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HP iPAQ hx2415 Pocket PC | List Price: $399.99
Discount Price: $399.00
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Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Intel PXA270 Processor 520 MHz
- Integrated WiFi (802.11b) and Bluetooth wireless technology
- Integrated Compact Flash type II (CF) and Secure Digital (SDIO) slots
- HP ProtectTools secured by CREDANT Technologies security application
- 3.5" transflective TFT QVGA with 64K color LED backlight display, landscape and portrait display modes
My first handheld, and a great choice! [Posted on 2005-11-09]
I got to try the various handhelds of friends and family over the years, but I never really felt the need for one. But in the last few years they've become much more than glorified clip boards. I have both a Windows XP PC and an older Mac at home, and it occurred to me that I could get by with just one PC, since my wife and I usually just check e-mail and surf the Internet anyway. The thought of checking my e-mail while soaking in the hot tub in our back yard had immense appeal too!
The latest models have tons of features, though they are still stripped-down versions of full PCs. On the plus side this makes them much simpler to operate. On the down side you have to be careful not to lose content in the files you synchronize through your handheld due to the different versions of software on your handheld and your PC. And there's obviously not nearly as much software written for handhelds as for PCs.
At first I really wanted a Blackberry, as it combines a handheld with a cell phone, but I had just bought a new cell phone with contract and didn't want to waste that money. Plus, the Blackberry really needs a wireless broadband Internet service to be useful... and that's usually $50-60 a month. And since I already have DSL at home, and T1 or whatever at work, I couldn't see spending more money for yet another fast connection service. I did have to shell out $59 for a wireless Linksys DSL router so my iPaq could use my DSL connection, but it works much better than the wired one I used to have (the old Linksys constantly needed to be rebooted).
The HP iPaq hx2415 is what I ended up buying, partly because it appeared to have all of the features I wanted, and because of HP's good reputation. And price is now below $300!
Mine came with just Windows Mobile 2003, but even with the $35 the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade CD cost me, I was well ahead on price as these are on sale often now. I decided not to install Mobile 5.0 yet, as I wanted to test the older software first for various reasons. While I like Mobile 2003, there are some shortcomings, the major ones being:
1. Mobile 2003 doesn't seem to support nested folders (at least I haven't figured out how to view them). This is also true if you synchronize your Explorer favorites. The nested folders of favorites aren't viewable, and don't get transferred to your other PC; you need to place them only one level deep, no folders inside of other folders.
2. Mobile 2003 doesn't retain all of your files and settings in the event of your battery completely dying or being removed.
3. The 2003 version of Pocket Excel doesn't support charts. Fortunately I knew this before I bought it, or I might have lost the charts in some Excel spreadsheets I synchronize with my PCs at home and work. As a work-around I have the "convert files" setting unchecked. But that means I can't edit Excel charts on my iPaq until I upgrade to Mobile 5.0.
These things are all improved in Mobile 5.0 (at least 2 and 3 are), so I highly recommend getting Mobile 5.0.
I usually read the manuals (yeah; I must be the only guy who does!), but this iPaq was so easy to work with right out of the box, that I was surfing the web literally within 10 minutes! Both my PCs are now synchronized with my iPaq and the e-mail server at work, and setup for this was incredibly easy (Note: I made sure to *not" convert files when synchronizing, so as not to lose charts in Excel due to the older version of Pocket Excel on the iPaq).
OK, the iPaq itself:
I love that it boots in about 2 seconds, instead of the 2 minutes my PCs take to boot! I can instantly access my synchronized e-mail by hitting one button (holding it down brings up my Wi-Fi settings); another button brings up my calendar (holding this button changes between landscape and portrait modes on the big display); another brings up my contacts. A button on the side brings up my notes; I love that! I usually just type in a quick note, but if I hold that button down, it brings up notes, then starts voice recording; great for when I don't have two hands free!
The stylus and handwriting recognition work well, but I usually use the screen keyboard, though it's slower than typing. I may invest in the $45 thumb keyboard some day.
The iPaq body is OK looking, and comfortable enough, but nothing spectacular. But it *is* small, light, and rugged; I dropped mine once with no problems. (I have a hard time believing the other reviewer set theirs down one evening and that the display cracked overnight while it was just sitting there; I'd talk to their janitors or kids!). I have plenty of memory for what I'm doing, but it's upgradeable if I need more. Flash cards are so cheap now anyway.
