When I first heard of the IPaq I have to admit, I was a little turned off by the ripped off name from the IMac. After spending the first hour with the first IPaq I set up, I was disgusted, but let me explain that first. If you are a Windows NT user, I am sure you will appreciate this part. Being an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) I usually don't just turn on a new computer and boot up the OS (Operating System) that the vendor installed. Instead, I usually opt for installing a fresh copy of the OS I want on the machine. So, this is how I started the first hour of my IPaq experience. If you have ever installed Windows NT from scratch, you know that if there are any special drivers needed, it can be a royal pain in the rear. After about an hour of fighting with it, I decided to cop out and re-load the factory image with the Compaq CD provided. This CD is a great thing to have, and it's included with the machine. I just wanted to see this thing in action and my patience wasn't completely with me. After booting into Windows NT I soon realized why it is called an "Internet Device". On a LAN (Local Area Network) this thing screams. I later found that it is even faster when Windows 2000 Professional is loaded. There are two versions of the IPaq; a "Legacy" model that has an LPT port (Printer Port) and COM (Standard Communications) Port, the "Non-Legacy" model does not have these two ports. If your devices all have a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, then there is no need for the Legacy model. If you use DSL or Cable as an interface to the WWW then this device is perfect for you. The speed of network negotiation is just as fast, if not faster to any desktop I have ever seen. The look of this machine is refreshing compared to the "old beige box" look of most computers on the market. I have had people ask me, "what the hell is that thing?" Mine came with 128MB RAM , a PIII 733, an 8GB HDD, A hot swappable 24X CD-ROM and and an LS-120. (LS-120 can read a regular floppy disk or a "Super Disk" which holds 120MB and is the same size as a 1.44MB floppy disk) The hot-swappable part doesn't always work in NT even with special software, but that shouldn't surprise anyone (NT's fault). There is built in sound with input/output jacks. There is a built in Graphics adapter that is more than adequate for anyone less than a "Super Gamer". Overall, for the price of the IPaq versus what you get, this device is more than a bargain!



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 850.00
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 701-800
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 7-9