Review and Tutorial of TomTom GO 630 GPS

It seems that GPS technology is all the rage these days. Not only are there dozens of units that can be purchased, but more and more automakers are beginning to integrate GPS technology into new vehicles. But for those of us who do not have one of those cars and still require the convenience and practicality of GPS, there are numerous affordable units on the market.

TomTom and Garmin have emerged as industry leaders in the aftermarket GPS line of business. This review is for the TomTom GO GPS unit which retails for $349. The TomTom GO 630 comes with a 4.3" touch screen which is more than sufficient to be seen when mounted to the windshield. It comes with a windshield mount, cigarette-lighter style car charger (which plugs into the windshield mount) and USB cable for connecting the unit to your home computer (more on that later). Also included is a disc to install the free TomTom Home software (PC and Mac compatible).

Basic GPS Functionality

When it comes to basic GPS functionality, the TomTom GO does exactly what it is supposed to. If you want to find directions to a location you can do two ways. The first most basic way is to look up the address of the location you would like to travel to. From the main menu tap the "Navigate To..." icon. From here select address. You will then be led through three steps for entering city name, street name, and finally street number. You also have the option of saving the location as a Favorite if it is one that you will need on a recurring basis.

After the address has been entered the TomTom will configure a route and show you a map overview of the route. From this screen press "Done" and it will begin navigating you to the entered location from your current position.

Your position on the TomTom's map is indicated by a blue triangle and the route you should be traveling is indicated by a red line. Turns, changing street names, and any other changes along the route are announced by the default voice for the TomTom, a pleasant, easy-to-hear female voice. Other voices are available as well.

A second way of selecting a location is to choose from a list of Points of Interest. From the "Navigate To..." menu, select Point of Interest. From here you can select a city and type of point of interest (e.g. restaurant, store, gas station) and the TomTom will create a route for you, same as it did when searching by street number, and will navigate you to the point of interest from your current location.

Connecting to Your Computer

The TomTom GO has some great features associated with the TomTom Home software. First insert the included disk into your Windows or Mac computer and go through the installation process. After word connect your TomTom to the computer with the included USB cable. Afterward power up the TomTom and it will automatically connect to your PC. From here the Home software will auto-launch and you will see several options. The most useful will be the update feature. This feature updates your TomTom with the latest software fixes, bug fixes, map corrections, gas prices (so you can find the best gas prices along your route as you travel), and other information. It is a good idea to make a regular habit of hooking up your TomTom to your computer in order to get these updates.

But the Home software is also useful for customizing your TomTom. With Home you can download and install new voices (in a variety of accents and dialects), change your blue triangle icon that show indicates your position on the GPS map, upload custom power-up pictures, etc.

Miscellaneous Features

Points of Interest: As mentioned before, the TomTom GO can take you to any number of types of points of interests from your current location. This includes the ability to look up points of interest (restaurants, rest stops, gas stations, stores, sightseeing) along your route as you drive.

Voice Address: The TomTom GO comes equipped with a built-in microphone so that you can speak instructions to the GPS using a number of pre-programmed commands. Everything from searching addresses to finding points of interest. This makes your trips much safer since you do not have to take your hands off the wheel.

Bluetooth/Hands-free Calling: Phones with Bluetooth capability can be used in conjunction with the TomTom GO to create a hands-free calling experience. Simply go to Phone Preferences from the main menu and select the Bluetooth icon. You will then be taken through the simple steps required to pair the TomTom and your Bluetooth-enabled phone. You have the option of telling the TomTom to connect to your phone's Bluetooth every time they are present together. Now with the two devices paired you are able to send and receive phones via voice commands to the TomTom. This keeps your hands on the wheel and your safety intact.

I have already taken numerous trips with my TomTom and it has become an indispensible tool for traveling. Not only are the directions accurate and clear but being able to look up points of interest along the route has allowed me to find the closest restaurant, store, or restroom quickly and easily. So as you are shopping for your next or first GPS unit, check out the TomTom Home.