Our reviewer lets technology guide him on the road
Once somewhat synonymous with satnav devices, TomTom is one of the innovators responsible for turning this technology into an everyday product that many people have used regularly for a good few years now. The Start 60 is entering a different world to its early ancestors, though. A world where many of its features are also integral to smartphones. As such, this model comes with the promise of free map updates for the life of the device in an attempt to convince consumers to buy a dedicated product rather than relying on a more dynamic online service like Google Maps Navigation.
The Start 60, with dimensions of 16.99 x 10.48 x 2.22cm (W x H x D), provides both visual output and the users means of interaction via the 6" (15cm) resistive touchscreen. It's aspect ratio of 16:9 delivers resolution of 800 x 480 pixels for the 2D and 3D views available with the device. When fully charged, its battery should give you two hours of use if the car lighter socket (for which a charging lead is provided) is otherwise occupied – or perhaps if you want to use the satnav device away from the car when visiting a new area on foot.
There's a micro-SD card slot located on the base of the unit. This feature can be used for accessing updated maps downloaded to a computer and stored on a card if it's not practical to plug the unit itself in via USB. No card is provided for this purpose, however.
As you would expect, the Start 60 can provide routes that are designated as fastest, shortest or most eco-friendly based on your preferences. It can help you plan routes that avoid toll roads and/or motorways too. Generally, these are calculated quickly; they can be displayed in either 2D or 3D mode, depending on which you find most useful as a driving aid. Directions and other navigation advice, including street names, will be provided as you drive along the route. However, as I like to listen to music while driving I had to increase the volume of the voice providing the instructions. Its interventions, though, are timely, clear and helpful.
As part of its mapping feature, this TomTom device can provide points of interest details. It can even display the location of parking areas, petrol stations and restaurants etc. Whether you want to hand over your culinery future to a satnav device, however, is completely up to you.
The Start 60 allows you to access its various features and settings via a couple of horizontal menu layouts, which means you need to scroll left or right to locate some features. While this is no great handicap, it does reveal that the screen is not the quickest to respond to user interaction, which can be a little frustrating.
Indeed, it's a shortfall that highlights the quandry that TomTom faces in a smartphonedriven world: it can't charge premium prices and provide cutting edge tech to compete in terms of look and feel, whereas low-priced hardware highlights the deficiencies of a standalone solution. If you're a 'one tool for one job' type, a satnav will still serve just as effectively as it always has. For many, though, the 'do-it-all' nature of the devices already in their pocket is becoming ever more tempting. Michael Fereday
Not that responsive, but an effective satnav anyway.