that the XL 330s would be just what I was looking for. But after a weeks' use, however, I am a little disappointed.
First, the plusses: it is pretty easy to use, easy to update using the TomTom software, and the new style of mount works very well. The screen looks good, and it's...
So far I had owned 3 GPS devices: the Tomtom One 3rd edition, the Garmin nuvi 350 and this latest Tomtom 330s model. Before owning, I have used the Garmin Streetpilots given by many car rentals.
By far, this is the best of the three:
Pros:
- Wide screen
- Text to speech
- LOUD speaker (I've read some reviews of a soft speaker - I guess either it was a bad batch of devices, or you didn't read the instructions on how to change the volume. With mine, on 80% it's blasting over the radio AND road noise.)
- Volume adjusts to driving speed
- great GPS reception (even in NYC, although sometimes because of tall buildings can have a little trouble finding current position, but that's the problem with ALL of the GPSs I've had, including the very highly reviewed nuvi 350)
- The new Easyport mount that eliminates the need to carry three things for your trip: the Device, the mount (sometimes more than one part) and the car charger. This new mount is a blessing and a small nuisance at the same time since it makes it slightly more difficult to fit snugly into a pocket or a pouch, but is definitely more of a pro than a con because of its simplicity of use and the eliminated extra plastic thing to carry. This little issue can be solved either by buying the Tomtom carrying case (the one made specifically for the models with the easy mount for an extra ~$28 on Amazon), or simply by detaching it from the back since it is detachable. Though detaching it, some would say, is defying its purpose...
- "Tomtom Home" software is a breeze to use and lets you add user updates to the maps when roads get blocked or other changes take effect to the preinstalled map.
- Device SOFTWARE SOFTWARE SOFTWARE: The best software of a device I've had the pleasure of using. Explanation follows:
The software allows much more intuitive handling of the device than any Garmin I've found.
It's quick, it's easy, and the most important, when you search for a name of a POI, it uses the more modern approach that allows you to type any letter or word no matter where it appears on the name of the POI and it'll show you the results on the list.
There are dozens of advantages in the software over the one of the Garmins I've used but I can't possibly list them all.
Some important features to note are that the actual Navigation Screen View gives you so much more clear information (which one can, of course, tweak to one's liking) such as current time, time of arrival, total trip distance, remaining time to destination, GPS signal strength, next turn's street name, current street name, direction of and distance to next maneuver (which nuvi 350 garmin only tells you which way to go right before the turn), and to that you can add a compass, change the car symbol and even more impressive - the color scheme of the map!
I have to say this is just a SHORT list of software features I absolutely love and think are on a much higher level of sophistication than what I've seen of Garmin.
Cons:
I really have to strain to think of any, but there are some minor ones (after all, nothing's perfect)
- As I said the Easyport mount can be a little problematic when fitted into a pocket, but it CAN be removed from the back (see pros).
- The car charger takes a little practice to insert it easily.
- The "Password" feature when powering on the device seems more fluff than a hindering threat. It doesn't really lock the device if for example you enter the wrong password three consecutive times or so, it just won't let you use the device until the right combination is entered.
- No bluetooth capability. For some it's a con, but for me personally it's a pro (because I don't really need it anyways, and if any corner should be cut to make the product less expensive, this is it!)
- The map isn't as pretty as on the garmins. It has a little more jagged lines but, if visual beauty is important to you in a map representation of a GPS, you're really looking in the wrong direction...
In other words, warmly recommended for the people who are interested in getting the best GPS for their hard-earned dollars.
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After reading an early favorable review of the TomTom 130s, I was confident that the XL 330s would be just what I was looking for. But after a weeks' use, however, I am a little disappointed.
First, the plusses: it is pretty easy to use, easy to update using the TomTom software, and the new style of mount works very well. The screen looks good, and it's pretty easy to learn the touch screen navigation. Also, it permits you to build itineraries with multiple destination points, which some of the more entry level models will not do.
The negatives: really, there is only one, but for me, it's a dealbreaker: the speaker just isn't very loud. Even with the volume up to 100%, it's not loud enough to hear clearly while driving, even with the radio turned off. I thought it might be an issue with the particular voice I was using, and some did seem a bit softer than others. But even the loudest one I could find was still too soft to be helpful.
If you're driving with a passenger who can hold it close and/or touch the screen to get the directions to repeat, it works great. But driving by yourself, it's not terribly helpful.
I'll probably be returning it, which is too bad, because in all other respects, it's a nice device.
