TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator by TomTom
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Digital camera reviews of TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Digital camera Review: A real mixed bag
Summary: 3 Stars
I can't get into comparing this with any other GPS unit, since this is the only device I've used. Coming from a background where I used to print out directions from google maps, this device seemed wonderful for a while. But once you get past the initial wow factor, the limitations become very annoying. You must know the zip code to get directions to an address! I'm not stuck with this nonsense when I search for directions on google maps. This is very frustrating when we're traveling and don't know the area. For instance in Atlanta we wanted to go to a specific restaurant, we had the address but not the zip. Entering Atlanta into the TomTom brings up a list of zips, so to find the address you want you have to go through each zip code and try your luck. Eventually you'll get lucky. POIs seem to be hopelessly out of date, we've not had much luck with this. In practice, you have to find addresses online then enter them into the device. At least where I live in Ohio, the free map share updates don't provide any value, nor solve the issue with the POIs. To be fair, I have not paid for a more up to date map, as the costs are ridiculously prohibitive, given the fundamental short comings with the search, I'd rather put the money towards purchasing a better navigation device - perhaps a smart phone.Digital camera Review: A top-notch GPS unit!
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent a fair amount of time researching the seemingly hundereds of GPS units out there, and finally settled in on those in the $450 - $500 range. After comparing the Garmin nuvi 350, the Magellan 4040, and the new TomTom GO 720, I opted to purchase the latter. Although I've only owned it a short while, I am very impressed.
The best thing about Tom Tom -- and the GO 720 -- is the flexibility it offers. Chief among these, to me, is the MapShare technology, which allows you to correct maps, block streets, rename roads, add POIs, etc. -- and share them with other TomTom users. The software (TomTom HOME) you install on your home PC is easy to use, as is the unit itself. Don't like the text-to-speech voice? Change it with one you download -- or even record your own voice!!
The list of neat features is exhaustive -- so rather than blab about them here, I'll let you read the specs yourself.
The one feature I wish it did offer was a direct link to traffic -- yes, you can get traffic updates via TomTom traffic, but have to do so through a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. Unless you have a Blackberry or a phone with a data service contract, that means you'll have to pay not only TomTom for the traffic subscription, but also your cell-phone company for the data usage. Plus, my phone's Bluetooth is reserved for my wireless headset, which I'm not willing to give up. It would be much nicer if the 720 received TomTom Traffic updates directly.
Of no real issue, though, as I was unwilling to spend the $60 or so per year for the service (similar prices for Garmin as well).
Beyond this, I haven't found a single thing I dislike about this unit -- and am finding it head and shoulders above the rest. If you're considering the TomTom GO 720, compare the Garmin nuvi350 to it -- the latter is a top-notch, high quality, and well-received unit. I think you'll find, as I did, that the GO 720 beats it.
Digital camera Review: Absolutely maddening
Summary: 1 Stars
The TomTom GO 720 DOES have some very nice features. When it works, it works well. However, I consider it something of a miracle that I haven't simply smashed the unit under my foot.
The problem with the TomTom GO 720 isn't the unit itself, per se, it's the TomTom Home software. In particular... well, without resorting to profanity it's just difficult to describe how frustrating the process of "updating" the TomTom is.
Let me just list the PERSISTENT problems I have encountered every time I hook up my TomTom GO 720 to my laptop. Btw, I have owned my TomTom for over a year. (I am currently using Windows Vista. The problems I list are identical to the ones I encountered when I used Windows XP. I'm no fan of Windows software, but the problems I am describing are entirely TomTom's.):
1) Hooking up the TomTom to your PC automatically launches the TomTom HOME software - but it also launches a "install TomTom HOME" software dialog box. It took me a while to realize I don't have to re-install TomTom HOME every time I hook up the GO unit, and now I just cancel the "install software" dialog box. Still, this is HUGELY annoying, not to mention appallingly poor software on TomTom's part. When TomTom released version 2 of their HOME software I thought this always-install-the-software bug might be fixed. I thought wrong.
2) The backup and restore module of the HOME software works like, well, insert your chosen profanity here:_______. I won't bother with the details. The backup and restore just doesn't work.
