My Compaq iPAQ (Model 3760) is slim line and robust and provides truly portable access to most of the features in Outlook, including diary information, contacts, task management and off-line e-mail facilities. You can also read, compose and edit Word and Excel documents when you ar out and about. When you return o your office or workstation you can makeadditions, deletions or amendments to any or all of the above as the iPAQ can automatically synchronise with your home or office desktop.
Before deciding to purchase the iPAQ I looked at three main options:- 1)PDA's based upon PalmOS, the palm pilot operating system, 2) PDA's based upon the Microsoft Pocket PC operating system and 3) PDA's from Psion.
I discounted the Psion option as the company has announced its withdrawal from the PDA market to concentrate on other core products. I then looked at the technical specifications for the PalmOS based devices and the Pocket PC based devices including the Compaq iPAQ, the HP Jordana and the Casiopea. Of these the only device which offered 64Mbytes of memory, a high specification Risc processor, loadable eprom memory which enables upgrades to the operating system and the system software, and a high specification LCD display with a ew technology for backlight facilities which gives exellent visibilty outdoors in daylight.
The display also provies a high resolution image. The Casiopea and the Jordana offered similar features. The additional advantage of selecting a device based upon the Pocket PC is that the operating system comes from Microsoft and has an inherent compatibility with Microsoft desktop applications such as Outlook, Word and Excel.
I am finding the iPAQ to be easy to use although changing from one application to another and closing applications could e improved. The iPAQ is thin, lightweight and easily fits into your pocket or bag. It has a large screen in relation to it's size ( a big plus for me !)
You can input either from the soft keyboard or from handwriting (this bit is more difficult), it does alow for free form writing. The iPAQ makes efficient use of its memory but you will need to organise an additional power supply when moving off site as the battery life can only be dcribed as being adequate.
The device also allows you to dictate voice messages and include voice messages within e-mails and word documents. It provides a calculator, an MP3 player and a video viewer.
All in all I can see why so many ciao members have given the iPAQ such a positive rating as it is an excellent choice for anyone selecting aPDA. It is however relatively expensive at around £500 but in my view is the best in it's range.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Handheld - 64 MB RAM - Screen: 3.8 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: XScale PXA250 - Infrared, Bluetooth - Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2002
Handheld - 64 MB RAM - Screen: 3.8 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: SA-1110 - Infrared, Bluetooth - Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2002
Handheld - 128 MB RAM - Screen: 4 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: XScale PXA310 - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi - Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Classic
Jul 6th, 2002
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (93%):
helpful by (3%):
