TomTom Go 720 is a step above an entry level model with better features and higher price. TomTom is one of few GPS navigation unit manufacturer that has dominated the GPS market. TomTom Go 720 offers proven reliability and quality that has been the hallmark of any TomTom GPS navigation units.

Screen

Like similarly priced GPS units, the TomTom Go 720 comes with 4.3 inch touchscreen. The touchscreen is coated with anti-glare material that shows off a very crisp and clear screen in any light condition. You can change the brightness according to your preference or light condition. The touchscreen is very responsive to touch and don’t require too much force before it registers an input. It is a very high quality screen.

Ease of use

One of TomTom’s strength is its easy to use interface. Without having to read manual, you can start figuring out the overall operation without too much problem. The device comes preloaded with maps on its 2GB internal hard drive. Once it booted up, it took about 3 minutes to acquire satellite. Once locked in, the device is extremely easy to use. You can input destination via onscreen keyboard. From start to finish, it only takes few inputs including the address.

Reliability

Previous TomTom model we’ve reviewed had no problem with accuracy and reliability. As stated earlier, the TomTom Go 720 took around 3 minutes to locate the satellite. The satellite tracked the GPS unit very accurate as I drove around. Some units have significant lag that is very apparent and annoying. The overall route calculation was spot on with accurate routing. The destination did not involve incorrect or unnecessary travels. The rerouting worked perfectly once I missed a turn. The overall routing and reliability was very good. However, the unit kept dropping satellite signal throughout the testing. This was particularly frustrating as there were no high rise buildings or tunnels during the test route. I’m not sure if the unit was bad or there were some interference.

Features

The TomTom Go 720 boasts impressive set of features. The list includes the standard text-to-speech, Bluetooth, real time traffic, and media playing capabilities. The turn by turn with street name is very easy to understand and the visual representation is clear and easy to understand. The call quality through the device was crystal clear and easy to understand. The help function on the device is pretty helpful if you get stuck on usage or programming. The preloaded maps and POI were fairly up to date. Few of the new hotels in the city did not show up. With media player feature, you can stream mp3 music through your car speaker from the GPS unit. You can get live traffic updates with TomTom Plus service. This includes the up to date weather information. The TomTom Go 720 should satisfy most users looking for feature packed GPS unit.

Battery

The rated battery life of 5 hours was not very accurate. The normal usage only yield about 3 hours without having the unit plugged into the automobile. This shouldn’t be a problem if you leave the unit plugged into your automobile.

Expandability

TomTom is very good with their updates and you shouldn’t worry about the map or firmware being outdated. The downside is that these upgrades tend to come with service fees that might be free on another GPS manufacturer.

Pros

• 4.3 inch touchscreen
• Text-to-speech
• Fast GPS fix
• Accurate direction

Cons

• Poor satellite signal
• No free map update

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	TomTom Carrying Case and Strap for the GO 720 and 730 GPS List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $1.99 Used From: $13.99 Average Rating:

	TomTom Carrying Case and Strap for the GO 720 and 730 GPS List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $1.99 Used From: $13.99 Average Rating:

TomTom

TomTom is the biggest manufacturer of personal GPS navigation units. As such, TomTom has variety of models to choose from. TomTom 130S is an upgrade to the popular entry level model TomTom 130. The 130S adds text-to-speech feature on top of all the features present on the TomTom 130.

Screen

TomTom 130S features the same screen from the 130 model. The 3.5 inch touchscreen is smaller than most mainstream units. The screen size was intentionally reduced to make the unit as portable as possible. The crisp display makes up for the diminutive screen size. The screen is legible in any light and performs very well under bright sun light.

Ease of Use (User friendly)

As with other TomTom models, the 130S has extremely easy to use interface. The device is ready to use right out of the box. The user interface is very intuitive and requires few taps from start to finish. There's no need to run updates or installation as all the necessary maps and software comes pre-loaded. The fold out mount is extremely easy to set up. You can share this unit between vehicles as the fold out mount makes it possible to share the GPS unit.

Reliability

The route calculation is very accurate. It's easy to enter POI or address as destination. The text-to-speech is very clear and easy to understand. The route recalculation had no problem after missing an exit on highway. Also, missing a turn in street navigation gave good route recalculation. It did not just ask to make random U turns. The unit took less than 5 minute for initial satellite acquisition. I had no problem with signal loss.

Battery Life

TomTom rates the battery life at 3 hours. My unit average well below 3 hours. The actual battery life depends on the usage. You might get closer to 3 hours.

