HP iPAQ 310 Automobile Navigator - FA974AA#ABA
HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion Portable GPS w/ 4.3" Touch Screen

This is a really good GPS. The 3-D maps are great. The bluetooth works great and it has a lot of extra features. I highly recommend this GPS. Plus HP is a really good brand and it has a 1 year warranty. The screen is bright and it is very easy to use.
 
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Pros: Beautiful screen/display Very bright screen, usable in sunlight GPS locks on faster than my old unit Good looking, durable device that does everything a GPS should do (and some things it shouldn't...like games) Cons: Sofware response could be faster Text to speech voices sound distorted (there are GREAT non-text to speech voices however)
 
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The screen resolution (800x480) is the best available, but the picture is not as bright as I would have liked (can't see well in the sun with the brightness cranked all the way up). HP has slapped a custom interface on the iGo program, which hides a lot of functionality (like, for example, being able to mark blocked roads). However, you can pretty easily run other GPS software, including the original iGo. The screen resolution and landscape orientation prevent most games designed for VGA (640x480) from running on it. The signal acquisition time was slow and it lost the signal a couple of times. These problems seem to go away if the unit is mounted to get a clear view of the sky.
 
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The good: 1. Great for the price. 2. Great features, text to speech, different speech engine choices, automatic day-night modes, bluetooth, etc. 3. Great screen resolution and clear graphics. The bad: 1. The unit lags and slow to respond at times, I tried to update the firmware and maps, problem still exist. 2. The update process takes forever! About 1.5GB download with new map upgrades. It took half of a day. 3. Navigation routes is weird at times, shortest route is definitely not the shortest. It does NOT recognize U-turn lanes and some one way routes!! It is a safety concern! 4. Speaker quality is not that great, sometimes it's hard to hear at highway speed. 5. Unit overheats easily and a warning message will pop out, needs to be stored in a super cool place when not use. 6. There is no shortcut key to tell the unit to stop navigate and show only the map. You either have to manually edit the routes to delete the destination, which takes forever. Or simply turn the unit off entirely. A $200 unit should have a simple feature that can tell the unit to stop navigate. Overall this unit is reasonable for the price. Build quality is okay, comes with lots of accessories and free map upgrades. Overall performance is nowhere near manufacturer built-in units. If you want a cheap navigation that gets the job done and some useful features, this is the one.
 
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Overall this is a great device. The FA-Version is much better than the older FB. Very important is to update the iPaq via the content-manager!! The device runs much smoother after the update. This GPS uses a slightly changed iGo2008-version, so basically it is hackable and you can change the design of the screen like colors and layout, since it is also running WindowsCS 5.0 you can add WiFi and install other software.
 
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HP prices this GPS at $449, so at less than half that it's a bargain. I bought it because I thought I'd be able to plan a route on the computer and transfer it to the GPS. Such was not the case. I have Windows Vista, which is probably part of the problem. The computer would recognize the link to the GPS for about half a minute, then disconnect it. I saved the route, which means, I think, that it appears on Google Earth. When I tried to look at it I found there was an error in the programming and Google Earth would not accept it. I tried five or six time with the same result. So...tried to program it by tapping the screen. If you only have one destination I think it will be fine, but I was trying to route an 18 day trip with about 25 stops. I got it in alright, but then the GPS decided it would recalculate the route. I had put in a large circle. What came back was a figure eight. I tried it again. Several times the unit froze up and had to be rebooted and everything was wiped out. I haven't actually used it yet, but I think if I just program it every morning before I start the day's journey it will probably be all right. I can't tell yet how accurate it will be. The bluetooth works fine and I had my cellphone paired in less than a minute. The entertainment would have driven me crazy if I didn't know anything about this stuff. Nowhere in the instructions does it tell you to download your photos or videos to an SDHC card. Evidently my unit does not store photographs or videos. Only shows what's on the card. The voice giving instructions is a little garbled at times, and I'm not sure I will be able to understand it when I'm driving. I will add to this review after I have used it for a month and taken a long trip with it.
 
