PDA Reviews

Got this refurbished from Costco. Good screen etc. BUT, the power runs out every time you turn your back on it and there IS NO BACKUP (watch-type) battery. When the power runs out, you LOSE every program you ever installed, and the software walks you through an insultingly stupid nano-tutorial before you can use it again. Stupid design of the decade. Bought a stowaway keyboard for it and whenever the keyboard got near it, the Ipaq got flaky. Tonight the thing died again and I destroyed it (dead, it makes a better work of art than it ever did a PDA). Reason: I had to spend more time and effort reviving it than using it. A great concept with severely crappy reliability.

I am very statisfied with my new iPAQ 3955. I would give it five stars but...

It was necessary to do a return/replacement with the first unit I received due to a bad "frozen" pixel on the screen. With Amazon's excellent return/replacement policies this was a relatively painless process and the replacement unit was perfect with no problems whatsoever.

Out of curiosity while I was out Christmas shopping, I checked several iPAQ 3955 units on display at a local retailer and discovered that 2 of the 3 units on display had bad pixels. I also noted that several of the Amazon customer reviews indicate a pixel problem. Apparently, this is a problem with the 3900 series - otherwise it is an excellent product with a lot of great features at a fairly reasonable price.

Just be sure to check for bad pixels.

The first thing I have to say about the 3950...Finally has a company worked to make a PocketPC more consumer-oriented than other models. The iPAQ 3950 works flawlessly as a Phillips Pronto replacement, and has as great a distance as standard remote controls. Hundreds and hundreds of brands are preprogrammed, and it's very easy to create macros. The remote function alone could be worth $200+ if purchased separately. The second thing to mention is the iPAQ's breathtaking display...The screen rivals the Casio EM-500/E-125 HAST displays, and it has flawless color rendition, flawless contrast, and everything that appears on the screen is gorgeous. Videos look amazing, as do photos. The third thing to mention: the iPAQ's sound quality is unrivaled thanks to Compaq's inclusion of Bass and Treble controls. Music and movies sound amazing, both through the internal speaker (the loudest of the PocketPC market) and through headphones. The iPAQ's 3rd party support, too, is unmatched; no other PocketPC has anywhere near the number of 3rd party options as the iPAQ. Compaq's own accessories from the previous 38xx series are backwards-compatible with the iPAQ 39xx series (including cables and expansion packs). Overall, after owning the iPAQ 3635, iPAQ 3835, and now the iPAQ 3950, I can recommend the iPAQ 39xx series without hesitation; I've owned the Toshiba e740 and returned it within 2 weeks (Poor performance, poor WiFi implementation, poor battery life). Battery life on the iPAQ is very impressive, outlasting the previous PocketPC battery champ, the HP Jornada 567.

Pros: The Psion Revo is a great hand held organizer. It is a perfect blend of functionality and design. The screen looks crisp and clear. The calendar program has a great look to it and is so easy to use. For those that demand a little more than just and organizer, it has great applications like word processing and spreadsheets that can seamlessly be used with MS Word and Excel. The small QWERTY keyboard take a while to get used to, but it once you've mastered it, it's defintely a time saver.

Cons: There is no where near the software support that there is for the Palm class of handhelds. If you want a lot of games, then you probably don't want the Revo. Also, Outlook 2000 isn't officially supported with their synchronization tool, PsiWin. While I had previously used Outlook 2000 just fine with it, I'm having problems now. It is a bit disconcerning to not have the most used office suite not supported. So all in all, great product in need of better software support.

If you shop like me and like to compare what's out there before buying, the Revo is worth a serious look. I wanted a PDA under or around $300 so I after hours of reading reviews on cnet.com, I bought the Revo, Mako (the Revo's big brother with more memory), Palm M100, Palm IIIxe, Compaq Aero 1550 and Handspring Deluxe. These were similar in capabilities and price. The keyboard was what convinced me to try to Revo but once I got it, the wide screen, Word and Excel-like software, quality sound, and study feel of the Revo won me over from the Palms and Compaq. The resolution is crisp and clear on the wide screen and you'll have a hard time going to a Palm after you see the text on the Revo. I mainly use the spreadsheet, contact and agenda features which all have the Windows-like pull-down menus. I hated grafiti (the handwriting software on Palms) so a keyboard was a blessing. There's a lot of depth and detail to their software so it would be hard for a non-PC user. A Palm maybe better for those users because Palms do seem more user-friendly. However, if you can use a PC, this little machine is like having your desktop in your pocket. It's an affordable and much more convenient alternative to a lap top if you just need the basic wordprocessing, spreasheet and organizer software. The best $300 I've spent in a while.

