The TomTom One Portable GPS

Plug the TomTom ONE portable GPS device into your car's 12V outlet and go. Or maybe not. When I started reading the reviews and the TomTom website, my enthusiasm faded quickly. The business plan for TomTom seems to be sell a barely usable device, and then make many of the features available as subscription-only services. To use some of the TomTom PLUS services you also need a mobile phone with a GPRS connection to the Internet. The TomTom ONE could turn into an expensive device.

TomTom ONE comes with the complete maps of US and Canada, which may or may not be current. When you buy a new map you use their software, TomTom HOME, to download and install the map. The TomTom map store was not working but the maps are not cheap. As an example, one reviewer listed the Western USA for $78. Updating the maps for the whole USA and Canada costs about $130.

Adding insult to injury, the TomTom runs its hardware on Linux, which saves the company from paying licensing fees. But if your home computer is running Linux, like mine is, you can't run the TomTom HOME software. I couldn't use their service if I wanted to.

If you regularly drive into areas you aren't familiar with, you hate to read maps, or if you want some hand-holding as you navigate, this could make you feel better, for a price. The TomTom ONE price varies from $120 to over $300 depending on the model and the seller, so it's worth shopping around. Several models all use the TomTom ONE name:TomTom ONE, TomTom ONE XL, TomTom ONE 3rd Edition, and the TomTom ONE XL S. Read the ads carefully to make sure you are getting what you want.

Product Features
* Pocket-size makes ONE easy to carry
* Pre-loaded maps of U.S. and Canada
* 3.5-inch touch screen with 2D or 3D display in any one of 22 languages
* Spoken turn-by-turn directions in 36 languages and 55 different voices, including celebrity voices
* Real-time traffic and weather (if you have a compatible Bluetooth phone and are paying for a GPRS connection from your mobile phone)
* 2 year warranty

Technical Details
* Memory: 32 MB RAM
* CPU: 266 MHz
* Display: 3.5-inch, 320 x 240 full TFT color LCD touchscreen
* Weight: 260 grams
* Operating temperature: 14°F to 130°F (-5 to 50°C)
This is not good. If you live in a cold climate, you may have to warm up the Tom-Tom ONE before you can find out where you are. If you live in Arizona, just putting the TomTom on the dashboard on a June afternoon may exceed its operating temperature (sun+windshield = solar collector). TomTom is a Dutch company, but that doesn't excuse their engineers for not reading the weather reports from their intended markets.
* Interface: USB This is good, because it's one less special cable to carry.
* Power supply: Built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery, accepts a 12V input
* Receiver: SiRF Star III with 20-channel all-in-view

The box contains the user manual, a CD with additional voices and the TomTom HOME software (Windows / Mac OS X 10.3 and higher) for easy content management, desktop planning and downloads. Caution: The website does not specify which version of Windows their software expects.