The TomTom ONE 130S GPS:  A Quick Review

Considered by some to be the industry standard for the entry-level navigator, TomTom's ONE 130S GPS is one of the cheaper options out there, available at $149.95.  Although many of the frills of the higher-end TomToms aren't here, there will still plenty of function with your in-car GPS.  But does this device built for the GPS novice really deliver the goods, or are there better, less-known options out there?

Built-In Features

As stated, the TomTom ONE is built for the beginner, which means your U.S. and Canadian maps come pre-loaded and you can be off to the races in no time.  Quick switches to pedestrian and bicycle mode can be useful but aren't always necessary for passionate believer in the internal combustion engine.  For road trips, some five million "points of interest" including gas stations, ATMs, and hotels come in handy when you're visiting somewhere new for the first time.  Of course, the voice feature (even announcing street names) allows you to avoid glaring at the GPS navigator and keep your eyes on the road.

If you haven't bought a GPS system before, you won't know what you're missing – and that's a good thing.  All of the basic features you get with the TomTom ONE 130S GPS might be on a "minimum" level, but when all you care about is the navigation, that's all you need.  If you need a few extra frills, such as sharing your map with another driver who's a member of your caravan, you'll be able to handle that as well.

The Disadvantages of the Cheaper TomTom

The ONE 130S is a cheap option as far as GPS go, and sometimes you have to accept that you'll get what you pay for.  While the TomTom's overall navigation performance is definitely satisfactory and can handle your next drive, there might be some issues with hearing them through low-quality speakers.  Other options, like having the GPS connect to your bluetooth, won't be available unless you go with a higher-end GPS system, from TomTom or another brand.

Conclusions?  If you've been thinking about getting into the GPS world but never had the scratch to buy one for yourself, the TomTom ONE 130S is the place to get started.  You may not have a ton of extra frills, but you will have plenty of capabilities, not to mention an excellent core navigational service.