TomTom GO 720 review roundup

It looks like TomTom's managed to hit all the right marks with its new GO 720 GPS unit, at least according to the first few reviews that have turned up, which all seem to have found plenty to like about the device. Among the first to get their hands on the device was GPS Review, which found the unit to be "more than just a simple specifications bump to an existing model." In particular, it was especially impressed by the ease with which you can receive live traffic information, as well as the unit's text-to-speech functions, thinner size, and longer battery life than other models. Also putting the unit through its paces was Computeractive, which dug the unit's much-touted map sharing feature and abundance of extra features, but was slightly less impressed with the need for a cellphone connection for traffic updates. Lastly, and most thoroughly, the folks at Mobinaute seem to have examined every nook and cranny of the device, providing plenty of pics and a ten minute video showing the device in action. Of course, it's also all in French, but they too don't seem to have found much to complain about, other than some stability problems when the device was connected to a PC.

Read - GPS Review ("hard to imagine this device not being a huge hit")
Read - Computeractive (5 out of 5) [Via Navigadget]
Read - Mobinaute ("forecasts of what will be the accessible navigation of tomorrow today")

[Daniel @ Aug 1st 2007 1:08PM]

What's going to happen when GPS units become standard in cars? What will TomTom and the like do then? I'd imagine focus more on software than hardware. *shrug*

I'm looking into one of these, but I'm trying to descide if its worth it if I plan on replacing my car within 2-3 years anyways...

[paul34 @ Aug 1st 2007 1:23PM]

Well, its possible that like telephones in a house, there might just be some sort of space and a universal port that you just "plug in" a unit you buy yourself.

The problem with OEM systems is that they often don't offer all the features of an aftermarket, are not as updated as often, and generally, just don't seem to offer as snazzy as an interface (including map views) as many aftermarket units. Just look at the somewhat 3D view the 720 offers - how many OEM units have you seen that do that? Most OEM units (newer) that I see simply show the scraggly overhead map view that looks like it was personally drawn by someone giving you directions.

Regarldess, I suppose the thing that counts in the end are the voice/visual instructions and calculation speed, as well as whether the GPS signal can be quickly acquired and held onto even in difficult terrain. Beyond all this, timely map data is essential as well, but the extent to how essential depends on what kind of areas you live in.

For me, I like in an area that is constantly under construction and change (Central Florida). Maybe if you lived in an old city or whatnot, then updated map data is sort of moot for ya.

[Caboose @ Aug 1st 2007 1:36PM]

The reason they keep making Tom Tom and such is because they are lot more versatile. You can take it out of the car and then put it on your motorcycle. When I was visiting another country, I carried it on me and it should me how far away the sites were and what there was to see. I'd rather have a stand alone then an oem car gps any day.

[Jeebus @ Aug 1st 2007 3:47PM]

What will the car radio/CD player manufacturers do when that becomes standard in cars? Oh wait...

[Daniel @ Aug 1st 2007 3:52PM]

Thanks for the info guys. I understand the versatility of an OEM portable.

However, I've also seen some car manufacturers with very well though out interfaces and maps, one being Acura/Honda.

The only problem is their POI listing categories which leave a lot to be desired. I'm not sure what service they use to determine their listings, but it needs to be changed.

Anyway, I was looking at the TomTom One XL which I found for only $309. I'm not looking to spend much more than that... do any of you own a TomTom, would you recommend that unit for that price?

Thanks :)

[John Haverty @ Aug 1st 2007 3:09PM]

Like installed car phones, in-dash GPS devices won't last. The OEM GPS units can't come with you on that business trip to the strange city you've never visited before... which is exactly when you'd want one the most.
Portable is the way to go.

[tg @ Aug 1st 2007 4:07PM]

The test seems to be made on a beta version. Hopefully PC connectivity will work better in the final release.

