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Gadling Gear: A review of the TomTom XL330S
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TomTom just released their new XL330S model, and this lucky blogger was able to get his hands on one for a test drive.I'll preface this article with the following disclaimer: I've never been fond of automotive GPS units. I think that while useful to many drivers, they can also have the adverse effect of preventing the driver from learning routes, a city's layout and beautiful niches of the city that go unnoticed unless you're really focused on the outside.
But I agreed to do this review, partially because I wanted to disprove this theory to myself and partially because these new TomToms are just so damn cool.
Despite my unit being programmed in Estonian when it came from the TomTom PR factory, it was fairly simple to boot up and configure. It asked me to set up my preferences, including style of map, voices and other tidbits, then immediately dumped me into a map showing my location under an arrow. All I had to do to power the unit was plug it into the cigarette lighter with the supplied cable. Similarly, hooking the unit up to my computer used the same mini USB jack and didn't need any drivers.
Being a chronic avoider of instruction manuals, I figured I would first just wing the programming of my office into the system – and I was right, navigating was easy. Tap the map with your finger, tap "navigate to", select your city, then punch in your the street and number. It's a completely linear interface that cuts down on superfluous buttons and options and is incredibly easy to use.
You can get traffic data with the XL330S as well, although it's a service that you have to subscribe to online.Naturally, I decided to download some customized voices to give me directions. After a quick look at the pay-per downloads on the TomTom website, I googled "TomTom voice downloads" and found a database of free content, including Sean Connery, Patrick Steward (from Star Trek, The Next Generation, John Cleese (of Monty Python fame) and Dr. Evil. Installing the voices was as easy as plugging in the unit to my laptop then dragging sound files over to the voice directory.
This would later haunt me on a train between Providence and Boston, where I booted up the GPS to check our location and was greeted with Captain Picard from the Enterprise shouting "YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION, INITIATE DOCKING PROCEDURE." Awkward. I should also point out that if you want a celebrity voice, you're not going to be able to get them to pronounce the street names (text-to-speech), so it may not be worth your time.
House hunting with my girlfriend in Boston this weekend, I put the XL330s (the "s" stands for text-to speech capability) to it's first real test. The first thing I did with my new demonstration TomTom was drop it four feet onto an asphalt surface. Durability? Check. Still running.
At the time, I was late for my train, we were in Cambridge and we needed to get to the South Station quickly. I tapped "navigate to" + "points of interest" in the railway section, and scrolled down for "South Station". Not there. Luckily we had a map that showed the intersections of the streets, so I plugged in "Atlantic" and "Summer" streets and the TomTom calculated our journey there.
As I would soon find out, however, much of Boston's highway system is underground where satellite signals can't reach. So while the TomTom could lead us towards the Big Dig, we were blind while underground. Furthermore, it takes a few moments to acquire a signal once you're above ground, so if you exit quickly and need to make a quick turn, you don't get directions for 20 or 30 seconds.
This isn't a problem with TomTom though; until they create satellite signals that can penetrate through 40 feet of soil and cement, all GPS units will lose signal underground.
For what it's worth, navigation in my home town of Ann Arbor has been fluid and easy, although I spend a surprising amount of brainpower on the device. I've never been a great multi tasker, so when the GPS is babbling, a friend is in the car and NPR is on the radio, two of the three are going to get tuned out.
Overall? I think it's a nifty, well-designed little device. I like its battery life, slim design and ability to call streets out to me on the road. I also like how simple both the hardware and software are – easy enough for your grandmother to use but with enough options to make a metallurgical engineer think. Would I buy one? If I was in the market for a GPS, sure thing. But I'm going to stick to my analog maps for now.
Check out TomTom's product website for full specifications and purchasing options.
Filed under: Gear
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Doug Jan 4th 2009 10:33AM
Subj: Re: Skip Conover. Regards to your return of the XL 330. I received the XL 330 from my daughter for Xmas. I'm going to return it for an exchange (if possible)...used it once to travel from NJ to PA and back. Next day, get a colored pixel screen. Goes to the computer picture screen and then goes to the solid pixel screen. Anyway, getting back to your case, first of all, I know the XL 330S model comes in a box, brother-in-law got it that way. The XL 330 model, comes in the bomb proof plastic vacuum sealed clear case. (need a bomb to get it out of the package - took me almost 10 minutes making sure I didn't harm the unit. So! Take it back to another BestBuy..'cause those units (XL 330) come in plastic. Hope this helps!?