So, for this first-timer, this handheld has sold me on the concept. I definitely recommend it!
screen cracking and unable to turn on/hard reset problem [Posted on 2005-12-10]
I have HX2415 for no more than 2 months, the screen cracked
hey, I didn't drop and apply too much stress on the screen
well, I took the screen out from good old RX3115 (from HTC actually), and replaced
then it has stablity problem, sometimes it don't turn on, if you try to reset, it turns to hard reset:(
recently HP PDA has screen cracking problem
now I have Dell X50V (also from HTC), and work a lot better (except battery time)
Battery Problems - Lost all data [Posted on 2006-02-02]
This is my 4th PDA, and I have had it for about a year now. My first 2 was Palm devices - first a Palm IIIx and then a Vx. I loved the Vx for its small size, but after it died, I decided to go with a PocketPC for some of the features it offered. I got an iPAQ 3955 which I like alot, but the size was hard to get used to after the Vx. I still used it pretty heavily, and after 2 years I found I needed a device with built in WiFi, as the PPC2003 upgrade wouldn't let me use my WiFI card anymore. So last February I upgraded to the 2415. I liked the smaller size of the unit over the 3955, and it functioned well at first. However, in the past few months, I found there are times I try to turn the unit on, and nothing happens. Apparently, the battery will run down while it is off, and after charging, it is back to factory settings, having lost all applications and records. Even though there is a backup battery in it, it doesn't seem to have done anything to maintain my data. This has happened a few times in the past several weeks to the point where it has been too much of a hassle to keep reinstalling the applications (and digging out reg. codes to reregister the programs). I have found that I barely use it anymore, but not for a lack of wanting to use a PDA. I'd rate this at 2.5 stars since it functioned well for a while, and only recently became virtually useless. I am now looking at going back to a Palm device if I can find one that suits my needs.
A versatile pocket computer [Posted on 2006-07-06]
I have had an HP 2415 for a year. First the bad news - the battery will drain if it is docked and no power is turned on - despite being set to go to sleep when powered. I have had to reload software 10 times because of this flaw.
The purpose of this review is to show what you can do with this little device if you buy the right software.
The whole reason for not having a combined phone and PDA is to get maximum battery power.
Having said that my main use is to sync with Outlook for email reading and looking up phone numbers.
I usually use WiFi to connect to the Internet - in a pinch I can use Bluetooth (saves battery) and connects well to Cingular with my Bluetooth enabled cellphone - but because I don't have a very good data plan with Cingular it cost me $40 to get 5MB of data while between flights in an airport - so if you want to save battery and use Bluetooth and your cellphone to connect to the Internet sign up for a good data plan.
I've also added a whole bunch of software to make it more useful.
If I travel I can convert a movie to run on an SD card using Pocket DVD.
I have star gazing software which is useful as the screen lights up at night - also SatPPC tracks the shuttle and international space stations.
Free Bubbles and Tetris games (from Ramon De Klein) with a paid Trivial Pursuits give you something to do in airports.
For mapping I can download Mapquest routes using AvantGo for free. I have Microsoft's Streets and Trips and the version with GPS has a Pharos GPS that works in the CF slot (even though the last pin of the CF slot got bent and was not covered by warranty and the slot won't take a memory card any more - not a big deal as the device can only address 4GB). I also have Outdoor Navigator - no longer in business. Its good for geotracking.
I have Pocket Diet Tracker - again no longer offered on Handango - the advantage being you can import the entire USDA food database plus make your own or download from the Pocket Diet Tracker site calorie sheets from fast food restaurants.
I can learn Spanish on the device.
You need third party software to make it sync with iTunes - so I don't do that but it can store MP3 files, playing them with Windows Media Player.
I take books with me - downloaded Acrobat Reader and Flash (the latter essential for website browsing).
While on website browsing - it won't take popups and the browser is weak - so a plea to website developers - don't use Flash or extra windows - stick to tables and animated GIFs and use a version of HTML - then web browsing works fine.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary is pretty weak, and I have an Encyclopedia Brittanica on an SD card as well as World Almanac for reference. I have Quick Verse and Laridian (NIV study Bible) for reading various Bible Versions - so no need to carry a Bible to church any more.
TapBirds is a bird watching program that would be more useful if it had better descriptions and a wider choice of birds - but for seeing what you are supposed to be looking at it works fine.
Finally free software Tipster lets you calculate tips for groups of friends at a restaurant.
PhonTuner can be used to tune instruments such as guitars and violins.
All in all this is a very useful device. I understand I could upgrade the OS to Windows Mobile 5.0 to overcome the power draining problems - but then some of my software would be obsolete.
Great little gadget [Posted on 2008-04-29]
I purchased my hx2415 three years ago, and have enjoyed it on many long trips. It's ability to communicate via 802.11b, bluetooth or serial infared gives it great functionality. The SD and CF slots are a good way to store vast amounts of data without cluttering up the iPaq's limited internal storage. I use HP's bluetooth GPS along with iGuidance to help me navigate while I travel. My travelling MP3's are stored in a 2 gig sd card, and are easily accessed by the iPaq's Windows Media Player. The whole case is protected by an all aluminium clamshell that I found on Amazon for under $20. Throw away the clear plastic flip-lid that came with the iPaq, as it will not protect it.
As some have noted, these PDA's will eat batteries if not configured properly. Make sure to shutdown any alert sounds or pop-ups that are generated outside the operating system. Even the M/S calendar can turn on the unit to remind you of appointments. That's great if you're at your desk, but it's not so good if the PDA is locked in a suitcase. Also make sure to shutdown the infared port when it's not needed. The standby battery control is a bit awkward, as you can select the length of "stand-by" time. Make sure to set it at maximum, so the unit can last longer after the main battery drains. Lastly, get in the habit of checking the screen after you press power button. A long press only shuts down the screen backlight, but the unit keeps running. I always check to make sure the unit is truely powered off.
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