HP iPaq rx1950 Navigator: old handheld, new GPS

HP has taken a novel approach to adding GPS to last year's iPaq rx1950: rather than graft a GPS module directly onto the PDA, or include it via a card, the company has built the GPS receiver into a car mounting cradle. The result is the rx1950 Navigator, which HP is selling in the UK for £299 ($531). Other than the unusual GPS implementation, the specs remain the same as those of the original rx1950, and there's no word on whether owners of the PDA or similar models such as the rx 1955 can buy the cradle separately in order to get GPS functionality. There's also no word from HP as to whether this is going to be made available outside of the UK. However, given that the only mapping deal announced so far is with European provider ViaMichelin, it seems unlikely that a US version is going to show up anytime soon.

[Dave @ Jan 30th 2006 10:18PM]

Problem with this design is that you've gotta hide the cradle too if you live in an are where you think it may get jacked.

[Ed @ Jan 30th 2006 11:14PM]

Palm as a similar product for the Tungsten E2 and T5, but uses TomTom Navigator 5 software. It works pretty well.

[Eli @ Jan 30th 2006 11:48PM]

Re: #1
Google Maps is great, but to use it mobile you'd need a pretty hefty mobile internet connection. And it wouldn't work at all out in the boonies.

[Chris Comber @ Feb 6th 2007 11:48AM]

Has anyone got one of these - i deleted the via michelin software from both my iPAQ and SD card when i installed tomtom V.6 which didn't work DOH.