TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
by TomTom
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List Price: Our Price: $199.00 You Save: $250.95 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $64.75 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Great first GPS!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
After wishing I had gotten factory-installed GPS on my '08 Toyota Highlander, I started shopping around for a portable unit. I looked at the Garmin 660, but didn't want to spend that much(even the $550 you could find it for online). When I became aware of the 720, that seemed like a good prospect. Circuit City had for $450 last week and with a 10% coupon, I was able to get it for $430 out the door, so I was very pleased with the price.
Anyway, for my first GPS, I'm very happy with the 720. Here are the features I like best:
Accurate routes and very quick reroutes
Great graphics - nice-looking day/night colors - very current-looking icons.
If you have an auxilliary input in your car, you can choose to ouput instructions and/or music through your car stereo without having to use the fm transmitter. With the optional cable you can buy, I like being able to use the 720 as an interface for my ipod while I leave the ipod in my glovebox.
Very clear and pleasant audio - the computer voice for text-to-speech really doesn't sound that robotic and the internal speaker has pretty decent sound quality. As mentioned above, you can output the instructions through you aux input if you have one, which sounds great, but it can be a bit much if you have your stereo cranked.
Was able to get it connected to my AT&T Samsung Sync's bluetooth, even though this phone is not one listed on the TomTom website and am able to use it for traffic also. Even though the traffic is activated, I have yet to see how valuable this feature is.
TIP: If your vehicle has built-in bluetooth, and you want to be able to use it, as well as the bluetooth functionality of the 720, try this:
Turn on the GPS and let it connect to your phone before you turn on your car. Then, when your car links up with your phone, you'll be able to make and receive calls on your vehicle's system but also make calls to POI's on the GPS, if you have occasion to do so.
In conclusion, this is a really cutting-edge GPS with a lot of great features for the money, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it.
Customer 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.
Customer Review: Great GPS device. Lots of positives, only minor negatives.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd like to start off by saying that I've had a fair share of GPS devices in the last few years. I've had 2 Garmins, a Magellan, and now this TomTom. I can honestly say without a doubt that the TomTom is my favorite.
Out of the box, it took a while to lock onto the satellite but the download patch from TomTom Home took care of that. Now it usually locks onto the satellite within 5-10 seconds. While driving, route recalculations usually only take a few seconds. The directions give plenty of warning for upcoming turns and will even tell you which side of the interstate to stay on. If you're going through a traffic circle, it makes sure to say "Take the 2nd exit", or "Take the 4th exit". None of my other units would do that. They all just say "Turn right ahead" and I'd have to look at the actual screen to see which one.
The display is another reason I love this TomTom so much. Navigation is super-fast between menus and everything is easy to access, even while driving. The volume control is just 1 click away on the screen, and the mute button is just 2 clicks away.
The only thing that drives me a little nuts sometimes is the Points of Interest feature. 95% of the time, it's dead-on. That other 5% though, it's not even close. The stuff is either not where the TomTom said, or it's not listed in the TomTom. This is a really trivial thing since the only time you really need is this spur of the moment restaurant trips and such. It has all the big name restaurants and a lot of hotels, malls, and even regular strip mall shopping centers.
Overall, this is the best GPS unit I've ever owned. I almost wish I'd bought the 920 just so it would say the street names, but the 720 still displays the next street in big letters near the bottom so that's really just me being overly critical. The 720 is a great GPS and I doubt you can beat it for the price.
Customer Review: Excellent value for the $$$
Summary: 5 Stars
I have previously used TomTom, Navtech and other systems. One of them in my SUV that is pretty sophisticated. This 720 is easily runs with the best.
Okay let's start with the bad:
1) The battery life sucks. (I don't plan to use this without the car charger and I have GPS in my Treo for travel.)
2) A bunch of POI's are missing or showing up where there isn't anything.
Now the good:
1) Nice bright screen and auto night day switching just like my SUV
2) The "Where am I" feature is very interesting and I believe would be a great asset in an emergency.
3) The MP3 player is okay and the FM transmitter to play the music and hear prompts over the radio works well.
4) Pairs well with my Treo and connects very fast. Listeners comment that they can't tell I am on handsfree. Great sound.
5) Can be used with a remote to avoid fixating on the unit and taking your eyes off the road. Highly recommended.
Summary:
I like it. Used with the remote it is easy to use without constantly taking your eyes off the road. I would recommend this unit to anyone looking for a GPS and wants Bluetooth and FM Transmitter.
UPDATE: November 17, 2009
Overall I am still happy with the 720. The battery is nonexistant but I knew that going in. One issue has been maintaining Bluetooth pairing with my Treo and remote. If the battery runs down (frequent) or if heaven forbid I shut off the Bluetooth, the pairing is lost. It is not an easy thing to get them working again. It may be the Treo as well as I have had to reset it to reconnect with the 720 from time to time.
The speaker has started to buzz when using it for calls. I am crossing my fingers that it doesn't die.
This unit is ONLY worth the discounted price. Paying more would make this a bad deal.
Customer Review: Electronics at it's best
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay I have had the Tom Tom 720 for two days now, so I will say up front that I am still in the process of checking it out and learning to use all the GREAT features this GPS has to offer. First I will start with the great compact design of the unit itself...very sleek. Some of the features that I have tried thus far includes adding music and pictures to the unit (i was even able to use the bluetooth feature to transfer music and pictures from my cell phone to the unit) and using the FM transmitter to play through my car speakers...which is great...the music is automatically muted when the system needs to give you the next direction, and so far it plays very clear eliminating static or other interference...the bluetooth is amazing also..I connected it to my sprint phone and it worked without complicatiion. It both easy to set up and use. Your calls actually come through the unit and enables you to answer the call from there or your phone itself...on the unit the callers information name etc..is displayed as it would be on your phone itself. It has also been pretty easy to download other features via Tom Tom home when connected to your computer.. some of these features include screen savers..additional, voices the unit can use to speak in etc. Now lets get to the GPS.. the system receives a strong signal. At first it was kind of tricky putting in an address, but once I realized the correct format it was no problem at all. You just have to remember that the address is not input the way it appears on documents such as your mail...the structure is a litte different, it is in reverse so to speak. So far the system as guided me without flaw. So overall at this time I absoluely love my Tom Tom 720..It is my first GPS and so far I have not been disappointed!