It also is quicker to perform a simulated route in case you are indoors or don’t have a signal.

A few cons: the volume level is on the home screen, so instead of having something tactile like a wheel to turn the volume down or off, you have to go through the screens making it very dangerous while driving.

Also, the instruction manual is not good. I am pretty good at figuring out technology, but it should come with a manual that spells out things like: the transmitter is not in the unit, it’s in the power cord. The only way to get traffic information is if it’s mounted on the dash or windshield and plugged in. This I had to find out after prodding. Also, to register and upload maps onto the unit you need a mini-USB cord. If you’re like me, who keeps that kind of stuff around, then you’re in luck, but otherwise, you might have to go out and purchase one…and I can’t remember right now, but it wasn’t on the box. If the guy who sold me the unit hadn’t told me, I would not have known.

I think the NAVTEQ (traffic transmitter) is pretty useless. I upgraded to a unit with traffic information because I now live in an area with pretty unpredictable traffic patterns. This is just not “real-time” information and the way the information is presented does not serve much help either. Today I stood in traffic for 1hr and 50 mins to get to work in what usually is a 25 mins commute. The NAVTEQ had me going right through the back up and claimed it was the best route even as I could see the traffic building up. After I was “in it” it claimed that the back up was just 2 mins, then it went up to 21 mins, then down to five. To know where the traffic is going to be (to then determine whether to request a detour) you need to go through the screens…and once again, that’s dangerous if you are moving.

I am not any more pleased with Google traffic information from an iPhone. There’s still a lag from an accident happening to the information showing, plus, you have to look at your phone, which is dangerous if you are in a moving car.

I signed up for traffic alerts in the form of text messages from News12. Hopefully that can solve my issue and I can put that unsightly traffic transmitter away.

New users should be able to use it quickly as well.

Some things are not as easily customizable (ribbon menu).
If you don’t need the new features or expanted capabilities you may not want to upgrade. But the new featuures and capabilities are nice (million row limit in excel is nice).