0ur opinion:

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Whether you're on the road for business or pleasure, this advanced, high-definition 3-D navigation system will upgrade your trip to first class.Before you go, you can customize your itinerary on your PC and download it to your iPAQ 310 Travel Companion; then it will guide you turn by turn to your destinations. 0n the way, you can use it as a hands-free answering system for your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, as well as enjoy premium digital entertainment.

--November 11, 2007:
Hewlett-Packard has used its considerable expertise as a computer manufacturer to introduce improvements into the iPAQ-310 that make the company's first dedicated GPS navigation device astand out from the crowd, but help raise the bar for portable GPS navigators in general. At 4.3 inches wide, 3.4 inches high, and 0.7 inches thick, the device is quite small and slim, but fits rich navigation and multimedia features, better than DVD screen resoulation, a unique true 3D display, and robust business support into that little package. HP touts this as 'different and unique for the travel connosieur,' and it's innovative features certainly make a convincing argument to back up that claim.

Unique, high-definitation navigation display  with 3D models of buildings.	lt All Starts Under The Hood The biggest difference in the iPAQ-310 is one you might not even notice, until you turn the iPAQ-310 on, that is. The iPAQ's processor is much more powerful than any portable device out there right now. lt uses a SiRFtitan 600MHz dual core processor with 128Mb of onboard RAM, compared to the 400MHz SlRF lll and 64Mb of RAM in other high-end portable GPS navigators. This means faster route calculations and re-routing. lt also means more processing power for the graphics display, which leads us to one of the other things that makes the iPAQ-310 unique. An lmmersive, High-Definition, Navigation Experience The iPAQ-310's advanced 3D navigation system provides stunning visuals. For select cities, rather than the simple lines and color blocks you see on other navigators, you get actual 3-D models of buildings in space. Nothing else puts you in space and gives you a real feel for where you are and where you need to go than this device. Panning and zooming are smoother and faster. Plus, the 4.3-inch (diagonally) widescreen display has far better resolution than competitive models, 800 x 480 pixels compared to the current standard 420 x 272 pixels, which means all of those 3D maps are clear and detailed.
Easy-to-use interface	Full-Featured Navigation HP developed it's own user interface for the iPAQ-310 based on Windows Mobile 5.0. The interface is clear, intuitive, and easy to use. The device comes with text-to-speech capability, which allows it to offer directions with real street names, as well as Bluetooth for hands-free phone calling. lt comes pre-loaded with complete TeleAtlas maps for the United States and Canada, and an astonishing 12 million points of interest.	Bluetooth for hands-free calling with your compatible cell phone
Better than DVD resolution on the 4.3-inch widescreen	Rich Multimedia Features At 800 x 480 pixels, the high-definition resolution on the iPAQ-310's screen is better than most dedicated portable video players. Coupled with an SD card, the iPAQ-310 functions as a true premium personal entertainment system with a video player, MP3 music player, photo viewer, and 5 pre-installed games from GameboxClassics.

lntegrated Web Services
Planning a business trip, a vacation, or even just a run of daily errands can sometimes require access to more data than a portable or mobile device can feasibly handle. Hewlett-Packard's answer for this is a website, www.ipaq.com that allows you to download map updates, load custom points of interest, travel reviews, reservation information, and more into your iPAQ-310. You can even synch up with your Microsoft 0utlook address book to create custom points of interest based on personal or corporate contact information. You can upload and share your travel plans for others to use and customize, or find trip plans online to help you explore along the way or at your destination.


Specifications

• 0perating system:Windows® CE 5.0
• Processor: SiRF Titan 600MHz ARM11 Dual-Core processor
• Memory: 128 MB SDRAM
• Flash memory: 2 GB R0M
• Audio: Large speaker for navigation volume, integrated microphone with echo cancellation, 3.5mm 3-pin stereo headphone jack
• Ports: 1 mini USB, 1 headphone/line-out, 1 microphone in, 1 GPS antenna
• Slots: 1 microSD
• Display: 4.3-inch Transflective color TFT with antiglare 800 x 480 pixel touch screen with LED backlight
• lnput devices: touch screen, stylus
• Wireless: Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
• GPS: Advanced SiRF embedded GPS receiver with lnstantFix time-to-first-fix acceleration
• Software installed: HP navigation software with text to speech guidance and web based trip planning, digital video player, digital music player, picture viewer, games, Bluetooth hands free, calculator, world clock, contacts with 0utlook sync
• Dimensions: 4.3 inches w x 0.7 inches d x 3.4 inches h (110.20 x 18.20 x 86.80 mm)
• Weight: 6.6 oz (187 g)
• Battery: Removable/rechargeable 1700 mAh Lithium-ion
• Power supply: AC Adapter
• Warranty: 0ne-year parts and labor in most regions; 90 days technical support for software in most regions. Additional offers may vary by region

