iPAQ 3650 Makes Work Fun.

MY PROBLEM: I’m constantly switching my methods of organization. I'll use a Franklin Planner for a few months, then a Palm V, then a spiral bound notebook. I bemoaned being unable to stick with one system until I read a book called "Time Management for Creative People."

It explained that those of us with wandering minds need to be entertained at work. It’s OK to turn your drudgework into play - even if that means switching time management systems every time you get bored. Getting your work done is more important that how you get your work done.

IS THIS FUN, OR WHAT? I say all that to put the following in perspective: I love my iPAQ 3650. The screen is bright and colorful. What fun to play MP3s on my organizer while whittling down my to do list! Everyday task management and scheduling is a lot more fun in color and accompanied by Madonna.

Not to mention some of the iPAQ’s other fun features. I have a catalog of pictures of my niece and friends that I love to show off. Microsoft sells a ten-game pack that keeps me entertained in dull meetings, including a version of PACMAN I can play with the iPAQ’s rocker button.

Do I need these capacities? Not really. Am I enjoying the hell of them? ABSOLUTELY. You will too.

TECH STUFF:

Speed and reliability: I’ve heard PocketPC’s criticized for running slowly and crashing often. No such problems here. Although not as fast as the Palm platform, my iPAQ never feels poky. Of course, it has the fastest processor of any PocketPC, so that could make a difference. It’s never crashed on me, but when the system runs too many programs I reset it and it seems to run fresher.

Display: The iPAQ doesn’t run as many colors as some of the other PocketPC’s, so photos aren’t in full color and look blocky. It’s disappointing, but it’s a fair tradeoff if full color would have meant a bigger unit or slower functioning. Still, if the next generation of iPAQ’s run 64K color, it’d be an improvement.

Synchronizing: I’ve synched effortlessly to my computer at home thru USB and at work through infrared. No probs. And it’s cool and useful that I can create and edit and read MS Word and Excel documents on both platforms and transfer them so easily. Likewise, installing new programs on the iPAQ is even easier than using the Palm Installation Tool.

Hardware: Some people love the iPAQ’s flashy form, I don’t. If you pull it at a meeting, everyone stops dead to comment. Me, I’d like to be loved for my mind. I like the spring-loaded stylus holder as I was always using my Palm styli. The unit feels solid. It can be connected to your computer with the included stand. I find it awkward to do, and sometimes have to jiggle it to get it in. That worries me, as I can see the connectors loosening or breaking over time.

Unfortunately, while the iPAQ can fit in a pocket, it’s too heavy and bulky to carry in one. I recommend you look into Franklin Covey’s $99 iPAQ case, which holds it securely in a sleeve and also contains a ring binder and some card storage slots. Carrying around like that seems a lot safe, as the unit is snugly protected. And the handwriting recognition – although better than a Palm’s – is still not so fast or accurate that there aren’t times when you’ll be glad to have a paper and pen.

PS: The iPAQ comes with shockingly little documentation, and you have to learn a lot through trial and error.

Expansion sleeves: Without a Compactflash slot, the iPAQ has “sleeves” you slip it into which accommodate a PCMCIA card or a Compactflash card. I bought the CF version, and it adds a lot - -a lot! – of bulk. I can’t say I’m thrilled with it, but if future sleeves add more functionality and are slimmed down, it may yet be a good idea.

CONCLUSION: I love my iPAQ, but it’s an expensive toy. Still, if you want to splurge on an extremely fun and useful digital assistant, that may even increase your productivity and keep you entertained, go for it! If you do, be sure to check out Microsoft’s PocketPC.com, which has useful reviews and plenty of free software offers.




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 475