TomTom Navigator 6 (Maps and Software)

Summary: The TOMTOM Product has been around for a long time and I expected a polished product. I recently purchased a smart phone, and decided not to buy the built-in Navigation ...

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Summary: The TOMTOM Product has been around for a long time and I expected a polished product. I recently purchased a smart phone, and decided not to buy the built-in Navigation System in a new car I purchased, with the idea that for about $500 I not only could combine my cell/pda/pager, but also get a portable Nav device that went with me, vs a $1300 system that stayed in only one vehical. After picking the MDA from T-Mobile and a Sony SIRF Bluetooth GPS, I picked the TOMTOM as the software. I have been aware of the TOMTOM Product from other MINI Owners, and expected a qualty product. I am a Professional Software Developer, and have over 4 years experience with Nav Systems from Laptop through the built ins. experienced Navigation System user with over 4 years experience, having come most recently from a NAVTEQ based product.

Installation was adeqaute, and no major problems were encountered, except it wanted me to install the product code twice and when it asked if I wanted automatic install even though I was connected to a wireless system with full internet access, it couldn't connect to their servers, and I had to do manual authorization. Manual is a two step process where by you give a unique product code and go online to a sever which then give you an acces code to renter back into your device. The packaging of the software was very nice with credit card sized pastic card with the product code on it, very professional and cool. Its a great idea too since I had to go through the process twice, once in my kitchen and another in the car away from home -- it should only have to be performed once.

The TOMTOM Home software give you many choices for which maps to load,l voices, and even sat maps...Wow I think, these guys have the right idea...later to find out it's poorly executed. For example, I put a brand new 2GB SD card in the MDA, and tried to load the everything Map (at 1.3 GB) and the software told me I could as that wasn't supported. nut it alloowed me to load all US & Canada (900+ MB) to the card. I loaded both Sat maps, as I had the room, so it can load above 1GB, but just not the map, if it wasn't available, the choice should have been greyed out not letting me make the choice and then telling me it can't provide it. Download tyakes several hours via ActiveSync, its much faster to use a card reader. For about $150 they should get it right....

The maps compared to NAVTEC are really crude, and do not show much geosensitive information. I cross a major river valley very often and it just show a wide river, while the detail in the NAVTEQ Map shows islands and a lot of useful TOPOgraphic info, if you want to use the thing for hiking/biking. It also does not give you altitude in MSL even though its in the GPS message, again usefull for hiking. Zooming out to the Sattelite maps, by the time they engaged, the topo information was useless. I also write rallies for the local car clubs around here, and use the Nav system to find the "good roads." The lack of real topo info (as compared to the minimum of the NAVTEC system) just doesn't lend itself to that use. The screen graphics are very crude, and while usable, I expected better quality.

I had a couple of small issues, so I went to the web site, registered, and poured through the FAQ's. No help so I sent the a question via their web site. So far they havent even picked them up AFAIK, and its been a week. I called their support line and get a really long Voice Mail from hell intro a,d then when I select number 3 for Navigator 6 issues it send me to a phone company intercept saying the number is not in service. If you try any other choices, to talk to a real person -- you can't. I have been trying for a week and a half and no one answers the phone.

Overall conclusion, for a retail price at the top the software has great design ideas, but poor execution and abysimal customer support. Save your money and buy another brand like the Oddesy. Why pay for top doolar for an barely adequate product? If they offered great support it still would be worth it, but this non-existing service is worse that an offshore call center, where if its not in their book they can't help you. Its obvious they have been sitting on their old reputation, and not improvingthe product -- but they charge for it. I will use it since I paid for it, but when I need a map upgrade (yearly) I will choose another product.

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Summary: I purchased Tomtom Navigator many years ago, and used it on a standalone Palm device. When I switched to a Treo 650, I installed the software, and had some luck ...

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Summary: I purchased Tomtom Navigator many years ago, and used it on a standalone Palm device. When I switched to a Treo 650, I installed the software, and had some luck using it, but the maps were woefully out of date. I called Tomtom's support lines, and after much pain, discovered they had a new version coming out, with new maps, that would work on the phone I anticipated switching to when my contract was up, a Treo 680.

So, I purchased the upgrade, and waited, without any GPS software, because version 5 was outdated, and I was told the version 6 would be so much better, etc.

My new phone came in yesterday. I installed Tomtom, and....

It's not compatible with the 680. It's only compatible with older Palm devices. Wow, how intelligent on the part of Tomtom. I've opened a case, but of course, they say they are way way behind in answering cases, so it'll be a while before they can get back to me.

At this point, I'm on the hunt for another gps solution, because I've spent a lot of money with Tomtom, and they don't seem to be able to supply software that actually works with any device on the market. Nor are they able to supply any sort of support.

This software shows much promise. But, in the end, Tomtom hasn't done anything to live up to that promise.

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Summary: If you do not already know how to use the TOMTOM product you want , do not buy it thinking you will know. I bought the TOMTOM 520Go in Europe. I ...

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Summary: If you do not already know how to use the TOMTOM product you want , do not buy it thinking you will know. I bought the TOMTOM 520Go in Europe. I came home and called their support and they said, basically, tough luck, we don't make it in the US, so it is not our problem.

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Summary: I installed this and went on a 60 mile trip and it performed flawlessly. Maps were accurate and route was direct. 3D display is very good even on a Treo ...

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Summary: I installed this and went on a 60 mile trip and it performed flawlessly. Maps were accurate and route was direct. 3D display is very good even on a Treo screen. Set up took about half an hour using a previously installed BT GPS reciever. Just highlighted the port and Tom Tom recognized it easily. No text to speach was disappointing. Also, final destinations always seem to off by one house. Everything else is very accurate so I chalk it up to a bug.

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Summary: Mapping is clear and easy to follow. Can change colours, etc. Many different voices available. Software is reasonably easy to use, but could be better. One annoyance: once you arrive ...

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Summary: Mapping is clear and easy to follow. Can change colours, etc. Many different voices available. Software is reasonably easy to use, but could be better. One annoyance: once you arrive at your destination, it does not automatically clear the route. So the next time you run the app, it calculates a route to the last place you went to. Maps are badly out of date - at least four years. Telephone support is not bad, but TomTom does not appear to respond to email or online inquiries at all. Two inquiries about the maps being out of date went without response.

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