TomTom Via 1535 user reviews

Pros Great POI's, easy to use voice control, IQ routes save hours on long trips.

Cons The reception for traffic is a little spotty, and for some reason it has a bunch of buildings that are clearly not hospitals listed as hospitals in Brooklyn.

Summary Overall this is an amazing unit- I travel from NJ to MD and southern VA pretty often and this managed to shave an hour off the time from the route recommended by google maps. I wanted to stop at a beach and it somehow directed me to the only abandoned spot on a long stretch of privately-owned beachfront.

The only downside I've run into so far besides the somewhat unreliable traffic signal (not really the fault of the unit) is the fact that it has a bunch of buildings that are not hospitals listed as hospitals in brooklyn. That made an already very stressful time even worse.

Pros Lane guidance; lots of point of interests; guidance away from traffic; life time map updates and traffic.

Cons does not learn travel patterns; sometimes behaves stubbornly in guiding routes; cannot plan alternate routes to our liking.

Summary I am very satisfied with this GPS after I returned the Magellen GPS which did not perform upto my satisfaction. I have done two map updates so far and I see improvements every time. I also like the alternate route planning based on traffic information. It also takes into account car pool lanes; it helps if we travel with family and can use car pool lanes.

However, the GPS does not lend itself to trip planning very well. Although it gives alternatives, it would be better if we can avoid as well as chose certain freeways/road while taking a long trip. I hope they add those functions.

In addition, if they include 'mark location' feature, it would be fantastic. My old Magellan GPS (bought several years back) used to have this feature.

Updated on Dec 12, 2011

Some people have written that life time update does not work. It is not correct. I have done two map updates so far and it works ok. I think those users need to check their computers' settings while downloading the updates. It takes longer time, of course.

Pros Speakerphone
Bluetooth
Great directions

Cons Speaker volume doing bluetooth call is not very loud and clear.

Summary Overall a great GPS System that I bought at Best Buy for $119 plus tax.

Pros Great screen and out of box performance. On sale at Best Buy on a trip to a new place for only $120. Got us through Seattle Friday eve rush hour return to Tacoma. Realtime traffic info was exceptional help. Looking forward to quarterly map updates.

Cons Slow acquisition of GPS signal at startup. Want more voice commands and help. Dennis Hopper's voice is not worth the money. Sorry dead guy.

Summary This unit paid for itself on this trip. Never been to WA or British Columbia. Maps got us all around easily and saved us a ton of frustration. Good points of interest too.