TomTom One Europe review

TomTom's GO 910 is one of the best sat-nav systems around, but its high price and vast feature list aren't for everyone, especially if you're new to the GPS scene. With that in mind, the company is going back to basics with its TomTom One. The One does navigation, and that's about it. 

It's perfect for first-time buyers or drivers who just need a simple solution for getting from A to B. Our only wish is a cheaper price. Don't get us wrong: at around £230, it's certainly one of the more affordable portable navigation systems on the market, but it faces some stiff competition. Still, if you're looking for your first in-car GPS device or a no-frills sat-nav system, the TomTom One fits the bill.

Design
The TomTom One features a super sleek design, measuring a compact 97mm by 81mm by 25mm and weighing 173g. In keeping with the theme of simplicity, the only external control on the device is the power button on top. A tiny LED next to it lights up when you're charging the internal battery. All other commands are entered via the One's 89mm (3.5-inch) touchscreen. It displays 64,000 colours at a 320x240-pixel resolution.

Like the unit itself, the windshield mount for the TomTom One is easy to install

On the bottom of the unit, you'll find an SD card slot and a mini USB port, while the speaker is located on the back. In addition, there's a port for connecting an external antenna for enhanced reception. The TomTom One's GPS receiver is built into the device, so you don't have to worry about flipping up any antennas as you have to with some systems.

Below the speaker are two grooves where you can attach the included windshield mount. The apparatus is easy to slide on and holds the unit firmly in place. The suction cup mount is also quite strong. TomTom packages the One with a car charger, a USB cable (which you can also use to charge the device) and an SD card preloaded with maps and reference material.

Features
As we just mentioned, maps of Western Europe are preloaded on the SD card, so to get started, simply insert it into the TomTom One's expansion slot -- there's no need to transfer maps from your computer.

You will, however, have to go through a process of entering product and device codes to get the maps activated (have these numbers and a pencil and notepad handy), as well as answer a few questions about your map and system preferences -- for example, whether you want distance displayed in miles or kilometres and voice selection for audible prompts. All in all, it takes about five minutes.

All maps are preloaded on the included SD card, so it's just plug and go

To start navigating, just tap the Navigate To icon, and you can enter a specific street address, a junction, a city centre or a point of interest (POI). Once you've entered an address, the One will ask you if you need to arrive at a particular time.