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- Equal parts PDA and GPS device
- Advanced SiRFstar III GPS chipset
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile 5.0
- Integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and MP3 player
- Sometimes convoluted directions
- Poor battery life
We found many reviews of the HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion (also sold and reviewed as the rx5900). Because the HP is a hybrid product - part PDA and part GPS - most reviews come from sources that don't regularly review GPS devices. MobileTechReview.com and PC World have the best reviews. Laptop Magazine, CNet.com, PDA Street.com and GpsPasSion also have useful reviews. We also found helpful owner-written reviews at Amazon.com.
According to reviewers, the HP iPAQ rx5915 is equal parts PDA and GPS receiver. In other PDAs with navigation capabilities, GPS is more of an afterthought, but the iPAQ rx5915 uses the top GPS microcontroller and TomTom software for navigation. With Windows Mobile 5.0, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and an MP3 and video player, the HP iPAQ rx5915 is unmatched for those who want a full-fledged GPS unit combined with an organizer and media player.
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Our Sources
MobileTechReview.com is especially qualified to review this hybrid product. This review is comprehensive and detailed, but too technical in places for some readers. The review includes short lists of pros and cons for the HP iPAQ rx5915, and a rating of four stars (out of five).
Review: HP iPAQ rx5915, Lisa Gade and Tong Zhang, Nov. 17, 2006
James Martin devotes a column to the HP iPAQ rx5900. Although columnists may have relatively informal review processes, Martin conducts an exceptionally substantive review, in which he evaluates GPS routing performance. "The TomTom software frequently gave me truly convoluted directions," he says, so he cannot recommend this unit as a portable GPS.
Review: iPAQ rx5900: A Worthy Travel Companion?, James A. Martin, June 28, 2007
3. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Laptop magazine doesn't cover any aspect of this versatile product in depth, but it touches all bases. The review attempts to be comparative, but fairly concludes that the rx5900 is unique. Reviewer James Stevenson highly recommends the HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion for frequent travelers seeking a combination GPS, PDA and MP3 player.
Review: HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion, James Stevenson, Sept. 28, 2006
4. CNET
This short review of the HP iPAQ rx5900 GPS includes short lists of pros and cons, and a rating of "very good." A couple of comparisons are weak, especially one with the Garmin nüvi 250, which is not a competing product.
Review: HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion, Bonnie Cha, Sept. 27, 2006
In this descriptive review, Gerry Blackwell shares his experience with the HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion, offering observations on ease of use, features, and capabilities from the viewpoint of a typical user. There are no comparisons to other products.
Review: Review: iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion, Gerry Blackwell, Apr. 12, 2007
After testing a late prototype, the editors of this site offer a brief review crammed with technical details. They praise both the hardware and the software of the HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion, but note that shrinking the antennas to fit them inside the PDA leads to lower GPS sensitivity.
Review: Reviewed: HP rx5900 GPS PDA - Fast and Autonomous, Editors of GpsPasSion.com, Updated Feb. 9, 2007
7. Amazon.com
The HP iPAQ rx5915 has amassed more than 150 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com, though it's hard to glean an overall idea of satisfaction. Most reviews are positive. Some owners say the iPAQ works better as a PDA than a GPS, but others say exactly the opposite.
Review: HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
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