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I bought this GPS for my wife. I had a Tomtom GP 720 which I have been very happy with, but my wife didn't want all of the extra features the 7xx line provides. We came to focus on just a few features when comparison shopping. She wanted text-to-speech so that the GPS would read out the names of Roads and Cities which would make navigation easier. She also wanted a wide-screen display so that the GPS would be easer to see. We checked out Tomtoms, Garmins, and even some Magellins and Sonys at a local big-box store. I tried to stay hand-off -- I am a tech person; my wife is a bit less-so. I wanted her to try each one out and make her decision. She found that the Tomtom was easiest for her to use and understand. She was able to quickly route to addresses and Points of interest. The screen is clear and easy to read; the voice is easy to understand. Installation was quick and easy - this has the new Tomtom mount which tightens via suction when you twist the mount - much better than trying to push a suction cup onto the windshield. Six months later and she is still happy with the purchase.
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After careful study on the internet, and going to a local store to make some comparisons between buying a TomTom navigator (world wide supposidly the most popular)or a Garmin navigator (considered to be the most popular in the United States}, I chose the TomTom XL 330S. I liked the idea that you could download an updated map if a more recent one was available in the first 30 days after you bought it. I also liked the MapShare feature, which allowed people to make corrections on the maps, and after those corrections were approved by TomTom, you could download those updates for free.
So I played with my Tom Tom while I was driving home.
My first disappointment was that it wouldn't place my home address on the right location on the map, and it also called my personal/private driveway a public road with street name. None the less, I thought I would just correct that to submit to TomTom.
Next on my way home, driving by a local College,I tried to find that under Points of Interest, in the educational category, but it wan't there. It was a total blank spot on the map (I had read of other navigators that actually could show camping spots in a camp ground), so I found it hard that it couldn't recognise a major college or any of it's roads. But again I thought I would just correct and submit to TomTom.
When I got home I connected to the TomTom web site to see if there was a more recent map available, and there was. I went to download it, but was told I did not have enough memory to do so (the process would not just update the map, but it ended up requiring that I removed the map that came on my TomTom. I backed up that map version and then deleted and downloaded the new map. I then saw there was an additional free update to the US and Canadian maps (along with a bunch of little specialty updates), so I went to download the major update and again was told I did not have adequate memory. I hunted online to see if I could find a solution to this problem, as I could not imagine that TomTom would provide inadequate memory to use their product as advertised. I read that it was suggested that you could gain memory by taking off features out of the memory that you didn't need. The only features I was able to remove was some additional voices (it is only the computer voice that can say the street names, so I wanted to keep that, as that is why I purchased this TomTom version). The removal of these other voices only provided minimal memory.
I ended up talking to the people at TomTom. They implied that I should have been aware that there was only 1 GB of memory, and no slot for an SD card to expand the memory. I told them that I had been aware, but had no way of knowing that between the map, computer voice and program to make it all work, that they would basically fill up my memory. One man at TomTom even told me to take the new updated map off my unit and put the older one back on, to gain some memory!!!!!! I have had this product 1 week, and I kept hoping that I could be happy with it, but I just can't get beyond the fact that I don't have the memory to allow me to make the basic updates that I want to be able to make. That was the main reason of choosing the TomTom in the first place.
At this time I am so disappointed, I think I would rather have no GPS navigator than have one that doesn't have adequate information. I was willing to overlook examples of inadequate information when I thought I could get the mapsharing updates for free, but when I find I can't, then the missing information is more troublesome. For exmple, when I looked up gas stations or restaraunts, many were not listed. I was also traveling to someplace in Northern Minnesota, and it kept on wanting to direct me into Canada, and also kept referring to my having to take a toll road. That was not a reasonable route, and there was no toll road. Locally I tried maping out some other trips, and again totally ignored roads that were there and direct, and went signifcantly out of the way (and yes I had it set to map the quickest trip, which is not necessarily the shortest, but it did not do that). I can't help but think, if it is so lacking in my area, where I know what it is telling me is wrong, how can I trust it in an area that I don't know......especially when I don't have adequate memory to download the corrections that other TomTom users submit to TomTom. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I don't think I am out of line to expect to have adequate memory so I can use the product the way it is advertised. On a positive note, some say the voice is not loud enough, but at 50% it is very loud.
Update. I did return this tomtom and bought a Garmin 750 for only about $40.00 more. Many more features, an SD slot for additional maps and music, and much better maps for my area in Northern Minnesota. A number of the missing points of interest I mentioned above were on this Garmin. Not a "perfect" product, and some superficial features I liked better on the TomTom, but overall, I am so much happier.
