TomTom GO 920 Review

TomTom actually has the honor of being the largest consumer GPS provider in the world. That experience has allowed them to develop innovative products and really get to the heart of what customers want and need.

This experience also means they know that it's important for any GPS device to have out of the box functionality. The easier something is to use, the more value users will get out of it. This TomTom GO 920 is certainly no exception.

TomTom GO 920 GPS Navigator

Style

The TomTom GO 920 is a step up from the previous model of the 910. The GPS device is now slimmer, which allows for more portability. The outside of the unit is far more functional and is a great addition over the models of year's past.

The screen is also in widescreen so you can see exactly where you need to go. The wideness also makes it a lot easier to use the touch-screen functionality and flip through the different menus.

GPS Reception

The GPS signal is reportedly quite strong. Even when it is not strong TomTom has their users covered. It uses "movement and gravity" sensors to determine where drivers are when the GPS has been dropped. This makes it easy to navigate to one's desired location even when other companies' units might have problems doing so. This is especially helpful when traveling under buildings, bridges, and tunnels.

Travel

The device comes installed with complete and up to date maps of the US, Canada and Europe. These maps are clearly seen with the 4.3" widescreen. There are many points of interest and special features that make traveling incredibly easy all around. The best part is these are configurable by the user as well as other users from all around the world.

Configurable Maps

While it's nice that most modern GPS units have POI technology, it can sometimes be difficult to find exactly what you want. This TomTom allows you the opportunity to add your own points of interest. It goes a step beyond that as well. You have the chance to upload your changes or additions to the TomTom community with the HOME website.

That means there are other users just like you sharing excelling points of interest and making note of things that need to be made known to other travelers. It's the community aspect that really makes this a great GPS unit to own. You never have to worry that you'll have an out of date map because the chances are good that another TomTom user has come before you and made the necessary changes.

Advanced Features

One of the things that sets the TomTom GO 920 apart is that it offers voice to text technology. Speaking an address is certainly easier than typing one in. The unit can understand what has been spoken and turn that into route directions.

There will be times where the user and passengers might not be exactly within arm's reach of the device. When that happens it can be tempting to reach over and strain to use the GPS. TomTom doesn't want that to happen, so they have included a Bluetooth remote control. This makes it easy to operate the machine no matter where the passengers and driver are within the car.

Complaints

There are a few complaints about this machine from various users. These mainly focus on the accessories and additions to the unit rather than the unit itself. For example, the mounting mechanism for easy mounting doesn't always work. This can be frustrating for those who want to make sure their GPS device stays put. Others have not had a problem, so it might be due to outside issues.

Other people wished the menu interface where a little simpler. This makes sense, however, the TomTom packs in so many features that a well designed menu with many different options is really the only way they can fit them all in.

Summary

TomTom is a very popular company, and this model of GPS has proved to be one of the most exciting options. While there are a few user complaints, the overall feel is that the device is comprehensive, configurable, and easy to use. The dependability factor is especially excellent with the movement and gravity sensors.

There is a newer model of this item: TomTom GO 930

Also available as TomTom GO 920T which comes bundled with RDS-TMC traffic receiver and a one-year subscription to the Clear Channel traffic service allowing users to receive real-time traffic information.