What's ln The Box
iPAQ-310, car kit, car charger, AC charger, sync cable, slip case



Available 0ptional Accessories

• ExternalGPS Antenna (FB058AA#AC3): Enhances GPS reception inside vehicles.Comes with a five meter cable with low profile, non-sliding puck.
• Traffic Channel Car Charger (FB055AA#AC3): Adds real-time traffic and travel information capabilities to your iPAQ GPS. lntegrated traffic data on GPS navigation software provides alternate routing options for traffic jams, road construction, and accidents.
• Sport Case (FB005AA#AC3): Sport-inspired construction with form-fitting design offers protection from scratches and knocks when on the go. Comes with detachable carabiner clip to easily attach your iPAQ to a backpack or bag. 0ffers slots to store memory cards.
• Screen Protector (FB007AA#AC3): Protects your iPAQ screen from scratches. Antiglare coating allows use in bright sunlight. lncludes handy cleaning cloth.
• Bluetooth Stereo Headphones (FA303AA#AC3): Listen to your music from up to 30 feet away from the iPAQ.

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Buyer's feedback: - * This GPS unit WOWs compared to others I've tried. ...
Perspective:
This is the 5th GPS software I've owned:
Pharos, Mapopolis, iGuidance (V1,2,3, and 4), Navigon, HP iPaq (iGo)
(plus Streets & Trips which I have used for navigation with a laptop while I was in Europe.) I classify myself as very tech/computer savvy.

After trying the Navigon 2100 vs. HP iPaq 310, I thought the Navigon was useful, but the HP iPaq just WOWs. If they were ice cream flavors, the Navigon would be vanilla, but the the iPaq would be the fancy sundae treat from Dairy Queen.

For a while there I was thinking of installing iGuidance4 on my iPaq 310, but now I don't see any reason to. After using it for a while, I've found I like the iPaq package a much better solution for my needs!

Overall, I've found the iPaq to be vastly superior to the Navigon in just about every aspect and well worth the extra cost.

I will add that some users have had lockups with their iPaqs which appear to be (bad) hardware related, with some people having their problems resolved when the units were replaced.

Also, HP has released a firmware update which is available when you install the Content Manager software to download and install the update on the iPaq. (It's not available as a direct web download. Must use Content Manager in order to get it.)

I've been using mine for a few weeks now and with all the tweaks and playing around with it, I've not had it lock up even once. I did create a cross country route from Chicago to Vancouver, Canada and the iPaq handled that just fine. The routing calculation took about 30s was reasonably fast compared to other GPSs. After that, it did bog down a little bit, I suspect because I was inside and the GPS position was shifting around causing recalculations every so often, but it never hung.

iPaq Pros:
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"Wow" Features: (thing that make me go, "dang! that's good")
GPS Software
- When configured for 2D display, as you get close to the turn, the software zooms in and switches to 3D mode with heading up. After the turn, the software zooms back out to 2D mode with North up. (That's exactly the way I'd like it to work.)
- parts of the map is 3D!! I'm not talking about the 3D buildings, but the terrain. I was driving over a very short bridge the other day, but the screen showed the bridge was curved and peaked at the top and not a flat bridge. Also I could see the hills in the background. At first, I thought maybe it was just "artificial" landscape, but as I drove around town, it seemed accurate, then when I zoomed out, I realized that, yes, it does (or at least appears to) have 3D or relief information. When in day mode, the map shows the terrain as a relief type map would.
- You can configure how close you want to be to the next turn before the software switches to 3D.
- 12Million POIs. Lot and lot of POIs and very well categorized too. POIs include phone numbers.
- Push in rotary knob on the side is a nice touch. To adjust 3D tilt of the map, just turn the knob. To adjust volume, push (click) the knob in first, then turn the knob. To adjust brightness, double click, then turn the knob. (Hold down knob for additional functions)
- I like how the POIs markers are transparent on the map.

Other Pros:
- GUI for finding POIs around a point on the map is very easy to use: Click on a point on the map, hit the location button, then POIs: Voila, a POI list around the point.
- POI map display had a "distance" setting for each of the categories and some of the subcategories. This lets the system determine how close to the route the POI must be before it shows up.
- for a 800x480 resolution screen updates are fast. (It's 5x the amount of information compared to screens that are 320x240)
- MANY choices for languages and accents. (not quite 100, but just for English alone, I counted 10 different selections of accents/genders/styles. Not all voices have text-to-spech though.)
- dynamic volume adjustment (based on speed) is customizable for min and max speed
- "economical" driving mode which appears to be "lowest fuel cost"
- different routing options based on car, bicycle, truck, bus or taxi
- trips can be planned on the PC, picking restaurants, hotels, etc, (requires online connection which uses google maps data) then downloaded to the GPS.
- Outlook contacts can be sync'd (uploaded) to the GPS (but this has a few quirks)
- Full screen mode which stretches the map so it goes into the menu and status bar areas, (like iGuidance).
- good sensitivity and fast time to fix (I can get a signal inside the house pretty easily)
- many software extras: music player, video player, games
- compatible with SDHC cards
- easy to install additional software and get ActiveSync working.
- Internal and external flash shows up as Mass Storage Media in windows
- Content manager makes it very easy to update software and select what software components (maps, voices, information) the user wants installed
- recalculations are very fast
- predictive text entry

