Info about Phones
Get A TomTom GO 720
Watching some people preparing to drive their cars is like watching a circus juggling act. Between the GPS, cell phone, music player, and their associated chargers, mounts and cases, it’s no wonder some of us get lost, even before we start the car. Consumers wanted to stop juggling. TomTom answered with the GO 720. Its primary functionality is to help you navigate from point A to point B quickly, safely and consistently. This it does well. Secondarily, it offers hands-free functionality for your mobile phone, lets you listen to music and audiobooks. The bonus is that this set of features comes in a slim, attractive package. The downside for TomTom GO 720 is how these features are delivered. Ease-of-use is a recurring theme in customer criticism.
Physical Design
With dimensions of 4.65 X 3.27 X .94 inches and just 7.8 ounces, the TomTom GO 720 is ergonomically friendly. Most of that 4.65 inch width is taken up by the 4.3 inch LCD touchscreen display. The touchscreen is laid out well with a perfectly placed volume control along the lower edge of the display. Some consumers lament the lack of external volume controls, such as a button or dial. Ultimately, it is a matter of individual consumer preference. One feature designed to please everyone is the choice of keyboard for data input. Whether you are most comfortable with QWERTY, ALPHA or even Dvorak, the TomTom accommodates with a simple preference setting. The design is functional, but also aesthetically pleasing in it sleekness.
Performance
A common complaint with GPS devices is operation while driving and audio/visual quality. Audio/visually speaking, the TomTom GO 720 protable GPS performs well. Other than color washout in bright light, the maps are easy to see. Brightness can be set in preferences, and there is a night mode. The device audio is acceptably strong. The FM transmitter allows MP3s, book audio and recorded sound files to play on the vehicle’s FM radio. It will mute the FM when the device needs to give you navigational instructions. The Bluetooth capability can seem anemic, if you only read the provided documentation. From the manuals, it seems to only operate with a handful of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. It will, with some effort, operate with more devices than are listed.
The 2GB flash memory makes processing very fast. For those who need more than 2GB will hold, you can extend it with an SD card. Some ease-of-use complaints with the new TomTom GO 720 GPS involve the somewhat complicated nature of changing preferences and settings. Like all manufacturers of mobile devices, TomTom strongly recommends that all setting manipulation and programming occur when the user is not driving. While this is common sense, some drivers will attempt to interact with their devices while operating their vehicles. So, it is fair to mention that the process for updating maps and downloading traffic updates may be a bit cumbersome for new GPS user. Setting up Bluetooth connectivity for non-listed devices may take a little technical know-how, but it is doable.
Conclusion
The GO 720 most definitely offers a rich set of features for the price point. It performs its intended function well in most areas, and adds features, like TomTom’s Map Sharing, to do it better. The ability to record voice notations for planned routes is handy when the navigation instructions may not far enough in detail. The bottom line is the effort you are willing to invest in set-up. It is worthwhile to delve into the CD-ROM provided in the box for additional instructions and software. It’s worth being navigated through this navigation device to take advantage of its best features. While it may offer you shortcuts on the road, it is best not to take any during the set up and customization process.