TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
List Price: $449.95
Our Price: $349.99
Your Save: $ 99.96 ( 22% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: TomTom
Average Customer Rating: Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5

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Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: TomTom
Display Size: 4.3
EAN: 0036926017112
Feature: Stylish and lightweight pocket-sized design; preloaded with complete US and Canada maps and millions of POIs
Includes Mp3 Player: 1
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: TomTom
Manufacturer: TomTom
Model: 1M00.780
Native Resolution: 480 x 272
Publisher: TomTom
Studio: TomTom

Features
Stylish and lightweight pocket-sized design; preloaded with complete US and Canada maps and millions of POIs
Spoken directions with real street names; 4.3-inch touchscreen with TomTom's award-winning navigation
Bluetooth for hands-free calling via your cell phone; real-time traffic and weather via TMC or TomTom Plus
MapShare technology--make your own map changes and download verified updates from the entire TomTom user community
MP3 player and photo viewer; integrated FM transmitter gives directions and plays music through your car stereo system

Accessories
Garmin Marine Mount for GPS 60 Series (010-10455-00)
Garmin Swiveling Automotive Mount for GPSMap 60C (010-10456-00)
Garmin Automotive Navigation Accessory Pack for GPSMap 276C (010-10510-00)
GGI International LCD Screen Care Kit, with Overlays, Care System Microfiber Cloth & Wipes
Bracket, Handlebar Mount, forerunner

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Editorial Reviews:

The TomTom GO 720 is the ultimate car navigator, with unique new features and MapShare technology, combined into one compact and stylish design. It comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date maps of the US and Canada stored on the 2GB internal memory, and with unique safety features so drivers always have direct access to safety and roadside assistance information. The extensive "Help Me!" menu includes information such as the nearest police station, hospital, or car repair center. It also allows the user to quickly identify their location for emergency assistance. The shortcut menu lets drivers jump straight to their most accessed information with just one touch on the screen. The enhanced hands-free kit features a new high-quality sound system via Bluetooth. As with all TomTom products, it comes with TomTom HOME, a free desktop application. TomTom's large satellite navigation community contribute and exchange their map corrections through TomTom HOME, making the most accurate maps available to all users. In addition, it comes pre-installed with a host of other TomTom PLUS services including TomTom Weather and TomTom QuickGPSfix (for extra fast connection to GPS satellites). Navigate to millions of POl's, including restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, hotels / Create your own POI categories and add your own locations. Route Planning options include fastest, shortest, avoiding highways or toll roads, pedestrian or limited speed. 4.3-inch (diagonally) 16 by 9 format LCD display (WQVGA; 480x272 pixels). The unit is driven by a 400 MHz CPU with 64MB RAM, and powered by a Lithium-polymer battery that provides 5 hours of continuous operation. Bluetooth-enabled for hands-free calling, and compatible with most mobile phones. Also features a dual microphone for improved sound quality Unit Dimensions: 4.7 inches wide by 3.2 inches high by 0.9 inches deep; 7.7 ounces. Inculudes -year TomTom Warranty.


Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Battery Life is horrible, but still the best GPS I've seen and used!
Comment: Alot of in-depth review but some reviewers missed alot of key things. The Tom Tom 720 is a much better device than you would think.

Things I want to add.
1. The menu layout is completely user changeable so you don't have a cluttering of numbers and information on the bar. The reviewer doesn't mention that although he criticizes the 720 for having a cluttered info bar. That is simply a factory default setting that anyone can change.
2. The map layout, colors and ease-of-use is much much much better than both Garmin's and Magellan. The company I work for allows us to have private car service home when working late and I've seen and studied just about every brand of GPS in the various Town cars during my 1 hours commute home from NYC to Westchester. So I've gotten a sense of how cities and suburbs/rural areas are displayed on all these GPS units and the Tom Tom brand has the best, cleanest graphics. The reviewer fails to mention that when said and done, quickly understanding the screen graphics during a quick look up from the road during your journey is just as important as anything else.
3. The 720 also allows you to pick alternate routes based on how and when you want to get to your destination. The factory default settings on the 720 will obviously be way off and will have you driving around alot more than you would want to. Which is why I suspect the reviewer detracted from the 720 mapping intelligence when paired alongside the Garmin's Nuvi and Magellan's GPS units. I'm 100% sure he was routing under the factory settings so the 720 gave him longer and incorrect routes. Simple adjustments to your 720 factory settings will allow the unit to pick the best routes based on where you live and drive(whether in a city, near highways, or rural areas)
4. Outside of GPS function the 720 has a myriad of feautures that are on par if not better that Garmin's pricier Nuvi 700 line. In his Nuvi review he praises the Nuvi for having the "Where Am I" feature as if it is a rare and super cool thing. Whiles the 720 has the same features and he fails to praise the 720 for the same proficiencies.

