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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Tomtom Go 300 GPS Portable Car Navigator
PCWorld Rating, March 22, 2006
5 User Reviews Add your own »
$90.00 - $579.99
From 3 Vendors
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- Lab Tested
- How We Test GPS »
Pros
Great design, extensive features
Cons
Expensive, annoying business lookups
TomTom Go 300
Go 300 GPS Portable Car Navigator Review, by Tracey Capen March 27, 2006
Our top pick in our recent roundup of GPS devices, TomTom's Go 300, is an impressive package, from its extensive features to its smooth and streamlined maps and menus. At around $600, it's also pricey for an SD Card-based unit--though its built-in Bluetooth may account for part of the higher cost. With a Bluetooth-equipped GSM/GPRS cell phone for connecting to the Internet, the Go 300 can download traffic and weather reports and other data (including comic voices for directions). These TomTom Plus services are free now, but they'll be offered by subscription beginning in 2007, the company says.
TomTom's maps are cleanly designed, the menu system is easy to use, and the unit is replete with extras such as the ability to tie speaker volume to your car's speed. Other pluses are a robust, flexible mounting bracket and a built-in help system.
One annoyance involved searching for points of interest: I couldn't look up a local Home Depot by simply typing in the business name. I had to input the category and go through a long and frustrating search. Fortunately, as you choose a category or address field (such as city or street), the Go 300's dynamic menus display recent entries or selections for that field, which can speed things up.
As a real-time navigator, the Go 300 is capable but not perfect. It delivered turn-by-turn prompts clearly and quickly, but also routed me along a slow path through town in my streets-and-highway test.
Slick design and good performance make the Go 300 a slam dunk, especially if you have a Bluetooth phone and are willing to pay for up-to-date traffic and other information--but local business lookups can be irritating.
Tracey Capen
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: andritt
Strengths: Easy to use, reasonably user friendly
Weaknesses: Outdated maps
Overall: We just bought our Tomtom only to find that the maps for our area (Central Virginia)are out of date by at least 14 months. A new expressway that opened 14 months ago is not reflected. As a result, all of the directions toward the city where we do our major shopping, go to the doctor, etc. would have us going by an old much more time-consuming route. The manufacturer claims they are about to issue new maps but these(1)will be priced, in a special introductory offer yet, at $50 plus S&H and (2) will be available on DVD only (our computers have CD drives only). I can't quite get my mind around having to pay for updating a brand-new product and, at that, having to scrounge around to find someone with a computer that has a DVD drive. As a result, our Tomtom is at this very moment on its way back to where we bought it. Bottomline: looks like a decent product if you don't care how long it takes you to get to where you are headed.
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Reviewed by: gr8appraiser
Strengths: Ease of Use
Weaknesses: Very Outdated Maps
Overall: Although I was very happy when I purchased this unit, I have to say it is dated by now and Tom Tom is not doing anything about updating the maps. Main Roads in NYC are called unnamed roads. As far as I remember the Harlem River Drive is around a good couple of years and should not be an unnamed Road. Developements built 5 years ago in central NJ do not show up on this unit. When I complained to Tom Tom via their support on the net there was no response. Would not buy again
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Reviewed by: stumptowngeek
Strengths: Quick destination entry, good screen when not in glare
Weaknesses: It's either all of Canada or all of US, never any combination. No backup of US map provided. Screen susceptible to glare.
Overall: I'm a short drive from Canada but several days drive from the eastern half of the US. So why doesn't this GPS allow me to have all the maps for a day drive between the US and Canada but insists on me having the maps for states or provinces that are five days drive away from me? Yes, you get the US preloaded on the SD and Canada available on the CD, but you have to swap one for the other (don't forget to save the US map first - TomTom doesn't bother to provide a CD backup!) and can't have appropriate parts of both loaded at once. If you live near the US/Canada border I strongly recommend against this GPS.
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Reviewed by: rc3550
Strengths: Very detailed maps, clear voice instructions and easy to use.
Weaknesses: Locating a point of interest such as finding a COSTCO isn't as easy as it should be.
Overall: I have had my Tom Tom 300 for a month now. I just completed a 5 state driving vacation. The Tom Tom worked great. Finding back roads in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado was a breeze. Even places that were way off the beaten path were a breeze to locate. The talking directions worked great. Most of the time, you didn't have to even look at the unit. My only complaint was that at times the sun washed out the screen and locating points of interest if they aren't one of the main types listed took a little time. I would strongly recommend buying this unit or it's upgrade the 510 when it comes out next month.
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Reviewed by: robinpineda
Strengths: Easy to use, helpful voice instructions, portable and fast charging.
Weaknesses: Not updated on new roads and route. Difficult to secure on the dock. Takes time for GPS location.
Overall: I love this Tom Tom. I got this version cause its cheaper and I don't need to additional options. I use it for my homecare, just type in the address and your on your way. I never leave home wihtout it. More helpful on giving alternative routes. I had an interview one time, it was traffic. It gave me a new faster route, finally got there.Downside is the difficulty for docking and time to reset on location.Other than that, the best. My friend got his Garmin streetpilot and he needed to return it back cause of problems.
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