Good,reliable basic GPS at a bargain price. Very happy with purchase. Now my wife can argue with the GPS about which way to turn instead of me!

The unit is easy to use but not full featured - it is an entry level model. The speaker evidently has been redesigned as compared to earlier models. The volume is more than sufficient and the tonal quality is what you would expect from a small speaker. On the down side, all GPS data bases have errors in them but this database seems to have many more errors on local streets that it shows as through streets but are not. I have an older Garmin unit with Garmin Mapsource data base and overall (in my opinion), Mapsource has fewer errors. I used the unit on vacation for a week in New Hampshire and it was more than adequate - data base errors not withstanding. The software version update is available free on-line and one free map database update is available within the first 30 days of ownership. The update did not address any of the errors I found in my local area of Southern New Jersey. The price was right for what you get ($146 on Amazon.com). I did not want or need the more expensive models. If the 'pricier' units use the same database, then I assume they would show the same errors.

Larry in New Jersey

We used it right away for a trip and it was great. Easy to read and voacal directions easy to follow. Highly recommended.

Mine broke (frozen after startup) 1.5 months after I bought it, right when I went on vacation. After going to www.tomtom.com/support and installing TomTom Home and following THEIR INSTRUCTIONS it still was frozen, so I called customer support and here is what they told me:

1) The instructions on their TomTom Home software is wrong - you must always turn the product off before unplugging it. They made is sound like it is my fault for following their faulty instructions "do you ever unplug your computer before turning it off". By the way - I do and it still continues to work.

2) Even after phone support the product still doesn't work, and the support person tells me that I must charge the product before use for 4 hours, and then continue to do so on a weekly basis, or this product could corrupt itself. And I should charge for exactly 4 hours - not overnight - because the battery could overheat and it would shut itself down.

This device is too fragile to be used as a portable device. It should be robust like a cell phone if it is to be used as a portable device, not become corrupt on a weekly basis.

Anyway, my device still doesn't work and they gave me the option of sending it in for repair (4 weeks) or returning it to the store I bought it at for a new one.

I have owned the tomtom ONE 130S for a few days.

**IT GETS ME TO WHERE I WANT TO GO ON THE ROAD WITH NO PROBLEMS.** No complaints about it's GPS functionality. It works GREAT.

There are 2 issues though:

1)PROBLEM and Solution! (May help out other customers for this product.)

Paragraph (2) of the amazon Product Description noted that:

"The ONE 130S adds text-to-speech to the base 130 model. This means instead of hearing "turn right in 50 feet", you'll hear, "turn right in 50 feet at Ohio Street". In our experience, this is probably the most useful step-up feature for a GPS navigator, and if your looking at the 130, we'd definitely recommend stepping up to at least the 130S."

I ordered and received a 'step up' TOMTOM ONE 130S GPS. I was unable to get the item to function as a 130S. It functioned like the described ONE 130 (not the upgraded 'S'.) It seemed as though it was the WRONG item, or something else was wrong with it.

This problem, or solution to the problem, is not mentioned in the printed instructions that are included in the box with the GPS or in the Adobe Acrobat Operating Manual available from tomtom HOME.

Solution was found on the tomtom website (www.tomtom.com) under the question/answer section:

QUESTION:

What are computer (text-to-speech) voices?

ANSWER:

((** "SAMANTHA - English US" is the ONLY computer voice included among the 130S voices. The others CANNOT read out street names! THIS IS IMPORTANT!-HawkEYE))

A computer voice, also known as text-to-speech, uses a text-to-speech program to convert written text. For example, an instruction like "Turn right", into the sound of a human voice. Your TomTom device makes use of text-to-speech technology to generate computer voices.

Computer voices can read a wide variety of things that a recorded human voice cannot, including street names. This makes spoken instructions much easier to follow.

For example, the spoken instruction using a human voice is limited to "Turn right". The computer voice will say, "Turn right, Church Street."

Among other things, computer voices can also read aloud the following:

Street numbers

Incoming text (SMS) messages

Traffic warnings

Weather information

POI alerts

Tips

2) PROBLEM NOT solved yet.

