The Tom Tom One 3rd Edition is one of the most popular GPS systems out there. I’ve been shopping around for a new GPS for awhile, and after looking at some pricier systems I finally decided to go with the Tom Tom One which is fairly inexpensive. This is my first GPS so I wanted to find something that was fairly simple and straightforward.

Installation

Overall installation was a lot easier than I expected. You unpack the Tom Tom and its ready to go right out of the box. When you first start the device up, you have to choose a few settings, but it then acquires a GPS signal and you can see your location pinpointed on the map.

Installing the Tom Tom in my car was very easy and took about 5 minutes. The device comes with a mount that has a suction cup at the end. You attach this to the inside of your windshield above your dashboard so you can see the device while driving with minimum distraction. A car charger is also included, and the Tom Tom has a built in lithium ion rechargeable battery. One thing I have found is that once the battery runs out it does take a long time to fully recharge. This isn’t really a problem unless you are actually walking around with the Tom Tom since you can always use it while in the car thanks to the car adapter / charger.

Using the Tom Tom

I have used the Tom Tom for a few weeks now, almost daily and haven’t run into any problems so far. The directions the GPS gives you are very straightforward and easy to follow, it has yet to make a mistake for me. The screen is bright and clear, making it easy to follow while driving, and the Tom Tom also talks so you really don’t even need to look at the screen.

When you are searching for a destination the Tom Tom tries to guess where you want to go as you type, and this ends up saving you a lot of time because you don’t have to type out the full address on the small screen.

Before buying the Tom Tom I had looked at many other GPS systems and I think that the Tom Tom has the best interface. Its very simple and to the point which I love because you set your route up in less than a minute without having a bunch of unnecessary options to select.

One feature I really love is that you can choose either “day colors” or “night colors” – which adjusts the brightness for either using the Tom Tom during the day, or for night use. At night sometimes the screen can be distracting while driving because its so bright. When you select “night colors” it makes it a lot easier on the eyes.

Updating the Tom Tom

The Tom Tom also comes with a USB cable that allows you to connect the device to your computer. This allows you to update your Tom Tom through the internet via Tom Tom Home – software that comes with your Tom Tom. When you first plug your Tom Tom in and start up Tom Tom Home you need to create an account. Once you create your account you can update the maps on your GPS, add new voices, and backup the data on your Tom Tom to your computer.

I recommend updating your Tom Tom soon after you get it setup, I found 8 updates for mine and some of my maps were already out of date. I also downloaded some cool new voices, although honestly the ones that are preloaded on the Tom Tom will do just fine for most people.

Conclusion

Overall I couldn’t be more happy with my new Tom Tom One 3rd Edition GPS. I have recommended it to all of my friends, and now half of them have one as well. After shopping around for GPS systems I decided I really didn’t need the high end features such as bluetooth and other things that some expensive systems have. If you are like me and want a simple, easy to use GPS system that will get you around for a great price, the Tom Tom One is for you.

You can buy the Tom Tom One 3rd Edition on Amazon.com.

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