The only PDA that combines a good keyboard with the right "pocket" size. The revo is now 4 years old, but still the best PDA on the market. I especially enjoy quick and easy look-up in databases, help files, calender. In fact, eventhough I have a Win 2000 PC by my side, I choose the revo to look-up contacts, meetings etc - it's faster ! In addtion, the installed applications work fine: contacts, calender, database, word, sheet, jotter etc.

It's a pity the revo isn't developed any longer. It would have been great to see a new Revo-2004 including memory slots, MP3 player, color screen - but in the same casing.

After carrying around a rather large planner for years, and never seeming to be able to have addresses handy, I decided to give the Palm IIIe a try -- I figured that the cost of a few planners would be more than made up. With a month of use under my belt, I would never go back to the paper planners again. The Palm IIIe is easy to use and to enter or retrive data is simple. The display is very clear (I've not had to use the backlight feature even in dim light). The email connection works very well with my modum and personal email account. I am still having problems getting it to connect with my network email (using Lotus cc:mail version 8.2), but even with this snag, I love the Palm IIIe. Lastly, the amount of memory is fine and I am still on my first set of batteries!

The Palm IIIe is definitely a great buy- I'm in 7th grade, and I keep all my homework assignments for the day in there. It's lightweight and very user friendly- the graffiti language is easy to get used to, but you don't even have to use it. You can use the little on screen keyboard function. It's much easier than pen and paper- it comes with a To Do List, Calculator, Memo Pad, Address Book, and more. Plus, you can download tons of software on it. It doesn't have as much memory as the newer Palm versions, but it should have plenty. It has a backlight, and the product doesn't drain the batteries quickly. The display is excellent. For the price, I would highly recommend this product.

If you are looking for a basic handheld organizer, the Palm IIIe is worth considering. I have been using my Palm for the past few years, and it has never given me a problem. I'll admit that I probably don't use it to its full capabilities, but for everyday usage it is fine.

The Palm IIIe is perfect for the basics: datebook, address book, lists and reminders. I also find it handy for reading e-books or playing strategy games. However, because the memory is not expandable, I'm not storing pictures, or huge databases, writing email or playing fast-action games.

What I like best about my IIIe is that it runs on 2 AAA batteries. This means that I can take my Palm on long trips without having to worry about charging it in the base, like most newer models require. (I also use rechargable batteries, which helps keep down costs.)

The plastic casing of the IIIe is light and durable. After three years of tossing it in my bag, it has no visible scratches. The same cannot be said for the metal casing on newer Palm models.

Unlike the Palm m100 series or Zire, the screen size on a IIIe is the same size as that of a Palm V. The other two models have screens that are considerably smaller, and in my opinion, quite cramped.

My only regret is that the Palm IIIe's cradle does not have a USB connection but a serial one. There are adapters on the market that will convert your serial plug into a USB one, though.

I have had my Sumdex padded palm wallet for a year. I got it for my handspring visor. This is a particularly handy case because of the strap on the back of it--you can loop the strap of a satchel through this strap on the back. I have a shoulder bag and have this case on to the strap, so I can access my visor without opening the bag. The battery loops are a perfect way to make sure you are never without spare power. Whereas the other reviewer I read has made use of the velcro, I determined the case was more useful for transporting than for cradling the visor permanently--mine is not fastened into the case, and if that's what you'd like to do with the case you buy, I don't recommend it--the zipper around the outside (all you need to keep the device in the case without velcro) would also, it seems, be annoying to contend with when you're actually using the device. However, if you want to have quick, easy access to your handheld while still protecting it, this is a great case. And the price is right.

