HP iPAQ Pocket PC Rz1710 > Reviews (11)

This award-winning PDA or Palm top computer has a solid combination of productivity and small form factor. Hosting a SDIO slot, it is capable supporting SD/MMC standard type memory cards meaning you can use the memory card to hold up to 2GB of data, more then enough for hundreds of documents. You will always be on top of scheldule with the handy and well designed 'to-do' list and ensuring that the device is not just for work purposes, the device quite cleverly stores and plays music, videos and photos. For the more chatty amongst us, the HP iPAQ also comes with MSN Messanger.

At 70 x 13.4 x 114 mm and weighing only 120 grams, its thin and light enough to slip into the inside of a suit pocket quite comfortably. It features IrDA so if you have PC or Laptop which features IR, which a lot of laptops do, then transferring files suddenly becomes a lot easier.
Unfortunatly, being so small, it lacks intergrated bluetooth and Wi-fi but the SDIO slot enables extended capabilities such as LAN cards, Bluetooth cards and GPS solutions, meaning this device can be compatible with all types of wireless communications. Another handy thing about the SDIO expansion slot is it can be used to attach a 1.3 megapixel camera to the PDA, making it another thing the HP iPAQ can do.

Featuring Windows Mobile 2003 SE, the menus and functions aren't that different from a standard PC, meaning getting use to the HP iPAQ is no problem at all. However, if you do manage to come across a problem, the 'Getting started guide' will provide the essential information needed to overcome the problem. The generously sized 3.5" 64k TFT screen is very detailed and crisp and using the pen to navigate around, accessing menus is very simple. It has a handy integrated microphone and speaker for built-in voice functionality.

The Lithium Ion battery provides up to 7 hours of run time before recharging is needed so getting through an average day is not a problem provided its not on the whole time. It has a Samsung S3C2410 203 MHz processor with 32mb of RAM which is enough power to ensure applications such as Microsoft Pocket Word, Excel and Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer run without hitch.

So why would I want to buy one you say. Well things have never been easier. Imagine having your PC in your pocket and you get the idea. I can access the internet, write documents, watch videos, listen to music, take pictures of the scenery and most importantly, keep organised on the move. Forget diarys, do they tell you when you should be somewhere? No, but the HP iPAQ does. This device will keep your organised for years to come, and if you think thats not good enough, wait until you see the price.

The HP iPAQ is only a snip at £79.99 (exc VAT) on pcwb.com and comes with a 1 year warrenty and 90 days of technical support. Acessories for the HP iPAQ are avalible from the HP website. The stylus pens are £6 (exc VAT) for a pack of 3. A 2GB SD memory card can be bought from expansys.com for only £56.95. The 1.3 megapixel SDIO camera is avaliable from expansys.

com for £54.95.

----------------------------------------​----------------------------------------​--------

Specs:
Windows Mobile™2003 - Second Edition
203 MHz Samsung S3C2410 processor
IrDA (SID Support)
3.5" (89mm) Transflective type QVGA TFT, Portrait and Landscape modes
SDIO slot - Supports SD/MMC type standard, SDIO ready
70 x 13.4 x 114 mm
120 g
----------------------------------------​----------------------------------------​--------
In the box:
-HP iPAQ rz1710 Mobile Media Companion
-UK AC adaptor
-USB Sync Cable
-Stylus
-Getting Started Guide
-HP iPAQ Pocket PC Companion CD and Documentation kit.

----------------------------------------​----------------------------------------​--------

The acronyms explained:

PDA - Personal Digital Assistant - A small handheld computer
SDIO - Secure Digital (also known as SD) - A memory card format
SD - Secure digital (same as SDIO) - A memory card format
MMC - Multi Media Card - A memory card format but not as fast as SD

GB - Gigabyte(s) - A measure of digtal space (1024 megabytes = 1GB)
MSN - Microsoft Network
IrDA - Infrared Data Association - In this case, an infra red port or link
IR - Infra red
LAN - Local area network
GPS - Global positioning system
SE - Special Edition
64k - 64,000 - In this case, it refers to colours
TFT - Thin Film Transistor - A type of LCD (liquid crystal display) screen
Mhz - Megahertz - A measure of how fast the processor is
MB - Megabyte - A measure of digital space (1024 kilobytes = 1MB)
RAM - Random access memory - A type of computer storage
QVGA - Quarter Video Graphics Array - A resolution of 320x240 pixels