Though released late 2009, TomTom’s XXL 540 is still a current model usually priced up to $300. It’s got a massive 5-inch touchscreen, 3D modes, speed camera data and IQ Routes (factors in peak hour, traffic lights, etc). While $149 seems like no brainer, the hard part might be working out if it can fit on your dash. [Dick Smith via OzBargain]
Daniel
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 3:36 PMgreat unit, I bought one back in 2009, never had an issue, think I’ll go get another and give mine to my wife!
light487
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 3:40 PMGot one of these myself.. and it is great having that big widescreen. It comes with a really sturdy suction cup and docking clamp that prevents it from moving and shaking around. The big touchscreen also makes typing and selecting things very easy. It has daytime and nighttime modes and downloadable voices (my girlfriend is Chinese so she loves that she can switch to Chinese mode).
The one downside I have found is that it is impossible to keep it charged. Even when it has been plugged in for an hour long drive, if you take it out of the car, the battery is only half charged.. like it has been using the battery without charging for part of the trip. Other than that, and considering that for most of the time you won’t be using it outside the car, it is great value.
As for where it goes.. I put mine in the middle of the windscreen where the bottom of it is about 1.5cm above the dashboard. Just enough to rotate it to the left a bit (while in the docking clamp) in order to access the on/off button.
Ken
Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 2:26 PMGidda Light487, Well 5in widescreen is not the up and upper in my books.
A good size would be 7 or 9in don’t you think.
I fgure then with the charging bit it appears to be a bit of a problem with TomTom we have had 2 now and both a bit of the same. If one was using it to go hiking, one would have to turn on and off all the time to save battery as they drop quick if not pluged in to M/vehicle.
Russo
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 3:46 PMThese have been getting around for a bit at this price, they are refurbs with 12 months warranty. Picked one up a a few months ago for $129.
Ken
Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 2:28 PMFrom what I have seen the $99 nes are the referbs, they have to list them as referbs or else is off to jail do not receive 200 etc.
Steve
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 10:16 PMthey are not refurbs. at least the ones at dick smiths are new stock
Ken
Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 2:29 PMYup but they are not 149 or 99dolla eh!
Wef
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 1:26 PMLOL – that’s less than TomTom want to bring the Aus maps on my 2yo TomTom One XL up to date!!!
Ken
Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 2:31 PMU are looking in the wrong place.