Garmin iQue M5 GPS PocketPC

QueTurn provides a step-by-step description of your journey once you've plotted it but it's a separate application. It would have been preferable if this was integrated into the QueMap screen.

The options for routing are very good, enabling you to choose between faster times or shorter distances. There's even an 'off road' option for mums who want to take a more direct route on the morning school-run. The software will also optimise routes for vehicles such as taxis, delivery cars, and even cyclists and pedestrians. A custom mode enables you to select the level of major, medium and minor roads you choose.

Route recalculation when missing a turning was smooth and efficiently handled. One nice touch: the software will switch automatically to night time viewing mode according to the time of day.

The in-car set up is pretty good, with a suction-mounted cradle that neatly holds the iQue in place. Garmin has solved the problem of poor PDA speakers by supplying an external speaker that slots into the car power socket. This distorts when played too loud but it's a good solution. It also carries power to the PDA so you have to have the cable running over the dashboard.

However, there are two reasons why I wouldn't want to part with my TomTom Go. Firstly, you can't add custom POIs, which for me is a major loss - the speed camera database is too just too valuable. Secondly, twice in a couple of weeks the unit locked up and on the second occasion I had to reinstall all the map data. If this happens out in the field you could be left going back to a map.

That aside, I was very impressed with the iQue. The software takes a while to get used to, but once you have it's a powerful GPS tool and a PDA that you'd like it even if it didn't have in-built GPS. The only real downside is the price, with most resellers offering it for around £500. This isn't cheap but when you consider the quality of both hardware and software it's actually excellent value.

Verdict

It's pricey but the iQue M5 is worth it. The hardware is sturdy, the specs reasonable, the GPS software is powerful and the integration with Windows Mobile is elegant. You'll need to budget for an extra card but if you do you can take all of the UK with you, so to speak, on the best GPS/PDA combo currently available.

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