Why did I buy one of these? Well a colleague of mine has a newer iPaq with Sat Nav installed and I was suitably impressed. So I investigated about getting one for myself. However I was not prepared to pay £400 and upwards for the pleasure. Fortunately there was a guy at work selling one for £80 (bargain) that had hardly been used and HP were selling the NavMan GPS kits for £110 inc VAT and delivery. So Sat Nav for under £200, excellent. Obviously for this price there was a downside, the CoPilot software used for the Sat Nav was version 3.0, I believe the latest version is 5.0. Note that it's big a problem but some new roads/ roundabout may not be on it so I have to be aware of what is about!
The Sat Nav is ok and is certainly better than having a factory fitted unit in a car as I can take this from one car to another. It would be better if I could enter in a postcode to find the address rather than haing to type in a street address to get to where I want to go!
The thing is though I have found more uses for the device than I thought I would! I use Microsoft money to keep all my finances up to date and basically manage my money. This can be a small problem at times when I want to order something off the interent when I'm at work but I'm unsure exactly how much I have in my bank. I could log into my bank but there are usually outgoings due to go out that haven't already done so. Therefore to have a portable and synchronised version of Money on the iPaq helps me manage my finances still further.
Microsoft Word I have found very useful, so useful I even went out and brought a HP foldable keyboard for the device (very useful). I am due to be a father at the end of May so I am using Word to keep a diary of events. How long this lasts for after the birth I'm not sure but hopefully it will prove worth while!
Microsoft Excel is also very good on there although I have yet to find a real need for it other than to view the lists of CD's and DVD's I own. Not exactly exciting but it is practical.
I have found plenty of free games and utilities to download. I like simple games and there are quite a few card games around, yahtzee, dominoes and more complicated games if you take the time to look. There are better games if you are prepared to pay the £10 or so. One of the things that does annoy me is that closing a program only minimises the program. So next time the iPaq is switche don the device is still running in the back ground take up processing power and RAM. Thankfull there are plenty of utilites out there than are wither free or very cheap that will properly close down programs.
This brings me onto my other point. When I open a close a few programs the device sometimes hangs and the only was around it is a soft reset. Fortunately no saved data is lost (unlike wiht a hard reset) but it is just annoying that it has to be done so often!
My other bug bear is Windows Media player that is supplied with it. I brough a 1Gb SD card so I could store a few files and many albums. This I have done but the Media player lists them all as tracks, not as Artist-Album-Track! So I have to have it on random to make any sense at all!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Handheld - 64 MB RAM - Screen: 3.5 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: XScale PXA310 - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi - Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Classic
Handheld - 64 MB RAM - Screen: 3.5 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: XScale PXA270 - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared - Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium Edition
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
I hate iPaqs and only use mine for SatNav. For everything else I use my Sony Clie UX50 ;)
lazza123 17.03.2005 12:10
Good review, maybe one to consider. Larry
Connoisseur_Haggler 16.03.2005 10:24
Useful opinion especially with the sat. nav. I've got sat nav. built in my car but planning on selling the car so looking at other options of getting sat. nav is useful to me. But doubt I could get one at such a good price as you did! cheers, -CH
You will receive1DIPOS Antireflex SCREEN PROTECTOR. This screen protector100% fits and is ... more
exact with regards to the shape!You will getquality instead of quantity, as with an average usage of your gadget the display protection film needn“t be replacedfor many years. Branded display protection for those who do not want to constantly replace the display protection film. The display protection film reduces disturbing light reflections and is ideal for the use outside, e.g. when driving a car or a motor bike.DIPOS Antireflex SCREEN PROTECTOR is a first-class protection of highest quality and is against scratches on your display.When ordering 2 screen protectors you will automatically receive additionally 1 screen protector free of charge !YOUR GUARANTEED ADVANTAGES:with an antireflexion coating, and thus reduces light reflections100% bubble-free application, the protection film clings itself and without pressure to the displayno reduction of the lightness, the contrast or the colour - ideal for highly resolving displaysstain-resistant, scratch-proof surface, can be removed at any time without any residuesexcellent writing quality for a gadget with a touchscreenno slipping - optimum and long-lasting adhesionoptimum screen protector - best maintenance of value for your equipment, thus increases the resale pricedetailed, illustrated and easily coherent instructions
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You will receive1high qualityMEXXPROTECT Antireflex SCREEN PROTECTOR. This screen ... more
protector100% fits and is exact with regards to the shape!You will getquality instead of quantity, as with an average usage of your gadget the display protection film needn“t be replacedfor many years. Branded display protection for those who do not want to constantly replace the display protection film. The display protection film reduces disturbing light reflections and is ideal for the use outside, e.g. when driving a car or a motor bike.MEXXPROTECT Antireflex SCREEN PROTECTOR is a first-class protection of highest quality and is against scratches on your display.When ordering 2 screen protectors you will automatically receive additionally 1 screen protector free of charge !YOUR GUARANTEED ADVANTAGES:with an antireflexion coating, and thus reduces light reflections100% bubble-free application, the protection film clings itself and without pressure to the displayno reduction of the lightness, the contrast or the colour - ideal for highly resolving displaysstain-resistant, scratch-proof surface, can be removed at any time without any residuesexcellent writing quality for a gadget with a touchscreenno slipping - optimum and long-lasting adhesionoptimum screen protector - best maintenance of value for your equipment, thus increases the resale pricedetailed, illustrated and easily coherent instructions
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Advantages: Rugged, dependable and quick...like my dog. Disadvantages: Expensive, limited software availability...like my dog...except for the software bit.
Advantages: Rugged, dependable and quick...like my dog. Disadvantages: Expensive, limited software availability...like my dog...except for the software bit.
Mar 16th, 2005
(Mar 17th, 2005)
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