Tom Tom One VERSUS Garmin thingy...
Discussion
Halfrauds...
Tom Tom One --> £179
Garmin --> £199
I have 100 notes in voucher form, so i am stuck with the big H.
However, I thought TT1 was best? Mr Sales Monkey says Garmin does auto update thingies to get me around traffic jams for free ??? But TT1 costs £80 for a lead and a monthly charge to do this ??
They did however also tell em that there was NO device that could detect camera or lasers..
..he was a bit flushed when I showed him their #road Angel Plus
Anyway, which is best ?
Whats the differences etc ???
Most Sat Nav use maps by Tele-Atlas so pretty much all have the same level of info on them.
The differences are in the software.
To the best of my knowledge Tomtom are the leading name in creating user friendly, simple and fast operating routing software. However the best way to check would be to try entering a start and end point timing how long it takes you to do this and how long it takes to complete the calculations. Use 2 points on a journey that you make frequently so you can compare routes. Do this on all GPS devices you are considering and think about which were easiest to programme, fastest to calculate and which appeared to give the best routes.
Alternatively ask any of your friends if they are likely to be buying stuff from Halfrauds in the near future and see if you can sell them the vouchers to unlock the cash tied up in them then go somewhere where they know more about GPS systems, like Toys'r'Us or Tesco.
The differences are in the software.
To the best of my knowledge Tomtom are the leading name in creating user friendly, simple and fast operating routing software. However the best way to check would be to try entering a start and end point timing how long it takes you to do this and how long it takes to complete the calculations. Use 2 points on a journey that you make frequently so you can compare routes. Do this on all GPS devices you are considering and think about which were easiest to programme, fastest to calculate and which appeared to give the best routes.
Alternatively ask any of your friends if they are likely to be buying stuff from Halfrauds in the near future and see if you can sell them the vouchers to unlock the cash tied up in them then go somewhere where they know more about GPS systems, like Toys'r'Us or Tesco.
I was in the same position last month and chose the Tom Tom One V2. I prefered the way that the menu system worked. I think the interface is really well thought out. It was also faster at calculating and recalculating routes when you make a wrong turn / go where you want. Only a couple of seconds usually.
With regards to the traffic, mine came with a leaflet giving me free speed camera databases, or at least so it said. As it turns out it has given me free traffic information. It's important to note that there are 2 ways of getting traffic information; bluetooth to a mobile phone (the only one Tom Tom One can use) or over FM frequencies (the Tom Tom One cannot use this as there is nowhere to plug it in). The bluetooth method costs you for data costs on your phone but it does give better information. You can also get detailed information of what the problem is if you want. It will also tell you how much time the problem will cost you and will navigate around the problem if you so wish. You're meant to be able to get weather information too but I've not tried that I'm afraid.
It's also worth remembering that points of interest can be loaded on far cheaper than Tom Tom will sell them to you online. Speed camera databases etc can be added very easily. The one I got also included mobile sites, although I have yet to see one in use that has been marked so far.
If I was buying again I wouldn't hesitate at getting another one of the same.
I hope that's some help. I'm sure someone will be along with the Garmin to give a Garmin users point of view.
With regards to the traffic, mine came with a leaflet giving me free speed camera databases, or at least so it said. As it turns out it has given me free traffic information. It's important to note that there are 2 ways of getting traffic information; bluetooth to a mobile phone (the only one Tom Tom One can use) or over FM frequencies (the Tom Tom One cannot use this as there is nowhere to plug it in). The bluetooth method costs you for data costs on your phone but it does give better information. You can also get detailed information of what the problem is if you want. It will also tell you how much time the problem will cost you and will navigate around the problem if you so wish. You're meant to be able to get weather information too but I've not tried that I'm afraid.
It's also worth remembering that points of interest can be loaded on far cheaper than Tom Tom will sell them to you online. Speed camera databases etc can be added very easily. The one I got also included mobile sites, although I have yet to see one in use that has been marked so far.
If I was buying again I wouldn't hesitate at getting another one of the same.
I hope that's some help. I'm sure someone will be along with the Garmin to give a Garmin users point of view.
I have a Garmin Nuvi 660. I am just as positive about it as these other guys are about their TT's, so I guess the bottom line is that you should not go wrong with either brand. Just remember to do a sense check of the route the device recommends before you set off. I bought my Nivi from the big H - competitive price, competent salesman, and he let me play with a powered up unit before selection. Why the reluctance to shop there?
I've used a Nuvi for a little while, which has a speed camera database downloaded from PocketGPSWorld (£19 per year subscription fee). It hasn't failed to warn me of a camera site yet. Route choice is a little interesting sometimes, but it's quick enough to re-calculate an alternative if I deviate from the initial choice.
Just got a TT1 Europe edition for my dad to use. I also have a TT 910 and have found it to be an amazing piece of kit which enabled me to tour France, Germany, Holland, Luxemburg etc without getting lost once - not bad considering I had never driven abroad before!
