I've been a TomTom (v5 on a PDA) guy for years - very happy - but when the missus wanted a basic sat nav I went Garmin (Nuvi 1340) after doing some research. The proof of the pudding was me needing to leave the country on business when the sat nav arrived and she needed to use it. No probs. She unpacked it, switched it on, and used it.
Since then I have used the download service to load the Czech / Slovakia / Poland map and found the service slick and easy. I also like some of the features that are not just available where (at least my old) TomTom didn't have them, but that they are also accessed directly from the navigation screen. The visual lane assist is nice too especially on four lane and more stretches of road.
Comparing basic system with basic system, the only disadvantages to TomTom that we have found are:
- Emily's irritatingly dry and authoritarian voice (she runs Volvo's irritatingly dry and authoritarian sat nav voice a close second), so we are now directed by the mellow tones of the other preloaded voice, Daniel. Much nicer, and more a rival for TomTom's Jane.
- No reminders ("At the roundabout take the second exit"....pause..."Take the second exit"), only the original command
So, are we happy with Garmin? Yes. Would we be happy with TomTom? Probably, yes. It was mainly the (poor) experience of multiple friends and colleagues with the TomTom download service that put me off.