Al Jan 8th 2009 10:37AM
I have a 1 year old GO720.The maps are fine in large cities, but are extremely inaccurate in small towns(street addresses,route no's, etc.). I submit corrections as I find them, but they are mostly ignored by the folks at TomTom. I spotted the new 330s at Sam's Club yesterday and had a chance to try it as the one on display was fully functional . Even this newest model with (supposedly) the newest maps STILL had the same defective addresses. I'm sure glad I didn't blow $80 on the map upgrade. At least Garmin has the correct maps.
Shirley Ghysels Jun 1st 2009 5:23PM
We bought the XL 330-s at Best Buy. Our first one turned on once and then wouldn't turn on again. We took it back and Best Buy did give us a new one.
The second one does work but will turn on with out anyone pushing the button. I guess it is magic. Can anyone help me with this? I took it back to Best Buy but they would not exchange it, unless I paid the restocking fee of $30 They also said they would keep it and see if it turns on by its self.
I decided to take it home and watch it, as I have 4 days before I can't return it, because of the 30 days exchange.
Shirley
jerry Sep 18th 2009 2:50PM
where can i go for free map downloads for tomtom xl330-s?
JIM Nov 28th 2009 10:39PM
DONT BUY IT...I RECEIVED THIS AS A GIFT AND HATE IT. IT KEEPS LOOPING AFTER ONLY 2 USES. ALL THE FIXES ON THEIR WEB PAGES DO NOTHING. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PUTS YOU ON HOLD FOREVER..LIKE 50 MINUTS AND THEY ARE USELESS.
Pat Dec 6th 2009 8:07PM
My first GPS. It seems simple enough to work except can't get the voice to speak the street names and can't find out in the book what to do. Need some definite instructions on how to get speech announcing what street to turn on instead of saying "in 300 ft. turn left",.
Do I have to download something?
Karen Dec 28th 2009 12:29AM
We just had the same problem with our new TomTom and discovered that you have to have the computer-generated voice activated in order to use this feature. Basically, it appears that you lose a whole bunch of features by using the other voices. Our computer voice had the name of "Samantha", and now the other features (text to speech) work. Hope this helps.
MARK Dec 8th 2009 4:53AM
This is my first time purchasing a GPS system as i was looking forward to use it but i had to discover that we pay all this money for the product and then you have to also BUY the maps in order to use it. All of my friends told me that these systems come already loaded with maps. To my surprise,that was not the case. HELP- WHERE CAN I GET -----FREE MAPS---- TO DOWNLOAD TO MY TOMTOM 330S. I dont even know if it works. Thanks for taking time to read my comment.
max power Dec 16th 2009 7:38AM
So I got one for christmas and it works great if you know how to use a computer really well this wont be hard you can get free map update garentee and other updates through tomtomhome on tomtom.com to get traffic updates you have to buy the traffic reciver for 99 dollars.
This thing navigates the small towns out here just fine and has 70 percent of things right wich is good for very small towns the city is about 90 percent right and if you join mapshare you wont run into as many blocked roads you can also choose reroute or take a different exit and it will recalculate the best route.
The people on here complaining are complaining about because they didnt click the little disconnect button in lower right hand corner after using tomtomhome.
If you need a basic gps with poi that updates also through tomtomhome and never get lost to main stores or resteraunts in any city then get this if you accidently clear route you can rechoose it in recent destinations hope this helped.
Brian Mar 6th 2010 8:21AM
I purchased a XL 300 S about one year ago and have used it frequently. It's a great little tool and I wouldn't drive anywhere now without having it available to use if needed. Only one problem; the electrical "fitting" for the lead to the cigarette lighter socket is a pain. I'll never buy another GPS with this fitting.
Mitchell Anderson Jun 29th 2010 6:36AM
My kids purchased a XL330S and gave it to me for a birthday gift. This unit was to replace a Garmin unit that stopped working after 10 months. The XL330S is a nice unit except you can not see the screen when wearing polerized sunglasses. Living in FL, drivers need the polerized glasses to see the road clearly. I have tried different settings and placed the unit in different locations of the vehicle, but no luck in the daytime. Called TomTom and they couldn't help.