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| Hewlett-Packard iPAQ 310 Bluetooth 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator | 
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| Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Category: CE
List Price: $449.00
Buy New: $238.89
You Save: $210.11 (47%)
New (7) Used (5) Refurbished (3) from $179.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  95 reviews
Sales Rank: 5325
Platform: Pda
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 800 x 480
Display Size: 4.3
Includes MP3 Player: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 3.4 x 4.3 x 0.7
MPN: 310
Model: 310
UPC: 883585309559
EAN: 0883585309559
ASIN: B000VRYLU2
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Simply the best at the moment April 1, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Wow factor galore. This unit rocks. Hardware par excellence and decent accompanying software.
This unit is not for the beginner, but will be oh so pleasing for the initiated. The one prerequisite is that the manual should be read and studied cover to cover to extract full value from this unit and to reduce the incline of the learning curve. The unit is usable straight out of the box, but the gems are uncovered when the functions are fully understood.
I have the iPaq to go with my TomTom and I am very pleased with it. I agree with some of the criticisms of the unit, as it does have some software flaws, but most can be easily remedied.
HP had cut out the Pedestrian mode and carpool lane functions, but I have found simple hacks (code modifications using Winword or Notepad) on-line to restore them and they work. Same for overspeed warnings.
I have added Windows Total Commander CE (CECMD) and used this to add TCPMP (media player) in the Games Folder, all of which are freeware. So the unit is very modifiable for those so inclined.
The 2 glaring flaws that are not fully user addressable are the on/off button logic and the low volume of the TTS. The unit can be turned on much too easily and this could drain the battery inadvertently. The volume can be improved a bit with a software hack, but the better solution lay with HP upgrading the voice quality to the higher frequencies used by the likes of TomTom. I also read that there is a buffering issue with the TTS voices that can also be addressed by HP in a firmware update.
On another point, the early production models with model number FB86.... were flawed and withdrawn. They were replaced by the much better FA97.... series which had way less issues. HP did a software upgrade in Dec. that helped a bit as well.
Here is my list of recommendations to HP to make this unit an absolute slam dunk winner:
1) Fix the on/off logic
2) Make other maps available on SD cards (Coming in a few weeks, I am told)
3) Make TMC traffic available in the US
4) Restore original iGo functionality like PED routing, Carpool lane routing, etc.
5)Increase TTS volume/quality
6)Make the factory default Restore pack available (so modders can fix any screw-ups and thus HP can lower their cust service costs. (actually, now that I have discovered how to enter Engineering mode, I can do a restore to factory default myself, but it is a risky procedure).
Please note.... before this, I had never used Windows CE, so I am no expert, yet I was able with tips on line to do all that. I am no computer expert, but I can potter around.
I had never used iGo navigation software before, and the iPaq runs a modified version of iGo2008 which is NOT YET commercially available.
I find the array of options staggering on this machine. It basically can do just about ANYTHING the competitors can. I can only think of 3 useful functions missing that other available offerings can do at present, Reality View, Lane assistant and Selective (named road) route exclusion. The HP does routes exclusion by distance only. Every other cutting edge function exists like, Where am I? ..a la Garmin, Screen lock, disable snap-to-road, 3D mapping (buildings), contour mapping, tracklog, GPS accuracy readout, user changable battery, 3rd party application loading in the Games folder, 2 games provided in the stock unit, elevation readout, destination side of road indication on map, auto time zone switch, GPS AUTONOMY (extremely fast fix), 40 channel/2 million effective GPS correlators!!!, satellite graphics screen, auto day/night switching, etc, etc etc.
This unit has it all, and can still be improved. SCARY!
To cancel route, depress the scroll wheel on the right side of the unit and that will bring up the option in a small window. The scroll wheel is a hidden functionality in itself.
Great info can be found on the forum at [...]
General info:
The Ipaq 310 new firmware update for North America should be on the server to download this week, the versions for Europe early next week. Both via content manager tool that you download from [...]
