Customers Reviews
2010-03-03
Gets you where you need to go.
Even though all of my friends who have GPSs went with Garmin products, I decided to purchase this TomTom because it was a great value. I'm extremely happy with this product, and haven't even scratched the surface on all of the features that TomTom provides.
What really sold me on the TomTom was the combination of bluetooth compatibility and the TomTom MapShare technology. With the bluetooth setup, I can legally take calls while driving. With MapShare, I can keep my map of the area up-to-date.
I've taken my TomTom on a few longer car trips, and it's performed relatively well. As with any GPS, one shouldn't accept its word as the be-all end-all truth--there were a few times it tried to send me in a wrong direction, or took me off a main road only to tell me to turn right around and get back on. But, I have to say, it certainly did better than I would have done by myself, trying to figure out directions or navigate a map while pulled over on the side of the road. (Also, partially, it is my own fault for not updating my maps as often as I should!)
(The reviewer was compensated for posting this review. However, the opinion stated in the review is that of the reviewer and the reviewer alone. Further, the reviewer independently selected this product to review and has no affiliation with the product maker/distributor, Amazon or the review requester.)
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2010-02-18
Voice speed, accent, Blue-tooth poor , Routing Excellent
The street names are only available in computer voice. The programing apparently has a limited space for the sound bytes for the street name. If it is a longer one, it comes out run together like "MartinLutherKing" Boulevard. Boulevard comes out slower, but that is less important.
The "English-USA" computer voice still has a foreign accent. That combination makes the Street name option in voice navigation useless.
Bluetooth fails to connect more often than not.
Tom-Tom parts are shipped incorrect, and stock listing on their web site is wrong.
Routing is excellent!
Route recovery, planning, and corrections are Excellent!
Why a picture viewer on a navigator that warns you to keep your eyes on the road?
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2010-02-14
Death of the unit after warranty expired
At the time of purchase I wanted a "top of the line" unit. In fact I just needed 4.3" screen and text to speech and paid top bucks for features that are now standard. I paid $500 in September 2007. I expected many years of service in return for the hefty price tag. At least there was a solid 2 years warranty on the unit as the store told me. WRONG. When I needed the warranty I went on the web and found out that Tom Tom America was just in between switching their warranty policies to make them more local. Go 710 (or a unit bough before certain date early in 2007) still carries 2 years warranty. Starting with Go 720 you are cut short. The store, of course, was not updated on this issue and I was mistakingly let to believe the warranty was solid. Boy, I needed the warranty. Now I am stuck with a dead body after less then two years of service (the date of review is 8 months later).
At first, shortly before the first year was over the unit started turning blank while in usage. It was still giving directions but the screen went blank. You tapped the screen and the picture vent on. Then after some 15 seconds it started dying again. You tapped it. Again. Again. It was an intermittent issue. Some days it still worked fine and then it turned bad again. I missed my chance to have it serviced back then as I was relying on the ...bullet proof 2 years warranty. It was VERY annoying but still drivable. Thus I failed to have it serviced. Now it is gone.
Come on TomTom!!! $500 for less than two years of UNRELIABLE service?!
As other users complain, the battery started dying soon in the life of the unit. You HAD TO plug it in. (There was no way to use it as a standalone unit like you wanted WALK with it downtown.)
Of course it did not hold on the windshield. Right in the middle of a dangerous turn it could fall on you. And into dangerous turns it drove you. In downtown Boston it sent me round the circle (as I refused to turn into one way in the wrong direction the device wanted to drive me). It indicated turns LATE and then you could have LONG detours to make up for.
I am giving it two stars for the following saving graces:
Fast on the fly recalculations and re-routing.
The screen was bright visible in all conditions (when it worked).
Regarding the battery somewhere I saw a d-i-y instructable for replacing the battery. I think it was for older Go units but this useless unit can now be ripped with no loss anyway. There is a regular li-on battery that is pretty much standard for any electronics of this type.
TomTom is grasping with this "calculated obsolescence". Taking lead from Apple, Amazon Kindle II and similar. BAD.
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2010-02-13
Decent GPS but inability to change the battery makes this a very expensive "disposable" product
I bought this GPS on the day it was released in July 2007 so I have now had it for about 2 1/2 years. One thing I wish they would have advertised is that there is no way to change the lithium battery once it dies. I bought this for about $500 (since it was the day it released) thinking that it would last for several years and I would be able to purchase a new battery for it once the lithium battery died. Now, 2 1/2 years later, the battery does not hold a charge (and has not for a while) so I am basically stuck with a GPS that is only useable when plugged in to the car charger or an a/c adapter. All in all, I would say the following:
Pros:
1. The itinerary function allowed me to input multiple destinations and set a route.
2. The screen size makes it easy to view while driving. Glare was never a problem with this unit.
3. It redirects quickly if you miss your turn.
Cons:
1. The battery is not removable or able to be changed. This is not mentioned anywhere in the literature that comes with the unit.
2. The MapShare function did not work when adding streets, it only worked when changing the name of a street. I think this feature does not work well because they just want you to purchase the updated maps from them instead of changing your own maps in the GPS.
3. The TomTom Customer Service Manager quickly became irate when I voiced my dissatisfaction. When I called about the battery issue, they were quick to direct me to their website where there were new units on sale instead of addressing the problem.
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2010-02-10
Delivered
Tomtom 720 delivers. No problems with downloading maps or voices. Paired with my mobile easily. Available voices are enough.
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