Garmin or TomTom?

[justinitus]

I have used Garmin units for the last few yrs, starting with the tiny i3, a 320(?), Nuvi 300 and currently a Nuvi 310D with bluetooth. Never a bother with any unit, the only gripe I had once was mount that wouldn't hold the unit tight which Garmin replaced within 2 days by post FOC.

Mapping for Garmin is expensive, so I update my units often and sell the old one to a mate or something - works out cheaper! Best mapping for Ireland though, where I spend most of my working week.

I had to buy 3 satnav units for a promotion I was doing at work, got 3 TomTom One Europe units from Halfords as they were a bit cheaper than Garmin, all new and wrapped in plastic. Having never used TomTom, I thought I'd try one out for a few days...

1st Unit: switched on and immediately a yellow screen with a flashing red "X" came up and unit wouldn't do anything.....faulty.

2nd Unit: worked fine, loaded up ok, navigated ok etc. Second day part way through a route, the unit froze up. Turned it off and on again, got the yellow screen with the red "X" again.... faulty

3rd Unit: switched on, map required registering. Went online, registered it - not allowed. Tried again, this time successful. Did a trial route and all ok. Next day turned it on, map required registering again...... faulty

The guy at Halfords was really good (these guys really know their stuff actually) and swapped them all for Garmin units, which are all 100%! I don't work for Garmin and owe them nothing, this is just what I found. Maybe I was unlucky, I have a mate who has a TomTom and its fine. But hey.... I won't buy another TomTom

Jus