TomTom ONE XL-S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech (Factory Refurbished) Review

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(More customer reviews)Got this for my wife for Christmas. I was skeptical and took the risk. the GPS arrived in an official TomTom XL-S box. Unit, quick guide, quick set-up / install poster, mount and mounting disc (if needed), car charger, and usb cord. There is a color printed card inside noting the item has been officially refurbished to factory specs. i believe the warranty was shorter (60 or 90 days). At first the unit did not power up, but just needed to charge via USB. Powered up fine after that. The outside of the unit looked brand new as did the other components. There is a more extensive manual online. I believe this full manual comes this way whether new or used. Everything functions like new. You have to donwload TomTom Home from the USA website and update the unit with the lastest updats and the like. The map on the unit WAS and IS an older version. You cannot just download a new set with "Lastest Map Guarantee" from TomTom. This is due to the age unit and nature of being refurbished. HOWEVER, TomTom will allow you to download the lastest map set per there "Lastest Map Guarantee" by simply calling and providing proof-of-purchase. This must be done within 30 days. I had set up my TomTom Home account online prior to calling and the like. This made life easier. two phone calls and three emails later I was off and running with installing the lastest available map set for ths XL-S. Make sure to tell them it is for the XL-S, as the serial number on my unit indicated XL in there system. The box said XL-S and the unit did indeed do spoken street names. There is separate card inside the box on how to enable the function. So far, my wife and I are very happy. Note, after the map install, the internal memory of the unit was pretty much at max. I would get the map update prior to trying to add anything at all the unit outside of the updated drivers from TomTom. Also, back-up the unit using TomTom Home AND copying all the internal contents from the unit to a folder on your computer. That way you are safe in case something happens. The SD memory DOES NOT supplement the 1 Gig internal memory. You will need at least a 2 Gig SD card and literally copy the entire contents of the internal memory, including ALL hidden files, to the SD card. Put the "duplicate" card in the unit after this and it will run off the SD card memory. Internal memory is NOT used, neither is it updated or affected my TomTom Home download and add-ons as long as you are running off the SD card. You will need to leave the card in. This way you will have about 1 Gig of space on the SD card to download voices, etc. Computer voices are the only ones that can read Text-to-Speech. I am not sure if there a limit to the SD card size you can use if higher than 2 Gig as it may only be able to allocate up to 2 Gigs only. If you can use a larger one, the better. So if someone knows this let me know. Again, pleased with the purchase and the fact I could get the latest free one-time map download. Nice big display and accurate (at least in the realm of the competition). Very simple to use, which is a plus. Some of the latest updates give and take away some functional items on the unit (i.e. menus and the way the compass function will changed). This is due to TomTom updating, so don't think you are nuts. Hopefully the change the compass function back to way to was. Worth the risk...YES...if the price is right. AMAZON was very quick to ship and I have never had a problem with them. Only thing I can say about Amazon.com is the way they pack items when shipping them could be better in some cases. Sometimes they use little to know padding. This minimal approach is understandable, but should be item dependent. I have gotten DVD that have been loose inside the DVD box because the DVD box had tons of room to move around inside the shipping box. The GPS unit was packed well. Other than this, Amazon.com is a highly recommended seller in my eyes.

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Expand your horizons with the new TomTom ONE XL. The distinctive design combines an extra-wide 4.3 touchscreen and the power of GPS in a slim, lightweight device. Easily taken from car to car. Switch it on and go right out of the box. Just a few taps on the screen and the ONE XL does the rest. The crystal-clear display, 3D view and spoken turn-by-turn instructions help you find your way, worry free. Preloaded maps of the US and Canada and millions of points of interest enhance your traveling experience. With the ONE XL you can access smart extras like real-time traffic, 5-day weather forecasts and celebrity voice downloads. No activation, no monthly fees, its that easy. Easy to use: Switch on and go right out of the box Sleek all-in-one compact design Extra-wide 4.3 touch-screen Easily taken from car to car Turn-by-turn voice instructions Crystal-clear 3D view No activation. No monthly fees Smart navigation Preloaded maps of US and Canada Millions of points of interest Access to real-time traffic, weather, voice downloads, and more TomTom HOME software

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

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(More customer reviews)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

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The TomTom ONE XL-S is the high end of TomTom's ONE line of basicportable gps navigators. It adds text-to-speech functionality to the ONE XL's gorgeous widescreen, 4.3-inch display, expanded traffic options that include GPRS- and optional RDS-TMC radio-based real-time traffic information. The TomTom ONE XL is a complete portable GPS vehicle navigation device with an incredible range of features. While it does not have the same array of luxury features as TomTom's GO 720 or GO 920 line, the ONE XL-S offers all the features you need in a solid navigation system (see a feature comparison for all of TomTom's GO and ONE devices).
What's New -- Text To Speech The ONE XL-S has all the features of the ONE XL, but also adds text-to speech, which allows the device to give spoken directions with real street names.