Additional Update 2/17/10. I am still very pleased with my Garmin 750. Took it to Ireland last year and it saved me countless headaches on poorly labeled country road, round-abouts, etc.
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I recently got a Tom-Tom 330 S XL as a gift although I really never have seen much sense in GPS systems. I've always been of the thought that if I didn't know my destination and how to get there, maybe I should stay off the road.
Yes, I've used GPS systems before, but most of them were disappointments due to confusing user functions, inaccurate mapping, etc.
This unit changed all that.
Good points include:
* If you can't figure out how to operate this unit, it's because you can't read or find the power button. It has just that one button, anyway. No confusing array of nonsense switches and buttons. You have the power button and a plug for the power in the bottom. My previous Magellan looked like a piano keyboard for all the buttons it had.
* Included instructions stated I would need at least 5 minutes to find my first signal. Mind you, I was inside a concrete structure when it was delivered so I took a risk turning it on to begin with. This building has 8 inch floors and ceilings along with 6 inch walls with hardly any windows. It took all of about 10 seconds to find a GPS signal and gave my exact location.
* I noticed the screen lists vehicle speed and exact location (latitude and longitude) so I decided to play a game and walk to another area of the building thinking I could fool it. Nope, that charade didn't work. It told me I was walking about 4 mph and followed me all around. That's accuracy!
* Wider screen makes for easier viewing. My previous Magellan had a screen that was too small to effectively read.
* Choice of screen contrasts ranging from a darker screen for daytime use to a lighter screen for nighttime driving. First GPS I've had with this feature.
* Easy operation. If you're on a map and you need to get to the menu, just touch the screen. Touch "Done" when you're finished and it's back to the map.
* I programmed the unit to take me home and noticed it gave me the shortest distance, which is great; however, that route requires travel on a toll road at $2 so I took my usual route home. In less than a minute it figured I had veered off course and reset itself to the course I normally take.
* When I got home I thought the unit was off by about 25 feet on finding my home until I realized it was recognizing my lot boundaries, not the driveway. It was dead on almost to the inch on spotting my lot.
* Due to work, I have a certified speedometer in my vehicle and the speed indicator on the Tom-Tom was dead on with my electronic speedometer in the car. The onboard speedometer has a warning feature that tells you you're exceeding the known speed limit on a certain highway. Truthfully, I didn't even know it had that feature until I heard it tell me.
* It goes from overhead to straight on mapping. When it first plots your route it gives you an overhead or slightly angular map view. When you start driving it reverts to a straight on view with a slight angle. In short, you see the road on the GPS as it actually appears in front of you.
* Built in mounting assembly is nice and avoids the problem of having to fish around for a mount in your car (leaving the mount on the windshield tells thieves you've got a $200 goody inside).
* Proper length for the accessory power connection. I once had a radar detector with a 12 inch power connection cord. Too bad the power connector was over 2 feet away from the windshield. The Tom-Tom comes with what appears to be a 2.5 foot cord on the connector.
* I've read some complaints about the volume being too low, but I thought it was just right. It may also depend upon the voice you opt for - some are more distinct than others. Besides, this creature must have a 3 inch speaker on the back so it's not the usual tinny coin sized speaker you usually see. Even with windows down at 50 mph I had no problem hearing it.
Bad points:
* Attached mount is great, but it makes for a bulky package. Fat chance you'll find the usual bag to hold this along with the power cords. Also, the mount and its attachment are sturdy but what happens if it breaks? No standard mount will hold this unit due to its bulk.
* Due to elongated length, it's a little top heavy if you opt for the dashboard mount. This unit comes with an adhesive disk for dash attachment which I do use, but make sure you attach the unit properly. If you're a little loose, it will fall off the dash. When I attached it to the windshield it never once loosened.
* It must be the bulk, but it does wiggle a little during driving on less than smooth roads, but not so much it's irritating.
* Power connector is a mini USB dongle which is not great big deal, but the connector port is recessed on the bottom of the unit making attachment a bit tricky sometimes. Once it's in, it stays in, though.
In short, you really can't lose with this unit. For those who complain about roads not being updated or slightly out of date, consider how much work goes into creating the maps these things use and the sheer number of roads in the U.S. and Canada. Even MapQuest isn't right all the time!