I had a heavy-duty rubber case for my palm IIIxe since I worked in a warehouse with a cement floor and had already cracked the screen on my first palm. When I changed jobs, I decided to look for a smaller case that looked nice, didn't have all the wallet pockets, and was large enough to hold my pen/stylus. Well, I found it in this case. It looks very nice and it protects my palm very well. The velcro is strong enough to hold the palm in place with no movement. I'd like to be able to store the extra batteries at the top, since my pen/stylus takes up the available battery storage space where the loops are. I'm going to buy another case for my son's m100.

This PDA case is almost perfect. I have found it to be durable and effective at protecting my Palm from harm. The bright color makes my Palm easy to find on my cluttered desk. If the case had pockets for expansion cards and so forth, it would be perfect!

I have had my Sumdex padded palm wallet for a year. I got it for my handspring visor. This is a particularly handy case because of the strap on the back of it--you can loop the strap of a satchel through this strap on the back. I have a shoulder bag and have this case on to the strap, so I can access my visor without opening the bag. The battery loops are a perfect way to make sure you are never without spare power. Whereas the other reviewer I read has made use of the velcro, I determined the case was more useful for transporting than for cradling the visor permanently--mine is not fastened into the case, and if that's what you'd like to do with the case you buy, I don't recommend it--the zipper around the outside (all you need to keep the device in the case without velcro) would also, it seems, be annoying to contend with when you're actually using the device. However, if you want to have quick, easy access to your handheld while still protecting it, this is a great case. And the price is right.

I had a heavy-duty rubber case for my palm IIIxe since I worked in a warehouse with a cement floor and had already cracked the screen on my first palm. When I changed jobs, I decided to look for a smaller case that looked nice, didn't have all the wallet pockets, and was large enough to hold my pen/stylus. Well, I found it in this case. It looks very nice and it protects my palm very well. The velcro is strong enough to hold the palm in place with no movement. I'd like to be able to store the extra batteries at the top, since my pen/stylus takes up the available battery storage space where the loops are. I'm going to buy another case for my son's m100.

This PDA case is almost perfect. I have found it to be durable and effective at protecting my Palm from harm. The bright color makes my Palm easy to find on my cluttered desk. If the case had pockets for expansion cards and so forth, it would be perfect!

I have had my Sumdex padded palm wallet for a year. I got it for my handspring visor. This is a particularly handy case because of the strap on the back of it--you can loop the strap of a satchel through this strap on the back. I have a shoulder bag and have this case on to the strap, so I can access my visor without opening the bag. The battery loops are a perfect way to make sure you are never without spare power. Whereas the other reviewer I read has made use of the velcro, I determined the case was more useful for transporting than for cradling the visor permanently--mine is not fastened into the case, and if that's what you'd like to do with the case you buy, I don't recommend it--the zipper around the outside (all you need to keep the device in the case without velcro) would also, it seems, be annoying to contend with when you're actually using the device. However, if you want to have quick, easy access to your handheld while still protecting it, this is a great case. And the price is right.

I had a heavy-duty rubber case for my palm IIIxe since I worked in a warehouse with a cement floor and had already cracked the screen on my first palm. When I changed jobs, I decided to look for a smaller case that looked nice, didn't have all the wallet pockets, and was large enough to hold my pen/stylus. Well, I found it in this case. It looks very nice and it protects my palm very well. The velcro is strong enough to hold the palm in place with no movement. I'd like to be able to store the extra batteries at the top, since my pen/stylus takes up the available battery storage space where the loops are. I'm going to buy another case for my son's m100.

This PDA case is almost perfect. I have found it to be durable and effective at protecting my Palm from harm. The bright color makes my Palm easy to find on my cluttered desk. If the case had pockets for expansion cards and so forth, it would be perfect!

I have had my Sumdex padded palm wallet for a year. I got it for my handspring visor. This is a particularly handy case because of the strap on the back of it--you can loop the strap of a satchel through this strap on the back. I have a shoulder bag and have this case on to the strap, so I can access my visor without opening the bag. The battery loops are a perfect way to make sure you are never without spare power. Whereas the other reviewer I read has made use of the velcro, I determined the case was more useful for transporting than for cradling the visor permanently--mine is not fastened into the case, and if that's what you'd like to do with the case you buy, I don't recommend it--the zipper around the outside (all you need to keep the device in the case without velcro) would also, it seems, be annoying to contend with when you're actually using the device. However, if you want to have quick, easy access to your handheld while still protecting it, this is a great case. And the price is right.

