Garmin vs Tom Tom

TOMTOM is like taking a step backwards IMO. Garmin is always what I've used. Used a TOMTOM once, and hated it, not very user friendly. That was a couple of years ago. Good luck with your choice.

I chose TomTom over Garmin for some of the same reasons posted by Fluxuated...go figure!

No one can really help you make up your mind. To me it's simply a matter of choosing which GPS unit you are more comfortable with using and like.

ML

Sorry never had a TOM TOM. On my 4th Garmin and never had a problem with them. Good luck with your choice.

From your description I have to doubt your objectivity. Was it that the TomTom was "not very user friendly, or was it just not what you were used to?

Here's another thing to think about.

If as time goes on, you have questions regarding the GPS device you decide to keep, which POI Factory forum would you rather have available to help you:

Garmin: 12,394 topics, 147,495 messages, last message posted 40 seconds ago,

or

Tom Tom: 455 topics, 3,100 messages, last message posted 1 day 18 hours ago?

POI Factory is de facto Garmin-centric. I don't think the admins necessarily intended it, but that's the way it turned out.

There are other places to go for TomTom support. I know, because I'm starting to hang out there more often.

Each of the manufacturers have their strong points. For comparison purposes be certain you select two units having roughly the same feature set in order to do a fair comparison. The user interface is different between manufacturers as well as the source data for maps. This difference will result in some differences as far as routing from your current position to the destination. The nomenclature between the manufacturers is different for roughly the same feature, so you need to take that into account as well.

So while a lot of people will give you their opinion, it ends up being your choice. Do your due diligence in comparisons between similar units and then use the advice from users to help with the final decision.

I hate to break it to you, but POI Factory is not the only GPS-related web site on the Internet. There are excellent web sites oriented toward both Garmin and TomTom.

Personally, I think that this web site is the best one I have found for POI files, but it is not where I go for more in-depth general discussion of my TomTom devices. (It is also not where I would go for in-depth general discussion of Garmin devices if I had one.)

That is not intended as criticism, because every web site that I have seen has its own strengths and its own relative weaknesses. The TomTom-oriented web site that I frequent the most is excellent in many areas, but has relatively poor POI files.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I do not have the TomTom 1605, but I believe that it is very similar to my 1535 in the way it works. If that is correct, you should be able to turn off the alerts on adjacent streets if you are using the Redlight Cameras POI file from here - which I think is better than the one supplied by TomTom.

On my device, this would be done by tapping:
Settings-->Manage POIs-->Warn when near POI-->Redlight-Cameras (or whatever you named it). When you work your way through the various options associated with the Redlight-Camera POI, the last screen has a check box for "Warn only when POI is on route". Check that box and I think your concerns should be addressed.

BTW, as you may already know, this is also the way that you would change the alert distance for the cameras - or any other category of POI. For example, I have the "Rest Areas" POI set to signal an alert MUCH further away than the Red Light Camera POI.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I have to admit I am a Garmin fan

I have a nuvi 2455, when I first purchased I played with other English speaking counties settings, the thing I noticed was that Europe, and United Kingdom has an audible alert for driving over the speed limit, the only pain for me were the other things like using a different currency, the colors on the screen were also different, there were other small changes also.

Why can't Garmin put this into our location?

I have a C530 that works great still; I had a 750 that was a step backwards IMHO and then a 1490 that was a total POS. I switched over to TT with the purchase of the 340 and now have that and a 540 and two 1605s in the family, could not be happier. The only real beef I have with the 1605 is MyTT is bad compared to TTHome...Garmin lost me for good with the 1490...and, for some reason, their routing algorithms have become so backwards the units are seemingly retarded now.

If you want to put it like that, EVERYTHING is user friendly. Why nitpick? Just because I found it to be, doesn't mean everyone will. I simply stated my opinion. Garmin VS TomTom is a Coke VS Pepsi debate. I stated my preference.

to learn the TT world. For me, it was worth it...the routing is just plain better 95% of the time...the graphics are now adequate...and none of my TTs (knock on wood) has been near the headache the 1490 was/is. I still use the 1490 in my car as it works and I cannot abide wasting money...but the motorcycle, pickup and my GF's van and box truck are all TT now and I won't look back.

