Last year, HP introduced its HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion, a sleek gadget that combined the powers of a PDA and a portable navigation system into one solution. It was the first GPS device for the company, and based on user opinions, it was a pretty successful product. Now, HP has decided to embark on its first GPS-only venture with the new HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion. I got a sneak preview a couple of weeks ago, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. Unlike the rx5900, which used TomTom software, HP created its own interface for the iPaq 310, and it was pretty intuitive to use from the brief time I had with the product. Maps looked nice and sharp on the 4.3-inch, 480x800 pixel resolution touch screen, and I was really digging the 3D building renderings. Everything else is pretty standard; the system comes preloaded with maps of North America and features text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling, and an online trip planning site. The HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion will be available in late September and will go for somewhere in the $399 to $499 price range--not too shabby.