3) It is a slight problem that back up and restore doesn't work because of one OTHER appalling feature of TomTom's software. If you sign up for the map upgrade program, where you get a full, mutiple-GB update/replace of your map every quarter, well, that process of updating your map WIPES OUT NOT JUST ALL OF YOUR PREFERENCES BUT ALL OF YOUR FAVORITES!!! Anyone who has used a GPS for any length of time knows how valuable favorites are - and how long it can take to compile a good list of them. I mean, how about if your contacts folder were wiped out every time your email program released a product update??!!! This is EXACTLY analagous.
4) All too often, after hooking up - and subsequently disconnecting - my TomTom GO unit to my PC to update maps and such my TomTom won't restart! (And I am scrupulous about using the proper software commands to disconnect the GO unit; I don't just yank it out of the cradle.) There are, in fact, a few problems I run into here:
a) Regardless of how long the GO unit has sat in the hook-to-PC cradle (which recharges the unit) sometimes the battery on the GO unit has been completely DIScharged. I then have to hook the GO unit to the in-car recharger, and drive around for a while before the GO unit will turn back on.
b) EVEN THEN it is often the case that I have to press the Reset button on the bottom of the GO unit before it will spring back to life - and EVEN THEN I often have to go through this resetting process multiple times!!!!
c) Sometimes when I have PROPERLY disconnected the GO unit from its cradle the unit will be powered on (i.e., the screen is on).... but it will be FROZEN!!! This will then require often-multiple presses of the Reset button, and sometimes multiple re-cradling of the unit to get it going again.
5) Once I get over the hump of my TomTom not restarting, having hit the restart button so often has just totally wiped out and reset preferences I have set. This frequently occurs when I have gotten just a minor download of map updates. So, I have to reset my preferred map colors, map display, quick menus - you name it.
6) Getting back to the whole-map-download updates... this process wipes out not just for favorites, but (and this just happened 2 days ago) virtually everything else on my GO unit. I have had to reprogram my name, my initial screen-saver image. In fact, not only has my Home location been wiped out, I can't even reprogram that location at this point! The icon is all grey'ed out!!
At this point I am probably forgetting some of the other extreme annoyances of the GO, but you get the picture.
To me these are not "annoyances" - they are very serious defects and it amazes me that a large company like TomTom would be marketing a product where such basic functions produce such disastrous results.
Digital camera Review: Amazing Value
Summary: 4 Stars
Second TomTom device for me after a brief stint trying out Sprint Navigation (what a nightmare), I love it, easy, fast, inexpensive and efficient.Digital camera Review: An Expensive Paperweight
Summary: 1 Stars
I had been looking for the right GPS for quite a while, balancing whether I wanted the bells and whistles along with a hefty price tag or go for a bare bones unit.
Then the Go 720 crossed my screen. Bluetooth, MP3 player, large screen, the features are impressive with a price tag that the stores would have a hard time to match. Also, sad as it sounds, wanted the Homer Simpson voice as I thought it would break the boredom on an upcoming trip I had planned. Unfortunately, that's where my praise ends.
The first GPS I received refused to sync with my computer and in fact, got corrupted almost straight out the box.
Second unit had no initial problems and synced with the PC fine, downloaded the latest map, signed up on Map Share, added some points of interest and even managed to download the Homer Simpson voice I was after with no problems (cost $13 though).
Thought I would do some trial runs and it seemed to be pretty much on par with what I believed were the quickest routes. Then came the fateful day I put my trust in the TomTom. The route to say the least was bizarre. Even though I had specified no unpaved roads, it took them until eventually the sign read, road closed. Now, going up dark, one car width lanes, Homer's voice kept telling me to turn around, but to where, back home? I was lost and my downloaded celebrity voice was now the most annoying thing on the planet. Eventually, I got to my destination by ignoring it and using a good old fashioned map. TomTom told me to go straight on at an intersection, when I knew I had to go right. Having taken the right, it readjusted to the correct route and shaved 10 minutes off the eta.
As the celebrity voices become very irritating after a while (it would keep using the same punchline over and over again and would not tell you any street names), I resorted back to the computer voice. Then I noticed that it kept stuttering resulting in the voice not working at all. Then I would loose the Bluetooth feature though both issues would restore after continual warm starting.
Little less than a week after owning it, it died completely. A blessed relief in my honest opinion.