TomTom ONE 125 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by TomTom
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TomTom ONE 125 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Minor imperfections, but a great value for entry-level GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
On Christmas Eve, my wife and I were in a restaurant when my daughter called from across town. We invited her to join us and I gave explicit directions to where we were. Thirty minutes later she called back, farther from the restaurant than when she started -- she made one turn a right instead of a left. She didn't know that there was a Tomtom ONE 125 waiting for her under the Christmas tree for the following morning, but that's exactly why we got it for her!
I also bought two more for Christmas -- one for my directionally-challenged wife and one for my son, a student who earns his tuition as a pizza delivery driver. The hope was that we'd find a simple, inexpensive, reliable auto GPS that was easy to use and worthwhile to have.
The Tomtom ONE 125 fits the bill -- we've been using the three for several days now and we are VERY pleased with the performance, especially for the price we paid.
Strengths:
-- While not quite intuitive, it's very close and requires little practice to get where you're going.
-- Multiple flexible planning options make it pretty easy to figure out how to enter a destination. You can select destinations from "points of interest" such as restaurants or theaters, enter an intersection, enter a street address, or tell the unit to go directly to a saved "favorite."
-- My daughter hates interstates so she can avoid them and still get where she's going. You can select several routing options such as fastest, shortest, no interstate, etc.
-- The unit does a great job of illustrating the route and announcing turns, even increasing the lead time for turn instructions when you're traveling at higher speeds.
-- Comes completely usable as-is right out of the box, though we purchased a couple of accessories such as a dashboard bean-bag holder, a carrying case, and a house-current charger.
-- It has taken us to the requested destination successfully every single time.
-- The first time we connected it to the computer, it automatically updated the U.S. map to the most current version.
-- By signing up for "MapShare" and agreeing to send in road updates as we notice them, we got a one-year update subscription instead of the standard one-month free subscription.
-- Though it can take a couple of minutes sometimes to "find itself" when first turned on, the route calculations are amazingly fast. If you miss a turn, the unit recalculates a new routing "on the fly" and gets you back on course very quickly. I've tried to confuse it and have been unable to do so! Even pulling into a dead end results in the unit telling me to "turn around when possible and then turn right/left" to get back on track.
Minor quibbles:
-- The manual is not particularly good. The printed manual is very brief with cryptic cartoons (I couldn't figure out what the arrows meant on the mounting instruction diagram until AFTER I found out by trial and error how to rotate the suction-cup disk to stick the suction cup to the windshield. THEN the picture made sense). You also get a .pdf format manual that has more information, but is still not very well written and leaves a lot out (such as where you find the battery charge indication).
-- The aforesaid battery charge indication I found by accident -- it's on the route summary screen, so unless you have a route programmed you can't check how much juice the battery has. Not a big issue, since it lasts for a couple of hours and we normally have the unit plugged into the car's power outlet while in use.
-- Once in a while the routing can be a touch roundabout. This morning we were on a four-lane road with a median; there was a left-turn lane through the median into our destination's parking lot. The Tomtom didn't know we could cross the median, and has us routed to turn right, then turn left parallel to our original street, then go around the block to the left to come back on the original street to make a right turn into the destination. However -- that's a minor quibble -- it would have gotten us there, and if I'm in a strange town I won't mind a one-block detour if it makes my driving easier.
All in all, we've very pleased with the Tomtom. My daughter loves it and my son has cut his delivery times by avoiding wrong turns at night when street signs aren't very visible. The unit has an MSRP of about $179 but I've never seen it sold for that; normal price is usually around $130 with a frequent sales price of about $100 -- for that it's exceptionally well worth it.
We were looking for a good value in a simple, entry-level GPS, and the Tomtom ONE 125 fills the bill admirably. I'm glad we bought them, would do so again, and can highly recommend the unit to anyone who doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles.
Customer Review: This unit is BIG on safety!
Summary: 5 Stars
This unit is a no frills attached basic GPS which will take you from point A to point B. Tried a few tricks just to see how the unit performed.
Deliberate route change: The unit is extremely fast in recalculating a revised route for you if you miss a turn. The new route it calculated was the shortest and quickest. I did this test near home as I am most familiar with the area. I did the same thing while on the highway, missing the exit and letting the unit come up with a new plan to get me to the destination, Voila! It came up with a better route than I would have chosen, shortest and quickest.
