HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion
Manufacturer: HP Part number: FA810AA#ABA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion delivers a sleek all-in-one navigation, productivity, and entertainment device to mobile professionals; we just wish it had better battery life.
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CNET editors' review
HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion price range: $489.00
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Edited by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 09/27/2006
The good: The sleek and travel-friendly HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion offers integrated GPS, TomTom Navigator software, and useful travel tools. The Windows Mobile handheld also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The bad: The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion was slow to acquire an initial satellite fix and had subpar battery life. The stylus is also placed in an awkward location.
The bottom line: The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion delivers a sleek all-in-one navigation, productivity, and entertainment device to mobile professionals; we just wish it had better battery life.
It's been a while since we were excited about any handheld device from HP; don't get us wrong, the company has produced a solid line of PDAs over the years, but they've all been pretty status quo--until now. Today, the company introduced its HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion--a sexy and sleek handheld that not only offers the benefits of a Windows Mobile PDA but also integrates GPS into the mix. It's more refined than some of the other PDA/GPS combos out there, such as the Asus MyPal A636; plus, the PIM functionality gives it an edge over the Garmin Nuvi 350. Unfortunately, it stumbled a bit in the performance department. The rx5900 was slow to acquire an initial GPS fix, and the various functions took a toll on processor speed. All said, we still think the rx5900 is a handy device for on-the-go professionals, providing them with the tools for organization, travel, and entertainment. The HP iPaq rx5900 is expected to ship in mid-October and will cost $599, which is on the pricier side, but you do get both the PDA and the GPS capabilities, and it's on a par with other devices in this category.
Design
The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion is a sleek device, both as a portable nav system and a PDA. The travel-friendly handheld measures just 4.7 by 3 by 0.6 inches and weighs 5.9 ounces, making it easily portable between your car and for use on foot. We really like its streamlined look and attractive silver casing and burnt-orange accents. In general, the device had a solid construction, but the glossy coating made it quite slippery in the hand.
The 3.5-inch, QVGA touch screen has a 240x320 pixel resolution and features an antiglare coating, which did a pretty decent job of keeping the display readable in direct sunlight, but colors tended to wash out a bit. As of this writing, HP will not offer a VGA model of the rx5900, which is shame since this type of device would really benefit from an extrasharp screen, but they did not rule it out for future Iterations of the rx5000 series. You can easily rotate the screen's orientation four ways with the screen rotation button on the right spine. In addition to this control, the right side also holds a power button, a small status LED (blinks blue for the wireless connections, amber for battery charge, and green for complete charge), and three more shortcut keys to the Quick Launch page, Navigation menu, and media player. All buttons are identified clearly by small icons, and they can be reprogrammed to open other apps.

To the right of the touch screen, there is a nine-way navigation pad that lets you scroll through the various menus and options and is great for panning in and out of maps. Pressing the center of the toggle also acts as an OK button. That said, we felt the directional keypad was a bit loose, so we didn't always get the precise movements we wanted, and sometimes we had to press down on the control hard to get our commands to register. On a brighter note, we were big fans of the two keys below it, which let you exit out of applications and access the Start menu with the press of one button. As a result you don't always have to rely on the stylus, and one-handed operation is easier. We should note that the way the iPaq rx5900 is built and the orientation of the buttons makes it more comfortable to use in rx5900 landscape mode (horizontally) rather than portrait mode (vertically).
Overall, the rx5900 is easy to navigate thanks to its smart set of external controls and a feature called HP Quick Launch. This utility simplifies the interface by bringing together the five most essential functions of the device--Today, Entertainment, Navigation, Travel Assistant, and Internet--onto one screen, although we would prefer to see another option for the productivity tools.
There is a voice record button, a reset hole, and an SD/MMC card expansion slot on top of the unit, while the left spine has a port for attaching an external antenna for enhanced GPS reception, a mini USB connector, and a 3.5mm headset jack that accepts Walkman-style headphones. The stylus holder is located on the back, as is the rx5900's speaker. One note about the stylus: its placement on the lower left backside makes it bit awkward to access for right-handed users, as we found out during our test period.

HP packages the iPaq rx5900 with a nice set of accessories, including a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), a USB cable, a power adapter, a car charger, a protective case, and reference material.