What's New -- Map Share The ONE XL-S includes TomTom's innovative new Map Share technology. Map Share enables users to make easy changes to the map and to share map corrections with other TomTom customers so that users always have the most up-to-date maps available

Map Coverage Like TomTom's other navigators, the ONE XL-S comes pre-loaded with complete maps for all fifty of the United States, as well as Canada, based on TeleAtlas map data and all stored on 1 GB of internal memory

See More But it's not just the broad geographical coverage that makes the TomTom ONE XL-S special. The user-friendly design also puts it a step above other navigation systems. The crystal-clear multicolor display makes for exceptionally easy viewing of maps, routes, driving directions, and other traveling information, such as mileage and distance. Measuring 4.3 inches, the TFT display offers an expanded widescreen view of brilliant two- and three-dimensional graphics.

The device also features 32 MB RAM and 266 MHz CPU, making it responsive and zippy. Using the USB port and the provided cable, you can use your PC to add your own points of interest. Memory expansion is made possible by an SD card slot.

The ONE XL-S provides clear and accurate turn-by-turn voice instructions, so that you don't have to take your eyes off the road while your vehicle is on the move. Voice instructions are issued at a speed-sensitive volume, so as your vehicle's engine becomes louder or quieter as your speed changes, the volume adjusts itself accordingly, guaranteeing clear and easy listening. And because voice instructions are available in over 30 languages, just about anyone will find the TomTom ONE XL-S to be an invaluable system.

With its touch-sensitive screen, the TomTom ONE XL-S puts programming and operation literally at your fingertips to make sophisticated technology simple. The built-in database offers thousands of points of interest for you to use as destinations or reference points as you plan your trip. The ONE XL-S will also provide a selection of available routes, giving you the option of avoiding toll roads or choosing between the quickest or the most scenic routes. The database includes zip codes to simplify your route selection, and for extra convenience, the ONE XL-S lets you save the addresses of frequent destinations, making route planning easier and faster than ever. Other display features include a compass mode to assist you with directional orientation, and an anti-glare screen for optimal viewing even in direct sunlight.

For additional navigational features to assist with trip planning, the built-in Bluetooth connection provides access to TomTom PLUS subscription-based services, so that you can tune in to the latest traffic and weather conditions, as well as download additional city maps, voices, points of interest, and much more. The ONE XL-S adds to these capabilities with FM radio-based RDS-TMC traffic information as an available accessory (not included).

Weighing less than 10 ounces and measuring 3.4 x 4.7 x 1.2 inches, the TomTom ONE XL-S can be easily installed in any vehicle. An included windshield suction mount holds it in place. Plus, with an operating temperature range of an icy -10 degrees to a sweltering 55 degrees Celsius (14 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit), the navigator is durable enough for New England winters or Arizona summers. The TomTom ONE XL-S is powered by an internal lithium ion battery that can be charged from your vehicle's cigarette lighter with the included 12-24V adapter.

What's in the Box TomTom ONE XL-S device, windshield mount, USB cable, cigarette lighter adaptor, adhesive mounting disk, documentation pack, and product code card.

TomTom HOME

HOME is TomTom's free software that enables TomTom users to future proof and personalize their devices. Via easy desktop access, any TomTom customer can update maps, download the latest application, celebrity voices and more. TomTom HOME allows TomTom customers to

Update their TomTom device with TomTom's latest software and services automatically and for free
Easily buy and install the latest maps and European safety cameras
Download celebrity and character voices
Pre-plan trip itineraries
Receive free traffic alerts on their computers

Supported Languages

About TomTom
TomTom NV is the world's largest navigation solution provider, developing products with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use and value. TomTom's products include all-in-one navigation devices which enable customers to navigate right out of the box; including the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE range and the TomTom RIDER (for motorcycles). TomTom also provides navigation software products which integrate with third party devices; the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDAs and smartphones. TomTom WORK combines industry leading communication and smart navigation technology with leading edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTom's products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 25 countries and online. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Compare Features of TomTom Models

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