If you think that MyTomTom is bad now, you should have seen it a year and a half ago. It still has a long ways to go to get where I think it should be, but at least they are (slowly!) moving MyTomTom in that direction.

The loss of Microsoft's lawsuit against them caused the switch from TomTom HOME2 to MyTomTom. They started from scratch with MyTomTom and it really showed. I don't know if it is true, but I have heard that they outsourced the programming of MyTomTom, and I can certainly believe that the people assigned to that project had never worked on anything like it in the past - based upon the results.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I have nothing but praise for the Garmin Customer Support team. They have helped me several times to my total satisfaction. Never had a Tom Tom so can't really compare but I would personally hesitate going with Tom Tom based on my experiences with Garmin.

Garmin

I have used Garmin for several years, I have 104 favorites. I ride in Florida and used my Garmin all the time. I just purchased XXL540TM last week and am unable to load favorites and get TM working. Can you help Me?

I just need someone to tell me just how the TT works.

thank-you!!

start here.
http://download.tomtom.com/open/manuals/xxl/refman/TomTom-ON...

Garmin all the way!

the tomtom has a limit of favorites you can have and it's quite a bit smaller than 104.

Garmin

330 then 530 then 760 and, finally, 1490 (which I still use but hate)...there are two truths in my world, first, Garmin graphics remain the benchmark, they are great...second, great graphics do not overcome nearly universal failure on every other level...I have found the TTs (340, 540, 1605) are much easier to update and the directions used are nearly always the routing I would choose (tested repeatedly in my local area)...the need to use an SD card to have enough room to update maps on the Garmin is just plain wrong...if they can fit a 2 gb drive they can fit a 16 gb drive...likewise the absolutely horrific directions given by Garmin make it untrustworthy.

TT is not more difficult to use than Garmin...it is different and does take some getting used to...so what? Technology changes all the time...phones, TVs, crockpots are all different now...humans should be able to adapt.

Oh and TT customer service is first rate...at least as good as Garmin...that is based on personal experience with both.

****just wanted to update my prior post having used the TTs for a while now****

Different strokes for different folks, but I prefer to limit my favorites file to only a couple of screens of names, as I really don't have dozens and dozens of *frequently used* locations.

I put the less commonly used locations into my POI files, where it can actually be quicker to access them than would be the case with a huge Favorites file.

YMMV

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I'd have to vote for Garmin. I recently took a road trip with some friends and they own a TT. I'm not sure what model they had but the tracking seemed to be a bit behind. Also, there were a few times where there was a fork in the road and the TT refused to say anything about which direction to take so you had to rely on looking at the screen to figure it out.

Lastly, this is more of a preference but I felt the interface was very unintuitive. The first thing I asked my friends was how to change the volume as there is no indication anywhere on the screen on how to do this. How are you supposed to know to tap the bottom left pane to change the volume if there's no volume icon?

the volume on a Garmin? Read the manual comes to mind...I know, I know...not a guy thing...

I have to agree, when I am in a route or just have the Garmin on, I have to back up into the opening page to change the volume. There is no volume icon visible on the screen.

I selected the Garmin over the other brands because of

1. the positive reviews of the Garmin vs. the other brands

and

2. for someone relatively new to the GPS world, there appears to be significantly more information and resources for the Garmin

On the tomtom. I was talking about how intuitive the interface is, not the fact that you can do it or not. It's not intuitive at all to press some random pane in the bottom left to change the volume.

The spot on the TomTom that shows you your speed and speed limit is where you touch to change the volume which I don't find intuitive. There should be a volume icon somewhere there to indicate that.

At least the Garmin stays consistent that you have to go back to the menu to change the volume. I do set mine to show the mute button so I can quickly mute the volume when needed(which is usually the only reason I want to change the volume any way)

I love Garmin. I think they are the best

I have a Garmin and my brother in law has a Tom Tom. I tried it out the other day and to be honest, I really like my Garmin better.

It makes no sense to have an audible alert when the accuracy of the GPS speed limit is marginal at best.

Mine displays 55 when the signs post 65, and sometimes 35 when the signs post 30.

Suggest you rely on the speed limit signs rather than your GPS.