The perfect device? Well... Close.
Written: Sep 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small Size. USB Connection.
Cons: Inferior display. Design flaw on card slot cover
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| ShaunC's Full Review: Hewlett Packard Jornada 548 Pocket PC |
Hewlett Packard came awfully close to "perfect" on this model...Except for a few let-downs discussed later.
Once you own a PocketPC, you begin to wonder how exactly you got along without one. It is certainly a must-have for traveling businesspeople where a laptop would be uneeded and also for those cool gadget collectors. (and you know who you are!)
Microsoft actually released certain specifications (Yes, Hardware wise) for PocketPC's. Firstly, They have to be color. Secondly, and this is the one I like, there is a scrollbar placed very convienantly on the unit, right where the thumb would be when holding it. This makes it very easy and also very feasable to read a book on the unit.
Microsoft Reader is bar-none the best computer based reader I have come across. Features for bookmark and the type is very easy on the eyes for extended book reading. (I read Timeline by Michael Chriton in three days, Which I should mention, you get free with a PocketPC purchase if you go to the pocketpc website!) As a downside, There aren't too many books out right now that are in Reader format. Now that Reader has been recently made available for the PC and the deal with Microsoft and B&N - This may change quickly.... But, Dare I say it, The PocketPC version of reader does not support Digital Rights Media whereas the PC version of it does. What happens if the person you buy the book from uses Digital Rights? You can't use it on the PocketPC. At least for now. (This is a moot point right now, since I do not know of any places that use Digital rights for Reader - However some places are using it for Media Player)
Of course, You also get Word, Excel and all of the other programs that come standard on every PocketPC. Including Internet Explorer, etc.
I should also mention there are a ton of cool accessories for the PocketPC CF card slot, like LAN cards, Modems, Business Card Scanners, Bar code readers, video cameras and so on.
I have used the other PocketPC, Casio E-115 and here is a brief comparison between it and the HP.
* Casio E-115 This model is a bit thicker than the HP unit and bulkier. The HP unit also uses a USB connection for the cradle interface. This allows for MUCH faster Sync. This is a HUGE difference in time when Sync'ing a large amount of data or installating programs. On the plus side, the display on the Casio is capable of displaying more colors. (See my gripes below!)
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The Bad Side.
HP Incorrectly put that the HP model supports 65,536 colors in every Advertisement, On the Box, - Everywhere... Well, I won't put my words in their mouth. Here is part of what THEY had to say:
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HP believes that its Jornada handheld computers offer consumers excellent connectivity and functionality at a great price. Nevertheless, some have suggested that the features and functionality of new HP Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC and the earlier Jornada 400 Series may have been overstated.
In particular, some materials concerning the HP Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC and the 400 Series may have incorrectly indicated that they display 16-bit/65,536 colors. However, HP recently learned that a particular electronic component contained in the Jornada 400 and 500 Series limits the images that are displayed to 12-bits, or a maximum of 4,096 colors. HP has taken immediate steps to clarify the color resolution in all HP communications, and apologizes for any inconvenience or confusion that this issue may have caused.
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For the longest time, HP had only put an obscure note of errata on their webpage. However, In their defense they just recently sent out a letter that they will take the units back for a full refund if their customers desire. That is certainly cool, but given the time I am willing to bet they had immense pressure to do so.
I also have another minor gripe... The small plastic cover that covers the Card Slot is poorly designed. This frequently moves to the "open" position on its own free will. When in the open position and putting the PocketPC...Well... In your pocket it is prone to collect all sorts of dirt, lint, etc. (This isn't the case if you currently have a card in it, however)
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The above might make this device sound "bad" - but it really isn't. I prefer it over the Casio E-115 and do not notice the huge difference in colors when working in the PocketPC interface, only when viewing graphics and AVI.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ShaunC
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Location: Charlotte, NC
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 10 members
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