HP iPaq rx1950

Pros: Internet in your pocket!

Cons: Needs ROM updates immediately.

Summary: http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/locate/1129_6250.html

What a great device - AFTER I updated the ROM.

It took a while for HP to come out with updates for this device, but now that they have, it seems to fix many of the Version 1.0 bugs.

I put a 1 Gig SD memory card in it & can carry around LOTS of music, pictures, files, etc.

Windows Mobile 5 makes good use of the memory card. If you install new programs for this machine, they reside on the card instead of eating up main memory.

Of course, if the battery runs out of juice, all of your programs and data are safe because they are stored in non-volatile flash ROM - VERY COOL. They call this persistent memory and it makes all the difference in using a device like this on the road when chances of running out of battery power are pretty high.

Internet access with this device is a breeze. Being able to surf the net, check your email, and use Windows Messaging is a big step up from previous devices. Windows Mobile 5 makes it easy to seek out access points and connect to them without a lot of hassle.

Avantgo is a great addition to any PDA. Now that you can update wirelessly, it's even better.

MP3 and video playback is a lot of fun. The screen is bright and can be rotated to landscape mode by a push of a button. With the memory card, I can load quite a bit of music and let it play for hours (with the backlight off).

I haven't quite gotten the hang of updating the Windows Media library with the music that is stored on my memory card. At this point I don't know if this is my mistake, or if another update is in order from HP/Microsoft.

Again, this device was a DOG when I first bought it. However, with the two updates that HP has posted on their site, I'm thinking that this is quite a bargain for $300 (or less).

Tom
Is There Gas In The Car?
23JAN2006
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