Features
For HP, the GPS capabilities and the travel tools are the main focus of the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion. The handheld is equipped with a SiRFstarIII GPS receiver and comes loaded with maps of North America and TomTom Navigator 6 software. As such, from a GPS standpoint, the rx5900 has a similar feel and look to TomTom's stand-alone products. It supports text- and voice-guided driving directions (no text-to-speech functionality), automatic route recalculation, and a points-of-interest database. To get started, you enter your destination by address, city center, or intersection, then instruct the device to calculate directions based on a number of criteria, such as the quickest or shortest route, by avoiding toll roads, the required arrival time, and more. There's also an option to plan a walking route, which is great since the rx5900 is so portable. If at any time you want to avoid a part of your route, you can tap the Find Alternative icon, and the system will plot a new course. You can view maps in 2D or 3D mode. A status bar at the bottom of the screen displays useful information, such as the next instruction, remaining distance, and estimated time of arrival. There are also two icons in the upper right and left corners that let you zoom in and out of maps. You can add real-time traffic information, safety camera alerts, and other advanced nav features via TomTom's subscription-based Plus services.
In addition to the navigation functions, the iPaq rx5900 includes a copy of WorldMate 2006 Standard Edition to help with your trip planning. The app provides you with some handy tools, such as current times around the world, international dialing codes, a packing list, and converters for currency, clothing size, and measurement. If you have a long flight ahead of you or you just need to relax, you can keep yourself entertained by listening to your favorite tunes or watching video clips with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. The player supports popular formats including WMA, MP3, and WMV. Plus, Windows Media Rights Management 10 gives you access to audio and video content from subscription services, such as MSN Music, Musicmatch, Napster to Go, and Wal-Mart Music Downloads. You can also view photos, and there's a nifty app called HP Photosmart Mobile to help you create slide shows, share images via e-mail, and record voice notes with pictures. The handheld also comes with two preloaded games (Bubble Breaker and Solitaire).

For the road warrior, you can stay productive on the road, thanks to Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition, which includes the full Microsoft Office Mobile Suite. In addition to mobile versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook, the machine has a handy PowerPoint viewer; we were successfully able to open and view all three of the document types on the rx5900. As far as memory, the unit has 64MB of SDRAM for running apps and a whopping 2GB of flash ROM. In addition, you have access to the SD expansion slot for more storage capacity. Though there's no cellular wireless, the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion is well connected with integrated Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), so you can connect to a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices and make VoIP calls.
Performance
Performance was a bit of a mixed bag. As a GPS device, the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion had a hard time acquiring a satellite fix from a cold start. It took the unit about five minutes to finally lock onto our position, which was frustrating. On the upside, subsequent starts were much faster, and the rx5900 did a good job of tracking our position. Directions were also accurate, as were route recalculations.
The iPaq rx5900 handled its PDA and entertainment duties well. As we mentioned before, we had no problems transferring or opening Office documents. The device also detected our test Wi-Fi access point immediately, and we were able to connect to the Web without a problem with relatively quick download times. Music and video playback were excellent with clear sound and fairly good picture quality. However, if you're listening to your tunes via the built-in speakers, take care not to place the device with the speaker side down. We also plugged in a pair of Shure E3 earbuds, and sound was even better. We did, however, notice a slight lag in performance when we had numerous apps open.
Clearly, battery life is a key factor for a mobile device like the rx5900. In CNET Labs performance tests, where we looped a video clip with all wireless radios off and backlight set to midlevel, the HP iPaq rx5900 1,700 mAh lithium-ion battery lasted for 4 hours of constant use, falling behind the Asus MyPal A636, the Garmin Nuvi 350, and the
User reviews
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Average GPS combined with a Lousy Pocket PC
by larsaraya on July 11, 2007
Pros: TomTom software is reliable once GPS finds signal. Overall size for a multifunction GPS is impressive.
Cons: Lots!!! Just not up to HP iPaq standards. CAUTION!
Summary: I waited six months of heavy use before submitting this review so I feel justified in ripping HP on this one (and I have always loved HP Pocket PCs in ...
Summary: I waited six months of heavy use before submitting this review so I feel justified in ripping HP on this one (and I have always loved HP Pocket PCs in the past).
This device is nothing more than a mediocre GPS with a few barely reliable Pocket PC features. The GPS issues are well documented in other posts. The Windows features are what makes this device a joke. Firmware and software are both a mess. Get used to both soft and HARD resets. Active Sync reeks havoc with every version of Outlook. The touchscreen is the least sensitive one I have ever owned. The device is SLOW to execute every command. Almost all of the buttons are insensitive as well. I thought I was getting the best of both worlds @ $550.00 but got neither. As a devoted HP fan all I can say is STAY AWAY!!!13 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Extensive Research Done Before I bought
by EROCK699 on May 4, 2007
Pros: By far the best all in one PDA/GPS Non Cellular commitment device
Cons: The Rx5900 is for those who are very Technically Inclined
Summary: After doing alot of research of PDA's that has WIFI Capabilities with bluetooth as a plus and a unit in which I did not need a 2 year contract ...
