The Best Bang for your Buck
Written: Apr 29 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Bright 12-bit Color Display, Good Amount of Memory, Thin and Powerful.
Cons: Battery Life could be better, No built-in expansion slots, Single Button instance (explained later)
The Bottom Line: Excellent built-in storage capacity and unlimited storage expansion with the use of the CF Expansion Pack. Superb processing power for those games on the go. A must-have for mobile geeks.
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| orion522's Full Review: Compaq iPAQ H3765 Pocket PC |
Currently there are other models of iPaqs out there that virtually take care of all the "wants" I have for this device. However, since there are some newer devices out there, you simply cannot beat the price! If you're thinking of upgrading from an older palm or pocket pc device, let me inform you of why this one should be the way to go:
Memory
64 MB of memory in today's world for a pocket pc is perfect. It's more than 8 or 16 MB like the newer palmOS machines pack so there's a plus right there. I've installed a dictionary, dozens of interface utilities, pocket quake (quite large), and a horde of other video games and I still have 18 MB left on the storage side of RAM (still have 24 MB left on the program side).
If you need more storage capacity to hold higher quality MP3s and the like, then getting a compact flash jacket expansion isn't all that expensive, $39.95 at CompUSA the last time I checked. Granted having a jacket on the iPaq makes it almost double in thickness, but remember, this iPaq model is incredibly inexpensive because of the need for these jackets to expand it, so weigh your own personal preferences since getting the next model up costs about $200 more.
Speed and Video Gaming
The 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor doesn't leave much for want in the speed area. Even some of the higher models above the 3765 still use the same speed processor, which shows that they didn't fix what people didn't complain about.
Playing games on the iPaq with this kind of horsepower is quite entertaining. However, the one huge drawback for this iPaq model is that you can only push one button simultaneously. That means that if you're playing Pocket Doom or Quake, you would have to get used to playing with a stylus and your thumb so you could aim. Otherwise, you would have to run, stop, turn, stop, shoot, stop, etc. It gets kind of strange trying to learn to play a 3D shooter with a stylus pen, but then again, pocket PCs weren't designed as gaming stations in the first place were they?
Battery Life, Alarms, and the Backlight
The only other feature for this iPaq that I would have to say is negative is the battery life. Once the machine gets to about 40%, Windows starts warning you that it's time to recharge your batteries unless you want to lose data. That kind of message was pretty scary in the beginning but I guess you get used to it. It's a Lithium Ion battery, which is very good since it won't develop any kind of memory effect and lose it's power storage potential, but I think they should have tried putting a heavier duty one in this model since I have to put it in the cradle at the end of every day or risk losing information.
The alarm system is identical to Outlook's (since its made by Microsoft) in that it sounds an alarm for appointments and tasks and has a very similar interface. To me it's actually a mix between the PalmOS calendar and Outlook for the PC. If you're used to the Palm, it'll feel slightly awkward for awhile, but once you get used to the new platform, the calendar is much more powerful on the Pocket PC.
Having a backlight is incredibly convenient, especially in dark rooms or at night. Talk about BRIGHT! If it's turned on to it's fullest and you go to a program with a lot of white space (like notepad or pocket word), you could actually use it as a flashlight, no joke! The only downside is that the brighter the backlight, the higher the drain on the battery, and like I said, the battery is one of the downers to the iPaq. However, if you keep the settings to allow the iPaq to automatically change backlight settings or leave it on low all the time, the drain isn't too harsh. Also make sure to have it turn off if the iPaq is idle for more than a minute.
Options
One of the major positive features for the iPaq is the ability to snap into an expansion jacket to allow for one or two PCMCIA Type II cards or one Type III card (like the IBM 1GB micro drive) or another jacket that allows for the use of Compact Flash media. Here are some US Part Numbers for those interested in these devices:
Dual Slot PC Card Pack - 216198-B21
Single Slot PC Card Pack - 170338-B21
CompactFlash Card Pack - 170339-B21
Even more in the options department is the various mobility solutions offered by Compaq. One expansion pack offers Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a CompactFlash slot. Another option is the CompactFlash 56k Modem for those of you who find it convenient to have a phone line modem connection on-the-go. Next is a Wireless LAN PC Card that offered network connectivity within your wireless workplace or wireless home. Lastly (and the most convenient), is the iPaQnet Mobility Solutions PCMCIA card. This last card requires one of the PC Card Packs (Single or Dual) but it offers its owner the ability to have access to the wireless internet anytime and anywhere (wireless signal permitting, check www.compaq.com/ipaqnet for coverage area). Here are those US Part numbers for the newly mentioned items:
CompactFlash 56k Modem - 148908-001
Wireless LAN PC Card - 191808-B21
iPaQnet Mobility Solution - ??? (check website)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 339.00
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Epinions.com ID:
orion522
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Member: Larry
Location: California
Reviews written: 47
Trusted by: 6 members
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