[Gadge @ Aug 1st 2007 4:21PM]

well even if it did become a standard within cars there is also other every day objects to incorporate a GPS system into as well i.e Mobile Phones (already been included within certain models)

doesn't just have to be a standalone product.. :)

[patanfrana @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:22AM]

Love it

[Toby @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:59AM]

Portable makes more sense to me. Besides, you pay such a premium for in-dash, and it just makes resell that much more challenging down the line.

I'm psyched for the 720. The more I hear about Map Share, the more I dig it.

[arthur green @ Aug 5th 2007 5:07AM]

just got go 720 and has problems from the start.
it shows closest police,doctor & pharmacy in IRELAND!...i live in cumbria uk.
also it shows speed limit on motorway as 60MPH ?

[Anna @ Aug 26th 2007 1:21PM]

Make sure you're on the right map.

[Emmanuel Etgar @ Aug 20th 2007 11:47AM]

The reviewers give the TomTom 720 their highest ratings. I purchased a tomtom 720 on 8/18/07. After learning its features however I was disapponited to learn that Tom Tom removed the Voice Recognition features one week before the product was released. I could live this feature, but I had to wait 8 minutes before the TomTom 720 could acquire the satellites. That is not acceptable. A call to Tom Tom support confirmed that satellite acquisition can take up to 15 minutes depending of where you are, when you first fire the unit after it was off over night. Who wants to sit in their car waiting 15 minutes for signal acquisition? I am returning the unit.

[SuperQ @ Aug 27th 2007 1:55AM]

I just picked up a 720, took seconds to pick up sat. It uses the SiRF 3 chip, which just about every good GPS uses these days.. it's one of the best GPS chips on the market.

Maybe you should pull out of the tin-roof garage before trying to get sat coverage ;)

[Jerry @ Aug 20th 2007 7:54PM]

I picked mine up at Best Buy on 8/18 and I love it! Satellite acquisition is fast, less than a minute in the Washington DC area. It even seems to work inside my house and in many buildings. It's easy to use, simple to operate. The only downside is the Tom Tom website. It does not provide much support for domestic USA users. It seems to mostly be aimed at European users. Their web-site is poorly organized and not very clear.
Jerry

[Anna @ Aug 26th 2007 1:21PM]

Tomtom is a European-based company. American support number: 1-866-486-6866

[Mack @ Aug 27th 2007 1:17AM]

I just bought the 720 in Germany for 550 Euros and I'm extremely disappointed. The standard TomTom One offers all the useful features and is available for only 200 Euros.

I paid extra because voice recognition seemed a good idea. Well, it simply DOES NOT WORK! I spent 30 minutes in a quiet room and could not make it understand a single word! I thought my American accent might be a problem, so I asked a Brit. No luck. I work in a multi-national office, so I had native French and German speakers try as well. It could not understand a single simple city name like Paris, London, or Frankfurt. So, voice recognition is worthless.

Support for free FM traffic info is a nice idea, but the info is pretty worthless and often outdated here in Germany, France and Luxembourg.

Auto switching to night mode looks good on paper, but is MUCH too sensitive and switches when you drive through the shadow of a tree or building.

Hands-free phone has annoying echo and is nearly unusable at highway speed in my quiet Audi.

The display is wider than the One, but not taller as would be useful to see further ahead. The One XL has the same wide screen, but again it offers no real advantage over the cheaper One.



Save your money and buy the One or One XL for half price.

[Pete from Chicago @ Aug 28th 2007 7:07AM]

I cannot believe that the voice recognition doesn't work. That was a key selling point for me. For the Pro's: I like the size and the touch screen menus. I felt it was very easy to scroll throught the menu, I give credit to the designers on this point.
The Cons: There is such a short list of phones that will work with the Plus services. A tech told me that "GPRS" was the key feature in phones that the GO 720 needed to work using the Plus service (e.g. TomTom Traffic). I bought a new phone thinking, its new tech with GPRS.... It should work... WRONG! This product seems to be limited to those few choices on the web page. Its got to be the programming. Very disapointing.
I discovered a glitch that when you tried to use the TomTom Home function "Operate my Device" it would give you an "xulrunner.exe" warning then kick you out. It was a quick fix: disable the bluetooth before running. But thats not the point. The point is that this product has alot of bugs still in it which is sad. This product has a good look, feel, and a bunch of great ideals, But it might of hit the market too soon. By the way, when I called back no one could give me a good reason why GPRS works on some phones and not on others.

