TomTom ONE XL-S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Reviews

• Good But Not Great....

  
  By AL11Y86L2T0PJ on 2007-12-31
  I have this and used side by side with a Garmin 200 W for several weeks before returning the Garmin. Overall this is a good product but a few annoying bugs keep it from being great...here are the pros and cons
  
  Pros
  
  It finds the satellites quickly and keeps the signal. The garmin took 2-3 minutes almost every time from a power up start (this was the deal killer)
  
  The user interface is nicer and has a lot more options than the garmin.
  
  The POI database (such as the POI categories it actually has - it is missing several major US retail chains - see below) is more up to date than the Garmin I bought at same time.
  
  Allows you to set the keyboard to QWERTY mode which the Garmin did not.
  
  
  cons
  
  The graphics are a bit grainy compared to the garmin
  
  The bluetooth is useless, works only for data transmission/reception and that too with very limited number of phones. No, you cannot use it as a handsfree.
  
  If you take a wrong turn or pass by your destination or do anything to pass by your destination on a 2 lane road, it will not tell you to turn around - it will navigate you through the next set of intersections. In rural areas this can mean a 20 mile trip instead of going back 200 yards.
  
  The text to speech works very unpredictably - it pronounces some name very nicely but mangles others horribly such that you can't recogonize it.
  
  Also it announces street names about a quarter mile before and then simply says turn left or right when you are actually at an intersection and want the street name to turn into. This is annoying. Very annoying.
  
  There is an SD card slot. However the unit works either exclusively with the SD card slot or with the internal memory. Which means that you have to reload everything in internal memory onto the SD card which takes about an hour because of the incredibly s-l-o-w data transfer rates.
  
  Also the internal memory is pretty much full so forget about any upgrades unless you spring for at least a 2 GB or more SD card
  
  Strangely, TomTom doesn't know about major US retail chains like Toys R Us, Payless Shoes etc. This even after I updated the unit with the US Retail POI database file
  
  The color schemes available on the unit and online are completely weird. Seems to have been done by people with zero taste and sensiblity.
  
  The internal battery is useless in cold weather (i.e. if you leave the unit in the car in winter). This after a few weeks. It either dies in a few minutes or doesn't fire up at all. Will have to see how it performs in the summer.
  
  The brightness and contrast are so-so in daylight compared to the garmin 200 w
  
  

• Worth Its Weight in Gold

  
  By A23A0VWVZIVSCK on 2007-11-17
  We have used our TomTom XL-S on several trips but recently used it on a trip to Chicago. We decided on that day alone, it had paid for itself. It got us safely and accurately to our hotel. The next day and many, many turns later we arrived safely at a specific parking garage we were looking for and from there to the building we needed to walk to. It lets you know how long it will be until your next turn and in which direction you will need to go, so that you can get in the appropriate lane. It announces the name of the street in advance so you know what to look for. If you've ever traveled the highly congested streets of Chicago, you will appreciate the comfort in knowing you can never really get lost! So what if only the "Susan or Bob" option will announce the street names. As long as I get to where I need to be, I'll gladly only listen to Susan or Bob. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to travel in a big city and not have to worry about missing a turn because you didn't see it or because the traffic was too heavy to get into that lane. This product takes all the stress out of traveling in unfamiliar territory.
  
  

• Only the computer voice reads street names

  
  By A1EUW7R7RLRNOH on 2007-11-06
  The TomTom XLS is basically the same as the XL except for the computer voice for street names. If you select any other voice for the directions, you won't get the "S" functionality, just the same directions as the XL version. This wasn't spelled out in the instructions and took me a couple days to figure out why the British voice that I liked wouldn't provide street names. Additionally, the URLs on TomTom's website haven't been updated for the XLS or the manual. Hitting the URL they provide leads to a dead end webpage. Overall, it's still my favorite over the Garmin products, but it'd be nice if they included a screen cover.
  
  

