Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Best $130 I Ever Spent...

I normally don't recommend stuff on my blog but I feel compelled to for this great item. I bought a TomTom XXL 540TM 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Lifetime Traffic & Maps Edition) on Black Friday weekend after this past Thanksgiving and I have to say that this was the best money I've spent in a looooonnnnnnnng time. I got it at Staples (on their Black Friday sale which I saw in the sunday paper) and it only cost me $130 on sale. They retail it for $250 at most places, though you can find it cheaper online, but $130 was the best price around here at the time and it's one of the most popular TomTom GPS devices bought today.

It's incredibly easy to use and I had it up and working rather fast right out of the box. I downloaded the software and plugged it into my computer so I could download the current set of maps that it has and this TomTom version has FREE lifetime support for new maps, which is great since the roads in this country can change up to 40% per year. It's been a big help to me driving to different events recently and has made my life easier and less stressful as I used to hold printed out directions from MapQuest, which were sometimes faulty. The problem was constantly looking down and reading the directions, which was especially tricky at night when it's hard to see in the dark. I have mine stuck on the windshield next to the rearview mirror so it's pretty much in front of me but doesn't obstruct my view of traffic. I shall sing the high praises for this new gadget in my life! I've used it at night while driving back from some places and it's fantastic with it's night vision look. Just follow the red arrow. Greatest invention since the iPod in my mind! This is the TomTom product that I would recommend to anyone if they want to get to where they are going to in a fast and safer manner.
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The only other thing I could say is that after you take it out of the box and want to start using it, try driving around town locally using it and see how it works and how it directs you on the roads that you know. Program some favorite places that you go to and then go driving. Deviate from its planned path several times and see how it replans and corrects itself so you get to see how works first hand. It's really quite amazing to see. I say this as you don't want to open up the box and plug it in and drive to Florida without knowing how it works. It is pretty easy to use but you have to learn what little icons are when they pop up for gas stations, phones, etc. I give it 5 stars out of 5!

2 comments:

Bill White said...

I agree with you 100%, Scott! We have the same device and it is amazing.

We took a trip to Albany, NY last Fall, and as we drove I was counting all the various points where, without "Dave" (as we named our device) we would have made a wrong turn and gotten hopelessly lost. It was a lot.

Viva Technology!

SNeelyArt said...

Even cooler, Bill, is that I downloaded Burt Reynolds' voice to guide me on my way! I got the Bandit riding shotgun!

I also downloaded K.I.T.T.'s voice as well. It just said "buy me" so I had to...