GPS add-ons
For the directionally challenged, there is help. No longer do you have to listen to your companion belittle your abilities as a navigator or swallow your pride by admitting that you're lost. A GPS add-on can get you back on track by allowing you to turn your handheld into a navigation device. Whether it's a Bluetooth receiver or a CompactFlash attachment, these accessories are perfect travel companions for the mobile professional or anyone who loves road trips.

A powerful wireless add-on for Pocket PCs and laptops, the Belkin Bluetooth GPS exceeded expectations. It features easy-to-use navigation software and supports voice and visual turn-by-turn driving directions. Not only that, it features Xtrac mode for better satellite reception, which delivered as promised. The only catch is its sky-high price tag.

Dell has developed the GPS Navigation System for its Bluetooth-enabled Axim X5- and X30-series Pocket PCs. The $250 kit includes a Bluetooth GPS receiver, software with maps of North America, a windshield mount for your Axim, and a car charger. If you have an Axim and are constantly lost or on the go, the Dell GPS Navigation System is a sound investment.

The DeLorme Earthmate GPS is a bright star in the GPS world. With its eye-popping yellow design, the Earthmate comes packaged with DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2004 software for desktops or laptops. You'll need to shell out an extra $40 for the handheld version, which supports both Pocket PC and Palm platforms. And while it can connect to non-Bluetooth systems via a USB cable (included), for wireless connectivity, you must insert it into the bundled PowerPack. As a result, the whole configuration costs a pricey $319.95, or $129.95 for the receiver alone. Regardless, our in-vehicle testing was also positive; the Earthmate's signal retention and tracking accuracy were spot-on.

Partnering with GPS experts TomTom, GPS Navigator by PalmOne lets Tungsten T3 and Zire 72 owners (everyone else is out of luck) turn their PDAs into navigation devices. It's a useful accessory for the chronically lost, as well as mobile professionals who are often on the road. However, be prepared to pay the price. At $300, the GPS Navigator is one of the most expensive add-on receivers in the market, but it gets you to your destination.

Many Pocket PC users would be lost without their HP iPaqs to keep them organized. Now thanks to the HP iPaq Navigation system, your iPaq can go even further by preventing you from getting lost on the streets. Compatible with the H1940, H2200, H3870, H3970, H4000, and H5000 series as well as most of the latest iPaqs (the rz1700 series is the lone exception), the $330 kit includes a Bluetooth GPS receiver and maps of the United States and Canada. It's a bit pricey compared to other receivers on the market, but its solid performance makes it a perfect travel companion for iPaq owners.

Like the DeLorme GPS receiver, the Pharos Pocket GPS Navigator uses a Bluetooth power-pack cradle to obtain a wireless connection, but the similarities end there. The $350 Pharos GPS sports a cool, high-tech look and many goodies, such as a tote bag with room for your PDA and a vent-mount holder. But these amenities mean nothing if the device can't do its job; unfortunately, with its limited navigation software and its short battery life, the Pharos fell short of the competition.

TeleType's GPS Bluetooth Receiver has everything you'll need for wireless navigation on your PDA. Visual and audible driving directions are accurate, as is the receiver's tracking ability. But while TeleType's World Navigator software is loaded with features, you'll have to spend some time learning how to use them to take full advantage of this powerful mapping application. Thankfully, TeleType includes a comprehensive user guide.