• Everything I was looking for

  
  By A1LRJG6XOXBFTO on 2007-11-20
  Well, I did all the looking around and investigations as to reliability, options, etc. and figured out what I needed for my application. I bought the XL-S unit. Took it to my car and had it installed and turned on and set up in less than 10 minutes. I entered my base location as home and then plugged in a couple of addresses that I know to see if would 'take' me there. It did! Did a 200 mile road trip that weekend. Popped in a waypoint for our first stop of the day (a car show) and the destination (a restaurant) where we were to meet friends that knew the area - I didn't. Flawless directions in all cases. Used it again this evening to another destination about 45 miles away and it was complete bedlam. I knew I was in trouble when the route said "This will take you over dirt roads - is this okay?" Well - it' NOT a new area but I figure what the heck. We drove to the location with the system still set for the address we were going to - it kept recalculating and wanting to go somewhere else. I just turned it off - no big deal. Hey - it's technology that relies on the accuracy of the information being fed to it - it's NOT the unit itself. Anyway, in both instances - even when it wanted us somewhere else - it KNOWS where it is (GPS) and when I hit "Destination" then "HOME" - it flawlessly took us in the right direction - even took my 'shortcut' :) The voice is nice as the default. The night / day settings are great and appropriate and adjustable (different themes). I plug it in and I go. In a couple of months, it will be put to the test with me driving over 300 miles to Fort Lauderdale that I know nothing about. All I have is an address and the TomTom XLS to get me there unscathed -- we'll see how it goes, but I am pretty confident. Additionally, I REALLY like the Points of Interest that scroll by when I am driving -- I can grab one and figure out what it is and determine if I want to go there and eat or get gas (Those are the only two I have set to display). The HELP feature is good but a little 'busy' with the First Aid instructions etc. -- and they're from the British Red Cross, not the American Red Cross. After reviewing the instructions, I didn't find anything that bothered me about them - I am an American Red Cross certified CPR-AED / First Aid Trainer for Adult, Child & Infant.
  All in all - I give it 4 stars for doing everything I want it to do. I have XM Satellite radio, I don't need the mp3 player. I don't talk on my cellphone (hands free or otherwise) while driving and if traffic is jammed up due to an accident - oh well! :) If I gotta go - I'll go! :)
  
  
  
  

• Some nice features, but very disappointing

  
  By A1KBIDR69QCIOB on 2008-01-26
  I am a Garmin and iPhone owner and have had the XL-S for a month. Here are my observations:
  
  The bottom line: for my needs, dramatically inaccurate arrival times is a deal killer; the user interface screams completely uninspired effort; overall the TomTom XL-S is still pretty darn useful, but sadly demonstrates only incremental improvements over my 5-year-old GPS unit.
  
  Pros:
  Hardware
  -the case is very sturdy and has a satisfying feel
  -the screen is always readable, variable backlighting is terrific
  -auto-shutoff when power is disconnected option is great
  -mini-USB for power is nice to see
  -time to lock into satellites is awesome (10-15 seconds)
  Rendering
  -rendering speed is impressively fast and responsive
  -configurable color schemes are wonderful
  -the combination of color scheme and backlight levels in day/night modes is great
  Menus
  -touch-response is instantaneous and surprisingly fast
  -no missed touches ever
  -entering data is very easy, virtual keyboard is decent size
  -searches (i.e. for POI's) are very fast
  -the shear number of options in preferences is impressive
  Routing
  -time to plot routes very fast
  -no complaints on routes it chose (ran it side-by-side with the Garmin for a month)
  Host Software
  -backup feature is very nice
  
  Cons:
  Hardware
  -why is it so large and odd shaped? It is very light, so you know there is a lot of air inside
  -what gives with the SD slot? it cannot be used to expand internal memory, only replace it
  -why must I dig around to change between night/day mode? The unit knows time, date, lat/long therefore it should know the precise time of sunrise & sunset
  -the bluetooth does absolutely NOTHING with many of the phones on the market!
  Routing
  -why not display fastest and shortest routes and then allow me to pick?
  -arrival time -- totally BROKEN. It is at best 15% pessimistic and on average 25-30% pessimistic*!!!
  (*over several dozen trips, distances several miles to over 75 miles -- wrong every single time)
  -it actually told me on a 55 mph section of country road with no intersections that it would take 5 minutes to arrive from 1.0 miles away! (that's 12 mph folks!)
  Rendering
  -in 2D mode there is no auto-scaling! Honestly, on the interstate how useful is a 2-block-long straight line wavering for 3 hours?
  Menus
  -fast POI searches is super-great -- wimpy, short list of POI's very NOT great
  -I knew POI's where lacking, but figured I'd just load a bunch up -- wrong
  -why must I tap dozens of times to navigate to a function?!
  Host software
  -the computer voice for spoken names completely and irrevocably failed after 1st sync
  -the Macintosh version of the software breaks all of the interface rules, it is poorly designed & implemented
  -the host software insisted that I install a rev that clearly pre-dated what was already installed
  -have no idea whether MapShare is working or not -- no indication on software or TomTom
  
  Summary
  I've spent some time playing with the Garmin Nuvi 660 as well. The big picture: the current crop of GPS products is terribly disappointing. Considering that the TomTom is essentially 3rd generation and Garmin is 5th (or so), one would expect these devices to be sophisticated and fairly refined. This is far from the case. This is not to say the all of these offerings are useless -- I'm still a big advocate for GPS navigation, it's so very helpful and convenient.
  Each manufacturer has performed some wonderful engineering (software and hardware), but if you look at what has evolved over the past decade or so the interfaces have changed very little. With the relatively recent explosion of competition one would expect aggressive advances in these products. Sure the SiRF Star chipsets are phenomenal, the screens are bigger and brighter, the CPU's are more powerful, and there is tons of RAM -- but these are all gimme's from their hardware suppliers.
  For example, as a software engineer, I know that I could sit down and write an algorithm to calculate sunrise/sunset (forecasted into the next century) in a weekend. Is it really too much effort to ask for the day and night mode to switch automatically? Also, why must I pound on the screen navigating through endless menus like I'm using a cell phone from the 90"s? There is not a SINGLE function on the iPhone that is more than 3 taps from the top level (95% are 2 or less) -- impressive.
  