Photo Enforement Camera's: The menu gives you the option to warn you about traffic camera's, I selected it and tested it. There is a new device installed near my home which it did not pick up. However, on the highway the camera is existing for some time and was picked up by the unit well before I approached it with a beeping sound and icon of traffic light. Nifty little feature. I guess the updates would pick up new camera's installed so not really a complain.
Speed limits: On the highway the changing speed limits were picked up accurately and the device started beeping, this feature is an option so can be turned off as well, but a very good feature for safe driving and if you want to avoid getting a ticket.
POI's: I did not test all but whatever I checked worked fine. The unit has the facility of editing and adding POI's also so it can be customised as per your needs.
Updating and storing addresses: Using google maps or mapquest on the computer, one can directly send the addresses to the unit with "Send to" feature. This can save a lot of time feeding the addresses in the unit initially.
Accuracy: GPS Quick fix feature is updated for accuracy so the user is advised to connect the unit atleast once a week for update (it will not update in less than 5 days). In any case it would be prudent on the part of user to regularly update the map corrections available at the website of TOMTOM. When we updated for Map corrections,15,556 was the figure.
Software update: From the moment you first connect the unit you have 30 days to update the new version of software and you can continue checking for the next 30 days if an update is available as this is the free time allotted. After 30 days are up you will not be able to update the software.
Speaker performance: I had no issues with the quality of the built-in speaker as it was clear and loud enough at 70 percent (default). I found the built-in voice choices to be way better than the additional choices available from the website. Stick to what is already installed on the unit if you are interested in extremely legible voice instructions.
Mounting: The new Easyport mounting feature is great and actually leaves no trace behind while you are away from the vehicle unlike other units which have the standard mount. It is very easy to use and does its job more than adequately.
Conclusion: Overall the unit performed better than my expectations, it has a nice screen with choice of color combinations, safety features which are user customisable, easy updates from the websites for map corrections, MapShare technology makes the unit somewhat future proof. For what you pay vis-a-vis the features you get, I would give this unit 5 stars!
A great unit to help you and your loved ones drive safely and without distractions!
Customer Review: This is a great GPS, especially for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered the Tomtom One 125 for my son for Christmas. A few days later, I got to thinking, less than $100, I'd be a fool to not get one for myself. So, I ordered mine. In the meantime, Christmas had passed and my son told me how much he was enjoying it, so I figured I should be good to go.
I've had a Garmin eTrex Legend for a long time, and have enjoyed it, and figured I would get a Garmin Nuvi when I did get one of these. But with the price I thought this would be the way to go.
Anyhow, mine arrived a few days ago and I've spent more time playing with it, than actually using it. I usually ride a motorcycle and I don't have a mount for it yet, which is why I'd not used it. But, yesterday, I finally tried it out in a car.
I used it to go to the local Lowe's. It took me there without issue. So, coming home, I decided to ignore its directions and see what happened. It was amazing. It kept trying to get me to go home with the next viable option, including at one point, telling me to make a U-turn as soon as possible. Of course, I ignored it. But, no matter what I did, it was finding a new route and directing me how to get there. Since I know the area very well, I know the routes were good.
I feel very comfortable that it will get me where I'm going when I'm not familiar with the area, which is what it should do.
One thing to remember, if you set your preferences for shortest distance, rather than quickest time, it will do that, even though your shorter distance may take substantially longer to get there. I found that out when I took it with me on a motorcycle trip on New Years Day (I kept it in my coat pocket, checking at gas stops). We stopped for gas on the way home, and I checked for a route home. The miles it said were way off from what I knew to be the distance. I thought, "something's not right here?" Aw, but Tomtom was telling me to hop on the nearby Interstate, which would take me to another Interstate to get home. But, since we were avoiding Interstates (we were doing a pleasure ride, enjoying the roads and scenery), I reset my preferences to avoid freeways. Tomtom recalculated and my distance was now what I knew it to be. Very cool.
I've read some of the negative reviews, and honestly think that many of the complaints are from folks that don't really understand either what a GPS can do, or the limitations of the base model, $100 unit.