Summary: After doing alot of research of PDA's that has WIFI Capabilities with bluetooth as a plus and a unit in which I did not need a 2 year contract with a cell phone company. I did research on the internet along with going to Office Depot, Comp-usa, Staples, Best-Buy, Sams, Cost-Co and finally Circuit City. I found it to be tough to find PDA's at any of these store's unless it was a $99 unit which really didn't do much more than a mp3 player does. I wasn't sure if PDA's were slowly being taken off the market or if people were just looking for just supped up mp3 players. I found that the there were 4 good units that seemed to be comparable to each other which were the following. The (Sony Milo) Great wifi but felt like a kids toy the plus for this was the quarkey key board that slid from underneith the product but for the price $350.00 I wanted to see what else was out there. The Palm T/X diffently placed 2nd in my book but one I could never find a working unit the only one's I ever had a chance to buy were open box and that didn't sit well although the review's were high and it was competitive was this Ipaq. Then I ran into the RX5900 which had the longest lasting battery power lasting 6 1/2 hours when in GPS mode which takes up more power than just using the pda. The unit comes with so much just to start off with Its a PDA with a Gps built in or Vise versa it comes with Tom Tom software intergrated with Windows Mobile 5.0 which synch's though your computer be it Blue Tooth, WI-Fi 802.11 b/g or the included usb cable's. The unit has the capabilities of playing Video, Music and all the goodies in Window 5.0 which is being pushed by a Samsung 400 Mhz processor. Remember this is a PDA/GPS and it has a 400mhz processor with a SD slot for additional software or added memmory. The only downside is It is pricey currently $479.00 at Circuit city but it is a new product and time will bring the unit's price down. Their is an optional keyboard you can get from HP. Their is just so much more to I can wright about this unit but then I'd feel like an employee for HP so I say check it out. For you techie's out their who want a laptop for your laptop here it is. This pretty much has everything a notebook does just a little longer to learn TO PAY WITH IT. ITS THE ONLY GPS/LAPTOP/MP3/VIDEO PLAYER I'VE EVER FOUND. Good Luck in your search.
Eric Mastro Clearwater, Fl11 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very cool...love it !
by Readybaron on November 3, 2006
Pros: Fast menu's and GPS Rocks
Cons: Media Center isn't finding MP3's...I need to study more. Also couldn't get 2 gig SD to read
Summary: This is a fast machine, and the GPS is awesome and fast, it had everything we've looked up so far.
I can't get the media center to find ...Summary: This is a fast machine, and the GPS is awesome and fast, it had everything we've looked up so far.
I can't get the media center to find the MP3's I put in the "MY MUSIC" folder yet, I may need to study a little more on that.
Also, I bought a 2 Gig SanDisk to put in it and I couldn't get it to work properly, I think it may have been the SD card, going to replace it with another and see.
Over all it's awesome. The damn thing has 2 Gig of storage on it anyway, even if I haven't figured out the SD card yet.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is an example of why PDAs still exist
by robanga on March 26, 2007
Pros: Excellent Tom Tom along with a WM5 PDA
Cons: Not a phone or WAN device
Summary: This is everything it is said to be. You get the excellent Tom Tom UI along with turn by turn instructions and a full Windows Mobile 5 PDA. You also ...
Summary: This is everything it is said to be. You get the excellent Tom Tom UI along with turn by turn instructions and a full Windows Mobile 5 PDA. You also get lots of cables and an excellent car mount. I did find the PDA to be a bit sluggish on some tasks, but the SIRF III aquires a satelite quickly.
I had some issues connecting via bluetooth to my phone (Samsung Blackjack) because the bluetooth 2.0 stack on the Ipaq and the AKu3 smartphone addition of WM5 do not use DUN any more instead they are looking for a "pan" and the ipaq does not like that...but I imagine it will work with most bluetooth phones.
Overall the PDA is laid out very well, with shortcut menus etc. The worldmate software with its weather, packing lists etc. is actually very cool and it truly makes this thing a "travel companion"2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Gadget
by Surcy on December 3, 2006
Pros: GPS, Windows Mobile 5.0, Storage
Cons: SD Card issues
Summary: I have had this unit for a little over two weeks and I am absolutely in love with it. Despite other reports the screen is not squishy. The screen is ...
