Heward-Packard iPAQ (2950 series) Review

[WhiteEagle]

Did you know that the iPAQ has built-in Bluetooth? Did you know that it can record sound? You will find the answers to these questions and more about the iPAQ in this review.



The HP iPAQ is about six inches long, two and half inches wide, and one inch deep. The display is about five inches long by two inches wide. It weighs about three pounds with the lithium-ion battery taking up most of the weight.



First, I should point out the good points of this device. The screen is bright, but it can be adjusted to save battery power. Even when it is on the smallest setting before off, the backlight still makes the screen easy to view, except in bright sunlight. Also, the icons are very easy to understand (memory, storage, power). You can store up to 7 items in the Start Menu, and it also remembers the last five programs that you used. [I will have to warn some of you that the one of the games that are packed with it (Bubble Breaker) can get addicting. The other game is plain, boring Solitaire.]

Setting up the sync is relatively easy. You just install the program, plug the USB cable of the cradle into a free USB port and slide the iPAQ into it's cradle.

The device comes with HP's ProtectTools, and it's a very good way to protect your data if you'll be using the device to store secure data. You can choose between a four digit PIN, a strong alpha-numeric password, or a simple password. You also choose how many attempts to allow, and what happens when the attempts are used up if you forget your password and how many times to allow you to try the backup question. You can then choose between pausing to allow you to try again, or a clean wipe and reset of the device. You can set the device to lock and/or logoff when you turn off the power, what encryption strength to use, what to encrypt, and finally what programs to keep running at logoff.

The settings are easy to understand, and easy to adjust. Always from the today screen you have access to wireless, clock and alarms, memory, and other important settings. It also easy to choose what to show and what to hide.

Now for the bad points of the device. I already mentioned the problem of not being able to see the screen at low power in bright sunlight. It has only 55.59 MB for programs free, and 133.23 MB free for storage. I definitely recommend using a CompactFlash or SecureDigital card for storage of music and/or videos.

If you are in a region that uses Daylight Savings Time during the summer months, when you sync it, the time will go back to the non-DST time. A good example is my device switching forward an hour every time I sync it, so I have to manually adjust it back an hour in order to be on time for work and appointments.

The sound is not that good at high volume (or very loud for that matter!) for music, so if you want to use it to carry some tunes, invest in some good headphones. I use the Labtec Go-440 which I will be reviewing later.

Overall, the Heward-Packard iPAQ is a great device, and worth considering to be your PDA. I have used a Palm IV PDA as well, and have to say that the iPAQ is easier to use for any task.

Heward-Packard iPAQ (2950 series)
CAN$449.99 @ Staples or http://www.hp.ca
Rating : 4.5/5

[Yellowhello]

Nice write-up. I have never used an iPAQ or any PDA for that matter, so what sort of programs could you put on the iPAQ?

Also, you might want to shrink down the photo's. My browser was having a helluva time loading the page, only to have it shrunk back down by the forums.

[Hitman]

Did you take those pics with a camera phone? Please take some better pictures.

[WhiteEagle]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Did you take those pics with a camera phone? Please take some better pictures.

Hitman, they were taken with a Nexxtech DSC-353 (3.1 Mega Pixel) camera.

I went and resized them using the Windows Image Resizer PowerToy and have uploaded the smaller images to my server. They should show up better now.

[Hitman]

No they still look like crap. Bad lighting and you can't even see the PDA. You need to take new pics with better lighting, and crop all the useless crap out of them.

[Yellowhello]

I like the smaller pics better, but as Hitman said, the quality is still really bad.

[Hitman]

Pictures are what make or break a review. No matter how good the write up is, if the pics suck, then no one will really read the review.

[WhiteEagle]

In that case, I don't think I'll be writing any more reviews until I can get myself a better camera! No more cheap cameras for me!

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by WhiteEagle

In that case, I don't think I'll be writing any more reviews until I can get myself a better camera! No more cheap cameras for me!

Not trying to bust your balls or anything, I am just saying when it comes to reviews pictures are very important. You don't have to have Magazine quality photos, but at a minimum have clear pictures, with a neutral background and proper lighting. Also your pictures should be as close to the product as possible so the readers can see the features of the product.

[WhiteEagle]

That's why I need a better camera, mine only takes poor photos and requires a minimum distance.