Pharos Traveler GPS 525

Less really is more when it comes to PDAs, and the Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is one of the smallest, lightest, and most geographically aware handheld computers ever created. Measuring 0.7 by 2.3 by 4.3 inches and weighing just 4.4 ounces, the rounded gray and black PDA is a marvel of miniaturization that's half an inch shorter and narrower and 2 ounces lighter than the Asus MyPal A636. Unlike the A636's clunky fold out antenna, the Traveler 525's entire SiRF GPS receiver is inside and always yields a strong signal when in the open there's a jack to plug in an optional external antenna for enhanced satellite reception.

For those who want a lot of buttons and flash, look elsewhere, because the Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is a delight of minimalist design. The navigation controls consist of a power on/off button, four shortcut keys (GPS, Today screen, and two customizable buttons), a voice recorder activation key, and a five way navigation joystick. The Traveler GPS 525's 2.8 inch screen is second best compared with larger displays found on other geoaware PDAs and dedicated mapping machines.

Plus, the touch sensitive display is not as responsive as those of other handhelds we've tested, so you'll always want to use the metal stylus for best results.

The 65,536 color output and the 240x320 resolution make for bright, crisp, and clear text and images, but we found it necessary to squint to make out map details. The system's spoken directions could have helped, but the unit's audio quality is abysmal, with the voice constantly breaking up.

Below the single speaker on front of the device, you'll find a headphone jack and a recessed reset button, but there's no dedicated button for rotating the screen.

The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is a midrange Windows Mobile 5 PDA mated to a powerful SiRF GPS receiver that can work with the 24 global positioning satellites orbiting the earth. Central to the Traveler GPS 525 is Pharos's Ostia 7.5 mapping application and the trio of digital map CDs that cover the 50 states but not Canada. It helps that the card comes preloaded with all the maps, but most people probably won't ever need all of them. You can use ActiveSync software to move the maps you need to the device or copy them directly with a flash card reader on to a Secure Digital data module.

The included 512MB card is adequate for this but leaves little room for music or other files, so we recommend getting a larger card and taking it all with you. Accurate and up to date, the Pharos Traveler GPS 525's mapping software has an extensive points of interest database, including locations for thousands of restaurants, cash machines, and restaurants.

Press the GPS button, and Ostia opens with your position marked on the map; you can press it again to view the satellite connections and their signal strength. If you push the button a third time, you'll get longitude and latitude readings, as well as altitude (if you're getting data from at least four satellites), speed, distance, and a large compass. The interface's predictive entry streamlines adding addresses, and to zoom in and out of the action, you just draw a diagonal line across the screen.

The device can simulate a 3D overhead view, and you can also choose to avoid highways to create the fastest or shortest trip. However, it lacks integration with a GM-10 receiver for instant traffic updates. Pharos periodically updates the map database and offers it for free to registered users. Under the skin, the Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is a midrange PDA with a 300MHz Samsung SC324 processor, 64MB of RAM, and 128MB of flash ROM, 111MB of which is user accessible.

It's a wireless data machine with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11b), and infrared communications covered. The 1,100mAh battery pack is smaller than the one used on the A636, but it yields the same amount of time between charges. Like other Windows Mobile 5 PDAs, the Traveler GPS 525 comes with the standard mobile versions of Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile to satisfy your multimedia jones.