Summary: I have had this unit for a little over two weeks and I am absolutely in love with it. Despite other reports the screen is not squishy. The screen is bright and can bee seen even in direct sunlight. Gps is fast and accurate but it does take about one minute to initally connect from a cold boot. If I can figure out the sd card issue it wouldbe perfect. I currently can not get the unit to recognize a 1gb Kingston sd card.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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HP IPaq freezes like hell
by sfroogh on September 10, 2007
Pros: Missing camera, and other good elements
Cons: It is not the best PDA or pocket pc if you are looking for one
Summary: After along research, i bought this piece of electronic. However after 5 days while i was working got stuck and tried everything from reset to took out the batteries, but ...
Summary: After along research, i bought this piece of electronic. However after 5 days while i was working got stuck and tried everything from reset to took out the batteries, but there was no sign of the windows screen anymore. i went to futureshop and got a replacement, however this one also freezes and you need to reboot it.
sometimes while you are using other program and you want to turn on GPS, it does not start, unless you press the rest button.
It has very poor connection with pc, if you want to synchronize or you want to transfer your data to your computer, unless you rest it, it does not connect to your pc.
TomTom GPS is also weak, it is not Garmin, with very useful button and categories. For example if you are looking something in Toronto, you have to enter the municipalities' name, while in Garmin it recognizes GTA and small municipalities.
If you want to synchronize your contact list with your outlook, you should backup your list of contacts, it erases all the data in your outlook and replaces with the one you have on your ipaq.
the battery life is really short, and it is so poor, even you connect to your pc or car charges, it does not charge it rapidly and gives you warning of low battery.
It does not have a camera, and does not work with your phone either. It can be used to dial a number, however you have to pick up your cell phone and continues the conversation from there. so do not expect it to be used for calling and receiving phone calls.
Over all it is really poor quality and it is really expensive, i would not recommend this PDA to anyone.
Cheers1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice device
by scl77 on March 26, 2007
Pros: Fast and features packed
Cons: Poor speaker and screen resolution
Summary: This is a great product, I'm hoping the next version will have a hi-res screen for better web browsing and an integrated digital camera with optical zoom to make ...
Summary: This is a great product, I'm hoping the next version will have a hi-res screen for better web browsing and an integrated digital camera with optical zoom to make this product range a truly ideal travel companion.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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My first day of "playing" with my new toy. Only the GPS has been tried and rated.
by LongWindedMike on November 28, 2006
Pros: Accurate; Good route calculations; Good voice prompts; Fast route recalculations; Can input and output waypoints in standard longitude and latitude form.
Cons: Slow to acquire satellites; No off-road option; Short battery charge.
Summary: User information for the HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion is hard to come by this soon after release, so I thought I?d add my two cents worth after only ...
Summary: User information for the HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion is hard to come by this soon after release, so I thought I?d add my two cents worth after only a single day of ownership.
I bought the rx5915 Travel Companion at Micro Center late on Sunday, November 26, and spent quite-a-few hours playing with it yesterday (November 27). This is the third GPS navigator I?ve owned, and my latest unit is four years old and dated. I was interested in the rx5915 first for its GPS features, with the numerous other Pocket PC features being secondary. I don?t have WiFi at home, nor do I own Blue Tooth accessories at this point, so I can?t comment in depth on those features, or on the entertainment or business features. I often stay in a motel which offers free Internet access, so I?ll check out WiFi in a few weeks. These comments will deal mostly with the GPS navigator, which is powered by the latest TomTom Navigator 6 software.
Before making my decision, I researched various GPS navigators on the Internet. I also read the full reviews of the Travel Companion by PC Magazine and Brighthand, as well as posts on several blogs. Let me first comment on problems with the Travel Companion raised in these sources.
Two reviewers commented that the software on their ?preproduction units? was ?buggy,? but they further commented that this was common with preproduction units and that the bugs would hopefully be worked out before release.
If the software in my rx5915 is ?buggy,? I haven?t yet encountered those bugs.
One ?buggy? problem, mentioned by the reviewers, was apparently an occasional crash, requiring a soft boot. I?ve used the GPS, with the WiFi on and constantly detecting access points as I drove, and haven?t had a single crash. Maybe I?ll identify bugs with more use, but so far everything works great.
Complaints were also logged about the single toggle button used to navigate around the screen, in lieu of using the stylus or your finger on the touch screen. The reviewers wished for a separate center button ? one which was separate from the left-right, up-down, toggle functions, for clicking on ?OK.? I haven?t found the unified navigator button to be a big problem. It takes a slight amount of manual dexterity, but nothing a normal man?s finger can?t handle. In fact, I can push down on the entire button to execute an action, rather than having to center my fingernail on a tiny center button, and this can be viewed as an advantage. The single button might be a problem for big fingers, and I?ve had a few instances of accidentally pressing the wrong action, but not many. On the other hand, I was prepared for problems and took care to prevent them by pressing each edge of the button to navigate in a desired direction.