  
• Nice but watch 7.161 update
  By A1CRK00B864S7X on 2007-11-29
  Got this unit for my wife. Tried it out today going to work and back--about 30 min each way. My first car GPS experience. Impressive. The pronunciation of some street names was poor, as I expected, but most were understandable. The worst aspect of my TomTom XL-S experience was the attempted software update. The unit came with 7.14 software, I installed the TomTom HOME client on my iMac and dutifully installed the 7.161 update that was detected. Reboot the TomTom - no sound. No voices, no beeps, no nothing. Called support, they lead me through a hard reset (paperclip in hole near SD slot for 6 secs), soft reset ("Reset to factory/default settings" icon). The only sound that I heard during this process was the initial drum sound right at the beginning of the boot. Otherwise, still silent as a mouse. They had me download version 6.5xx and install. Blinking red X, at boot time, failed boot. The tech seemed ready to give up, I suggested I try to revert to the 7.14 backup I made (TT HOME prompts you to backup before installing an upgrade). Using TT HOME, I deleted the Main application on the unit and restored from backup to version 7.14. Success! All sounds came back. Thanks goodness I backed up when prompted!
  
  Who knows if I'll ever get to experience the (reportedly minor) improvements of 7.161 -- I'm going to let that sleeping dog lie. I'll wait til the next version comes out before trying another update. 3 hours of troubleshooting is enough.
  
  
• TEXT-TO-SPEECH AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
  By A2RUUTTFJQ7CBH on 2008-04-15
  At long last TomTom has released a GPS model that incorporates a text-to-speech feature at an affordable price. This has been what most TomTom customers have been waiting for. The original TomTom One was first introduced to consumers roughly two years ago and was in direct competition with the Garmin Nuvi 350 model. One of customers major gripes was that the TomTom One lacked the popular text-to-speech feature that the Garmin Nuvi 350 had. It seems that in a two short year span the TomTom One has come a long way with adding features and (with GPS becoming more popular) lowering prices.
  
  The TomTom One XL-S is, in a way, the first of its kind. It is the first TomTom GPS device to offer text-to-speech (verbal pronunciation of street names) at a price tag of under $300.00. This is good news for consumers not looking to invest too much cash into a GPS but wanting this convenient feature. For those who are unfamiliar with past TomTom One devices this text-to-speech comes in handy when not wanting to take your eyes off the road. For example: lets say you are driving on an unacquainted, busy freeway. Traffic is moving at 70mph in four lanes all around you, your exit is close but given the circumstances you have to keep watching traffic and don't get an opportunity to glance down at your trusty TomTom. Ordinarily you would simply hear you TomTom One say "Exit Right" as you approached your off-ramp. But with the new TomTom One XL-S the street names will be heard as well as illuminated on the screen. So instead of hearing "Exit Right" you will hear "Exit Right On War Memorial Drive". A very convenient way to keep your eye on the road and know exactly where you are at all times.
  
  Aside from the text-to-speech feature this particular TomTom One comes with a widescreen for easy viewing. I personally have never had any trouble reading the 3.5 inch screen of the original TomTom One but I'm sure a lot of consumers will love the new 4.3 inch widescreen display.
  
  All the new features of the TomTom One 3rd Edition are included here as well. You get the "Help Me" button which when pressed opens features such as "Phone For Help" which displays emergency numbers for the current location (such as and typically 911) "Drive To Help" which show you the quickest way to the nearest police station or hospital and a "First Aid Guide" which is provided by the British Red Cross.
  
  Also included in the safety features is an option to sound a custom alarm if any of the following occur:
  
  1. When approaching a school or church
  2. When driving faster than a set speed
  3. When driving faster than allowed
  
  A nice addition to the TomTom One XL-S is the ability to make your own map corrections. For example the city I live in recently shut down an existing department store and rebuilt a Super Center about a mile down the road about 3 months ago. Because of this recent change the Points Of Interest database had to be updated. I simply used the "Map Correction" feature to edit and move the existing Point Of Interest to its correct location on the map. Very convenient. The "Map Correction" feature also allows users to (Un)block A Street, Reverse Traffic Direction, Edit Street Names, Add Missing POI, and Report Other Errors
  
  Compared to the many GPS devices I've used (including Garmin products) I've personally found that TomTom has the edge as far as map accuracy and route planning. This new TomTom One XL-S is another break through in TomTom technology that would be perfect for anyone looking to either upgrade from a previous GPS or for first-time GPS buyers looking to save themselves the headaches of getting lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods.
  
