Navman 3450 Voice review

Although based on identical hardware, the 3450 Voice and 3300 Terrain are very different beasts. The latter is more limited by the jacket format. With iPAQ battery life effectively a few hours of continuous use, you won't be able to head off up the mountains and rely on your GPS being available when you need it, plus it isn't nearly as rugged - or waterproof - as dedicated handheld GPS units from the likes of Garmin. Also, the lack of detailed maps in the box necessitates further outlay before it comes into its own. Although the Terrain would be well suited to off-road vehicle use, a much better solution for hikers will be the Memory-Map software with Navman's forthcoming 4400, which boasts a separate Bluetooth GPS unit with 30 hours' battery life. With this, you should be able to leave the GPS receiver powered up and locked on, pulling out the PDA to check location when you need it.

The 3450 is also less flexible than the new breed of Bluetooth GPS receivers, relegating it to iPAQs only. But if you do own a compatible PDA, the 3450 Voice is much better value, as it's cheaper and includes Western European maps.

Author: James Morris