Tomtom Via 1505m 5-Inch Portable Gps Navigator With Lifetime Maps
TomTom VIA 1505M 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps
- Get over 1 million more miles of mapped roads in the US
- Stay up-to-date on road changes with Free Lifetime Map Updates
- Navigate with ease using premium maps of the US, Canada & Mexico
- Travel in style with the new, slim design and integrated Fold and Go EasyPort Mount
- Plan routes easily with smarter user interface on a bright 5-inch touchscreen
Buy Now : TomTom VIA 1505M 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps
Brand : TomTom
Category : Automotive,Motorcycle & Powersports,Accessories,Electronics,GPS Units
Rating : 4.1
ListPrice : US $169.99
Price : US $139.99
Review Count : 679
ChildASIN : B004MYFTEW
TomTom VIA 1505M 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps
- I come from the UK and wanted a GPS for trips to both the USA and Canada. I chose this model because for a bargain price it offered maps of the whole of North America, including the promise of free updates. Having read about other people\'s experiences in updating the maps I decided to use the GPS straight from the box. The installed maps were only a few months out of date and I planned to update them back in the UK ready for a second trip to the States in the Spring.The Via 1505M exceeded my expectations. It does take a little while to locate satellites but always managed to do so by the time I had input my destination. The user interface is very intuitive, the screen is clear except in direct sunlight and the vocal directions are clear and audible. It saved me the cost of obtaining a lot of separate paper maps. It was pretty good at identifying points of interest including a range of stores and restaurants. Not all the information is accurate: it was defeated by one-way streets in Brooklyn; speed limits are not always accurately recorded and the camera warnings may not always be right. However, I was not looking for perfection. In my experience you should not take a GPS too literally. They are very good driving aids but they aren\'t a substitute for common sense.Bearing in mind other reviewers\' reports, I approached the map update with trepidation. I downloaded and installed the My TomTom software without difficulty on a Windows XP PC. I use the Firefox browser and cannot vouch for the reliability of other browsers. The TomTom system recognised that my ISP was in the UK but it was easy to change my country to the USA. As it happens I doubt whether this makes any difference because the system appears to identify the individual GPS. I registered without difficulty and input the lifetime maps code, which the system accepted. I started the download. This was scheduled to take about 2 hours with a visible countdown of progress and time. I assumed that the download would be a separate operation from the install and update. I left the PC running. When I returned the download had stopped; there seemed to be nothing in the cache and nothing to install. The GPS appeared to be unchanged. I tried again. The download time was substantially reduced - to about 80 minutes. In fact, it would seem that the download and installation are a seamless and continuous process with little scope for user intervention. The user\'s role is limited to making sure that the computer and GPS are switched on throughout. Glitches seem inevitable. However, my second attempt was successful. The GPS screen defaulted to my \"home address\" in the USA rather than my last destination, which it had been showing before the update started. I can\'t be certain that the GPS is functioning normally until I return to the US later in the year. However, all does seem to be well.The only significant disappointment with this GPS is that it is not possible to back up the maps or to install any others e.g. maps of Europe. These functions are in the pipeline apparently, but are not available now. If you buy this GPS make sure that it has the maps you need. For the time being you will not be able to change them.Amazon\'s delivery service was as good as ever.
- I bought this VIA 1505M to replace a 5 year old TomTom Go 720 that finally died. The Go 720 was very good at navigation, but the battery life was atrocious (< 20 min.). I am very happy that TomTom has gone to the micro USB connector, like most other devices I have.This has a much larger screen, and the navigation is downright excellent. Recalculation is transparent and very, very fast. The settings menus are much better and the unit is more configurable. I don\'t have a single complaint on it as a navigation device...This is the lower featured model (no Bluetooth, no SD card, and no voice command), but I found I didn\'t use them on my GO, so I skipped the VIA 1535 which has them.Battery life is about 90 minutes, which, given the large screen, I regard as fine.There are two issues that demote it to 4 stars, for me.1) The MyTomTom updating mechanism is not yet fully supported for this model. At this point (Oct 2011), it\'s adequate. I look forward to full functionality...2) The mounting system is problematic for me. I don\'t like it not being quickly detachable, and I don\'t like windshield mounting (my windshield is too far away). The simple stick on plastic disc does not work well in my Chevy Avalanche, as there is no flat place on the dash in any convenient location; and the disc neither sticks well without great effort, nor stays flat for very long if it does stick; then the suction cup will no longer stick to the flat surface... I have an Arkon mount (from my Go 720) that allows me to hang the unit just over the edge of my dash that positions it perfectly, but I can\'t find an adapter plate for the Via\'s unique mounting system... I\'ll keep looking, and edit this review if one becomes available.Update: I bought one of the Bracketron Nav-Mat II Ultra Thin Dash Mount mats. It works superbly, and I could then use the TomTom stuck to the mat on the dash. Much better, but it still left the TomTom in a position where the sunlight through the windshield would sometimes fall on the screen, making it difficult to see.Then I hit on the idea of gorilla gluing the plastic disc that came with the TomTom to the old ARKON adapter plate for the TomTom GO, and sticking the VIA suction cup to that... Works fine, and now my TomTom is quickly detachable and hangs over the edge of the dash, just where I want it! It does look a little Rube Goldberg, but until ARKON comes up with the right adapter plate for the VIA, it will do me fine. :D
- i have read the negative reviews. i have not encountered serious malfunction yet. the first thing i did was to hook up the tomtom to the computer follow the protocols. update took 6 hours due to slow internet the very large date set. loading the tomtom took 50 minutes. no problems encountered. have used the tomtom on several trips and was surprised to learn that several of my routes were chosen by tomtom. my google maps and defunct garvin did not like my routes.the most annoying thing is that the tomtom keeps talking telling me to keep on the road as we approach a potential transition. it doesn\'t know the way home because i live in a senior community with weird address numbering - residences are numbered in the order that they were completed. so my address is 900 and across the street the residence is 500.the graphics are good but not strong in bright ambient light. travel path graphics are an improvement over my garmin with better lane travel indicators at decision points. voice instructions are clear and well timed. i like the feature that tell you what you do after the turn \"turn right at XXXXX the left at XXX\" data displayed are helpul. Menuing structure is a bit complex but makes sense. it would help if an operating manual was offered. i made sure i had trial and error time before i actually used it. accessing gps was slower, but i can start with my cell phone gps if necessary.the touch screen has a slight delay which is not a problem for me. my phone is over sensitive and more error prone. i did not give it 5 stars as it did not wow me. it is a good gps, not exceptional. a good price with good value
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