I had a heavy-duty rubber case for my palm IIIxe since I worked in a warehouse with a cement floor and had already cracked the screen on my first palm. When I changed jobs, I decided to look for a smaller case that looked nice, didn't have all the wallet pockets, and was large enough to hold my pen/stylus. Well, I found it in this case. It looks very nice and it protects my palm very well. The velcro is strong enough to hold the palm in place with no movement. I'd like to be able to store the extra batteries at the top, since my pen/stylus takes up the available battery storage space where the loops are. I'm going to buy another case for my son's m100.

This PDA case is almost perfect. I have found it to be durable and effective at protecting my Palm from harm. The bright color makes my Palm easy to find on my cluttered desk. If the case had pockets for expansion cards and so forth, it would be perfect!

Granted, I didn't want to spend too much on one of these. I guess I kind of got what I paid for. There is a splotch on the screen that showed up just two months after receiving it. ViewSonic totally ignored me. The battery stinks. The screen freezes so I have to reset the dumb thing. I bought this back in July of 03. I hate it.

I don't know if I could be considered a power user. But this pocket pc more than meets all of my needs. I've got a pretty big collection of contacts and my schedule is updated daily. I've used the pocket versions of excel and word and the note maker. No errors, no conflicts with my desktop. Its pretty smooth. I haven't taken full advantage of the Avant Go SW but from what I've used its pretty cool. To sum it up the main advantages I've noticed from this machine are:

1. Good display. Colors are crisp and you can make it as bright as you want. Mind the bat life though.

2. Easy to use. Its windows. I haven't had to reference the book or help sw more than a couple of times. Its very implicit and comes naturally.

3. Good speed. Turns on fast and programs load quick.

4. Easy as cake to sync. I've had issues syncing palms to desktops bfr. This required very little thought.

The complaints I have so far:

1. The batery has to be watched. Using it for a few hours at a time is taxing.

2. Its all plastic. I assumed the front was metal. Not a big deal really. I should have read the description closer. If anyone is assuming the same thing I thought you'd like to know.

Really, this is a good little machine for the money. I'm not sure you get as much from the palm m515. Prices change so I don't know what the cost val comparison would be but if you use your palm/poc pc to keep track of names, dates, notes, etc.. then this thing more than meets your needs and its slick too. I get a lot of inquiries. ViewSonic didn't skimp on the design or the quality control. A great entry level choice if this will be your first 'handheld'/palm.

I switched from a Palm V. What a difference! No eyestrain anymore. The screen is bright, the colors help with reading calendars, contact information and e-mail. With an add-in 256 MB SD card there is plenty of storage for music and documents. It fits nicely into a shirt pocket, even with the semi-hard case, and is light enough not to notice. It has been running very stably and so far seems surprisingly sturdy. I suspect that the HP iPAQ Pocket PC h1910 is similar but the specs show a lot shorter battery life. The Toshiba e310/e335 is also similar but a bit larger and the screen did not look as bright. The Dell Axim X5 is heavier and larger but can accomodate a CF type II card in addition to an SD card. Regardless of your choice, I suggest getting one of several utilities that are available to keep track of memory and battery charge on the Today page.

The LCD cracked while in my pocket with no drop or hit!
Sent the unit to HP and after bouncing around their customer service, I was charged $190 for the repair. Browsing the internet (unsuccessfully trying to find a cheaper repair option) I found several similar complains. It seems like the IPAQ4155 has a serious quality problem that costs 50% of the value of a new unit to fix. I am selling my unit as soon as it comes back from repair and will never by an IPAQ anymore!

I have very few complaints with my iPAQ. I've had it for about a month now, and using it in conjunction w/ my Bluetooth enabled Sony Ericsson T610 has been pretty sweet.

Like others have said, the battery life is nothing great. A little more memory would be nice as well. But the battery life and memory isn't sub-par; it's current with the market right now.