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I bought this unit after poring through numerous review sites mainly because of the price point and the amazing reviews about the units screen. I have to agree that the clarity of the screen on this unit is amazing and really puts it a step up from the other GPS's that I have used. I've read of many people have had problems with the unit freezing and I won't say that it doesn't happen, but I've only managed to witness it 2 or 3 times and otherwise I've had no problems. There are a few unpolished features, the biggest of which I think is the bluetooth functionality. The unit functions admirably as a speakerphone, but getting it up and running is more work than it needs to be and this is invariably what I've been using when the unit has locked up. I think that the TTS voices sound very good, although I upgraded to the newest firmware as soon as it came out of the box so I don't know just how improved it is over the old version. All in all, very happy with this unit.
 
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Now, I do not proclaim to be a GPS guru, nor do I work for HP, but I am the type of consumer that educates themselves thoroughly prior to making a significant purchase, especially one in the classification of “electronics”. My search was simple. Find the best GPS choice to meet the following criteria: Widescreen, TTS (Text to Speech), Bluetooth capabilities, User Friendly (more on this later), Sub $300 price. After searching(and researching)all the different portable GPS unit offerings currently on the market, none of the “big hitters”(Garmin, TomTom, Magellian, & Navigon) really stood out head and shoulders from the crowd. My desire to find a GPS that fit my criteria was often met between 80 & 90%, but not 100%, leaving me to continue my search. The abundance of user forums is invaluable to anyone seriously contemplating a GPS purchase. If you’re like me, you can really get a good feel for a unit’s track record prior to making your final purchase. I highly recommend GPSreview.net and GPSpassion.com as valuable resources. Editorial reviews can be informative, but good and well thought out user reviews are truly priceless. It was through these user forums that I came across the HP iPAQ 310. This unit is a new venture for HP, as a stand alone GPS unit, as opposed to the multitude of handheld iPAQ PDAs with GPS capabilities. Please note that the “User friendliness” of this unit is not intended for the “GPS for Dummys” type consumer that prefers the “click it and it’s done for me” approach. User friendliness is always attainable when one takes the time to clearly understand a product's features and controls. There have been quite a number of negative user reviews that state unit input and navigational problems. I can honestly tell you that one MUST spend a little time reading the user’s guide prior to using this unit. Afterwards, you will understand better the “process” and attain the results you expected to get when you first purchased the unit. The main purpose for this unit is GPS navigation, and for me, the HP iPAQ 310 works flawlessly. (Please note that HP has recently issued a firmware update 04/2008 which is downloadable via HP’s Content Manger software at www.ipaq.com/navigate/home.do . This update has greatly improved some previous issues, but none greater than the text to speech function and clarity) I have experienced no crashes or freezes with this unit. The Bluetooth function, though not perfect, works relatively well for my purposes. It is fairly clear, but the pairing process is a bit more complicated than I would think is necessary. Again, if you read the manual, you can master it relatively quick. Then there is the widescreen display. WOW! This unit boasts an incredible HD quality LCD screen, unmatched by any other unit available in its price point (or any for that matter) to date. The screen is very responsive and the input process, though a bit more complicated in comparison to say, the Garmin Nuvis, is still very straight forward and easy to master. Also, the ability to hack & customize this unit (which was not on my list of criteria) is a major bonus IMHO. Refer to the forums at GPSPassion.com for amazing modifications available through the incredible minds of “seasoned” users. In conclusion, for the “non-technically challenged” user, the HP iPAQ 310 is an extremely capable and fun to master GPS unit at a price that is basically a “no-brainer”.
 
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Took the unit on a roadtrip to the N. Florida boonies. After taking me in a big five mile circle where I ended up a block from where I started, it did locate an address that Mapquest was unable to locate, and took me right to the front door. It is not as intuitive to use as some of the other units, and the directions in the manual are sadly lacking. It kept reverting to the first destination I ever put in and the correction for this was not easy to figure out. The speaker is not loud enough unless maybe you are in a large luxury vehicle. It does what it is supposed to do, but if I had it to do over, I probably would have got something different.
 