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This GPS unit is out of memory out of the box! I won't dispute any of what was said above, but be aware that all the voice options, all the help, all the frills that come loaded on your XL when you pull it out of the package take up so much memory that you can't update you maps with them on the unit. They must be sacrificed in order to download and install any up-to-date maps. This was a great big deal breaker for me... my unit TomTom XL 330s went straight back to the store. The pity is that TomTom knows this and refuses to acknowledge their design flaw. Don't buy this unit.
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I've had this GPS for a month or so now, and it's pretty good. I've seen all the issues with the speaker on all these reviews, and I think I have an idea of what that is. But overall, I like it.
Pros
It does everything as advertised, speaks street names, usually has strong signals, re-plans routes etc. I'm not unhappy with it, but I'm more interested highlighing its MINOR flaws as they irritate me.
Cons
1) Ok, the speaker issue. I too experienced this, but I think it's by design. There's a setting on it that lets you specify if you want the speaker either at your volume all the time, or (and this is default), IT ADJUSTS THE SPEAKER VOLUME RELATING TO YOUR SPEED. So the slower you go, it gets quieter. You go faster, it gets louder. Go to "Change Preferences", then "Volume Preferences". There's a checkbox that says "Link volume to car speed". Uncheck it to have normal volume all the time.
2) Are they kidding with the power connector? It takes 5 minutes trying to put the plug in its recess.
3) I don't think it has the POIs that the Garmin does, at least they're not as easy to find in the UI
4) it's not memory expandable. I plugged it in, downloaded the user road updates, and I've only got 20 megs left! I can't download ANY of the other maps or anything. RETARDED! This is probably one of my biggest complaints.
If I had to do over again, I would probably have gotten the Garmin 205W. But, c'est la vie. Enjoy...
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I'm one of those unfortunate souls who is lost once you turn me around once. I joke my internal compass always faces north (not magnetic north, mind you, just that no matter what direction I am facing my intuition suggests that's north). Needless to say, I am often lost. My friends love seeing where I'm taking them when I drive and have often bet one another on whether or not I will reach a destination I've been to a dozen times without making a wrong turn.
Now that I've gotten that confession out, onto the 330S XL.
I played with a few items in the store before I made the decision to buy this. I found that the TomTom was easy to use and incredibly intuitive. I looked at Garmin, and my only hesitancy was that when a zip code straddles two townships, it offers multiple choices based upon the larger townships and not the smaller, named community and zip, and this lead to some confusion.
As irony would have it, I recently started a job where I drive from office to office, so I was using Google Maps to plot out my travels. My problem with this was the first direction always starts with a direction to head in (NW, SE), and I am oblivious as to what direction I am facing, as mentioned previously. So I compared the two, the TomTom directions and the G-Maps directions, and they were identical. The difference: TomTom knew where I was when I didn't. I didn't have to pay attention, it was telling me when and where to turn.
The speaker was plenty loud. I know others have commented about it, but I actually had to lower mine because it kept startling me even with the radio on. I now keep it at 70% because I can hear it clearly but it's not so loud that it makes me jump.
The screen is loaded with information, and at first this is distracting. How far and how much time to the destination, the next turn, the current and next street names. After a few hours, I became aware of what everything was and could merely glance and know what was up.
The directions are very accurate - down to when to turn. Now, I wouldn't suggest this, but the directions are almost accurate enough to take blindfolded, meaning that when it says turn, you're usually right at the spot where you need to start your turn. I've seen in-car units where the accuracy isn't that succinct.
My only complaint is that it's not 100% simple to take in and out of the car - it attaches by suction to the windshield, and you either have to undo the suction or pop the TomTom from the mount. Now this foible is also what keeps it so tightly attached, so I can't really complain - I'd just rather see a different solution - it's the sort of device I don't want to leave in my car and would rather just take with me when I go into a store.
Overall, I like the thing and recommend it for ease of use, accuracy, and volume!
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I received a TomTom One XL for Christmas, which is the discontinued model that the XL 330 S replaced. It worked fine, until I tried to use TomTom's current map guarantee, which allows you to download any newer maps that have been released since the device was loaded at the factory. I could not update to the new map because it is 30 or 40 MB larger than the previous map, requiring a few MB more flash memory than is supplied on the device. So I returned the device and bought the 330, thinking there is no way they would have made the same mistake on the newer model. WRONG. I couldn't update to the current map on the XL 330 S, either. I checked the support site, which helpfully informed me that in these cases I could remove nonessential files from my device, such as, oh, voices. There's only one "nonessential" file large enough that it's removal would allow installation of the updated map, and that's the computer voice file, which allows reading of street names. So I was faced with keeping the old map with spoken street names, or updating the map and losing spoken street names.