Hardware
- 800x480 screen is FABULOUS and very bright
- decent speaker
- solid feel
- mount is easy to get GPS in and out of and feel secure
- has Bluetooth
- 600Mhz processor with DSP

iPaq Cons:
- can't click on POIs (to bring up details) in map mode, only in list mode can they be selected
- 3D map view zoom level cannot be changed, only tilt perspective can be changed. (Zoom level can be changed in 2D mode though.)
- day view is great, but night view is quite bland.
- Contact lookup could use more artificial intelligence. (state names need to be typed out in full and street NAMES cannot be abbreviated in any way while street TYPES can, but they must not have periods at the end of the abbreviation.)
- power button logic is poor: short press on, and long press off. It should be the other way around or at least require holding down the button to turn it on.
- Although I haven't see one of these yet for any GPS except the Michelin X970, It would be nice if there was a drop in powered dock to use in the car. I don't like having to plug in the power adapter into the side of the iPaq when I use the unit in the car.

As for some things that others have commented on, I do agree with some, but others may be misinformed or just completely wrong on some of the technical points.

1. Some people have said the iPaq can't show a complete route. This is completely wrong. It is very easy to show the complete route on the iPaq:
(a) view route graphically on map: Click on the [2d] screen soft menu.
Rotate the wheel to zoom out as far as you need in order to see the entire route. I routed Chicago to Vancouver. I could get the entire route on the screen. I supposed if you routed coast to coast, there is a possibility that you won't be able to see the entire map of the US on one screen, but you would see at least 3000-4000 miles. Then a click-and-drag can move the map over.
(b) view route in text: Click on Route->Details and scroll through the turn by turn directions.

2. Route calculations.
I've not seen any issues yet. No wacky routes, no driving off bridges, etc, but I did change the default routing method to Economy and that is all I have been using. I don't have any software that I think routes better. I think Streets & Trips and iGuidance are both comparable in routing to the iPaq.

3. Sound:
Yes, I've heard better sound from AIOs, but if you compare the iPaq to the Navigon 2100, the iPaq is just much better. If I compare my iPaq to my Dell Axim X50v, the iPaq sounds louder. If I compare my iPaq to my Dell Axim docked in the iTrex holder with external amplified speaker, the iTrex holder sounds much better. The speaker on the back of the iPaq isn't that big so it is a bit tinny but at least I can hear it over road noise whereas the Navigon was extremely tinny and I couldn't always hear it. Both Navigon and iPaq get crackly at full volume, but Navigon is much worse. I guess it's all relative on what you are comparing the sound to. In terms of voices sounding computer like, I disagree the iPaq is any different than other TTS systems I've heard. I do appreciate the configurability of languages/voices/accents. I think it's a lot better than the iGudiance "young lady (digitized), old hag (TTS)", which although comical is somewhat distracting. I do wish they would have put the speaker so it faces the front. HP and Navigon both put the speaker so it faces the rear of the screen.

This is a great GPS! I highly recommend it.

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Buyer's feedback: - great item
I used this gps to take a trip to ma. aboul 700 miles it works great. when you drive in a city it is so cool. I"am going to buy one for my wife I like it so much. it was not hard to input the address or to use the navigator. in spanish no hay de que , hermoso ir de vacaciones. gracias ron

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Buyer's feedback: - * Great Product, Fine Resolution ...
This navigation system with its 4.3 inch wide screen delivers great resolution.

The 3d graphics are spectacular! The buildings that it displays are significant or recognized buildings. Also displayed are topography.Zooming in and out is swift.

I am very impressed with mine and also with the Ipaq website downloadsI've gotten.

to me this is a 5 star worthy product and I'd recommend it without reservation.

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Buyer's feedback: - The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single HP iPAQ 310
As a first time user of GPS, I am very impressed by the features on the Hewlett Packard iPAQ 310 Portable GPS Navigator. In my opinion, the units flaws are minor compared to the freedom it provides the user. I have confidence that it's going to get me to my destination and home again.