Another thing is the FileStore. Prior to this, I had the 1945, which has the same dimensions (.01cm smaller?) and similar feature set (minus Wi-Fi). The FileStore (an area of memory that isn't erased when if you must hard reset) is only 3mb on the 4155, compared to 13mb on my 1945.

I love the fact that it fits in my scrub pocket, and obviously the wi-fi is great. I have gone into Starbucks and connected so effortlessly that my email was synced before I placed my order.

If you get this (which if you want to have the ability to use WiFi, Bluetooth all in a PPC you should get this one) I would suggest getting one or two SD cards. I currently have a 256mb card, and sometimes it even feels too small.

One last thing: missing the CF card slot doesn't seem that important when you have the SDIO ability. I'm hoping to see more peripherals built using this standard in the next year.

I had been always curious about the Pocket PC OS and its usefulness and practicality on the PDA environment. I am now a believer and definitely prefer it over the Palm OS due to its ease of use, compatibility and similarity to the Windows PC environment. This also results in a faster learning curve.

Integrated wireless:
This was the selling factor, and it did not dissapoint me. I got it to work at home and at the office, where I connect to different wireless access points. The iPAQ allows you to create individual profiles for every connection, so there is no need to manually configure every time you switch networks.

Bluetooth:
This technology is becoming more common around airports, offices, malls and other places, although probably you'll need to incur in a connection fee. I have not tested this feature yet although my iPAQ recently came across and recognized a Bluetooth network on one of the airports I travelled to.

Synchronization:
The iPAQ supports Outlook (preferably 2002) for Calendar, e-mail, notes, file and task synching. The Active Synch software is included and required on your host PC in order to start synchronizing with your PDA. A maximum o 2 PCs (partnerships) can be established for synching. Methods of synchronization include IR(Infrared), USB(using the included cradle), WLAN (yes, you can synch wireless) or serial.
Word and Excel documents are automatically converted into Pocket PC format when they are synchronized with the iPAQ. The original document needs to be copied into the Pocket PC folder (Pocket_PC My Documents) on your host PC before performing the synch.

Internet:
In order to connect to the Internet, you are required to be connected to a network, be it WLAN or Bluetooth. There are a few interesting web links included with your iPAQ and you can add your own favorites as well. Navigations is similar to Internet Explorer although you are required to scroll up/down and left/right continously on web sites that are not mobile-friendly.

E-mails:
E-mail accounts on the iPAQ are setup in an almost exact manner as Outlook on a normal PC. By default, and in order to conserve memory, e-mail attachments are not downloaded, there's also a default limit of e-mails you can carry at a time. E-mails can be downloaded while connected to the Internet or synched using the methods mentioned previously.

What about games? Two games are included: Guess what? Solitaire is one of them! The other one is Jawbreaker, a very simple but extremely entertaining game. There are many web sites with additional programs that can be downloaded for your iPAQ.

Programs and utilities included:
MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player, Pocket Excel and Word, Pocket MSN, Microsoft Reader, Calculator, Terminal Services Client among others.

Security:
Password security is optional; there are two security options, a simple 4-digit number and a more complex alphanumeric password option. Wireless connection security is obtained using 64 or 128 bit WEP encryption. Obviously your PDA is as secure as the network it is connecting to. Setting up 128 bit encryption on your iPAQ won't work if your wireless access point is unsecured.

Time settings: Up to two different time zones are available at the same time.

Display:
Very clear display, sharp, easy to read text, adjustable text size and fonts in some programs.

Battery:
The iPAQ possesses a respectable battery duration. It obviously varies according to your battery saving settings. Reducing the default screen brightness helps as well as turning off the wireless access or lowering the sound volume.

Settings:
You can monitor memory usage and power consumption, remove programs, adjust backlight settings, align the screen, sharpen the text, etc.

