83 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars a LOT of bang for your buck!, February 25, 2010
This review is from: TomTom EASE 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Red) (Electronics)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Read updates at the end!
I have a couple of different GPS units - an off-road/hiking model, and a higher-end Garmin for my auto - cost more than twice what this Tom Tom sells for. My expectations for the Ease were not that high - I figured it would be a basic, no-frills unit. In part, it is. It does not have BlueTooth (My Garmin does, but I have never used it) and has a smaller screen and no SD card support. The smaller real-estate means that the informational displays need to be smaller, and less of the surrounding area displays. I expected this to be a headache, but it really was not.
I opened the box in my car, popped out the GPS, suctioned it to the windshield (using a unique twist lock, not the typical lever type), and turned it on. After entering some basic information (home, time, etc.) it was ready to go. It locked on to the satellites really fast - far quicker than my Garmin. I drove around for an hour, hitting my usual stops. The maps are incredibly accurate - the unit defaults to 3D, but switching between 3D and 2D is one touch away. I kept it in 3D.
One point I really, REALLY liked was the accurate street names. For example, I live near 95th Street. Everyone calls it 95th St. My Garmin calls it "Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Highway" - nobody I know calls it that - or even knew it was named that. The Tom Tom calls it 95th St. The Tom Tom also displays the correct street names - AND - the alternate numbers, with the appropriate symbol. So 95th Street displays all three "official" names/numbers. Imagine how much LESS confusing this is driving in an area you are not familiar with. I can't count the times I've been on a highway and wondered "is this 90/94/41/53" because the display on my Garmin shows one thing, and the signs another. Why? The highway has two designations (sometimes three or four!), and what the GPS shows may not match what the road-side signs display.
I'm taking the Tom Tom with me to Wisconsin this weekend to see how it compares side by side (literally) with my Garmin.
In the box: the GPS, manual, car charger and USB cable. Thanks for the right angle connectors - Keeps the unit's profile / clutter down. Also has a dash board pad - adhesive one side, smooth plastic on the other. This way the GPS can be suctioned to the dash.
After the initial use (did I mention it was fully charged in the box?) I hooked it up to my computer (Windows 7.) The software installed automatically from the GPS. After installation, it went to the Tom Tom website and checked for updates (the basemap was current) and offered additional installs/downloads. Mostly FREE installs. A "safety Camera" database (like I said - FREE!), new voice (Dave), and map share application. Map Share is a user updated database - if users find mistakes in the maps, they can submit them to Tom Tom - these corrections can then be used in your device (you can turn this feature on or off) - but I think it's a really cool feature.
You can also purchase optional featured downloads from this screen - When I visited it was a Homer Simpson voice pack and fuel price addon. After installing stuff from the web, you'll see the Tom Tom home screen for your device. Here you can download more maps (for a price). One thing I did not like was that there was a newer map available - but I had to purchase it. With my Garmin the first update was free. But overall the Tom Tom updates are less expensive. $50 for a year with Tom Tom vs $90 with Garmin.
You can also download other voices from the home screen - there are two categories: Computer and Recorded. Recorded include Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, Dr. Felix (A German shrink), John Cleese, Mr. T., Snoop Dog, and others supplied by Tom Tom users. Some are free, many are not. All the computer voices are free.
Also available for download are POI sets (points of interest) - Most are free and look like they are supplied by outside parties. For example, 7-11 locations, AAA offices, Ace Hardware locations. Mostly useless stuff.
What else can one download? Color schemes (all free), car symbols, plus start up and shut down images (you can customize the image displayed when the unit turns on and off.)
There are also help sections, including creating your own content: voices, symbols, images, POI's and more. A huge cool factor! Try doing that with a Garmin.
I read the other reviews on the Ease and can honestly say I had none of the issues others complain about. Online registration was seamless and error free. There were automatic updates / add-ins downloaded with the click on one button. Voices - I found them all to be easy to understand, the spoken more-so than than the computer.
For the price, this is one great GPS.
Update - 4-2011: I have found that the unit has some "holes" in the data - For example the VFW hall at 10 W. Higgins, Park Ridge, IL can't be located. It's a major intersection - but it can't even come close.
Update: 8-2-11: The unit warned that the maps were out of date. Figured I'd update. Followed TomTom's instructions - downloaded their software, followed instructions to the letter. The unit is now trashed - it's a paperweight. The software could not find the GPS. You can't disconnect the GPS until the software finds it. Restarted the PS, closed and re-ran the software - it never found the GPS. So I disconnected it. Apparently this is enough to trash the GPS.
The reply from support stated that the GPS had to be plugged directly into the PC - that no extension cables, hubs - nothing could be between the GPS and the PC. Apart from being incorrect, even if it was true, this would be stupid. Especially since it's not mentioned in the instructions. So DO NOT try and update the unit with the TomTom software. Just plugging your GPS into the PC and unplugging it can trash the GPS.
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