TomTom VIA 1505TM 5.0" GPS Navigation with Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates TomTom VIA 1505TM 5.0" GPS Navigation with Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates

Pros: I have read other reviews that said the Via was slow to aquire signal, however I did not have that issue. It was always quick to navigate and was generally pretty accurate. I never had an issue with an outdated map leading me astray and I liked the 5 inch screen.

Cons: Now for the reason I gave it two stars. The battery in this thing sucks. The first Via I bought stopped working after using it for about 8 months or so, and it wouldn't turn on. Eventually I got it to turn on, and then it just stopped working completely after a couple of weeks. I sent it in to TomTom and got a new one in the mail (btw it took about 3 weeks to get a new one). I've had this Via for the past couple of months and a couple of weeks ago this one stopped working as well. It won't even turn on at all, and there's no indication the battery is charging at all. I've left it plugged in for hours, hoping it was just a charging issue but its not working. Also, battery life (when it was working) wasn't all that great either. At most, it only lasted a couple of hours. A friend of mine had a low end Garmin that last twice as long. Lastly, the traffic is slow to update and is often inaccurate.

Other Thoughts: I read all the reviews about this product before purchase, and although there were a lot of complaints about the battery I felt as though I wouldn't have that issue. Well I did, and now I regret buying it. I should have went with my gut and bought a Garmin. That's what I'll be turning to now in the near future.

Pros: Gets there (usually) and live traffic is nice.

Cons: Slow to acquire signal, poor interface, has locked up and never found signal in some instances.

Lifetime map updates is misleading at best - no new maps from TomTom after 90 days and only one new map load during that time. Apparently you can get "updates" to your existing maps but that has never worked when I have tried it - call it a lie or misleading but it is not what you want either way.

Also, it seems to follow or lag behind slightly more than my other GPS. In tight New England cities you are often at the turn or turn down the alley slightly after where you should have turned due to the lag. Really annoying inside of messed up cities like Boston (which is why you want a GPS.)

Speed traps / traffic cameras are all wrong. This appears to be user submitted data and some people have figured out this is a good way to slow down traffic in their neighborhood and submit bogus reports. I have never seen any enforcement at the flagged locations. An industry wide problem rea

Other Thoughts: There are better choices out there. I had an older TomTom and stuck with them based on that device - bad decision. They seem to be stuck on celebrity voices and other bling - not focused on making a good product.

Also - really bad decision on TomTom's part - they force you to watch their product overview at least once. It comes up and asks if you want to watch even while navigating until you finally let them pitch the wonders of the product. The result is that this is not a take it out of the box and use it product. You absolutely have to take it out of the box and let them pitch stuff to you before you can use it or it will stop navigating every few minutes. This really, really messed me up when I needed it to work the first day.

DON"T PLAN TO USE THIS OUT OF THE BOX - YOU WILL GET HOSED!

Highly recommend looking elsewhere.

Pros: Good resolution and great interface.

Cons: It takes forever for the unit to acquire the GPS satelite signal. I has taken as long as 15 minutes. I have an older TomTom and a Garmin. They both find the satelite signals right away in the same areas.

The first unit I received would not register with TomTom's server for updates. I worked with TomTom support and they could not resolve the problem. During my call with them I found out New Egg is not an authorized online seller for TomTom. They would not honor the warranty. I sent the unit back to New Egg and they sent me a new one which worked. I also found out New Egg would not give me a refund. They will send a new unit, but the small print does say no refunds. Stay away from this model. There's a reason the price looks good.

Pros: It gets me where I have to go with a large and clear display and is very thin

Cons: It took 3 hours to update when first plugged into computer, takes a long time to turn on and takes 3-4 minutes to find satellite, sound at highest volume is barely loud enough to overcome road noise. Touch screen must be pushed rather than touched

Other Thoughts: I stick the mount into the cup holder on the console rather than stick to windshield . The on/off switch is in the back(not on top as my old Tom Tom) and when I try to "touch" screen it shuts off.

Pros: I like the user interface of the TomTom. I have another TomTom model and also a Garmin portable and Garmin that came in my car. The TomTom interface is much better and simplier to use. The Garmin several times would not let me input a street address I was looking for in Wash, DC as if it didn't exist. TomTom had the same street listed (I was looking for the Supreme Court). The only way the Garmin found it was going in POI. So TomTom has my vote!

Cons: My unit came on a Friday afternoon. It would not turn on. Finally I got it to power up as it should a half hour later. When I downloaded the TomTom update file it found the unit and all seemed well until I tried to activate the promo code for the updates. I keep getting an error message "Internal server error, please try later." I called TomTom support. After being on the phone more than 30 minutes the rep said I did everything right and to try it again in about 5 days. If it doesn't register then I am to call back and they will send me a new unit. So I am suppose to wait a week with a unit that will not update or register on their server? I don't think so. Newegg will be getting my call tomorrow.

Pros: Good traffic info. Excellent red light camera warning.

Cons: Takes forever to pick up gps signal. Sometimes it doesn't at all and you need to do a reset. Even when it works, it takes awhile to get it started so if you need information right away, you have a problem.
Mounting stem is part of the unit so it's bulky to carry around.

Other Thoughts: Would avoid. I've updated the software. Have reset the unit numerous times without sustained improvement in function. Had a Garmin unit before this one and it was 1000x better with no issues (was stolen).

Pros: None

Cons: Lifetime map update means the life of the support and not the life of the product. The product can last 20 years, but if they discontinue support after 1 yeaar, so goes your lifetime maps. This goes for other brands too such as Garmin.

Other Thoughts: Lifetime support is used in a really misleading manner.

Pros: Easy to use and very visually pleasing.

Cons: Window mount is built onto the device so you need to remove the suction cup from the window to take it down.

Other Thoughts: I was surprised to find it did not come with Bluetooth built in. For the price tag I expected it.

Pros: Bright display. Maps of US, Canada, and Mexico.

Cons: Biggest problem is that I can't register the lifetime map updates with TomTom. Tech support could be better... The first person barely spoke english. He told me to try registering it in a week, due to an outage. After searching online I have found that people have had similar issues all of this year. After calling them up for a second time and spending over 30 minutes on the phone the service rep finally got it registered and the map updates started downloading.
Second problem is it takes forever, between 2-5 min. to get a GPS location after turning it on.

Other Thoughts: I should have bought a Garmin but I was discouraged by the fact that the Garmin GPS's with free lifetime updates have advertisements pop up while using them.