  Included in the box is:
  
  - The TomTom One XL-S
  - (1) Car Charger
  - Documentation Pack (Quick Start Guide, Installation Poster, Accessories Catalog, and Warranty/License Agreement)
  - (1) Windshield Mount
  - (1) USB Cable
  - (1) Adhesive Disk For Windshield Mount (for mounting the TomTom to your dash)
  
  
• Good product! Happy!
  By A2GDIGTIJEQ4PM on 2007-11-10
  Used it for the first time today. Very easy to use, nice size, flat and not too big, but not too small either. I didn't get the Speech to work either ... called TomTom and they told me that only Susan and David (US English) will allow you to use the Text to Speech (and I chose Mandy?!). Good price, paid a little over $350 including shipping.
  
  
• Good First GPS
  By AMZ3DSIF3HPBA on 2007-11-22
  Just like the instructions say "you can use right out of the box".
  As I like jumping over fire, I purchased the TOMTOM One XL-S two days before venturing out on a 2000 mile road trip (Michigan to South Carolina). All in all I was pretty impressed with the directions provided, however in busy city traffic it is easy to get ahead of the unit. An annoying trait of the unit is if you intentionally get off the path (e.g. for gas) the unit keeps telling you directions to get back on course (a pause feature would be really cool). The unit is also not polite and will start talking when you are on the phone (a mute feature would be cool). The software interface works fairly well and I was able to develop a very complex itinerary which out of 12 locations it successfully directed us to 11. The maps are crude and many smaller details are missing (like rivers and some roads which have been around for 10+ years). I can only assume a minor map upgrade for $$ will fix the missing details. The time to destination feature works surprisingly well. We will be making another trip to South Carolina soon and I will be testing some of the other features.
  Right now base on my experience I would buy this GPS unit again.
  
  
  
• Very happy with the Tomtom ONE XL-S
  By A7DYUDANTXOSM on 2008-01-20
  Having carefully weighed and compared the Tomtom ONE XL-S and the Garmin 650, I settled on the Tomtom. I paid about $268 for the unit. Prior to its arrival, I had a bit of buyers remorse thinking that perhaps I should have gone with the Garmin 650, because I found more reasonably priced units at Costco. Additionally, I was told by various sales people that that the Garmin was more user friendly, and it was the best selling - blah, blah. Having actually used and played with the Tomtom for about a month now, I am very happy with its ability to take me anywhere I need to go. For me, it never takes more than a moment or two, to acquire satellites (if not immediately), the user interface is straight forward and user friendly. It has lots of points of interest, and I enjoy adding my own in the Favorites list. One caveat, the full manual is online, and one has to play with the unit to figure it out, as the "to how" literature is sparse. Having said that, it's easy to figure out and use.
  There are a variety of reasons I chose the XLS over other GPS devices, these include the wider screen, which I think is necessary to freely type in addresses, as well as see a larger view of the map, and I really wanted the text to speech option, which the Tomtom XL doesn't have. In comparison to the Garmin 650, the XLS was cheaper, and didn't have the unnecessary picture viewer or MP3 player. One important factor for me was that the XLS has tons of way points that can be included to plan a route for traveling, while the 650 has only one! Drawbacks to the XLS include a short battery life, but I don't need it because its plugged into the car. The attachment base is decent, instead of attaching it to the front windshield, I highly, highly, recommend using the "Nav-Mat Portable GPS Dash Mount" - it's absolutely brilliant. I paid about $20 including shipping, and it's quality, and it does precisely what it's suppose to do. Other things of note include the following: the cord plugs directly into the XLS, while the Garmin 650 cord plugs into the base; the XLS while plugged into the computer through the USB cord (included) will reenergise the battery, however, I personally opted to purchase the Tomtom wall plug in cord - its just easier; password protection requires that you go through Tomtom "Home" the company's software that requires downloading - which was a nuisance; upgrading the unit to the latest software version (Windoze) wasn't an issue as another reviewer had suggested; I can see the screen in direct sunlight - and it looks good; the unit has (if I recall correctly) 1 Gig of memory, which is mostly filled with the North Am. maps - one can purchase extra memory cards if necessary; finally the unit has the option of shutting down when the vehicle is turned off just like the 650. Overall, I am exceptionally please that I bought the Tomtom XLS. I hope this helps in your hunt. Cheers.
  
  
  
• disappointed
  By A3AY413P9668H3 on 2007-11-23
  1st gps unit. 1st use 2 days ago. set destination for familiar route 60 miles away. wouldn't allow me to enter county hwy # despite various attempts. had to change destination to nearby airport. 1st couple miles were great. graphics, gps positioning, verbal commands, all super. then unit tried to steer us off main road onto different dirt roads that were neither shorter or faster routes. going home it took us off 4 lane through city streets and significant delays. today it again sent me in wrong direction, onto back roads and literally in a circle twice. i really thought it was going to be great however it's of no use to me if it can't steer me in the right direction. will have to return unit and look for something else.
  
