Product Review: The TomTom ONE 140-S GPS Navigator

The TomTom ONE 140-S GPS Navigator is a relatively inexpensive GPS that may be purchased for under $200, and sometimes even under $100. It has the standard features of many GPS electronics, such as an interface screen, electronic voice directions, and preloaded maps. In the case of the TomTom ONE 140-S, the device is very easy to use, and is ready to work out of the box. Even if you do not go through the online activation of this TomTom, it will still pull up maps and provide directions.

The design of the TomTom ONE 140-S includes the typical 3.5 inch QVGA screen, which is sufficient for viewing but a bit difficult to use when typing in addresses or place names. Navigation-wise, the TomTom is quite accurate, with map positions and distances coming up quickly on the program. Of course, higher-priced models will usually provide the information even faster, but for me at least, it really doesn't matter if I'm waiting 25 seconds versus 45 seconds for a map display.

Two features of the TomTom ONE 140-S that make it useful over its lifetime are the IQ Routes™ and Map Share™ features. IQ Routes™ plans the best possible route for you by taking into account the average speeds of roads. This is extremely useful if you need to be somewhere by a certain hour. Incidentally, during the planning of your route, you may also input just when you need to arrive at a certain destination. Map Share™ is a feature that relies on user contributions. Users can block and unblock streets, change the traffic direction of one-way streets, and add or change street names. By connecting the GPS to the Internet, you can also download the traffic updates noted by other members of the TomTom Map Share™ community.

Another nice feature of this TomTom is its advanced lane guidance. In essence, the software program will outline complex interchanges and highways, denoting how far away a given exit is located until it is crossed. Lane information is highlighted and shown in greater detail. The program will also provide big arrows for road turns, showing you just where you need to turn. This helps reduce wrong lane turns, or turns made too early or too late.

The "S" of the 140-S model means that this TomTom is also equipped with Text-to-Phone capability. This is a feature not usually seen on lower-end models like the 140. Text-to-Phone capability allows you to pick navigation voices with accents such as French and Spanish. Celebrity voices can be downloaded for free and used on the GPS.

The only big detraction from the TomTom ONE 140-S is that you cannot input business addresses and prompt the program to find them. While the program has a function for finding house addresses through direct input, businesses can be found through only one of two ways: by either inputting the business street and cross street, or by finding the business as a pre-programmed point-of-interest. This is fine if you know what cross street is located by the actual business, or if the business is so popular and so established that it is now a point-of-interest. However, if you are equipped with only the address of the business, you will not find it.