| TomTom START launched
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 6 Oct 2009
 TomTom officially unveiled their latest entry level satnav, the TomTom START this morning.
Not the best kept secret with mention of a START model appearing in on-line reseller catalogues some days ago and oddly the UK launch party isn't until this evening but we can at least now discuss it.
The ethos of the START is simplicity. With only a single button and a simplified menu layout the device is supremely easy to use and TomTom have added the option to personalise the device with a range of six brightly coloured 'StartSkins'.
The START has a 3.5" screen, integrated EasyPort mount, Map Share, IQ Routes and a Latest Map Guarantee. The new menu offers two on-screen buttons, 'Plan Route and 'Browse Map'
We've had a unit for some months now and whilst it is very simple I have to wonder if this is a step too far. The START omits 7-digit PostCode, presumably to keep costs down but this is a feature we consider vital to a UK device. For one based on simplicity, the omission of 7-digit PostCode functionality is we feel shortsighted.
Time will tell if there is a market for a device as basic as this, priced at €129 for a regional map and €149 for a European map with StartSkins available at €14.95 per colour.
More information at www.tomtom.com.
 
Simplified main menu, familiar map display
StartSkins - They may make it prettier but they won't make it better.
| Comments
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 Posted by MaFt on Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:55 am |
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the simplified menu looks similar to what garmin did with the 2xx and 2x5 ranges. great for your granny!
however, lack of 7-digit postcode is a bad mistake! is that from the final product or from the testing versions you had?
MaFt
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| Posted by falkirk81 on Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:19 am |
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No 7 digit postcode is a bad bad idea! Not so much an issue if you know the street name and number, but what about remote farms with large postcode areas and no street names/ numbers? 
Tomtom GO 1005 LIVE
iPhone 12 |
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| Posted by henryg on Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:19 am |
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TomTom have lost the plot! This on top of the ludicrously high combined price of their iPhone app & amplifier/holder,
Henry |
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| Posted by Darren on Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:43 am |
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Our test version lacked 7-digit postcode support and I can confirm that this is also true of the retail version.
Having 7-digit post code lookup makes address finding much easier and given the nature of this device it's omission is all the more foolish.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by Pocketgps on Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:43 pm |
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No 7-digit post code look-up is a major omission and mistake by TomTom.
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| Posted by MrT on Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:50 pm |
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It seems not too different a Go520 with the show fewer menu options selected, less features and not too different in the price you can buy them for.
Drivelux |
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| Posted by bedbug on Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:54 pm |
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| News Team Wrote: | | ...Time will tell if there is a market for a device as basic as this... |
I think TomTom pioneered this approach with the iPhone app, didn't they? 
iPhone 4/4S (iOS 5.1.1); TomTom Western Europe (1.10)/USA & Canada (1.10); CoPilot for iPhone (8), UK mapping, Mac OS 10.8/XP Pro/Win7; Tongue firmly in cheek! |
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| Posted by mikealder on Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:13 pm |
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Its also the first device that I have seen from TomTom in a very long while that cannot display POI locations on the map while in Nav mode, neither is there an option to "Warn when near POI" so setting up the PGPSW Speed Camera database won't be possible unless you want to navigate to a specific camera. Combine this with no Traffic receiver, No PostCode its not going to be a huge seller in the UK - Mike
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| Posted by dhn on Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:13 pm |
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{deleted}
David |
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| Posted by Darren on Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:15 pm |
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| dhn Wrote: | | If anyone is interested in a review I wrote about this model (I was a tester for the NA model), let me know here and I'll provide a link if the mods say it is ok. I don't want to step on anyone's toes.... |
Fire away.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by dhn on Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:28 pm |
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{deleted}
David |
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