  
• It was fun while it lasted
  By A1REDIE2RPOTLT on 2007-11-29
  Well, it worked perfectly right out of the box. Once. Then I downloaded the Tomtom Home updating software to my Mac and connected the device to my computer to update it. After that, the device didn't work properly. I know it has sound because it makes the drum beat sound when I turn it on, but it won't read any directions or make any other sound. So, I called tech support, and the man I talked to was very nice and he sent me an email with detailed instructions of what to do to fix the problem. It didn't work. According to what he wrote in the email, I could just reply to the email if I needed more help. I did that, and the email bounced right back to me because it was sent from a "do not reply" email address. Why tell your customers to hit reply for more help when the email is not designed to receive replies???
  
  So, I called tech support again and again got a very nice person who genuinely wanted to solve my problem. She figured out that because I have a Mac, the Tomtom Home software I downloaded was not the most recent version of the software (I guess they don't have the most recent version for Mac yet). But the device I bought, ONE XL-S only works with the most recent version of the Home software. What to do? Well, the very nice tech support person had me on hold so long while she tried to talk to her supervisor that the battery in my phone died. So I called back and got someone else, who told me that everything the last tech support person told me was incorrect. How am I supposed to know which person is right and which is wrong??? She says the software I have is fine and the problem must be with the device itself, so she said I could mail it in to them to fix the speakers. I reminded her that the speakers definitely work because the device makes the drum sound when I turn it on. Her only advice was to mail it in for repair or take it back to place I bought it from. Considering that she couldn't even tell me what is wrong, I don't think mailing it in for repair is a good option. So, Amazon, I'll be sending this piece of junk back to you for a refund.
  
  
• Be very careful
  By AZXQ0WME7X6UT on 2007-11-27
  Got the TomTom out of the box. I fixed my GPS location. I tried to log onto TomTom home to back up my unit. My unit worked for approximatley two hours and then went blank. If you buy a TomTom one XL-S and it works consider yourself lucky. I'm returning my TomTom to Amazon. I got another Tom Tom from Amazon with no problem. My second GPS works like a charm. You've got to remember that only the computer voice announces the street names. I have two mounts, one for each of our cars. The manual is of no help but the device is idiot simple. I would buy another one. Amazon's return policy is A-one.
  
  
• Great GPS
  By A6U34RDGWDAP0 on 2007-12-24
  The unit comes as a complete system that plugs into your computer, like iPod with iTunes. It gives access to maintain, add maps, and functionality beyond any of the others - I think they call it "best-in-class". And it doesn't chat on and on like Magellan. It recalculates routes without fuss, and offers lots of different voices - just avoid John Cleese!
  
  It synchronises in 20 seconds or less in a new location - much better than Garmin. It uses the same maps everywhere on any model. Garmin forces you to rebuy another model that runs those missing maps! Not all maps are available in Australia, for example, where you need certain models of Garmin. And in this day when you get off the plane in different countries frequently, who wants to have lots of different models of GPS in your briefcase. I am very happy. And Amazon is very fast and helpful. Thank you.
  
  I can now trash the rest of my GPS units!
  
  
• Tom Tom, No Way
  By A352SOXQWJX56W on 2007-12-24
  I went through two Tom Tom XL S units.
  
  At first, I thought that the model name on the unit and the box were mismatched - I bought an XL S, and the unit (serial # and software) said XL. So I returned the first unit because it would not pronounce street names.
  
  The second unit - same problem. THEN I figured out that the software is not the correct version on the Mac OS, AND there's no online documentation for the XL S, AND the bluetooth didn't work with ANY of the four cell phones in my household, AND there was no hope.
  
  I returned the second unit, and I now own a Garmin nuvi 260. The Garmin installed in .5 seconds, worked out of the box, has correct documentation online.
  
  
  
• TOMTOM GPS ONE XLS
  By A22SKHNTHI4LSS on 2007-12-03
  The TOMTOM ONE XLS is for my wife who has no sense of direction. It got her to obscure locations in Boston and the suburbs with no problems. It is intuitive and the voice directions are great. Displays and commands are easy to use and very intuitive.
  
  
• A very good unit for it's price
  By A1F96L5RED1RK on 2007-12-24
  Large, wide screen with great graphic. I love the computer interface and the ability to make corrects to POIs directly to the unit. There are a vast amount of POIs and voice options. I love the unit, the mapping, and the speed. The maps are accurate and dependable which is the most important factor in choosing a GPS. Using Google maps with the unit is a big "+".
  
  
• Excellent GPS
  By A2DBTIWMW0I9QK on 2008-05-10
  If you are like me, you have read the GPS reviews. Again if you are like me, the reviews offered little help. For every article touting Garmin, there are just as many for TomTom. I had the opportunity to compare a friend's Garmin with the TomTom I had recently purchased. Here are my observations.
  
  The first thing I notice is the Garmin is simple and intuitive. Logic instructions and prompts guide you through the menus. The Garmin turns on automatically if it is plugged into your car's power outlet. A very convenient feature assuming you are not concern with leaving your GPS visible (GPS units are commonly attributed to vehicle break-in). When providing directions, the Garmin indicates which side of the street the destination is on. Also the Garmin categorizes restaurants into ethnic groups (i.e. Asia, French, American, etc) and provides phone numbers for many Points of Interest (POI). Speaking of POI's, many third party Internet sites offer additional POI's files you can add your GPS. Most of these files are in the Garmin format.
  
