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"Excellent GPS ... but be careful during updates." on by gemno
Pros: Excellent GPS. Easy to use and accurate. Nice HELP ME features built-in.
Cons: Install TomTom Home. Connect device. Do backup of device as is out of the box. Delete any unnecessary voices (frees up space). Do updates. Do another backup .. don't overwrite the first backup. Happy GPSing.
Summary: Be careful if you install Tomtom Home and attempt to do updates. First, installed Tomtom Home without connection the 340S to your PC. Then connect your GPS. Before downloading anything including any free map updates make a backup of everything on your GPS via this TomTom Home feature. Next view everything on the device via Home. Most of us in the US won't need anything other than the English voices. Delete the other voices from the device only. This will free up some space on the device. Remember that you've already backed everything up so you can get them back if you need them. Now you can go get your free updated map, POI updates, Quickfix updates, additional POIs, etc. Make an additional backup of the unit with all your completed updates. If this all sounds too complicated for you find your local tech geek or just use the unit out of the box WITHOUT connecting it to your PC.
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"Good low priced GPS with some nice options" on by russburdick
Pros: I like the higher end options that this low priced GPS has, such as:
- IQ Routes, which allows you navigate like a local.
- Lane assistance
- Easy to find & add additional destinations along your route (which can save a lot of time)Cons: - IQ Routes does take a few seconds to calculate the fastest route. If, while it is calculating, you go through just 1 intersection, IQ Routes will then recalculate the route again. This can go on for several miles.
Summary: Overall, this is a nice GPS for under $200 that I recommend unless you can afford the higher end models.
I read about the problems with the device only having about 1.9GB of memory, and the map upgrade crashing the system. I read on TomTom's support page that you need to delete about 35MB before attempting the map upgrade. Using TomTom Home 2, if you delete the Spanish & French voices, you will gain about 175MB of space. I had no problem upgrading the map after deleting the unused voices.
I really like IQ Routes. My previous GPS devices would always suggest the same routes, giving a deceiving arrival time because they had no idea about traffic lights and rush hour delays. The 340S routes me the quickest way using back roads just like the locals know. And the arrival time is much more realistic. It's great!
IQ Routes can be slow to calculate. But I'm in the Washington DC area. When I'm trying to get across 35 miles of Maryland, DC, Virginia traffic, IQ Routes finds upwards of 200,000 roads (taking about 12 seconds to calculate--not too bad unless you pass a intersection and it starts over again--this can last awhile). Usually traffic stops long enough for IQ Routes to catch up. If you don't know the area, you do need to pull over for a few seconds. But, when you are within 20 miles of your destination, IQ Routes is very fast.
I also like the "Travel Via" option. I often times need to stop at a store, bank, gas, food, etc along the way. With the "Travel Via" option & "POI Along Route", you can find what you need directly along your route.
It has a nice map & navigation display, and has a reasonably fast boot-up, and very fast satellite capture. The display is a little dim in bright sunlight.
Lastly, I can't find a direct Speed Camera database to load into the POI. That would be nice. -
"Works perfectly" on by redsoxnation80
Pros: Super fast speed for redirecting, all the new bells and whistles makes this 1000 times better than my ONE 3rd edition
Cons: A little bulky
Summary: Thanks to everyone complaining about the map being too big, when I hooked it up I didn't install the update, instead i made a backup of my unit, then removed the old map from my unit first, then ran the Latest Map Guarantee, now works perfectly, without any hiccups!!
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"Faulty product released with know major "glitches"" on by John-Biglin
Pros: Customer service number was answered with relatively little hold time.
Cons: Faulty product released with know major "glitches". Uniformed phone personal. Tom Tom home program irreversively renders the unit useless. No online fix for known software issues. No warning of known issues in the box, documentation, or online.
Summary: I watched a presentation of this unit done by a representitve of TomTom. I was very impressed with the units capability's that were demonstrated. Once I got the unit. I downloaded the tomtom home program., and it all went downhill from there. Once you hook up the unit it searches for new maps with it's 30 day map guarantee. The program found that a new map was available for download for free. I spent hours trying to download the new map only to start receiving error messages. At this point the unit no longer worked at all. I called Tomtom customer service. and they sent me some links that would help me flash the unit and reinstall software. More time was wasted, more errors messages, and then software said that the new map was too big to fit on the unit. I called Tomtom back again and gave them the rundown of what had occurred and they looked up my problem #. They then said " Oh you have the 340 S; there is a glitch in those units." She then explained that the automatic update that occurs when you first hook it up, is what cripples the unit. I asked if I could flash the unit and download the original software image and reinstall. she said no. When asked why Tomtom would release a product with such a major issue? She Said "I don't know I just work in the call center." Needless to say I am just returning this unit as defective and not going through the RMA process.
I have been a beta tester for various hardware and software company's and I have never seen a product, even in a beta test; released with such a major software issue.
Bottom line. If you must have this unit, or received it as a gift; DO NOT under any circumstances update the unit or you will have a $250.00 paperweight. -
"Xl335s great gps for the money" on by pfoste
Pros: This is the same model as the xl340s, except without the Mexico maps. I got this for $99.99 at Costco, in fact I bouth two of them. For the money, there is not a better deal out there.
Cons: BE SURE AND DELETE THE VOICE LANGUAGES YOU DON'T NEED BEFORE UPDATING, OTHERWISE YOU WILL END UP WITH A BRICK.
Summary: Install the TomTom home software, but don't update. Hook up the gps and go to managing the gps in the tomtom home software, then remove the voice languages you don't need. I removed French and Spanish. I then backed up software on the tomtom home, then I updated and all is well.For the money, the features on this are fantastic. Has lots of POI's and has been quite accurate in getting me around. The upper end Garmin's are better, but your going to spend a lot more money. Another feature I like is the mapshare. This is a feature that only tomtom has and I like it alot. I would recommend this gps, but delete voices first before any update, and you will be fine. Nice, loud voice and good directions. I wish it would tell me which side of the road the house is on like my old Garmin 350, but the TomTom has so many upgraded features. Very much worth the money.
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