Rating: 
Summary: it is all it promised and more
Review: I got this PDA for a few weeks now. There are so many nice things said about it already; seems like there is no need to say anything more. Let me just try to mention the extra nice surprises I found.On hp's website comparing the ipaqs, it says only the 5000 models has mutiple input methods: transcriber, block (graffiti), letter recongnition and soft keyboard; while the 1900 and 2200 models has only soft keyboard. I almost chose the Dell Axim over the ipaq for this! Just let me be clear, this ipaq 2215 has all four input methods built-in. Some reviews on Amazon complain about the lack of documentation. Well, the box does have very little paper, but the 200+ pages of users manual is right on the CD-ROM. I have found all the answers I want from the manual so far. And I think it's great now they are not shipping heavy manuals. With electronic versions, whoever wants a hard copy can print it out. And those who don't need it will save trees. Moreover, it is more portable and easier to search with electronic books! The saved printing cost and shipping cost will benefits the buyers eventually. Let me also briefly point out what this handheld can save you: the Nevo univeral remote program works perfectly (with easy on-line info and download), that save you 100-200 bucks on a high quality learning universal remote. (By the way, have you ever been in a public place, like airport or restaurant, where you find those TVs too loud? You can control them with your own remote! Ha!) If you need a graphics scientific calculator, there are a lot of not-too-expensive downloads to do the job; another 50-100 bucks saved. It serves well as a digital picture frame for slide shows with hp built-in viewer (better than the microsoft's "pictures" program). And of course, it can easily replace your mp3 player, and voice recorder if you uses one. I guess there is something less than desirable about the ipaq in a way: It's too new and too hot! I bought a mini keyboard for it the other day but returned it coz it only works with older ipaqs. I bought a really nice Linksys CF wireless card too, and again returned. Linksys told me their CF wireless cards don't work with PC2003, yet at least. They are working on the new drivers. So, if you have some older accessories, keep in mind they might not work, although there might be new update drivers later. The ONLY other thing that is a little disappointed is that the windows media pocket version only support mp3, wma (audio) and wmv (video) files, but not mpg. So you have to convert mpg into wmv with some external programs if you want your own video clips portable. Just typical microsoft's strategy to monopolize the market. How sad. But all in all, if you buy this *really hot* pocket PC now, you won't regret it later.
Rating:
Summary: Who needs a Palm. Get the 2215.
Review: Was going to get the ipaq 1945 for less $$$. But once I buy the cradle to go with the 1945 I'd would have spent about the same as if I purchased the 2215. For just a few extra $$$ I'll get the cradle included with the 2215. 64 MB of RAM. Double the processor speed from 200 to 400 mhz. Get both SD and compact flash slots, Pocket PC2003 premium not Pocket PC 2003 professional. Better all around value. Beats the Palm Zire71 (I think that's the model name) I was looking at in total value too. Ambicom wifi compact flash card works great with this device (I used the 2002 drivers that came on the CD). Can't wait for the SD wifi cards to hit the street. As the SD slot is SDIO compatible. I'm very happy with this device. Also folks say Money 2002 doesn't work with this device so I upgraded to Money 2004 and it works fine.
Rating: 
Summary: h2215 review
Review: This is a great PDA. The display/screen is superb and visible in bright sunlit conditions. The process or is fast and the form factor is very comparable to an old Palm V from which I upgraded. Biggest disappointment is lack of documentation. For example, I had to spend a few hours figuring out how to convert my Palm files to MS Outlook files. Someone finally gave me a tip to go to the original Palm installation disk and click the use of Palm files as MS Outlook. Love the PDA, but general documentation is non-existant and you need to do some searching.
Rating: 
Summary: HP 2215
Review: I have an old Ipaq 3630 which I use for navigation etc. I cannot find much else of a use for it. I am used to Psions which are real PDA's with lovely keyboards. So I succumbed and bought the new 2215. I returned it the next day. I tried a 256 MByte camera chip in it under picture viewer and it was so slow it was useless. The screen is poor with low contrast.
The transcribe facility in notepad cannot keep cannot keep up with the pen, no better than my old 3630.
These things are just pretty toys, cost almost as much as a laptop with the peripherals. I understand from reviews and forums Palm is better.
I will try again one day, in a few years when my Psion battery needs changing .....
Rating:
Summary: This is the One
Review: I've been a PDA 'junkie' for about 5 years. I have tried them all, zigging and zagging between Pocket PC PDA and Palm PDAs. In the last two months alone I have gone through a Tungsten C and a Dell Axim, good devices in their own right but there was always something missing. Not any more. Size, Screen, Battery life, expandability (with SDIO and tried and true Compact Flash) and most of all speed. This device is quick, easy to work with, feels comfortable in my hand. Lightweight, it can fit in a shirt or pants pocket very easily. The only...and I mean, the only...problem I have with it is that the device does not have a job dial. I like reading e-books with my PDA's, and the job dial is ideal for this function. However because the 2215 is so light, I can use the include d-pad to page through my e-books. What are you waiting for, get it!