  For some inexplicable reason, Garmin also indicates cemeteries. I never knew there were so many along a route I had been traveling for years! If you want to know where the cemeteries are, this is the unit for you.
  
  With all this, why did I choose the TomTom? The ability to customize routes is one of TomTom's greatest strengths. While the Garmin menu is simple and intuitive, you are locked into limited route variability. With the TomTom I can modify any part of the route. This becomes important when you want to avoid a difficult turn onto a busy highway. Also, the TomTom maps appear more accurate. For instance, the Garmin did not recognize jug-handle turns (a side road for making left turns on a divided highway). The TomTom always identified jug-handle turns in the drive instructions. Providing me with which side of the street the destination is on, as the Garmin will do, is of little use if I can't get to it. In rural areas, the TomTom clearly identified minor unpaved roads. The Garmin only showed a blank spot (almost like one of the old world maps you may see in a museum, where a part of the earth is blank and labeled "Dragons be here").
  
  The text to speech is better in the TomTom as well. The Garmin indicated that I should turn onto the "Penna" Turnpike. The TomTom correctly stated it as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Also, the Garmin announces roads as "Route One-Two-Three" or "Route seven five" while the TomTom would state "Route One hundred and twenty-three" or "'Route seventy-five".
  
  In the end, you will need to consider what is important to you. Hopefully, I have provided some insight and help with your selection.
  
  
  
• Flaw in Spoken Instructions
  By A263G4N7LFD4KG on 2007-11-29
  The product has a major flaw in which the computer voice "Susan" announces miles ahead turns as yards ahead instead. The screen accurately shows miles. I spent hours with customer "service" with very poor help. They kept saying they strive for "exceptional" customer service; but the reality was a very different and disappointing experience. No real solutions offered and no accommodation as a customer.
  
  
  I am stuck with the promise of great technology (Speech /Text - actual street names announced)- only to be foiled by poor software design.
  
  
  
  
  
• So far, so good!
  By A2J0ZHRGKK2FQX on 2007-12-17
  After seeing some friends with the TomTom One I started doing some research. For the money I have been very pleased with the TomTom One XL. I purchased the XL primarily for the larger screen ...a product of getting older ... the larger screen is very nice. I really like the simplicity of operation while traveling. The only downside is finding locations without having exact street addresses but that is fairly easy to overcome with a little practice. I haven't used it on any really long trips (over 150 miles) yet but plan to really give it a workout next year. Around town and within 100 miles from home it has performed wonderfully so far. Easy to program and operate after just a little reading of the manual and some hands on "playing" with all the buttons. Easy to "sync" with my home computer. Really like this product and would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a great portable GPS for the car without all the "extra" bells and whistles such as IPOD Ready and bluetooth compatibility.
  
  
• Buggy Maps and Not Really Mac Compatible
  By A1KAERT0MPBZOO on 2007-12-29
  On a trip to one of the built-in Points of Interest (The NY Hall of Science), my Tomtom XL-S told me to go in the wrong direction through a one way loop in the front of the museum. Then it told me to connect to the highway by going through the paid parking lot at the museum. My wife was onboard with the TomTom until that happened. Now she's back to paper street maps.
  
  So I tried to fix the maps by downloading the latest ones. The package comes with a code for a free download of the latest maps if done within 30 days of first using the unit. Guess what? The link on the coupon now directs me to download TomTom Home 2.0 in order to update the maps. The problem is, there is no Mac version of 2.0. So there are no updates for me. Why advertise about Mac compatibility and then lie about it?
  
  One last thing. On the TomTom website, the pulldown help menu does not list the TomTom XL-S model at all.
  
  UPDATE: Looks like you can block out streets that don't work (such as the ones in the crazy TomTom suggestion above to drive through a parking lot).
  
  UPDATE 2: I have no idea why this unit works on some days and not others. On a recent trip to Jersey City I had 4+ satellites communicating with the GPS. All I wanted was for the device to take me home. It was completely confused and kept drawing my location wrong (such as in the river). Again, this did not impress my passengers.
  
  
• Units are OK, but Customer Service is the WORST.
  By AK0YU8ULDBGF8 on 2008-01-07
  The unit worked well for the 2 weeks I had it. Then, the TomTom "Home" software downloaded and installed a software "update" for my One XL-S, however, the updated software was for a different model. The unit malfunctioned from then on. TomTom Customer Service (when you could get someone on the phone) was of no help. The Customer Service agents had not been trained on the One XL-S. Finally, by my 5th call, someone lead me through certain reset procedures that deleted all of my maps. I had to send the unit back to TomTom, who for the past month has refused to send me a new unit. IF you can get in touch with TomTom customer service, they don't help at all. Customer Service is very important to a product such as a gps unit. Bottom line, enjoy the unit, but don't expect to receive ANY help or support from TomTom.
  
