|
Reviewed by UK Guest, 25th May 2007. |
| Review Summary: OK but don't stake your life on it. |
Overall Score: 3/5
 
|
Review: After the initial problem of there being no SD Card with the Tom Tom Go 710 Europe (so no maps or software)in the sealed box the unit was up and running in minutes of actually obtaing the memory card.
Then we find that the subsequently supplied map is already out of date and TomTom want a bucket full of cash to make it current. The attitude from customer support was 'That's what you bought, live with it'.
So far I've used it three times in anger; journeys when I really didn't know where I was going. It only sent me the wrong way once and got me back on track very quickly. However having played with my new toy on journeys I know well, I'm very glad I wasn't relying on it. My 710 thinks that a road in St Helens that has been in place for at least 6 months is still a field and won't use the West Ilsley junction onto the A34 despite it being shown on the screen.
The worst error I have found, however, is that it can't seem to cope with situations where A & B roads cross each other via bridges. It assumes that there are junctions. This has happened to me both in Runcorn and on the East Lancs Road where roads cross over, under, or as in one case where the side road is a cul-de-sac ending at the fence, the main road.
A final shortfall is that there doesn't appear to be any way of avoiding traffic 'black spots'. The 'Avoid Road Block' only works for the already plotted route immediately ahead and the 'Avoid Part Of Route' feature only avoids whole sections which, on a long run, could mean the whole length of a motorway.
On the plus side, the tracking is excellent as are the graphics and the clarity of the spoken instructions. The menus are clear and easy to navigate and the hands free works well.
In conclusion, a useful piece of kit but don't bother tech support 'cos they can't be bothered and don't dispose of the maps just yet. |
Ratings
| Value For Money: |
|
3 |
| Review Score: |
|
3 |
| Recommended? | |
No |
|
|
Car Accessories