Rating:
Summary: Update - found a MS Money & pocket PC 2003 workaround
Review: After venting, I checked out the Microsoft Community Newsgroups to see if there was an answer to when Microsoft having an update so that Pocket Money can be used on PPC 2003 (on my HP iPAQ 2215). Luckily, someone posted directions so that you can install the Pocket Money for PPC 2002 on PPC 2003. I did it and it works like a charm! Too bad Microsoft won't post the instructions on their website for Pocket Money --------------
Follow these instructions and you should be able to
install Money for the
PPC (2003 version): 1. With the PPC in the cradle and ActiveSync running,
start the installation
of Pocket Money for Money 2003 on the desktop. 2. Go through the normal install routine, following the
prompts on the
desktop machine. 3. When the PPC pops up an error message, don't clear it.
Instead, open File
Explorer on the PPC. (I don't know if the error message
needs to remain
open, but without having experimented, I suggest leaving it on
screen for now.) 4. Browse to "My Device /Windows /AppMgr /Install" and
tap-and-hold on the
file that is in that folder. (This is the one caveat...
your folder may end
up being different, but something tells me that this is the
folder you should
look in). The file should be obviously related to Pocket
Money. 5. When the menu appears, choose copy. 6. Still using File Explorer on the PPC, browse to "My
Device /Temp" and
paste the file in this new folder. 7. Once the file appears in this new folder, single tap
the file. The
installation will begin on its own. 8. Close the error message from the original installation. 9. After you have successfully installed Money, with the
PPC in the cradle,
explore the PPC (use Explore from within ActiveSync). 10. Browse to "My Device /Windows" and look for "MoneyCE". 11. Right click on this file and choose "Create a
shortcut". 12. Move this shortcut to "My Device /Windows /Start
Menu /Programs" to
finish the install. 13. Rename this new shortcut as "Microsoft Money". 14. Remove the PPC from the cradle. Check the settings
for the Money Conduit
in ActiveSync, place the PPC back into the cradle, and
away you go. At this point, it should be working like a charm. Money
shows up in the
uninstall listing on the PPC, but I actually don't know
if it will work or
not. Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Good piece of machinery but......
Review: I had been a Palm user for 5+ years - when I joined my new company, I received my laptop and it had NO GRP serial port to connect my Palm synchronizer. So I thought "why should I get a USB sync adapter when I can get a brandy new Pocket PC?" PLUS, I had wanted an MS-based sync application to go with my MS Money. I like to enter my transactions (including cash purchases) immediately so I don't have to carry around receipts for the weekend until I enter it into MS Money. I had it on my Palm previously, but a while ago my battery had ran out, and when I tried to reinstall it, it crashed and burned everytime. So I checked out reviews on all of the available ones and liked what I read for the HP iPAQ 2215, including on this site.
So my thoughts????
WELL, I like the continuous sync...update on either the iPAQ or my laptop while connected and ZOOM - instantly updated on the other, nice feature.
I like the SD drive because I can copy my digital pictures from my camera to the IPAQ for better viewing when I'm with family and on the road.
I LOVE the fact that you can sync more than just the Outlook INBOX folder.
Sync of word, excel, and access files without requiring extra software... NICE
I was able to beam over my contacts from the iPAQ to my phone, using the IR port so I don't need a special cable to connect my cell to my PC (which doesn't have an IR Port) - BUT I couldn't beam over pictures (I have a Nokia 7210 that can accept pictures from other phones) Bluetooth??? eh. My cell and laptop aren't bluetooth enabled so not much use there. I have a wireless connection available at work, which I use for my computer, but it's not bluetooth enabled. I was thinking about buying a wireless compactflash card for my iPAQ, but then I realized that i'm hardly away from my computer at work anyway so why get it? The only other place I could really use it is at trendy coffee shops and I don't need to connect there. If i REALLY need to be connected, I'll bring my laptop.
BEWARE that the OS is PPC 2003 and some applications will not work!
A lot of the freeware for PPC available is "poo poo" (There were a lot of great freeware apps for Palm that are only available for a price with PPC). For instance, I tried to use "Shopaholic", a PPC based shopping list (I had something similar on my Palm, which was great) and it doesn't work on the OS PPC 2003.
But the BIGGEST disappointment I have is that the MS Money for Pocket PC DOES NOT WORK FOR PPC 2003. MS only has versions for PPC 2002 and lower. So I had to make an excel file to capture that info, then type into MS Money 2003 later. It's not realy a critique of the iPAQ itself, but its OS. I'll just have to be patient (1 month, 6 months, 1 year???) until MS creates it. So the verdict? Well, I really like the things that I CAN do, but am a bit frustrated with all of the features I don't really need, and VERY frustrated with the limited ability to use PPC 2003 with other apps.
