I bought the TomTom XXL 540S 2-3 weeks ago. This gps is the big brother towards the TomTom XL 340S. This gps navigation just has the bigger and also brighter 5″ display screen.
I have very mixed feelings concerning the gps. There are a lot of things that I like about that, but additionally, there are so numerous small particulars and functions which can be lacking onto it that TomTom either didn’t work about or decided to exclude. These little things that are lacking drive myself absolutely crazy sometimes and I do not know if I could stand all of them or not necessarily. I may well consider going back this gps navigation and getting the Garmin or Magellan rather. I do not know yet. I really hope TomTom starts addressing many of these issues.
Some regarding my pros vs cons are below that we hope may help others who want to decide over a gps.
Pros:
IQ Avenues (TomTom utilizes historical velocity data regarding roads based on the time regarding day and also day of the week, so which it can supply you with the best possible route)
Large 5″ Screen, which is obvious.
Extremely loud speaker. (Option in Volume Preferences in order to link the quantity to your cars speed if you would like)
Satellite acquition is fast (less than 10 sec for me). Shows usually around 9 satellites.
Map Color may be changed.
Can transform the color of the car mark in three dimensional mode
Automobile Day/Night mode changes the particular brightness and also color.
Ability to prepare a route along with any Abandon and Location coordinates.
Shows the existing street that your on at the bottom of the particular screen as well as the next street to turn on within the top proper corner.
Superior Lane Guidance on the highway is displayed really effectively. Shows a great arrow using the lane you need to be in as well as sometimes displays a three dimensional sign to your exit. It is nice and also big also it stays on the screen lengthy enough to be viewed in order that its straightforward where you need to go.
Position bar may be customized to how you like that. It may be displayed possibly horizontally or vertically. Can show the rest of the time, remaining distance, current moment, arrival moment, your speed as well as the speed limit, distance in your next change, compass, ect.
TTS (textual content to talk) instructions have become helpful in helping you discover where to turn and additionally preparing you to your next turn as well. For instance it’s going to say something like “After one qurter distance turn right”. Then while you get nearer to the street it’s going to say “Turn proper Main St. Then take the next left”
Cons:
- POI (Tourist attractions) Map Screen displays the POI identify, street and also cross street, phone, city, and express. But that gives ABSOLUTELY NO street address! So you do not know the particular address or what side of the street the particular POI is on, unless an individual call the area ahead of time and ask. All you get is a checkered flag shown during the street with TomTom stating “you reach your ultimate destination”. On the particular Go product the POI Map Screen has a “Details” option that shows the street address, zip program code, and meals cuisine type for instance. Why TomTom decided to remove this about this model I don’t know.
- No AutoZoom enable/disable alternative (like on the run model). You can manually focus in or out on the map, but about 5 securities and exchange commission’s later AutoZoom will kick in and take you right back to exactly what TomTom wants you to definitely see. Its extremely frustrating because I enjoy zoom in and away sometimes in order that I can easily see more map detail, but TomTom won’t permit me to for any longer then about 5 securities and exchange commission’s. When I start the gps navigation the focus level which TomTom has picked is indeed bad that a lot of all of the street outlines around myself have completely vanished from the screen. All that we see are a lot of street brands just boating on the particular map with no streets becoming shown.
- Doesn’t speak which usually side of the street your destination is on. (In the event you enter a street address to get a destination however it does show slightly arrow on the map pointing to the left or proper hand side of the street when you are approaching your destination. Along having a little checkered flag on the side of the street your vacation spot is about.)
- Alter Preferences display screen is 6 web pages deep and only has a button in order to advance foward to another page. There is not any back option. So in the event you say accidently go past the screen you desired to be on you must then media the foward option 5 more times in order to return to that site.
- No simple way to get involved with the Browse as Text message turn databases display from the main display screen.
- Browse as Text message route guidelines, the textual content and arrows for the turn list is simply way in order to small. Also there isn’t any Auto Scroll function. To view the next page regarding new forthcoming turns you must scroll straight down the record manually oneself.
- POI Map Screen in Night mode shows the particular cross street text in black, which is incredibly difficult to see unless you get very near to the screen.
- three dimensional mode during the day the routes background brightness isn’t consistent throughout the whole display screen. There are usually noticable lines throughout the screen to see the different brightness levels. Towards the underside of the particular map the the brightest after which as an individual pan up the screen that gets slightly darker.
- Can’t enter the street name untill once you’ve entered town. Its negative news once you learn the street but unsure of the city. You should be able to search for the street in different city towards you or nearby the city which you entered (if it had been incorrect).
- TTS (textual content to talk) regarding multiword street names seems sometimes garbled.
- TTS pronounces some words and also streets quite poorly.
- Can’t change the color of the car symbol in 2D mode.
- Can’t search dining places by food type.
- No MicroSD memory slot regarding expansion. Room is pretty restricted with only 2GB regarding internal expensive memory. After removing all of the voices aside from computer words Susan and also removing most of the car symbols. I still only have 105mb regarding space free remaining.
- Just supports HARDWARE 1. 1 exchanges. So whenever you install routes or performing backups the very gradual.
Miscellaneous info: gps chipset about mine has been a GL2 BCM4750 (Worldwide Locate a couple of), The PC speed is 266MHZ. 64MB regarding RAM. Continue reading →