What Do the Drums Say??
by Gary Woods

I keep ogling Global Positions System (GPS) devices and I think I've finally found the one for me. It's called TomTom GO www.tomtom.com and retails for $899.95.

Navigating the system's interface is exceptionally simple; with its large, easy-to- read icons providing access to all the operational features. At no point are you required to fiddle with a stylus or to work through hard-to-find submenus. Plus the GO will run for 5 to 6 hours on a full battery charge, which means you don't always have to be connected to the cigarette lighter adapter.

The included CD contains the main application and street-level maps of all 50 states which can be uploaded through the mini-USB port onto the 256 MB SD card located on the front of the GO.

The quality of the 3D maps is astounding and gives you a much closer approximation to the driver's perspective than 2D versions. The zoom feature provides even more detail or, alternatively, a broader overview of the surrounding area.

Switching to night mode when it's dark allows you to anticipate upcoming sharp turns in the road, which is a great additional safety feature. When driving under overpasses or in tunnels the system switches on its ASN (Assisted Satellite Navigation) feature, a technology that calculates your position in the absence of GPS signal based on information from internal position sensors.

So if you're still on the fence about GPS check out TomTom GO.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910