Rating:
Summary: HP GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
Review: If you are like me, you just want a good reason to buy the Pocket PC you are now looking at. BUY IT! Why? Because the OS software and Sync software loads and operates flawlessly. HP answered every complaint ever made about PDA's from its competitors and its own PDA products. This machine tops them all. It was my last machine to review after three days of intense research. When I went to buy the second best, this unit had just hit the rack. After working with it and despite the fact there were no reviews out by other users, I took a chance because it looked and worked absolutely perfect. In the electronics department, this was one the smartest moves I ever made. Before this, I didn't know what to buy: Pocket PC or Palm. How glad I am that I chose the IPAQ H2215. I am a minister of the gospel and loaded this thing with Bible software, a mini-word processor - heavy weight programs and they work like a dream. It is not a toy or a gadget - it is a wonderful tool! The battery is replaceable and operates a good 5-6 hours in heavy use. The cradle connection is solid; there is no doubt that you are charging the unit. There is a place on the charger for a second battery, as the battery can be replaced by the user. Also, there is an adapter to permit you to charge on the road, without the cradle. Nothing extra to buy. It uses both CF (compact flash) and SD Card, has blue tooth installed and the screen is marvelous. The processor is lightning fast. The unit fits in your shirt or pants pocket easy enough. If you work a lot away from the office or home desk top, this is the unit you want. Buy it!
Rating:
Summary: 4.8 out of 5 !
Review: I would rate this item as 4.8 out of 5 for the folowing reasons:
1. SERVICE & SUPPORT:
I put 5/5 under Service & Support because when I called HP they answered all my questions easily. Applications: comes with all standrad PPC apps + a full version of MS Outlook 2002 + more = definatelly a 5/5.
2. EASE OF USE:
Softare installation didn't bring any problems at all on my WinXP Pro machine. I didn't have any trouble to figure out how to get around using that handheld; syncronisation is straight forward and fully automatic, or you can do simple drag & drop - 5/5.
3. DESIGN:
-4/5, because it is really small, much smaller then most of the IPaqs, but I can still feel it in my pocket as a heavy to carry object. Besides, what really kills me is that they added a microphone as a recording feature for this model, but they didn't provide a button to start recording automatically. You can assign a button, but it will only start a program, but will not start recording, everything else is great, such as replaceable battery, built-in CompactFlash & Bluetooth. Of course they could add some more such as built-in digital camera and a phone. I would still buy it even if the price would be around $800US.
4. PERFORMANCE:
It has much better performance even then, not that old, IPaq 5455. I was able to play a 764 Kbps streaming video with no problem, when 5455 could only manage ~1 frame per second.
5. VALUE:
Value: Oh, Come-on! it's only $, comes with a cradle, carrying case, MS Outlook 2002, with all the specs and features (with an exception of Record button) that outbeat IPaq 3955 which is $ handheld, and with an exception of built-in Wi-Fi in the Ipaq 5455, which is $ retail! Definatelly 5/5 !
Rating:
Summary: A significant life enhancer
Review:
My first PDA, after doing some research & asking around among associates about their experiences. What a joy! I have had my iPAQ Pocket PC h2215 three months now, and it has enhanced my life & efficiency.
I am a journalist at a newspaper, a soldier in the Army National Guard and a writer at home with other community commitments. I was seeking a device that would help me improve my organization & time management. This gadget has not disappointed. I use it more than I expected. It goes with me everywhere. In fact, it will be going with me when I mobilize for a year next month, and I have no doubt that it'll survive in the cargo pocket of my BDUs with an adequate case.
I recommend the disposable screen covers and spare styluses as worthwhile accesories. I agree with others here that a vibration alarm option would be a worthwhile product upgrade, though the musical alarm never fails to wake me in the morning, which is quite impressive for such a small device, given how heavily I sleep.
My iPAQ is synchronized with my home office computer and my work computer. I carry it between the two and slip it into the stand when I arrive at each place. I have had no problems with synchronization. It works beautifully with Outlook.
I wasn't sure if this upgrade from an old-fashioned organizer was worth the money but, oh boy, was it ever. I particularly like the feature that allows me to easily program repeated appointments and repeated tasks, meaning they only need be entered once. I like the little touches like that someone's birthday info from the Contacts files appears on the Calendar.
I use the Calendar, Tasks and Contacts heavily. I use two spreadsheets rather less heavily, and I find the spreadsheet a little awkward to use on such a small screen. It can be a pain to keep track of the fields.
I find the stylus very easy to use on the keyboard, and I especially like the feature that tries to complete words for me, saving typing strokes.
I bought this because a successful friend of mine spoke very highly of PDAs and because Dave Allen in his book "Getting Things Done" (also highly recommended) suggests using a device that you will want to play with to improve organization. For me, this is that device. It's a little miracle.
In short, my iPAQ has wildly exceeded expectations, and I cannot imagine returning to my pre-PDA days of just a few months ago.
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