5. The 720 does fail big time in the Battery Life department. I previously owned a Tom Tom 300 and once did a round trip from NY to DC (6-8 hrs of driving) on one charge before the unit's battery died. So I expected similar results from the 720 even though the Tom Tom 720's box advertises 4-5 hours.
needless to say, after a full over night charge I only got about 1 hour use before the battery died my first time out with it. After lowering the brightness to 50% I got about 2 hrs max.
I don't like wires across my dash so this was important to me; having the unit work only off its battery for the duration of my round trip commute of 3 to 4 hours max. I soon found out at a few GPS forums that to get about 4 hrs from the 720 you need to lower the brightness to 0% (and even at 0 it is still pretty bright), completely turn off the FM and BlueTooth features, take out any SD Card and turn down the volume and refrain from playing MP3s. Which worked to get me 3 to 4 hrs of battery life but totally elimated all the cool features that made me want to get the 720. At any rate, I went to a local car stereo shop and got a power lead installed behind my dash that goes up thru the windshield area and plugs into the 720 whiles it is mounted on the windshield. This is the best deal since the wire is pretty much hidden and not in front of my dash. I now not only get unlimited battery life whiles driving, but I can have the screen at 100% brightness, Bluetooth, FM and everything else that made me buy the 720 on and working whiles I'm on the road.

When said and done, the Tom Tom 720 is a stellar device!

Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: TomTom melted in Hawaii heat
Comment: TomTom melted in car after 11 months of use. Went on TomTom website and read the following under care of TomTom: Do not expose your TomTom to high or low temperatures, which can cause permanent damage. For example, don't leave it in the car on hot summer days or during cold winter nights.
What do they expect me to do? Remove the TomTom from the car everytime I stop at a store, etc? Should have a warning: Do not use in Hawaii or summer and winter in other states!


Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: Avoid this GPS!!!
Comment: I have owned this GPS for 6 months and although I like the interface, it is useless if you want to take your family on a trip using the POIs. They are consistently wrong. When you do a search for a Mcdonald's for example, it lists it with the correct address but doesn't get within a mile of the correct location. I took my family to New Hampshire to Santa's Village and although the address was correct in the GPS, it took me in the opposite direction as I got close. It also took me up a gravel road in the mountains that was 7 miles long and only for campers. I've updated the software and received the most recent map, but this thing is horrible. Definitely not worth the $500 I paid for it when it came out.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: drive slowly and take a map, just in case.
Comment: At first, I loved the Tomtom 720. But, the problems began. First, there were times it would simply not turn on (I had power, the little green LED was lit, etc.) The only way I finally got it to power on was by resetting it, and then it had deleted the waypoints/favorites I had programmed for that particular trip (which was actually dangerous, since it was in the desert near Moab, Utah, and we then had to backtrack, rather than continue. Destroyed our plans =o( This problem with not being able to turn it on has happened several times since, as well.

On subsequent trips, I have noticed that the Tomtom 720 is off by about 200 yards. For this price, I would expect a much more accurate GPS system. It has told me to turn on streets/exits/onramps I have already passed, or has told me that an exit/onramp in on one side, but when I arrive, it's on the other.

These are just some of the problems I have had. A quick list of some of the others...

bluetooth connection with telephone: I can hear the other person, but they cannot hear me, no matter how loud I have the volume set, or if I am 2 inches from the mic, etc. Junk.

FM transmitter: fades in and out, and I have tried it on several cars.

Favorites: Sometimes you set a favorite to your current location, but later, when you'd like to return, the 720 can't find a route. It has taken me to different locations using the same favorite/address, as well. Frustrating.

Technical Support/Customer service: Good luck! Tomtom customer service simply ignores you, doesn't respond, etc. I guess they know their product has some serious issues, and have no idea how to fix them, and don't have the guts to communicate with anyone foolish enough to purchase their product.

Voices: I bought a celebrity voice (Dennis Hopper) to guide me, but he seems to be stuck in a rut. In the beginning, there would be occasional funny comments. Now, whenever I make a left turn, he says he is losing it. Every damn left turn. Annoying.

Settings: Sometimes, after the power problem I noted earlier, the settings are changed. Example: Text to speech of road names gets turned off, and I cannot turn it back on.

Finding streets/addresses/POIs/cities: Sometimes it cannot find well known streets, addresses, POIs (even though the POI came directly from their site) and even cities. I have it not find Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX at times...not exactly podunk towns.

Overall, I am beyond frustrated with this product and Tomtom in general. Very disappointed that Tomtom couldn't care less about supporting this product, after spending $350. Let the buyer beware.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
Summary: Bluetooth issues
Comment: This unit had massive problems with connecting to my Blackberry Curve through Bluetooth. It simply wouldn't do it regardless of whether attempted through the GPS unit or the Blackberry. The point of having this syncing is to allow additional features that might make the TomTom fun to use and versatile. I returned it for a Garmin instead.


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All prices are in US dollars