Max Tech: The TomTom GO 920

If you're the type who's got to have the latest technology, consider the TomTom GO 920. The 920 and its companion model, the 920T (includes a traffic information receiver) sit atop TomTom's in-car GPS line. The 920 packs just about every possible feature, plus some TomTom exclusives, and does so within an attractive and solidly built package and at a competitive price.

The first things you notice about the TomTom GO 920 are its fine construction materials, finish and design. Its solid feel and subtle gray colors complement any nice car interior. Its windshield mount is simple, but sturdy and effective.

"Enhanced position technology" (EPT), determines and shows your position even when you can't receive a satellite signal, as in a tunnel or a long underpass. It works as advertised.

Remote control: I came to like using the remote and not craning forward to get at the touchscreen. The remote is intuitive, controls most features, and slips snugly into a nice remote mount you can affix to an interior surface. It is difficult to open for battery installation, however.

The remote complements yet another high-tech feature, voice address input. Speak your destination city and street, select your address number with the remote, and you are on your way. The voice command works in combination with limited manual or remote inputting.

The GO 920 also offers an excellent map browse feature. Call up the browse map view, zoom in and out with a slider touchscreen control that appears on the right, and move the map with your finger.

The GO 920 can be equipped with an optional traffic receiver ($130), but if you want traffic tracking and avoidance, you'd be better off purchasing the 920T model with the traffic receiver bundled.

There are more of the features you expect at the high end, such as:

• Hands-free Bluetooth phone connection.
• Route demo "movie" that lets you preview a route.
• A TomTom exclusive: MapShare, which lets you share map updates with other TomTom users.
• A very strong alternate route feature that clearly presents and lets you select from multiple options.
• Concise and accurate text-to-speech directions.

My only criticism of this technical tour de force: the menu system is a bit complicated, partly to pack in all of those features. Otherwise, it is a very powerful and useful GPS that is a pleasure to use.