Other features:
Voice recording: There's a button on the upper left corner of the iPAQ to start recording short messages or reminders, very handy.
MP3 audio: MP3 files can be downloaded and played on your PDA using Windows Media Player. A headphone jack is also available for your private listening pleasure. Memory is limited though, is not like you can have a CD full of music on your iPAQ, don't confuse it with an MP3 player.
Letter Recognizer - A very cool option where the iPAQ attempts to recognize your handwriting and converts it into readable text.
Block recognizer - It's similar to the Palm's graffiti recognition
Transcriber - It recognizes words written in cursive
Notes can also be quickly handwritten as if using the iPAQ as a paper Notepad.
Images can also be viewed using your iPAQ, and as with the MP3 files, you should consider the memory limitations.

Memory:
Additional memory can be obtained with Secured Digital (SD) memory cards. These come on 128, 256 and 512MB sizes at reasonable prices.

The HP iPAQ 4155 is a complete, full-featured piece of equipment, well worth its price.

this is my first pocket pc that i purchased it to replace my handspring visor. the metal case is very sleek, matched with the color screen, it definitely is a head turner. the rechargeable battery is a nice feature, although the life span is rather short. the serial sync cable included works fairly well but a usb cable would have been better. the infared sync works well with my laptop, but it's much slower than the serial cable. one thing that does annoy me is the fact that you can not store the stylus on the pda itself (like on the palm or visor) rather it stores in the protect sleeve instead. if you get this device you will soon find that the built-in memory is not enough, so i highly recommend getting an additional compact flash memory card. i have used it as an mp3 player but since i store the music on the expansion cf card, reading from the cf slot drains the battery pretty quick. i have also done some light editing of word and excel documents while on the go which works out great.
i also have a cf analog modem and cf wireless card to access the internet, it's not very fast but gets the job done when i need to chek my email. color depth is not all that great, you cannot view pictures or video very well but that might be expecting too much.

For almost three years I had exclusively used a Jornada 820 (Windows CE handheld with built-in modem and keyboard) as a portable device. And while I still love to take the 820 along on trips, there was one drawback: It was always just a little too big and heavy for my purse. This is why I recently bought a Jornada 525 Pocket PC.

The main reason for deciding on a 525 was its price, but I was also pleasantly surprised by its great functionality and design. The device fits well into my hand and exudes a sense of quality - no thin plastic body but substantial metal with rubber coating on the sides for a better grip. It looks pretty cool.

Of course there are a few compromises compared to higher-priced Pocket PCs: The 525 does not come with a cover, although one is available separately; the stylus cannot be stored in the device itself, although there is a slot for it in the included protective glove. Also, this Jornada has only a 256 color display, and no USB interface, however, a serial cable is included for synchronization. Another thing that's missing is a docking station, but again this can be purchased as an accessory. The 525 has only 16 MB memory, and not the fastest processor (SH3, 133 Mhz).

But all these things do not bother me too much. I synchronize via infrared anyway (which you CAN do with this device), and I have already purchased a cover - the silver-colored one looks quite good with it! Sure, the 16 MB memory is not great, but luckily the 525 has a Compact Flash Card slot. With prices for these cards plummeting, I put in a 128 MB CF card and I'm loaded for bear.

If you are like me - and I would dare say like most of the Pocket PC users - you will probably use such a device mainly for storing contacts and appointments, for playing Solitaire or read an eBook while waiting at the doctor's office, or for listening to MP3 files when the wait gets REALLY long. Also for storing other information like credit card numbers, passwords and PINs, and for keeping track of projects, orders, etc. With the optional camera module, one can even take pictures and view them.

All these things work on the Jornada 525, and work well. I would urge anyone who is in the market for a Pocket PC to really think about what he/she wants to do with it, and not blindly go for ads that make you want to spend hundreds of dollars more for a little more speed, contrast, and built-in memory. The fact is that all these devices have a very short shelf life, and what is top-of-the-line today, will very likely be gone by this time next year. Unless you are one of those rare power users who really live and breathe this technology, I believe the Jornada 525 will more than meet your needs.

The reason I didn't give 5 stars is that in my experience its battery life is not the best - I've learned to never stray too far from an electrical outlet. But again: This also depends on what kind of applications you are running, and how many at the same time... Nothing to gripe too much about.

I`m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I bought my Jornada 525 on november 2001 and I`m realy happy with this unit.
It is really elegant for business and it has the basic programs that a business man need.
Unnluckily, it was discontinious.