  
• A very annoying piece of equipment with many many problems
  By A3NQMUY09BNH2Q on 2008-07-18
  I bought the TomTom One XL-S for the larger screen and text to speech capabilities.
  I first tested a Garmin 260 text to speech model, but the screen was too small to see at windshield level.
  
  I was very surprised at the ease of use of the Garmin and the problems with the TomTom.
  Both acquire satellites and plan routes with good speed.
  
  However the TomTom One was full of undocumented software problems, omissions, inability to find correct routes and ordinary popular chain stores such as Walmart, Sunoco, and many others.
  
  More than 50 percent of the time the text to speech is garbled, and you have to guess the street name. The TomTom unit cannot adequately pronounce simple words such as "freeway" or "north high street", etc.
  "Verrazanno bridge" was totally unintelligible, as was about 30 percent of the streets and destinations.
  
  The brightest screen setting washes out in daylight, and is difficult to see. That is a serious problem.
  The night time screen does not always switch properly to the preprogrammed brightness level.
  
  The TomTom One XLS seems to be programmed to recognize only a very limited list of popular businesses, particularly Starbucks, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, but it misses more than it finds.
  You can forget about most of the small businesses. I found myself trying to think if an unrecognized location was near a Starbucks or Pizza hut, and used the nearest one to get to my real destination.
  There might be an update for this, but this is how it comes out of the box.
  
  When approaching a turn the unit verbally warns at 2 miles then 1 mile then half a mile then a quarter mile then 200 feet. However, at the turn it does not not use the text to speech to name the street. Annoying.
  
  If the GPS satellite signal is lost, it will not tell you in speech, and will take you to the wrong destination if you do not look at the screen and see the pale little letters "lost satellites".
  
  The point of interest menu is involved and difficult to use.
  Canceling the present route requires many steps and is a ridiculous feature, nearly hidden.
  
  There is a procedure for enabling text to speech.
  This must be done manually, the unit does not come enabled.
  The documentation does not tell you that if you select a preprogrammed voice first and then the computer voice second (which supposedly enables text to speech) the text to speech will never come on at all unless you reset the unit to default factory settings.
  
  The unit sometimes defaults to a lower volume probably because the touch area of the volume control overlaps the other screen areas, so when tapping the screen the volume is accidentally reset. Again, very annoying.
  
  Normal setting of the volume is simple; click on the lower left of the screen and the control comes up.
  However it can take a minute or more after increasing the volume for the volume level to respond, and then it suddenly jumps up. If you are riding alone, the shock value can be high.
  
  If you select a point of interest without selecting a particular city,
  the documentation does not tell you must select a city in order for the unit to search more than 2 miles outward for similar POI's.
  
  In tapping the screen, often the taps take you past the place you want to go, and usually there is no back button. You will have to do it all over again to go back.
  
  The altitude feature just simply does not work, varying several hundred feet driving on level ground.
  
  There is a lawyer/legal screen in which you need to agree to not use the unit during driving. Huh?
  A language problem?
  The TomTom company is located in the Netherlands (the Garmin unit is made in Taiwan), but the TomTom unit is made and assembled in China. I can only imagine the language iterations this unit has gone through in it's text to speech programming.
  
  The suction cup windshield mount holds firmly to the windshield, but will not in any way hold to the dash without the permanent mounting disk.
  The tongue and groove in the windshield mount holds the unit very tightly, but cannot be undone while it is mounted low on the windshield, necessitating removal of the whole suction cup, which is very, very difficult. I partially solved this problem by putting only one end of the unit into one grove, but this solution is very shaky. I considered putting velcro on the large base of the unit to mount it to the front of the dash, but the power cord enters at the base so this is not possible.
  
  Pros?
  Well, the Help Me! feature is nice, such as Drive to help, Walk to help,
  Where am I? etc.
  The Browse Map feature is good, and gives usable area maps.
  
  The Bottom Line;
  Anyone who has never used a GPS before might be impressed at their newfound capability with the TomTom GPS.
  
  Anyone who has used another GPS will likely be sorely disappointed and annoyed at the needlessly complicated and often non functional features.
  
  
  
• Wonderful Product
  By A38CC2BFGO9BXR on 2007-11-30
  This is a wonderful G.P.S system. I'm amazed by how accurate it is. Also the text to speech feature is a lovely feature. Interface is simple and the points of interests seem infinite.
  
  
• Very Pleased
  By A3RUGD16W4H3YU on 2007-12-29
  I had debated which unit to purchase but am very pleased with the XL-S. I was using it in 30 seconds out of the box. I never once had to look at the directions (although, I do work with computers for a living). I love how it gives plenty of warning before a turn and different views of the route so you can review it ahead of time. If you don't like the route you can have it figure an alternate.
  
