The Pocket GPS Navigator is comprised of the iGPS hardware and the Ostia navigation software supplied on CD-ROMs. With the navigation software installed on your HP iPAQ, locating your current position, or finding a destination or point of interest (POI) is fast and simple. Routes can be calculated and viewed. Once you're in your vehicle, simply activate the navigation program and begin traveling; the automated voice-prompts will instruct you when and where to turn. If by chance you go "off route, " the automated voice will give an off-route warning. Simply push the "Action" button on your HP iPAQ and the system will reroute you to your destination from your current position.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Navigator is only as good as his map
Comment: I'll keep this short.
The Pharos hardware is great; fast, accurate, flexible (CF, Bluetooth, cabled), compact.
The Ostia software is great; easy to use (love the "Home" and "Auto Re-route" features), fast, intuitive (after reading the manual to understand the icons).
The Map data... well that is a different story. It is old and inaccurate (missing highways and major streets that have been in place for 5+ years; and yes, I did download their "latest" maps via "Smart Maps").
Bottom line, I do not trust their maps to get me to where I want to go in a city I do not know. I'll just use the Pharos hardware with Pocket Streets & Trips or Mapopolis.
So my advice is to just by their hardware w/o Ostia and get another Navigation Application with reliable map data.
Customer Rating: Summary: Worth the Money
Comment: I travel a lot, mostly flying into an area and renting a car, and this add-on to my Axim x50 has been a fantastic tool. It's easy to use, there are 3 different display options while you're driving, and it's small and very light, easy to pack.
I agree that the limitation of not automatically being able to load an adjacent area map when you're driving long distances is a bit of a pain, but I don't do that often, and the free map updates and highway maps (register your product at their website for the downlaods) is more than sufficient for what I need. If I'm driving for hours at a time, chances are I'm on a highway so the highway map is fine for me.
Customer Rating: Summary: FROM EXPERIENCE: Do not buy this item
Comment: I just returned the PHAROS gps for PDA's. I have had a Garmin for 2 years and wanted an upgrade. I chose this because it was a little cheaper than the Garmin GPS-10. Wow, was I wrong. Having used 3 personal GPS units over the past few years I do know a little about what to expect. I am in sales and need the information for places I am typically not too familiar with. Here is a list of Pros and Cons on this model:
PROs:
1. Price: It is 30-50$ less
2. 3D View: The OSTIA software does have a neat (but not necessary)3D effect
CON's:
1. Slow updating (I was passing Hwy exits before the GPS knew it)
2. Hardly any options on the PC for planning a trip with stops
3. Voice Prompts are not very helpful (only has 10 phrases)
4. OUT OF DATE MAPS!! My neighborhood has been around for 5+ years and it is not listed (along with many others around DFW). The GPS (garmin) I bought 2 years ago had more up to date maps.
5. You have to pay 5$ a month for PointOfInterest access (you can't look up a Chili's near you, or ANY RESTAURANT AT ALL)
6. Poor Customer service (40 mins on hold trying to get help)
5.
Customer Rating: Summary: Only one problem...
Comment: I bought my Axim X5 PDA a couple of years ago and haven't used it much since. I never quite found it useful - besides, I'm a Mac user. Well, now I think that GPS is the KILLER APP for PDAs. For a reasonable price this has breathed new life in the device. Truly useful and portable. I ended picking up the compact flash adapter as well.
My only problem with the system is the software. The sensor seems to be very good but the Ostia software I find to be very slow. As well, it includes almost no points of interest. I ended up buying Mapopolis maps and they work perfectly with the Pharos sensor
Customer Rating: Summary: Best bang for the buck!!!!!!
Comment: I received my Pharos last night and took it out for a test run around town. This is thing is amazing!!!Although map might need a little updating (when a street turns into another without a turn), this thing worked as it was advertised!!!It was extremely easy and inttuitive. The satellite acquisition was fast with no problems. For the price, against the comparable units, cannot be beat. Although other units might be a little more convenient when dealing with the uploads, I cannot justify a 400-800 price diff for that.
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