[Simon @ Sep 9th 2007 11:42PM]

make sure you test hands-free calling and AUX output.
I tested two brand new unit and they both have buzzing problem on hands-free calling and AUX output.
I saw at a discussion forum that a guy tried 6 units at bestbuy before he/she can find a good one without the buzzing.
What's up with QC in TomTom's product?!

[nelly marzouk @ Sep 24th 2007 1:36PM]

Does anyone have a problem with the map sharing? When I plug the TomTom 720 to my pc, I get problems and I had to return it several times.

[wolfi665 @ Oct 24th 2007 4:20PM]

Completely useless for me.

I've bought 720 2 days ago - I wish I hadn't sold my reliable ViaMichelin X950-T.

So far the device is completely useless for me and the reason is pretty simple:

1. Attached my new device to the PC

3. Downloaded the latest HOME 2.0 software
4. It by default runs latest updates - I have got them all.

5. Created backup with 2.0
Device is completely dead - on start it shows yellow screen with red cross.

In the shop changed the device for new one - the same scenario repeated again ?!

TomTom support adviced me not to download their latest application next time (the device is currently in the shop for restoring original software).

Is it not supposed this to be the best TomTom device in the market - in the sense that you expect at least to work ?!!!!!?
Will sell it on ebay and NEVER, EVER WILL BUY TOMOTOM AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My next device will be 980 from ViaMichelin.

And by the way even if it was working it had only Western Europe maps, so if you travel in whole Europe forget about it - I asked TomTom to buy complete Europe maps and they answered me to wait till they produce them - currently you can not buy them because the new fancy MapShare maps are not ready yet - it is pathetic for the supposed leader of the GPS market ???


:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[omz13 @ Nov 9th 2007 4:44AM]

I bought a 720T yesterday. The unit is absolutly georgeous... sadly its now a brick :-) I made the "mistake" of updating the points of interest and now it just starts up and after the TomTom logo appears I get the dreaded "red cross" on the screen. A search on the web shows that many people have had a similar experience. For a bit of mass consumer electronics, it seems very unreliable (apparently its something that happens when you connect to a powered instead of a non-powered USB hub). The unit also comes with a code to give 30 days of free updates to the maps... guess what, it said my code was invalid. So next week I am going to have the pleasure of a one hour round-trip to return the unit and get a refund... looks like I should have got the ViaMichelin instead.

[Mary @ Jan 1st 2008 5:41PM]

Please tell me if the tomtom 720 is wifi ready and how I use it. It is bluetooth but I cannot figure how to go wifi such as psp.

Help

[Lee @ Jan 15th 2008 12:09PM]

I bought a 720 go after Christmas and used it to go from NJ to Kansas. It worked great. I got stuck in traffic and used the avoid route feature, and saved about 1/2hr off my trip. I also bought a 4gb sd card and use it for my music. This feature also works great as long as the card is formatted as FAT 32 and the same file structure is used. As for the blue tooth, my cell phone hookup only took about 2 minutes to configure the first time and now it remembers my phone and reminds me when I need to connect. I've updated the maps and added many POI's. I love this GPS and for the money it's well worth it.

[Fred Sing @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:28AM]

Can you please tell me how to open an on line account.I have tried all avenues and no success,would be most gratefull, I live in Perth.Western Australia

[Joe @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:12PM]

Bought this as a gift for someone, the voice recognition and spoken street names were the main attraction.
The voice recognition doesn't work, and it's slow to reroute after missing a turn.
I've been happy to very happy with previous devices from Mio and Tom Tom, but for all the good features, the slow position/routing has the woman I bought this for considering returning it for another, and I can't disagree.