I want to marry Tom Tom :)

For our spring break trip we are headed to Orlando, FL. I hate driving and not knowing where I am going - I get frantic! So this year I decided to skip all the panic and anxiousness and get a GPS device. I have researched them for over a year and even tried them out at Best Buy. Of course, trying them out in the store is nothing like trying them out on the road, but it was helpful to see how they function.

I wasn't really ready to plunk down $200+ on a GPS system so I have been waiting and waiting and waiting. FINALLY, at my local Wal-Mart I came across a really great deal! $120 for the Tom Tom One 3rd edition. SOLD!

I wanted to use it immediately, however the stiff plastic casing made that impossible so I was forced to wait until I got home to open it. The plastic casing is ridiculous to open! My electric scissors could barely handle the job. But hey, I guess that's how they keep the goods protected so....I'll deal with it.

After opening the seemingly plastic armor that encased Tom Tom I was ready to go! I headed out to my Mountaineer and suctioned it to the windsheild. Easy enough. I then plugged in the included car charger and turned the GPS device on.

Set up was a breeze. It walks you through every step of the initial set up. My street is only 4 years old, however it is not on the Tom Tom's radar. I have tried to submit the street via online Tom Tom however it hasn't appeared yet so I'm guessing they haven't revised it. No big deal though.

For the last week I have been using it to get everywhere - even places I am already familiar with. I find that it is pretty accurate, however a lot of the time it takes me the "long route". You can fix this by pressing "Find Alternate" and it will go through the different routes until you find the one you want to take. I figure this is a minor inconvenience especially for areas that I'm not familiar with. Because even if it goes the "long route" in Florida - hey, at least I'll get to where I need to be - hopefully with no mishaps along the way or stops to the gas station to ask directions!

There are four navigation voices included. They are okay. But I installed the Tom Tom software on my computer and hooked up my Tom Tom via USB cord and downloaded more. I even got Darth Vader! I have to admit it is a little disturbing but my four year old son (and his Dad) loves it!

Other than my street not being known, I find the directions are very accurate. I have set up the "alerts" to tell me when I am going over the speed of 65 because I tend to have a lead foot. It is accurate in that as well. There are even "POI" or Points of Interest like gas stations, restuarants, rest stops, and others that you can search for. These are extremely accurate as well.

Downsides? A few. I'll start with the plastic casing. It's awful and ridiculous. I also feel as though the streets should be updated. My street is 4 years old and there has been enough time to have that included in the map. There are voices to download for a fee, it would have been nice to have them available for free, but everyone has to make a dime. Newer stores/attractions are not included in the map either. If you are going somewhere and need to search for it, oh well!

All in all, I believe this is a great investment. I can't wait to try it out on our upcoming trip to Florida! I will also keep this review updated and let you know how it performs throughout our many ventures.