So far, I've programmed the iPAQ 310 with destinations I'm already familiar with (home to work), areas in unfamiliar parts of town (destination shopping I wouldn't have bothered with unless I had very reliable directions), and destinations in towns up to 100 miles away (long weekend trips).

The route may not always be the shortest, but instructions are clear and detailed. On one occasion it took me off the highway five exits early and directed me on back roads to a destination that was immediately off the expressway. On another occasion, when I was trying to reach a town 70 miles away, it chose a route that was about 15 minutes longer but simplified the trip by adding more expressway and less 2-lane state road driving.

If you miss a turn, the iPAQ 310 will tell you that you're off course and instruct you to turn back. It will even tell you where to turn around. If you fail to reverse in order to get back on your original course, it will plot a new route and continue to give you instructions to the destination address you've entered.

Once you've reached your destination, it automatically starts providing the return directions.

Graphics are excellent - bright, clear, and easy to read. Even when you can't quite make out what the unit is saying, it displays the name of the next street in a scroll band across the top of the display and a relatively large picture-in-picture arrow shows the direction of your next turn. While doing some interstate driving at dusk, I noticed that the background color changed from green to black at the official time of sunset. It made things noticeably easier on my eyes as I glanced between the road and the GPS screen.

The audio can be difficult to understand while the car is in motion. This was very bad when I had the unit lying on the console,or when my co-pilot was holding it - even holding it up to my ear. After I had the unit suspended in the windshield mount, the spoken directions were less muffled and much easier to understand. The speakers could be improved in the next generation model.

Although the audio can be indistinct, the unit repeats instructions at frequent enough intervals that you should be in no danger of missing your turn. For example, "In one mile turn right on Broad Street." "In one half mile turn right on Broad Street." "In one quarter mile turn right on Broad Street." "In 400 feet turn right on Broad Street." "In 20 feet turn right on Broad Street." "Take the next right." Not all GPS units give the street name for the next turn, and having that is a huge help.

Even if you can't hear the audio announcement, a chime alerts you that an announcement is being made for upcoming activity, and graphics indicate the direction of the next turn and the street name.

The delivery format for directions can be toggled between a map showing your vehicle as a moving arrow passing cross streets in real time, or you can view a list of turn by turn directions.

If you're trying to quickly enter a lot of commands, or if you're trying to enter new commands while the unit is processing a command, it may freeze up. There is a reset button to correct this. I have not experienced any freezes while the GPS is giving directions or providing mapping en route.

The charger for this has an unusual configuration. One end of the cable plugs into the GPS device, the other end has a USB port that can plug into your computer to download trip directions, or you can plug it into a USB slot on either the AC wall outlet or car cigarette lighter adapter. Be sure to take the cable and car adapter with you on trips. If the battery dies it may not be easy to find your way.

To sum it up, as noted in other reviews there are some flaws, but they seem minor overall. This is a reliable unit that acquires satellite quickly, and provides clear reliable instructions to reach your destination and get home again. If you haven't used GPS before, be prepared for one of those life changing devices that you'll never want to be without again - think first VHS, microwave oven, or cell phone. Highly recommended!

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Buyer's feedback: - * I'd be lost without it! ...
Ok, sorry for the bad pun as the title to my review!

By looking at other reviews it is obvious that opinions range from "great" to "horrible" for the HP iPAQ 310 GPS. I can say that I am very firmly entrenched in the "great" category. While the unit has a few small nuances that could be improved I find the overall product to be worth a solid 4.5 stars!

Others have complained about the volume of the speakers - while this is an area that should be upgraded in a newer version - I have overcome the issue by plugging the headphone jack into a set of small Ipod speakers... the volume problem has been solved!

Some of my favorite features -

- The BlueTooth connectivity is great for talking on the phone while driving.
- The contact list that can be typed into the unit works seamlessly with your BlueTooth Capable phone. In fact, once a contact's address is inputted you can select the address and establish a route to the address. This is a great option for salesmen.
- The games that come with the unit are not necessary but are fun to play.
- Built in media player (for movies and music) although not all movie and music formats are recognized.
- Very detailed screen.
- The navigation system works well. I have yet to have a problem of "crazy" routes as other reviewers have mentioned. I will admit that all of the routes may not be "standard" but they do make sense.
- The Points of Interest (POI) function will always help you find gas stations and restaurants. In fact, we have already found newly tagged favorite restaurants based on the GPS's references!
- External memory cards can be inserted.

Possible areas for improvement-

- Inputting addresses is a bit more cumbersome than other models.
- The satellite input is not instantaneous, but not necessarily slower than competing products.
- A wider recognition of file formats would help the iPAQ function as a more handy media player.
- While I have overcome the problem - louder and clearer speakers would help satisfy the most demanding customer.

The HP iPAQ 310 is a great performing GPS at fair price. I have no problems giving it 4.5 stars