You have a lot to learn, small TomTom

Traffic information (++)
It must be acknowledged without envy that TomTom has the best, because most current and most precise traffic information. Even small traffic jams on roads or in small towns are reliably reported. This only works as a live service, ie when the GO 500 only if one couples the device via Bluetooth to a smartphone and over has Internet access. Works with my Motorola RAZR i smoothly and reliably.
If you have no phone at hand, and the GO 500 provides only very normals TMC. The antenna for reception is incorporated in the power cable (USB).

Voice guidance (o)
The voice quality and -verständlichkeit TTS voice well. However, the instructions in TomTom are generally not always as clear as with other manufacturers' equipment. With Navigon, Becker and other manufacturers it is eg "In 700 meters, turn right" or "turn right soon" if the driver is to be pointed to a still lying ahead of turning maneuver. The TomTom says in this case, "turn right in front of you"; as I had heard during my first TomTom for the first time, I immediately slowed sharply because it sounded as if I should turn into actually located 10 meters in front of me road.
Furthermore, finely differentiated from most manufacturers will "turn left" between "keep left", "turn half left", "turn left" and "turn sharp left". So you can go almost exclusively to the voice prompts, because after a short time you know what the machine says. The TomTom knows these instructions principle also appears as well as a random component to have installed, which seems time to choose this, sometimes those variant. In addition, TomTom knows a "Keep left", which also often leads to confusion, particularly when one is driving extreme right. Without looking at the screen one is mostly a fix.
Ever the TomTom is no Master. Especially on multi-lane roads I'd often a small sign of life of the device want when to separate the tracks. My Navigon, which I use as an app on your smartphone, says Better to have too much than too little "Please keep to the left" or "Please turn right".
As an example I would like once facing the instructions of three Navis on a not entirely simple turn on my daily way home. You drive right on a multi-lane road. Even on the short downhill section goes first right a small residential street off, then come to a crossroads that leads away to the left under the multi-lane road and it goes right to my house.
A VW fixed installation says it most clearly: "Turn right off, then turn the second right"
My Navigon: "Take the exit on the right, then go straight." Then, just in time: "Turn right"
The TomTom: "Now turn right, then keep left". While one still wonders whether that is now that you have to turn left, it is then "turn right now". But then one is actually already driven past the turn, if you have not paid attention to the display.
In general, the language of the TomTom looks a bit awkward. This is for example the fact that TomTom Articles of streets, roads and avenues not know. It makes them consequently away: "Turn right - Rosenweg". The Navigon says contrast, correctly: "Turn right in the Rosenweg". Really strange that TomTom is close to our goal: "Turn left - Taunusstraße Then you have reached the goal.."

The operation (o)
Following a comment by the manufacturer I have upgraded this point of formerly double negative on average. At first I thought: Yes, what is now moved to the TomTom engineers? As do all manufacturers (initially also TomTom) Your destination input more convenient, eg by omitting not possible letters, through meaningful suggestions as you type. And all this, of course, nice and clean separately by address and points of interest (POI). The TomTom provides only a command line where you will enter as "Wiesbaden, Kentucky Fried Chicken", ie similar to Google Maps. While you type, come here suggestions, but also some who are thousands of kilometers away, for example roads, carrying something with "meadow" in the name. At the end one realizes that no relevant POIs are available and you would have come with "KFC" on. You ought to know but a conventional navigation that makes at the perimeter looking for fast food restaurants already when entering the "K", the correct suggestions.
Update as of 22/07/2013: As the TomTom Support describe below, there are indeed a radius search for POIs. So intuitively you do not find them, but they have been discovered in time, it is working fine. In addition, I've found that the best first enters the site for an address search. Then one selects from the proposed site, you will then be asked for the street. Except for the suppression of unused letters which largely corresponds to the operation, how it is used by other devices. That's still a little unconventional and not very self-explanatory, but I'll take that as an opportunity to change the rating of 3 to 4 stars.
In addition, there is also the destination entry via gesture control on the (very good) capacitive touch display. I think that in most cases not very practical. In addition one would have to know only times where the goal is! And if you really know it's ultimately a tedious fumbling until you finally found and taken to the correct location.
The display is cleared as ever at TomTom. Unfortunately houses now appear as 3D objects that disturb more than good. They should actually facilitate orientation, but they usually conceal information on side streets and see the actual buildings hardly similar. That's bells and whistles, the now unfortunately installing more and more manufacturers, but the simple fact is just superfluous.

The bracket (++)
The active holder of TomTom is the best that I've ever seen for a Navi! The cable remains permanently mounted to the bracket. The device is simply placed on the holder and then held in place magnetically. Need to lose weight you compare it with some force, whereby it is best slightly tilted. It's quick and without much fumbling, which unfortunately in many other mounts completely different looks. Kudos to TomTom for this great detail!

Conclusion
Not unjustly include TomTom devices of the leading Navis on the market. The live traffic service TomTom is the best of all! However, I find that it is finally time that TomTom devices get decent German. And of course, the instructions must be clear. The other manufacturers can better. The destination is resolved unconventionally and has in my eyes no improvements over the usual way. The mount in turn is exemplary!

Unfortunately, the software of the device is not error-free: Only with the help of an Internet forum I could find out why my TomTom aloud street names, even though it may TTS is and this was enabled. You have to make "foreign street names" in addition a hook in. Apparently all non-Dutch street names are considered "foreign". Then you have to come first!