One blogger commented that the screen was ?squishy? (whatever that means) and that the case gathered fingerprints. I find neither of these concerns to be valid. On my unit the screen responds instantly to the slightest tap of the stylus or fingernail (my fingernails are short) and not one fingerprint can be found on the case after hours of handling.
Now for the GPS navigator, the primary feature for which I bought the iPAQ Travel Companion.
As I mentioned, this is the third GPS navigator that I?ve owned. The other two have been Garmins, and the latest is four years old and dated. My old unit requires you to connect to your computer and download maps for the area you plan to visit, plus it does not have voice prompts, but beeps to call your attention to the screen for instructions. Clearly, almost any up-to-date GPS would be superior to this and I considered several.
The various models of the Garmin Nuvi are receiving raves by the reviewers for ease of use. These are dedicated GPS navigators and don?t offer the other advantages of a Pocket PC, including Internet access for e-mail and Web surfing. I don?t have hands-on experience with the Garmin Nuvi, and my comments are based on my reading about the unit on the Internet.
The Garmin Nuvi has at least one important feature which is lacking in the TomTom Navigator 6 software used by the iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion ? a text-to-speech function. The text-to-speech function allows the Nuvi to announce streets by name. For example, the Nuvi might announce ?In 1 point 4 miles, turn left on Broad Avenue,? whereas the Travel Companion might say ?In 1 point 4 miles, turn left.? With the Travel Companion you would then glance at the screen to see the name of the street being referenced. Of course, both units will give multiple voice prompts before an action, including a prompt immediately before the required action ? ?Turn left.?
On the other hand, the Garmin Nuvi lacks one feature that virtually all other GPS navigators, of which I?m aware, include, and that feature is important to me. The Nuvi doesn?t give the latitude and longitude for waypoints, nor does it allow waypoints to be input by latitude and longitude. When questioned about the lack of this ability, Garmin explained that the Nuvi wasn?t designed for ?off-road? use, but was intended only for use in automobiles. I intend to use my rx5915 Travel Companion primarily for navigating in a car too, but the ability to get GPS fixes on a location in terms of latitude and longitude is a feature that I?ve used often in the past.
For example, the ability to get a ?fix? (waypoint) in degrees of latitude and longitude, allows you to find that waypoint on any other mapping software, including Microsoft?s Streets and Trips and my Topo mapping software, or to input it into any other GPS navigator (except the Nuvi), or to archive it in standardized form for future reference. The ability to output standardized data that can be used with other mapping software is important to me. I often remove my GPS navigator from my car and take fixes on locations for use on other software, such as Streets and Trips and my Topo mapping software, and record that data for future use.
One use I?ve made of this ability in the past has been to get the longitude and latitude of many family gravesites. I plotted these points on Microsoft Streets and Trips for printing, plus posted the GPS fixes as degrees of latitude and longitude in my family e-mail discussion group. I can now take those old GPS fixes from my e-mail and insert them into my rx5915 Travel Companion, plus I?ve archived them for future generations of family researchers. The Nuvi waypoints couldn?t be transferred in this manner.
The stating of a location in terms of degrees of latitude and longitude is a standard that has been used, in one form or another, for hundreds of years. The lack of this feature in the Garmin Nuvi was fatal to my decision to buy. If the Nuvi had included this ability, as almost all GPS navigators do, I would have bought one.
Later models of the Nuvi might include this ability, but I haven?t read any comments to that effect.
Now, back to the GPS navigator on the iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion.
First the bad news: Several reviewers commented on the length of time the Travel Companion requires to acquire satellites upon first being booted up. This complaint is valid. The Travel Companion takes longer to acquire satellites than any GPS receiver that I?ve owned. I haven?t timed how long it takes, but reviewers have stated that it takes about five minutes, and that sounds about right. The GPS chip is one of the most sensitive GPS receivers in consumer use, so I?m surprised at this.
The GPS antenna on the Travel Companion is internal, and the manual states that it?s located inside the unit in the upper left corner, exactly where I tend to rest my left thumb. However, my thumb isn?t the problem. For whatever reasons, the Travel Companion initially takes a long time to acquire satellites.