Summary:
Likes - fast satellite acquisition
Ease of use (don't even need the instruction booklet)
Ability to add new icons (I now have a motorcycle instead of an arrow)
Ability to add new POIs
Quick GPSfix
Map corrections with Map Share
Dislikes - to be honest, at this point, nothing really bothers me with this unit.
There is also an excellent forum for Tomtom owners that I would suggest you visit if you own one of these, or are thinking about getting one:
http://www.tomtomforums.com/
Customer Review: Hurray, I finally found the perfect GPS!
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent two painful weeks with a Garmin Nuvi, and gradually watched my Mio C320's maps get more and more outdated, so I was overjoyed when I found this for $79 in Best Buy. There was a $200 version with a wider screen, but being a cheapskate I opted for the smaller model. And for once, I made a good technological decision!
Highlights, in order of excellence, are:
- The unit starts up and locks satellites in seconds - it's really fast. I live in San Francisco where the fog is a natural enemy of GPS, but little TomTom seems unfazed.
- The screen-mounting device is so elegantly simple that I'm amazed not all GPS systems work the same way. I can mount it in 3 seconds flat and it never falls off.
- The screen layout is the most intuitive of any I've seen. The map is clear, it shows speed (and speed limits), current time and estimated time, and upcoming instructions. It's also easily configurable to add traffic cameras and anything else you choose.
- Searching for points of interest is rapid and accurate. Enter SFO instead of "San Francisco Airport", or "Trader Joe's" and it finds matches in no time at all. And you can enter zip codes, city centers and intersections without getting frustrated.
- The menu navigation couldn't be easier, and even though the configuration options are extremely detailed, they're easy to find and change.
- Selecting alternative routes (if you hit traffic, etc) takes two clicks without having to reenter everything over again. It also confirms if toll roads and HOV lanes are acceptable.
- The voice is clearer and louder than other systems I've tried.
- It changes between day/nighttime colors automatically on schedule.
... and best of all...
The integration with TomTom's online features is absolutely flawless. You can add map updates from the user database of changes, meaning that the system is completely up to date whenever you plug it into a computer. There's also some free maps (such as traffic cameras) which you can download and install in seconds. This feature alone makes it worth $79, since there's no waiting for manufacturer updates or paying for new maps.
Overall, I don't see how this system could be any better, especially for the price. The user interface beats every other system hands down (reminiscent of when I started using Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer). I now understand why TomTom has such a loyal user base - buy one today!
PS - I'm not sure what the complaints are around multiple destinations since I entered several en-route to Los Angeles and had no issues here.
PPS - The integrated GPS in the Chevy Tahoe is a model example of how *not* to build a GPS system, in case you're interested.
Customer Review: Excellent value for the money
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me tell you how I came to buy this: a few months ago in Europe I was driving with my sister (who lives in Belgium, where I am from originally), and I was really impressed by her TomTom (not this model). So I bought this as a Christmas gift to my son and another one for myself when I saw this particular model for incredible price of just $99, it was just too good to resist. I have had it now for not even 2 weeks, and I am absolutely enthused by the TomTom One 125.
I have to be honest that it took me a while to figure out how to actually mount this on my car (I actually had to go to the TomTom website to see a video on how to do it, the instruction booklet was terribly confusing). But once I had it installed, it worked like a charm. I am very impressed by all of the features that come with this rock-bottom price GPS. I have tried it out in a bunch of different situations, and I haven't been disappointed a single time. One of the things that REALLY impressed me is that this device somehow picks up when the speed limitation changes on the highway. Driving on I-71 in Cincinnati, the speed limit changes from 55 to 65 as you get into the suburbs, and within seconds, the TomTom reflects it, wow. Fun features include the different voices that you can choose from (I've settled on one of the British female voices, just fun). The fact that the voice on this model does not call out street names (which more sophisticated GPS models do) does not bother me.
While I haven't done so yet, you can further load additional features from the TomTom website on this device (not sure how expensive that is, if at all). I've read a number of the reviews here, including the negative ones, which I just don't get. For the price that I paid, I feel I absolutely got my money's worth, and then some. I realize that there are many more "top of the line' GPS devices out there (for a lot more money), but I wasn't interested in paying a lot of money for a GPS device. At $99, this will greatly satisfy many people looking for a GPS device.