Remember when you got your first plastic wristwatch back in the '80s? Wasn't that stopwatch feature handy? Well, prepare yourself for the newest generation of cool watch technology. Timex's Ironman Speed + Distance system ($225) uses a GPS satellite signal to measure real-time speed, average speed and maximum speed. You can also measure distance instantly, have the time automatically corrected for
to-the-second accuracy, and set travel monitors that calculate customized trip information. The watch, which has the com-pany's familiar Triathlon design, works in conjunction with a small transceiver you can wear on your belt or around your arm using a Velcro strap. Sometimes the unit's a little sluggish to acquire a signal, but it doesn't seem to have any trouble maintaining signal strength, even while underway. Of course, it stands to reason that an unobstructed sky over a boat will give you the best chances for a strong signal, making it a good on-the-water option if you don't feel like replacing your speedometer cable. While the watch itself is slightly bulky, the added size means that control buttons are large enough to operate easily. Instead of the tiny lap-count buttons from the old days, the oversized stopwatch functions are located right on the watch face. In addition to the new bells and whistles, the watch has all the features you'd want on a regular sports watch including a variety of alarm modes, dual time-zones, a countdown timer, and Timex's great Indiglo night light.