Comments on: TomTom XXL 530-S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

By: Dwana Calrk

Dwana Calrk — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:01:32 +0000

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By: K. J. Chapman

K. J. Chapman — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:18:41 +0000

I like the unit, it has helped me find my way around Houston after arriving in the USA. What I do not like, actually detest, is the mount! You stick it on the windscreen and then rotate it around to see it and “boom” it is on the floor of the car. The rotating support is held on by three springs which cannot hold the unit when you start to rotate it on the windscreen. Good unit let down by a stupid design.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: T. Bouis

T. Bouis — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:29:33 +0000

The TomTom 530s is a deceptively dumb super high tech GPS. Once it sets a course its that way only no matter what, unless you force it to select an alternate route. So, if you are driving in dense traffic and notice a traffic standstill ahead and you turn off to take an alternate route, to get GPS help you have to tap the screen to get back to the main menu to select the alternate route and then confirm the alternate selection before it will display anything useful. I’m accustomed to the auto recalculation provided by Garmin and Magellan, so despite its 5″ screen, the usefulness of the technology is inconvenient in circumstances where you least want to pay attention to programming the unit. After using this product several days, I’m returning it to the seller and buying out a Magellan 1700 (7″ display) instead.

Rating: 3 / 5

By: James M. Conroy

James M. Conroy — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:22:10 +0000

We chose this unit because it has expandable memory and announces street names. It’s been very good for us.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Daniel J. Herrmann

Daniel J. Herrmann — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:39:59 +0000

The Navigation unit is fine when you can get the window mount to stay attached to the TomTom. Unfortunately, this isn't very often.

There's a ring on the back of the 530S that attaches to the window mount. I spent 20 minutes trying to get it to reattach with no luck and returned the unit.

As far as the 530S goes with its navigation, I didn't like the routes chosen. They were often slower than other routes using a paper map routing.

I'd stay away from this unit. Rating: 1 / 5

By: R. Shaw

R. Shaw — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:01:55 +0000

If you're after a paperweight, buy this unit. I have yet to have it direct me to within 3 miles of my destination. There is no way (or it's a secret) to convince it to go a different route than what it suggests (demands would be a better word) and the suction cup mount does not work well - at least on windshields.

We've had this unit for several months now and it has been very close to being chucked out the window every time it's been used. Perhaps the maps are better for China where this thing was made.

Buy something else, you'll be glad you did!
Rating: 1 / 5