HP iPAQ 214 > Reviews (10)

I have just joined Ciao community to put the record straight on this PDA. A previous Ciao reviewer has given a negative review. I have only owned the PDA (HP iPaq 214 Enterprise Handheld) for two days. I believe I was one of the first in the UK to receive this machine as it became available from 25th January 2008. I was almost put off buying the iPaq by the other review here, but decided to give it a try. I am glad, as the PDA does everything a PDA should and at a very good speed and price. The other review here is definitely not for the iPaq 214. How did he get it some months before anyone else? The description bears no resemblance to my iPaq 214. The reviewer says the camera is appalling and defunct - it does not have a camera at all, so that clears that up. It does have 128 MB SDRAM and 256MB flash ROM, mine also came with 1GB SD card. His cost £250, I paid £222 delivered (ordered September 2007 from BT). It does not have an integrated phone, terrific! If you want to use the iPaq for phoning you can, go to contacts, press dial number and it dials your mobile for you. Personally I just use the mobile. I bought this PDA to keep my phone and camera separate from my organiser. I can't comment on Sync problems with non-Windows environments, as I run Windows XP on my PC and Laptop. I do like Windows Mobile 6.

From opening the box, everything was smooth. All programs were preinstalled on PDA. I had to install Microsoft ActiveSync on my PC and Laptop. Put the iPaq on charge and had synced it to my PC, Laptop and mobile phone within moments. It picked up my Wi-Fi network (Blueyonder up to 20 MB on Linksys Wireless G router) first time, no manual set up required. My only input was my WEP key. Bluetooth connection to the Laptop and mobile was instant, again no input required. My contacts were easily transferred from my PC to my new PDA. The iPaq 214 recognised the contacts file and asked if I wanted to install them. Linked to email account (has to be Outlook) no problem. You can check out the technical specifications on many Internet sites, but my first impressions are it is compact, light, has a great easy to see 4-inch touchscreen and is VERY easy to use.

Overall, it does not replace a PC or Laptop, but makes a great partner for both.