TomTom GO LIVE 1000: First Impressions

by Volker Weber

TomTom GO 1000

Kathrin, my TomTom GO 940, has dumped me, so I hooked up with Yannick, a TomTom GO LIVE 1000. He's a boy, and he is also a bit bossy. I need to find a different (computer) voice, which can speak street names.

My experience so far is mixed. On one hand, the navigation has been perfect, and that's what counts. On the other hand, this device is completely locked up. You can't move any files in and out, unless you go through a new TomTom online experience. It won't mount as a drive on your computer.

Things I like: the new screen mount has gotten even better. It holds the device steadfast - no wobbling whatsoever. It's also very easy to remove the device from the mount and to reattach it, since it now uses a magnet. You can remove the proprietary cable from the mount and attach it directly to the device. I am probably going to put it on the center console instead of the screen. The display is even better than on previous devices and it gives you a very good reading of what is happening on your route through a strip on the right side of the screen. It will also show you exactly the same information you get from routes.tomtom.com.

Unlike the GO 940 I had, the new GO LIVE 1000 came with only a Europe map, but not the US map I have used occasionally. That won't be a problem since I can use a smartphone for navigation abroad. Most likely the Nokia N8, with Ovi Maps and pre-installed maps.

Prices have come down considerably, and you can easily find a perfectly working PND with a EU map for half the price of this device, even from TomTom. This is their top of the line offering. And they claim to be able to offer you better routes than anybody else, due to their Live Services. You get two years of service with the purchase , and after those two years I would suggest to dump it on eBay and get a new one. :-)

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