 False advertising April 1, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I just ordered this item and know after a day of doing research i am hearign both good and bad things, but the biggest problem i have is that it states in the add that an optional Traffic Channel Car Charger (FB055AA#AC3) is available for real time traffic. s a commuter in LA this is my number one priority and I jst found out that this is not yet availble in the U.S. and there is no time frame as to if and when. Had the staement been clearer i would not have ordered this unit at all and would have found one that better suits my needs. This is going to get turned around upon receipt and I think Amazon should be more clear on ityems it advertises to make sure the accessories are actually availble. I am more disapointed in Amazon then in HP. at least if you go to the HP website it does not list this as an option!!
Great GPS March 31, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Hardware is the best out there(600 MHz, almost HD resolution)- comparable to $600+.
Software is good. TTS is not that great. I worked w/ TTS development in the past and the problem appears to be buffering. Due to buffer under runs, at times you will hear words broken up. I am hoping that HP will fix this issue soon. TTS w/ UK voice seems to be better. You can also disable TTS and use regualr voice (no street name).
This is not ur average GPS, you must read the manual(which is in the CD).
I hear a lot of people complain things like; how to adjust the volume, enter street number w/ contacts... All this is doable if you read the manual.
HP's GIANT idea falls short March 24, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is HP's GIANT idea implemented poorly. I read the specs of this machine and was impressed with its capabilities and advanced design. I questioned the negative reviews and decided to see for myself.
I score this product for each of it's main functions
- GPS - Works ok, good reception, but the navigation program resets on occasions making the unit useless. 4/10
- Bluetooth pairing with a phone - poor sound quality. HP, if you want a reference on how to build good quality sound in a very small package, check out hTC products. 3/10
- MP3 player - Here HP tries hard to create a simple user interface - I wish they didn't. 3/10
- Video player - Supports limited formats, did not even test
- Games - here you are limited to the preloaded games HP gives you - 6/10
- Calculator - 8/10
- Contacts - HP tries again to re-invent a well known function. Again, I wish they left the Microsoft standard UI - 3/10
- Platform - USELESS. the unit runs on a LOCKED custom Windows Mobile 5 that won't allow you to use this device for any other purpose. This is HP's narrow definition of "Travel Companion" 0/10
Good Concept but Rush to market destroys potential. March 17, 2008
The concept and features are novel but this device needs alot of redesigning or work to bring it to its potential. Here are some negatives.
The GPS reciever is no where near as sensitive as it should be, my garmin handheld does a better job of tracking my speed, It doesnt recognize very well when you have taken an off/on ramp, ie it will instruct you to exit the highway, then perform a route recalc because it doesnt know that you are actually on the off ramp.
Maps
Are woefully out of date in some areas, by YEARS, i dont know what source they are using for their maps in City/Urban driving but they are frustratingly out of date. In city driving the map/gps reciever cannot distinguish between a sharp curve and a turn, any curves that approach 70 degrees will be taken as a turn and the unit will instruct you to make a left/right when it is actually a sharp turn. The unit will switch from 3d back to 2D whenever it likes. If i set a destination and navigate to it, en route the unit will arbitrarily switch from 3D back to 2D and show me a rather large area map, therefore i lose the ability to see any upcoming streets. The unit will revert back to 3D when it is time to execute an upcoming turn but by that time i've missed several points of references/landmarks.
Bluetooth/Phone
The phone frequently mutes incoming calls, meaning when i answered a call via my phone or via the unit, the callers could hear me but i couldn't hear them.
Nightmode
Doesn't allow identify dead end streets like normal mode does.
User Friendliness
NONE at all, while it is not recommended to drive while operating the unit, this thing is a HAZARD and you basically have to stop, or plan well ahead because the steps needed to search POI's or enter POI's are very many and very tedious. The instruction manual seems like it was written by the marketing guys versus the Engineers/Tech Guys because it lacks detailed instructions and seems bent on terse praising of the unit and the features versus offering verbose detailed technical information.
Online support
Trip planner is totally useless, updates are far and few in between if any. You cannot enter or download points of interest from online and i cant seem to get the trip planner to work standalone on the unit, there must be some secret trick to get the option to light up on the unit, because its otherwise darkend/unavailable.
I bought this item brand new on Ebay and i have been strugging to give this unit a chance i have had it about 2 weeks and im ready to throw in the towel. I have given it ample opportunity to perform in City Driving, Suburban driving, interstate and state highway driving. One more week and im selling this bad boy on Ebay. The size of the screen and graphics arent enough to out weigh everything that is wrong with this unit.
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