  Some have complained about no external volume control. There is no need for one. A simple touch on the left-hand corner of the screen gives you a volume control slider bar you adjust interactively while it says something; nothing external to get dirty or break.
  
  Also, someone complained they could not get updates without paying for them. There simply may not have been any new updates to the maps from the time they purchased. I live in the US and all the US and Canada were preloaded. No purchase necessary.
  
  I love all the extras too, like restaurants, gas stations, hospitals and many other points of interest. Although, my wife drives me a little nuts because it also shows exactly how fast I'm going. The screen also has plenty of extra info, like ETA that changes dynamically with speed, time traveling, distance ... etc.
  
  I was sorry to read some have apparently had mechanical problems. I guess you can get a lemon with anything. Mines been great right out of the box. I highly recommend it!
  
  
• TomTom has no customer support
  By A1ABOAZ99VXIJO on 2008-03-16
  This product worked fine initially but the battery appears to be defective. That should be no problem. Contact customer support, exchange, or repair the product. However, TomTom has decided to hide its customer support. They put you through a bunch of dead ends and then give you a phone number that does not answer. They promise e-mail support but give you a dead link. Be forewarned.
  
  
• Not exactly what they advertise...
  By A2UJ625TNUBEQL on 2007-12-24
  Recently purchased 14 units for our business and while they claim that the Plus Service is compatible w/ the Razr V3 they don't tell you that it also depends on the carrier. In our case our carrier requires us to program proxy server info. into the XL, much to our surprise there is no such provision within the unit. Contacted tech. support and while they were very nice, they had no clue of what a proxy server is, I rather have them be rude and knowledgeable than nice and ignorant. Needless to say had to return all 14 units. According to Tech. Support Plus Service is only compatible with T-Mobile and AT&T. So if you have anything else be carefull, chances are it won't work. As for the rest of the features we never got to test them, so I won't comment....
  
  
• Excellent GPS with great features
  By A1LKJPMC72T6JE on 2007-12-26
  I got the TomTom XL-S during Thanksgiving. This is my first GPS device purchase and I am very happy with its features and performance. It contains some neat and useful features. Text-to-speech is accurate and possibly the best feature in this product. I dont look at screen now while driving , I just listen to the directions from Tom Tom, which are correct, clear and announced well ahead of time. The extralarge screen on Tomtom XL-S makes it an additional plus as it is easy to view.
  
  
  All in all TomTom XL-S is really an excellent choice. You will not be dissapointed. I have used Garmin and Magellans before and both are not as intuitive and user-friendly.
  
  
• TomTom XL-S
  By A2LM2XIJ145AR8 on 2007-12-23
  I purchased two XL-S units. One for me and one for my son for Christmas. While the screen is a nice size, the maps are outdated even though I have updated them several times on TomTom's website. Our local tollway is 400 feet misaligned. Another words, TomTom has me driving in a field for miles and then has me driving on the wrong side of the freeway for 1/2 mile before my actual location and the freeway align. This road has been there for two years. Leaving my neighborhood, it takes further into the subdivision before taking me out to the main roads. I travel in a large city with a very congested freeway, so I bought the model with Bluetooth so I could get traffic updates. Well it is not compatible with the AT&T/Apple Iphone. I called TomTom and they said they will email me if/when the Iphone is added. I will not hold my breath for the update to happen. The customer service rep wanted to make sure my call to him was a great experience. It would have been if my phone were compatible. My son tried his T-mobile phone and it wasn't compatible either. I think the unit should remember previous trips and take you the same way and quit trying to take you the long way every time. Yes I have my preferences set correctly. If I did not know my way around, this thing would have be going miles out of my way "every time". This feature needs to be updated. Overview: Maps are outdated, traffic needs to be compatible with any Bluetooth phone, needs to have a trip recall feature and quit leading you the longer way.
  John A. Round Rock TX
  
  
• Riding with TomTom
  By A4RASGC2BYMD5 on 2007-12-23
  I have been waiting for the prices to come down on these little units. I found out that the TomTom 1 XL S was the newest version from TomTom this fall.
  It has all the features I need. I have been living in Houston for 30 years did service work there were streets that we call jumpers. They would go for 2-4 blocks and jump 4-5 blocks and continue.
  Also the street signs in Houston are not always visible. With the TomTom 1 I could see the approaching streets which would help me get around.
  I also liked the 'cancel route' feature that would let me just ride along mode.
  The upgrades are great, just hook the unit to your computer and you will be notified if there are any new features to be added.
  I am glad I waited for this unit and the price was great.
  
  
  

• GGI International LCD Screen Care Kit, with Overlays, Care System Microfiber Cloth & Wipes
• Bracketron Swivel Mount- PHS-203(Black)
• Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad
• TomTom Maps of Western Europe on 6 CDs for TomTom GPS Navigators (1D90.012)

• Tomtom One Xl Carrycase with strap
• Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad
• Tom Tom ONE XL Add'l Mount w/Car Charger
• TomTom ONE USB Battery Charger
• TomTom One XL ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector (Single Pack)