Once acquired, however, the GPS locks on firmly. In my single day of use, I didn?t have a problem with losing satellites. On the other hand, I haven?t navigated in Manhattan with its skyscraper canyons, or in heavy woods. The unit has a jack for inputting an external antenna if needed, but I?m satisfied to use it as is. It works great once satellites are acquired. For me, the advantage of having a hidden internal GPS antenna, as opposed to an external projecting ?plate,? is worth the extra hassle of waiting for the satellites. However, if you were carrying the unit on an airplane and saw some point of interest, you couldn?t then decide to boot up the Travel Companion and find where and what the point of interest is. When traveling at 550 mph you would need to have it on and ready.
The screen isn?t as easy to view in bright sunlight as I would like it to be. On the other hand, I had no problem viewing it when mounted on my windshield in the shade of the roof of my car. I have been unable to find a way to intentionally turn the backlight off, when viewing the GPS screen, to see whether the screen is easier to view without it.
The other news is good.
First, you can output GPS ?fixes? (waypoints) in standard latitude and longitude form to transfer to other software and GPS units, and to archive for future use. You can also input old waypoints from standard latitude and longitude data.
I decided to first test the unit at home by having it calculate a route from Fairfax County, Virginia, to Rockingham, North Carolina, my home town. I?ve been driving this 354 mile distance for 40 years and am familiar with six different routes from past experience.
The unit calculated a route that was very close to my favorite and most frequently driven route. I normally take I-95 to Petersburg, VA; then I-85 to a point where I exit onto US 1, 45 miles north of Raleigh. I then take US 1 all the way to Rockingham, being certain to take the I-540 beltline around Raleigh.
The first route calculated by the unit, took me past my exit point from I-85 to US 1, on to Durham, then back to the beltline in Raleigh. This route is 7 miles further than my preferred route, but would keep you on the Interstate longer.
There are several ways to review a route. You can have it play back as if you were driving, like a mini-movie, or you can view scenes of each prompt, or view a full map of the route, or you can see text directions. I went to the text directions and, using my stylus, clicked on the word ?Durham,? then clicked to delete Durham from my route. The unit recalculated the route and, to my surprise, it was identical to the route that I?ve taken for years. Every lane change, turn, and every other instruction, was identical to what I would have decided to take, and in fact have taken for 40 years (except that the I-540 beltline around Raleigh wasn?t available 40 years ago).
There is one caveat. The most convenient way to get on I-95, from my home, is to first get first get on the HOV lanes, then exit onto the normal lanes whenever possible. The GPS route directed me to do this. However, whether you can use the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes depends upon the time of day and the number of people in your car. The lanes are open only to the north, toward Washington, DC, in the morning -- and south, toward North Carolina, in the evening. At least half of the time the HOV lanes south would be blocked. Moreover, during rush hours you must have three or more people in your car to legally drive in the HOV lanes, or risk getting a ticket. So, even if these lanes are open and available, you might not be able to legally use them without risking a stiff fine.
If the user attempted to drive this route to enter the HOV lanes, and found them blocked, then he would pass them and the unit would calculate a different route. However, if he found the HOV lanes open, and he followed these instructions during rush hours (from 3:30 to 6 PM), he might get a ticket --- unless he had at least two passengers or was caught by a GPS savvy police officer with a lot of compassion.
You can change the route in a number of ways. You could avoid the HOV lanes by choosing to avoid this part of the route, just as I did for Durham, but the user would need to know that there?s a reason to avoid the HOV lanes. I tried this, and it took me on the route I would take when the HOV lanes are not available, and onto the normal legal lanes.
Clicking on either ?change original route? or ?calculate alternate route? will cause the unit to automatically calculate a different route. The first alternate took me off the Interstates at Stafford, Virginia, and onto US 1. I would do this only if traffic or an accident on I-95 warranted it. The automatically calculated alternate route still didn?t navigate around the HOV lanes.
I would like to emphasize that the HOV route is the best route, and would be my first choice when it?s legally available. Also, a person who was following the Travel Companion route would, presumably, still read road signs, and the road signs would warn you not to take the HOV lanes unless you had three or more people in your car. The user would then pass the entrance to the HOV lanes and the unit would calculate the correct route onto normal lanes.
I calculated a route from my home to a friend?s address in Vienna, Virginia, about 19 miles from my home, and the route was exactly the one that I normally take to her house. Exactly.
I decided to drive from my home a distance of 6.6 miles to Denny?s Restaurant. (Really folks, Denny?s has improved in recent years and now offers good value.) I found the Denny?s in the point of interests section under ?Restaurants,? and clicked it as my destination. I decided to blindly drive the route calculated by the Travel Companion and compare it with how I would drive myself.
First, the closest route to Denny?s would be through Fort Belvoir. Before September 11, 2001, this is the route I would have taken. However, Fort Belvoir has been closed to public traffic in recent years and you now have to drive around it. The rx5915 Travel Companion apparently knew this and calculated a route around Fort Belvoir.