This is utterly unacceptable and represents a major, embarrassing oversight by TomTom. This one is going back too, and I'm done with TomTom. I'm going to stick with Garmin, as I have extensive experience with their aviation GPS units.
Somebody forgot to tell TomTom that this isn't a government contract, and a GPS with a permanently outdated map with no possibility of updating it for any price is worthy of a zero-star review, but that unfortunately wasn't an option.
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If you are shopping for a navigation device for your car, then you have probably felt overwhelmed with the choices. If you are looking at the TomTom XL 330s, you are a practical person who needs to get from Point A to Point B with reliability. You simply need a GPS device and not a multimedia player with Bluetooth connectivity. Navigation is your goal. That's what you get with the XL 330s, but don't let simplicity fool you. I discovered you get a lot for your money with this unit.
In a nutshell:
THE GOOD
* Less expensive than its top competitor, Garmin.
* Fast GPS fixes, superb sensitivity.
* Guaranteed latest maps free with new purchase.
* Annual map updates are inexpensive at <$10/per quarter.
* User map updates are free through Map Share community.
* Macintosh and PC software compatibility.
* Customizable features include colors, icons.
* You can record your own voice for spoken directions.
* Voices are clear, volume can auto adjust to speed.
* Suction mount has a vice grip.
* On-screen info helpful.
* Trim profile.
THE NOT SO GOOD
* Window mount can be a little tricky until you get used to it.
* No SD card slot. All memory is internal and not upgradeable.
* (The memory is thus far adequate)
* No AC charger included. DC car charger and USB cable included.
I have tried several GPS units in the past and still have navigation on my SmartPhone, but I didn't want to tie up my cell phone while I was trying to navigate the streets of Tampa while on business for four days. I knew I had to buy a standalone GPS and I was most pleased with the performance of the TomTom XL 330s.
My needs were simple and I had narrowed down my choices to the Garmin 255W and the TomTom XL 330s. Both are widescreen devices with good features from reputable companies. I picked the TomTom over the Garmin for several reasons:
* It was approximately $60 less than the Garmin.
* Map updates and corrections could be done through TomTom Map Share.
* TomTom allows subscriptions to its map updates for under $10.
* There was more trip information on the TomTom screen.
* It was just as customizable as the Garmin.
* TomTom's software is Apple Mac and PC compatible.
The last issue for me was huge. I have three Macs and didn't want to have to keep a PC around, or install a Windows simulator program on my MacBook Pro. It is too clunky. The TomTom Home software is simple to use and allows me to access my 330s very easily to perform customizations of the maps, icons and even the splash screen.
Map updates can be done through TomTom's Map Share community and TomTom guarantees the latest maps with the purchase of your device. When I purchased my 330s, the software informed me the maps it came with were two quarters (six months) old. I was allowed to download the latest U.S. and Canada maps for free (one time only).
TomTom users can upload corrections, then download corrections made buy other users for easy map updates. You can note corrections while you are using the device, so if you find that a road no longer connects to another street, you can make that note on your device and upload it later to the Map Share community.
I mentioned the on-screen information as a plus for this unit. I liked the fact I could see everything at the bottom of the screen, including distance to next turn, ETA, speed, GPS signal strength and time of day. I also found that when it came time for me to make an exit, TomTom produced a small green-and-white exit sign at the upper right of the screen that gave me the exit number as well as what was on the exit sign itself. The information was clear and very helpful. I never once used a paper map on this trip.
This isn't a perfect unit and no GPS units are. I did find on several points of the trip where the 330s wanted to send me around the block instead of making a simple turn, but I believe that is because I did not have time to do the free map upgrade after I bought the unit. There are a lot of new street improvements, bridges and freeway changes in the Tampa Bay area. When I navigated to the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, for example, I couldn't get it to come up on the POI list and the exit to the address off the Interstate was wrong. In all fairness, the Interstate exit had been changed and the roadways were freshly paved with construction still going on. I found the hotel exit through a temporary sign posted on the Interstate.
The sensitivity of this unit is astounding. I got my satellite fixes quickly and I couldn't believe that I still had a fix after placing the unit in the armrest storage while going in to a store! For grins, I tried it out on the plane ride back to Ohio and it locked on just fine, calculating our airspeed at just under 470 MPH. My friend sitting next to me on the plane had a Garmin Street Pilot. It couldn't find a satellite.
This is a great unit for the money!
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