On a more local scale, the TT1 would suit your needs just fine I reckon. I don't have any experience of the Garmin systems, but dare say they are just as good. There will always be good and bad things about any system you buy, but most of the time the bad things will be so minor that it won't be of any real importance in the real world. Perhaps one unit will choose one set of roads where as a different unit will choose another... Swings and roundabouts.
I think the most important thing is to just choose something thats easy to use and clear to read, and in my opinion the TomTom does that just fine. You still need to use some common sense though, afterall its a computer that does its best to process thousands of roads and sometimes it won't actually take you down your "preferred" route. Most of the bad press is due to people who get annoyed that its taken them down a road which is overhanging with trees or one that is slightly narrower than a road a few miles away - if you think you know a better route then you can always ignore the satnav and take it! However, if you are lost in a city centre and want to find the best way out, or if you are trying to find a particular road in a strange town, then any satnav will be worth its weight in gold. The satnav doesn't actually drive the car for you, it just does its best to point you in the right direction and 99.9% of the time will get you to the place you want to be at in the quickest time possible! It really does put an end to any stress if you are a terrible navigator like me!
So, my opinion is that a TomTom is as good a unit as any. Program in your destination, and if you think you know a "better" route than the way it tells you, then just follow your nose. It will soon update its directions and then when you get to a difficult bit, just sit back and let it tell you which way to go.
I also find it a great tool at night too. Just switch it on and don't program a route in. The screen will then show you whats coming up on the road ahead, like bends and junctions etc. With modern headlights, they tend to have quite a sudden cut off point so you're never sure whats coming up, but with a satnav you can see the next few hundred meters of road quite clearly. Just means you can prepare for that sudden sharp right or crossroads! In the fog its even more handy! Also, they will tell you things like where the next fuel station is - another handy asset for when the reserve light has come on in a strange town. You get the choice to either find a petrol station on your current route, or to divert off to an even nearer one in needed. Same goes for hotels, parking, shops, tourist stuff etc etc. It really is a handy gadget!
Hope this helps.
Dan.
On a more local scale, the TT1 would suit your needs just fine I reckon. I don't have any experience of the Garmin systems, but dare say they are just as good. There will always be good and bad things about any system you buy, but most of the time the bad things will be so minor that it won't be of any real importance in the real world. Perhaps one unit will choose one set of roads where as a different unit will choose another... Swings and roundabouts.
I think the most important thing is to just choose something thats easy to use and clear to read, and in my opinion the TomTom does that just fine. You still need to use some common sense though, afterall its a computer that does its best to process thousands of roads and sometimes it won't actually take you down your "preferred" route. Most of the bad press is due to people who get annoyed that its taken them down a road which is overhanging with trees or one that is slightly narrower than a road a few miles away - if you think you know a better route then you can always ignore the satnav and take it! However, if you are lost in a city centre and want to find the best way out, or if you are trying to find a particular road in a strange town, then any satnav will be worth its weight in gold. The satnav doesn't actually drive the car for you, it just does its best to point you in the right direction and 99.9% of the time will get you to the place you want to be at in the quickest time possible! It really does put an end to any stress if you are a terrible navigator like me!
So, my opinion is that a TomTom is as good a unit as any. Program in your destination, and if you think you know a "better" route than the way it tells you, then just follow your nose. It will soon update its directions and then when you get to a difficult bit, just sit back and let it tell you which way to go.
I also find it a great tool at night too. Just switch it on and don't program a route in. The screen will then show you whats coming up on the road ahead, like bends and junctions etc. With modern headlights, they tend to have quite a sudden cut off point so you're never sure whats coming up, but with a satnav you can see the next few hundred meters of road quite clearly. Just means you can prepare for that sudden sharp right or crossroads! In the fog its even more handy! Also, they will tell you things like where the next fuel station is - another handy asset for when the reserve light has come on in a strange town. You get the choice to either find a petrol station on your current route, or to divert off to an even nearer one in needed. Same goes for hotels, parking, shops, tourist stuff etc etc. It really is a handy gadget!
Hope this helps.
Dan.
GolfGT_Girl said:
So is the Tom Tom 510 any good? it comes with a scratch card camera service for 1 year, as looking to buy
Or better still the 910, it's got bluetooth handsfree, a remote control, 20gb mp3 player, and all maps for Europe and USA. Now you have an excuse to go the States on a fly drive!!
TheKeyboardDemon said:
GolfGT_Girl said:
So is the Tom Tom 510 any good? it comes with a scratch card camera service for 1 year, as looking to buy
Or better still the 910, it's got bluetooth handsfree, a remote control, 20gb mp3 player, and all maps for Europe and USA. Now you have an excuse to go the States on a fly drive!!
ah never mind just brought it
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