The overall route was really better than the one I would have chosen, and, in fact, have driven for many years. However, on one short segment I normally I would have continued for 1/4 of a mile to a four lane street and turned left onto another four lane street. The unit told me to turn left onto a two lane street and continue for about half-a-mile to intersect with the second four lane street. In other words, the Travel Companion took me over the two lane hypotenuse of a right triangle, which was a somewhat shorter route, rather than my normal route over the two four lane legs of the triangle. Sometimes I take the Travel Companion route on my own, just for a change of pace.
The surprise was as follows: After Fort Belvoir closed to public traffic; I explored residential neighborhoods around the periphery of the fort in an attempt to find the shortest route around it to US 1 near Mt Vernon (and Denny?s). I explored both with Microsoft?s Streets and Trips, and by driving. I found that one-way streets, or blocked streets, prevented a really short route. One street seemed to pass through when viewed on the Streets and Trips map, but in practice had a block mid-way.
So, here I am blindly following the Travel Companion route, when suddenly it directed me to turn right onto a street that I was certain would be an error. It turned out to be a previously unknown short cut to US 1. The short cut wasn?t huge, probably saving less than a mile, but it avoided traffic around two shopping centers and made for an easier right turn onto US 1.
I was delighted with the accuracy and voice prompts of the Travel Companion. The voice prompts would advise me well in advance that I needed to turn left (or right), or exit, or whatever, then would tell me to turn left (or right, or exit) just as I approached the turn. The accuracy was better than I?m accustomed to. When the Travel Companion told me to turn, I would be right at the turn. When the Travel Companion told me I was at my destination, my destination would be directly at the side of the street.
It would also often tell me which lane I needed to get into to execute the next maneuver. For example, it might say, ?Turn left, and then stay on the left lane.? In all cases, the next upcoming maneuver would need to be executed from the lane advised.
When I left Denny?s, I was inclined to turn left onto US 1, but the unit directed me to the right. I then noticed that a barely visible concrete median in the center of the street would keep me from turning left. After turning right onto US 1, the Travel companion directed me to turn right at the first street, then directed me around the block to an intersection with US 1 where I could turn left. I was impressed. On the other hand, if it knew about concrete medians, why didn?t it know about HOV lanes?
The text-to-speech feature of the Garmin Nuvi might be nice, but I found it unnecessary. Just turn when the Travel Companion tells you to, and if you need to know the name of the street, take a quick glance at the screen. In fact, you could navigate with this unit without even looking at the screen, although you might feel a little less secure.
I drove around for awhile and tested the ability of the Travel Companion to recalculate routes when you miss a turn. It was incredibly fast, almost instantaneous, in calculating a new route. If you weren?t constantly watching the screen, you would miss the recalculation. My old unit took so long to recalculate that often you would already have passed the recalculated turn and the unit would start over (especially in a city with short blocks). I would have to slow my car to a crawl to allow it time to recalculate so I could follow the next turn rather than have the unit constantly recalculating as I missed the newly calculated turns. I should mention, however, that the routes that I tested yesterday were under ten miles. I don?t know how long it would take to recalculate a 400 mile route if you missed a turn.
Near the end of my driving test, I turned on the WiFi and tested the ability of the Travel Companion to detect WiFi access points as I drove around under the direction the GPS navigator. It detected so many WiFi access points that it started to annoy me. Each time that one or more WiFi access points was detected, a notice would pop up over the GPS map and tell you the names of the access points, and whether they were encrypted or unsecured. A couple of times I parked and tried to connect to the unsecured points, but found that I needed a password.
At home I learned that three of my neighbors have WiFi access points that can be accessed from my house. Two were unsecured but required a password.
Of course the iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion lacks some features that I wish it had. For example, it has a number of navigation options, including a bicycle option and a walking option, but it has no off-road option as my previous two GPS navigators did. The walking option will likely be the closest option to an off-road option. You can choose to have an arrow displayed on the map screen which shows the direction to your destination, but that?s not quite the same if the unit constantly calculates new street routes while working off road. An off road option would also be handy when traveling in an airplane or boat. I?ll have to explore the walking feature in more detail later.
As it stands, when traveling by air, or off road, you might turn the route calculation and navigation off and merely use the unit to constantly show your current position on the map. I?ve done this while driving to keep me apprised of upcoming streets at night when street signs are hard to see. However, I haven?t yet tried it off road. Whether there will be problems when using it off road, in his this manner, remains to be seen.