The "map update guarantee" map is too large to fit the available memory. I tried to download the 'latest' US/Canada map on three different occasions and the download failed because there isn't enough available memory.

This was one of the best purchases that I have ever made. A lot of people complained about the mounting kit and volume of the GPS. The mounting kit is better than any other mounting kit. Just put it on your window and turn it to tighten. It's rock solid. The disk they give you for the dash will not stick but that's nothing that some double stick tape will take care of. The volume of the GPS is fine. I think that people have issues because under the Volume preferences menu gives the option to "Link volume to car speed." Maybe that is where people are having problems? I really like this Tom Tom because it's small and compact. It get's the job done and at a great price. If you need more options I'd upgrade to a higher version of a Tom Tom. For a "Beginner" GPS it has all of the essentials. Points of interest, easy to use and get's me from point A to point B.

works great....next one I will get their model with text to speech...works better for me

I have no complaints with this product other than its volume. Even with the volume turned up to its highest, my husband and I both struggle to hear the directions and we are not hearing impaired. I borrowed another TomTom model from a friend for comparison and it did not have this issue. It has a different type of speaker and was very easy to hear.

For me, this is a huge issue because I am unable to negotiate unfamiliar streets, particularly when traffic is heavy and/or fast moving, while looking at the TomTom screen. I rely on the auditory directions. When I purchased my TomTom One I did not realize that the volume was an issue. Had I known this, I would have selected another model.

The TomTom 130 is a great gps unit, with being able to download other peoples points of interest to add to your own for free, ease of use, reliability, and on top of it all it's only $150 with no subscription or service fees for navigation use.

Pros- There are so many great features about the TomTom but the greatest features that I like in this unit is definitely the points of interest downloads you can find on TomTom Home for free, be warned that some may be off a little or not even there at all since they are points that people plotted and uploaded on their own and not actually the work of the TomTom company. The TomTom also recalculates a new route and displays it automatically if you missed an exit or a turn.

Cons-There are only a few minor flaws that kept me from giving it a 5 star rating first being that the sound level is weak, you can hear it just fine as long as the windows are up and the radio is off otherwise forget it, but even then I am more a visual person and the on screen route guide is great. The other being that it takes just a second or two longer than I would care to show me the next turn on the display or to recalculate a new route if you missed a turn for when you are driving through a city and need results fast, even then it's not all that slow.

I drove from Killeen, Tx all the way to Washington, DC just using my TomTom, finding places I wanted to eat and stay along the way not once looking at a map or getting stuck in traffic jams. Overall it really is one of the most useful toys you can buy and for only $150 I would gladly pay $250 for this thing if I had to.

The main reason for posting this review is to let you know that some units have problems with their sound volume. My 130 is very loud and clear. Yesterday I went with a friend to get her 130 and the sound was barely audible. We immediately returned it and the replacement was as loud and clear as mine. So after checking your volume settings, if your unit isn't loud and clear, exchange it.

Mini Review: I love my 130.

Pros: It is accurate, fast, easy to see, easy to use and small enough to carry around if so desired. I also like the fold out suction cup. No need to install some giant wobbly stick.

Cons: After a couple of weeks, the satellite detection on start up takes a long time. To fix this you connect the 130 to your PC and let the software download a file with updated satellite info (and repeat this when it slows down again). No big deal, but necessary. Also, I don't like how at busy areas (for example when multiple freeway on- and off-ramps are close together) the lanes merge into one fat yellow line (in the 3D view), making it hard to see which lane to follow. At that point you better just look at the exit number the unit displays and do your own thinking ;-)

UPDATE:

Ironically, the day after I posted this review, the online update from TomTom Home trashed my 130. When I turned it on, it behaved as if it was brand new and asked me the initial questions again (are you left handed etc). The problem was that every time it got to the point of selecting the voice, it would re-boot and start with the first question again.

There is a Backup/Restore option in TomTom home, which I will use before I connect it for updates again. Since I actually bought the extended warranty (shut up ;-) I returned it to the store and they simply replaced it with a brand new unit (which was just as loud and clear as my original unit). If it was a problem with the online update, I would hope TomTom fixes it and subsequent updates should fix the unit.