Features

The TomTom 130S comes with great many features. TomTom 130S features QuickGPSfix which allows the unit to acquire satellite faster. TomTom offers life traffic via optional TMC receiver. Also, TomTom offers latest map guarantee which allows for free map update if your map is not the latest version. The device also comes with TomTom Home software. TomTom home allows for customization of the maps and POI database. Also, you can send addresses from Google Maps or Mapquest to your TomTom device via your computer. As with other TomTom units, you can download custom voices

Expandability

TomTom continually updates their software and the map. The map upgrades and various other services cost extra money.

Pros

• Good screen clarity
• Text-to-speech
• Fast GPS fix
• Current map and POI
• TomTom Home software
• Friendly user interface
• "Help Me!" feature
• Traffic capable
• Accurate direction
• Good reroute recalculation

Cons

• Small screen size
• Low volume
• Optional costs
• Cost

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	Carry Case for TomTom One 125 130 130S 140 140S XL 330 330S 340 340S XL-S Go 930 920 730 720 630 530 520 & Garmin Nuvi GPS Sale Price: $9.65 Used From: $11.99 Average Rating:

TomTom

The TomTom GO 920 is the current flagship of the TomTom company, and it offers a host of features that aim to set it apart from the other GPS devices on the market. Among these are a “Help Me” feature that allows you to find the nearest hospital or police station, and a MapShare feature that allows you to make corrections to the onboard maps. A definite improvement over the company’s previous 910 model, the TomTom GO 920 is a lot slimmer and smaller than its predecessor, yet is able to pack a lot of features and enhancements in a smaller package.

What’s on-screen

Remarkably enough for a unit of this size, the TomTom GO 920 includes a 4.3” touch-screen, making it comparable to other GPS units in the same price range. This screen contains all the information that you have come to expect from a GPS device, with your current route highlighted and the next turns being marked with an arrow. Nearby POI’s are also placed at various points on the map, with icons marking what type of points they are. On the upper left and right corners of the screen, zoom in and zoom out buttons are conveniently included, and there is even a music button that allows you to play mp3 files stored in the TomTom GO 920’s internal flash memory or from an SD card. The display’s color, brightness, and clarity are more than sufficient for every day use, and you should have no trouble viewing it under a variety of lighting conditions.

A walk in the park

In spite of the many features included in the TomTom GO 920, it is quite simple to use. You have the option to get directions either through voice messages, through text displayed on the screen that is identical to the voice messages, or through a 2D or 3D map that show you where your car is on the map and which way to go. The various POIs included in the onboard database make it easy to find key locations nearby, and the previously mentioned “Help Me” feature makes it easy to hone in on important emergency services.

Accuracy and reliability at the palm of your hand

As far as reliability goes, TomTom GO 920 is at par with other similar units in its price range, which comes as no surprise really given how far GPS technology has come in the past few years. Where TomTom GO 920 makes a difference however is in its Enhanced Positioning feature, which utilizes movement and gravity sensors that pinpoint your exact location even in the event of signal loss. The MapShare feature also allows for user updates to maps and POIs, so you are assured of the most accurate and up to date locations all the time without having to pay extra for the service.

More juice when you need it

The TomTom GO 920 offers a battery life of 5 hours when it is fully charged, which places it at the top of the range of GPS units as far as battery life goes. Of course the actual time will vary depending on your usage, with the use of features such as the mp3 player obviously placing more demands on the unit, but you can probably expect to get a good 3 hours or so of use from the TomTom GO 920 before you have to recharge the battery. You have the option to recharge the device form your car, from a wall outlet, or from your computer.

Features out the yin-yang

With the included “Help Me”, MapShare and TomTom HOME software features, the TomTom GO 920 already has enough of the goods to make the competition sweat, but there’s a lot more to the unit besides. There is also an mp3 player, Bluetooth capability, an SD card slot, a speaker that outputs voice commands, phone calls, and mp3 music files, a remote controller, a microphone that lets you record your own voice messages, and an FM transmitter that allows you to play all the sounds through your car stereo instead of through the built-in speaker.

Room to grow

While the 4GB capacity of the TomTom GO 920 is more than enough to store loads of maps and POI data, you will surely appreciate the SD card slot that provides you even more storage space for additional maps and mp3 files.

Pros

• Clear, bright, and informative screen
• Easy to use out of the box
• Continuously updated maps and POIs from other users
• Text directions in addition to voice directions
• SD card slot
• Enhanced positioning feature

Cons

• Phone calls can’t be transmitted over FM
• No altitude readout
• No case included
• Manual leaves a bit to be desired

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	Car Windshield Flexible Gooseneck Mount for TomTom GO 520 520 720 730 920 930 920T 930T GPS Sale Price: $12.49 Average Rating:

	Car Windshield Flexible Gooseneck Mount for TomTom GO 520 520 720 730 920 930 920T 930T GPS Sale Price: $12.49 Average Rating:

TomTom