The battery charge lasted for about four hours of constant GPS use. I would like more for handheld use. I used the cigarette lighter socket while driving.
Overall I?m well pleased with the Travel Companion and have no buyer?s remorse at all after the first day. However, I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more.
By-the-way, I?m a 64 year-old retired mechanical engineer. I retired eight years ago.
Mike1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Terrible purchase!!!
by tburchill on May 29, 2009
Pros: None. There is nothing good about this product
Cons: No access to internet. Unstable GPS. Too expensive. Too difficult to use. No HP support.
Summary: This product is not recommended at all. It is the worst purchase I ever made. In fact, I will never purchase another HP product ever again. As soon as I ...
Summary: This product is not recommended at all. It is the worst purchase I ever made. In fact, I will never purchase another HP product ever again. As soon as I bought it, I was taking it back to the store where I bought it. There is and was no HP support whatsoever. A complete waste of money.
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Very poor PDA
by BentFellow on August 20, 2008
Pros: GPS worked well; Windows Mobile features
Cons: Inconsistent behaviour; numerous soft reboots required; spontaneors startup of GPS/wireless; many others
Summary: Potentially a good device for me as it had all the Windows Mobile features of my previous machine. However, the machine had a sticky start button; often needed a reboot ...
Summary: Potentially a good device for me as it had all the Windows Mobile features of my previous machine. However, the machine had a sticky start button; often needed a reboot to sync; a couple of features didn't work and couldn't be removed; it died (would not reboot) 6 weeks after the 1 year warranty. They wanted $40 to test and $258 to repair--Good LUCK! HP's committment to quality and customer satisfaction no longer exists. I will NEVER buy anything HP again.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: FA810AA#ABA
- Description: For business, pleasure, or a little of both, the HP iPAQ rx5900 Travel Companion series helps make the most of your travels around town or the world. Navigate with ease, stay connected to the people and information that is important to you, and be entertained. The thin, stylish design is easy to take with you wherever you travel.
General
- Product Type Handheld
- Width 3 in
- Built-in Devices Display, Speaker
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 4.7 in
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 3 in x 0.6 in x 4.7 in
- Localization English / United States
- Weight 6 oz
- Features 9-way navigation pad
- Included Accessories Carrying case, Vehicle mounting kit, Cigarette lighter adapter
- Localization English:United States
Processor
- Processor Samsung S3C2442 400 MHz
- Processor Samsung 400 MHzS3C2442
Memory
- RAM 64 MB - SDRAM
- Installed RAM 64 MB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Compatibility SDIO
- RAM technology SDRAM
Display
- Display Type 3.5 in TFT active matrix - Transmissive
- Display type 3.5 in TFT active matrix
- Image 16-bit (64K colors)
- Display Resolution 240 x 320
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium Edition
- Software Clock, Notes, Tasks, Today, Memory, Calendar, Contacts, Messaging, Solitaire, WorldMate, Calculator, IPAQ Audio, Jawbreaker, File Explorer, iPAQ Wireless, Voice Recorder, Volume Control, Bluetooth Manager, Microsoft Word Mobile, Microsoft Excel Mobile, Terminal Services Client, Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile, Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile
Input Device
- Input device type Stylus, Touch-screen
- Type Stylus, Touch-screen
Audio
- Supported Digital Audio Formats MP3, WMA
- Audio Input Microphone
- Audio input type Microphone
- Audio Output Speaker(s)
- Voice Recording Capability Yes
- Compliant Standards CE, UL, CCC, MIC, MOC, GOST, SABS, SASO, VCCI, C-Tick
Telecom
- Modem None
- Modem None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 SD Memory Card
- Wireless Connectivity IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Interfaces 1 x Headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x USB
- Port / Connector Type:Interface 1Headphones, 1USB
- Connector Provided Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
- Expansion slot(s) total (free) 1 SD Memory Card
- Cable(s) included 2 x USB cable
Power
- Battery installed (max) 1 Lithium ion
- Power Device Power adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Power supply device Power adapter
GPS System
- Maps Included Canada, USA (continental)
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 2 x USB cable
Environmental Parameters
- Operating temperature 32 °F104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90%
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
GPS
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
- Software Included TomTom Navigator 6
- Destination Automotive
- PC connection Bluetooth-enabled
Battery
- Installed Qty (Max Supported) 1
- Technology / Form Factor Lithium ion
- Capacity 1700 mAh
Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service / Support Details 1 year Limited warranty Parts and labor, 90 days Technical support
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year, Technical support - Software - 90 days
Manufacturer info
- HP
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse HP products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.hp.com
- Address:
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185








