Help Me Choose the Right TomTomOne!!

[shiflerg]

I just returned my TomTomOne V3 but I'm still interested in owning a TomTom. Many of you are experienced with the TomTom's; so who better to ask about what to buy.

So here are some constraints:
Price less than $300.
Portable.
Plenty of memory for expansion and upgrades (may mean a SD card).
Capability to store itenaries (sic).
Capability to use other sources for generating .itn files.
Can find Walmarts as POIs.

So I'll start with Ones and see what meets my needs.

Help: Please advise me!!!

 

[46jimbo]

Consider the One XL. It has an SD card slot and it isn't crippled like the 3rd Edition regarding itineraries and POI creation.

With the more expensive models, you will be paying for Bluetooth, hands free cell phone - stuff you may not necessarily want.

 

[Gilbert]

While I agree with 46jimbo, there is another often overlooked apect of GO models: faster processor and more internal memory. I have a ONE XL-S and, when chosen, I did not want Blue Tooth nor multimedia capabilities. If I could get back in time, I'd probably get the 720 if at a reasonable price. There are clearance sales for this older model and you may be able to find it at a price suitable for you. It has the more detailed NA map and faster USB standard meaning much faster transfers for backup, restore and updates. The hardware is nearly identical to the newer 730 and can be a fantastic value if at the right price.

I was going to forget that GO models handle the SD card differently than ONE models. One models use either the internal memory or the SD card while, on GO models, the SD cardis considered an addition to internal memory.

 

[Mark E]

You can get a factory refurbished (with 1 year warranty) GO920 on EBAY for under $300.00 easily and almost daily.

I got a used 920 on EBAY for $239.00. Works perfectly and I coudn't be happier (well, maybe with a 930 I could be happier).

 

[Buddharay]

i like the 130S a lot. great mount, has text-to-speech. best bang for your buck, i think.

 

[shiflerg]

I just opened my Costco coupon book and they have a pretty good deal on the Go730. It is normally 399.99 but you can buy it online for 329.99 from Sept 11th thru Sept 28th.

I know it is 10% higher than my high but it seems like a good deal. I think some one in an earlier reply said the added card is an extension of the memory versus a replacement for the memory. This sounds good.

Does anyone have any idea of the internal memory size?? Or the maximum capacity of the external memory?? This brings up the question of the maps, POIs, etc. Do all the TomToms share the same maps, POIs, etc? Or is there different maps, POIs, etc for each sub-category of TomTom??

 

[Gilbert]

some deletion...

Does anyone have any idea of the internal memory size?? Or the maximum capacity of the external memory?? This brings up the question of the maps, POIs, etc. Do all the TomToms share the same maps, POIs, etc? Or is there different maps, POIs, etc for each sub-category of TomTom??

Internal memory size is 2GB.

Max capacity of external memory = max size of SDHC card but usually has a restriction of 4GB for writing by NavCore until the firmware gets updated (not entirely sure this is still true for the 730) but reading is the most important part as it applies to maps, mp3 and movies... A 4GB SD card should be sufficient considering you already have 2GB to start with but, if you wish to watch movies on your TT, that could be different. I don't nor wish to watch movies and use a portable DVD player that is used for mp3 playing with an FM transmitter when on long trips. With a couple of DVDs, I have enough music to listen for quite a while!

The maps should be the more detailed NA vs USA & Canada. The POIs database is more complete than on ONE models but you can import the 930 POI database from this board if you search for it.

 

[46jimbo]

The maps should be the more detailed NA vs USA & Canada

I think that the street and road mapping are the same. The difference comes in a larger POI database and map things like more bodies of water being shown.

(This being said, it would be interesting if someone could demonstrate a difference in the mapping between the 2 maps with the same version number in order to prove or disprove my point.)

 

[Gilbert]

I think that the street and road mapping are the same. The difference comes in a larger POI database and map things like more bodies of water being shown.

(This being said, it would be interesting if someone could demonstrate a difference in the mapping between the 2 maps with the same version number in order to prove or disprove my point.)

I said details vs USA & Canada and did not wish to repeat myself for the xx times in writing roads and streets are the same but with the NA map one will see building contours, islands in the river, more details in the streets and roads as to their appearance. On the USA & Canada one will see the road turn slightly and on the NA map, one will see the divider shape in the middle. Nothing to write home about but more realistic. It helps in connecting the reality with what's shown on screen.

 

[46jimbo]

We have to dispell the idea that the USA_Canada map is somehow less accurate with regards to routing. I use the NA map myself. And as Gilbert says, the visual is more interesting, but both maps do the job of getting you there.

 

[shiflerg]

Thanks guys,
As I understand it, the extra memory does NOT buy you anything for more detailed maps. There are basically two maps for USA use with one giving a little more information but both must be small enough (in memory) to fit the TomTom with the least memory.
So if I buy a TomTom with the capability of an additional memory card, the extra memory would be for other uses such as music, photos, and movies. I would assume the extra memory may have some secondary mapping uses such as for more favorites or POIs or itenariries (sic)? Is this true?
Does anyone know the size of the latest two maps for the USA?

 

[Gilbert]

Thanks guys,
As I understand it, the extra memory does NOT buy you anything for more detailed maps. There are basically two maps for USA use with one giving a little more information but both must be small enough (in memory) to fit the TomTom with the least memory.
So if I buy a TomTom with the capability of an additional memory card, the extra memory would be for other uses such as music, photos, and movies. I would assume the extra memory may have some secondary mapping uses such as for more favorites or POIs or itenariries (sic)? Is this true?
Does anyone know the size of the latest two maps for the USA?

Both 7x0 and 9x0 have a faster running cpu with more RAM than ONE models. There are 3 maps: the small one for ONE models to fit the 1GB of internal memory; the NA map for the 7x0 with smaller than 9x0 POI for the 2GB internal memory of the 7x0; the 9x0 NA map (street wise identical to 7x0) with the largest POI database to fit the 4GB internal memory of the 9x0 with the additional separate European map. GO 7x0 and 9x0 maps also have the rather large files required for speech recognition (vocal commands).

With the additional SD card, you can add maps, POIs, languages and multimedia files. As for specific POI, the choice is wide such as radar warnings, list of boat ramps or camping grounds as well as nearly any field of interest you may have. Sure the larger TT supplied POI has a lot of usefull data but the specialised ones are more likely to be more complete and up-to-date. You may have a credit card from a gaz station chain that gives you points or rebates and would rather use that one on your trips or hotel chain or whatever. Most of them are available.

 

[Old Baldy]

Thanks guys,
As I understand it, the extra memory does NOT buy you anything for more detailed maps. There are basically two maps for USA use with one giving a little more information but both must be small enough (in memory) to fit the TomTom with the least memory.
So if I buy a TomTom with the capability of an additional memory card, the extra memory would be for other uses such as music, photos, and movies. I would assume the extra memory may have some secondary mapping uses such as for more favorites or POIs or itenariries (sic)? Is this true?
Does anyone know the size of the latest two maps for the USA?

No, some versions of the maps will not fit TomTom models with the least memory.

You can easily check the size of each map online.

 

[shiflerg]

My Go730 arrived yesterday.
For future enqueries, I will start new threads.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[Smokiewolf]

My Go730 arrived yesterday.
For future enqueries, I will start new threads.
Thanks for all the help.

I think you made the right choice!