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I have a GPS garmin 260 witch I pay $280. I bought also HP GPS. PROS:Garmin 260- Easy to use, easy to find POI, loud speaker, long battery life.HP GPS - affordable price, many features,3D maps,swappable battery (good feat),4.3'' screen. carrying box, wall & car charger, bluetooth. CONS: Garmin 260- Expensive for just a GPS, not swappable battery, not wall charger, not carrying box, No bluetooth. HP GPS - little complicate to use at the beginning, Speaker no as good as Garmin but I can live with it. Battery life aprox. 2 hrs. "Conclusion": HP is doing a good job on GPS. The price is affordable, Once you learn to used it, is easy, people complain about battery life, you can control the bright of the screen to save energy. I returned my Garmin GPS. Now HP GPS is my travel guide for now. Thanks HP.
 
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This thing is fun, especially the 3D mode in a city. I have used it for a few weeks and it has had some problems every week, locking up, not receeiving a signal: just push re-set and all seems to be fine.
 
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Great unit, well built and easy to use if you are not stupid. Has great zoom out (for a 2D map) and zoom in (for 2D and 3Ds). I owned many GPS units but this one is best. The battery life is too short, but it is all. Take it, love it. Thank you HP!
 
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Love the screen and the 3-D perspective. First time owner of a land GPS. Have a Garmin in a private airplane which is phenomenal. Don't take many long trips in the car or for work so I expect navigation will be fine for me. Unit locked up after two days. Called HP and they delivered a prepaid shipping box the next day. Unit was returned two days later. Suspect that the battery was defective, but jury is still out on reliability. Bluetooth was very easy to configure. Using with photos on an SD card has remarkable quality. Haven't tried music or video yet. Will be nice to take on vacation. Small unit but generous screen.
 
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HP is horrible ! I have a product and it doesnt work. HP does not take care of the after sales. All they care is to sell their product. WORST every customer service ! Garmin or Tom-Tom is the best deal ! This product has very less features than them. And the processor is too slow. Hangs up !! Totally not satisfied with this product.
 
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This is a case of too little for too much money. Despite being branded iPaq, which until recently meant "PDA included" this doesn't have any functions of a PDA other than (theoretically) the ability to upload your contacts. My family bought it for me for a holiday gift expecting that it would include PDA functionality, since it even shows calendaring and contact loading on the box... Unfortunately even HP's forums are full of complaints that even the limited contact upload doesn't work. The screen is absolutely gorgeous compared to any other nav system, bright, great resolution, but that's about the only place where this nav device is better than my wife's two year old Magellan unit. Despite the price it does not do text to speech, which is something you should expect in a nav device this expensive. Nav performance is good - it has quirks in behavior like any nav device, like treating the breakdown areas on some highways as turns that you have to make to stay on the highway. There are also a couple of highways in my part of the country that I haven't been able to figure out how to pull up, and a couple of highways where the device doesn't believe there are any addresses along the road. The interface is not terribly intuitive either, I've used many nav units successfully without having to deal with a manual, but this one has things arranged in a less logical way. While in general it's fast to respond to things, there are some weird, weird quirks where something as simple as selecting a menu item will cause it to pause for 15-20 seconds. I've also had to reboot it five or six times out of perhaps 20-30 uses. If this was a $200 unit, I'd be thrilled because it's very competitive with low end nav units. But at this price point, it's not at all a good value.
 
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This unit is in my possession for only about 4 days at the time of this review. Many niceties, some minor annoyances, some unfinished firmware issues. The screen is by far the nicest I have ever seen on ANY device this size...remember this is built as a PND (personal navagation device) with the extras added after. 800 x 480 resolution with super bright backlighting make the 4.3" display a beauty to experience. Many different options as with any better Nav unit, route guidance, voices, TTS, maps of U.S. and Canada. Built-in flash for the maps as well as extra flash with the option of even more flash with an optional up to 8gb SDHC(full size). Video is via WMV format only, Music is via MP3 or WMA, Pictures are JPEG. Built-in games are nice. Sound is okay but distorts when loud. Voice/Music volume could be louder. The unit doesn't completely shut down but only hibernates, so if the bluetooth feature, which works great by the way, is not disabled, it will drain the battery faster. The 3d rendering with shape and height of buildings is way cool but only available in larger metro areas. I like this device and have used both the Nuvi 360 and 660 models and this is better at everything I would use a PND for. Battery life is okay, however charging the unit via proprietary(hp only)cables and adapters is a hinderance. The included mounts and case are very nice.
 
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