HP iPAQ 2215 Pocket PC

Rating:
Summary: In the world of technology versatility is a must
Review: Pros:
- Can use both CF cards and SD memory
- Decent battery life (Avg: 6-9 hours)
- Nevo is a pretty cool universal remote
- Docking station and Active Sync

Cons:
- Integrated Bluetooth, would be better if it had 802.11b instead
- Media Player can't play avi files
- Wish it came with a vibration mode for alarm

I've had my iPAQ for the last 4 months and it's been least to say an experience. With it's calender program I'm able to organize my life because, college life is extremely chaotic. The calender is easy to tweak for editing the pattern or just a single occurance. For some time I was also using it as an MP3 player, while I was getting the kinks out of my Archos, which works properly now. The sound quality is superb, with and without headphones. The playlist feature is good considering that it uses Media Player 9(I'm not very fond of Media Player I still use 6.1 on my PC). In addition I've been able to play small MPEG's on it. However, it can't play AVI files that I make from my digital camera.

The resolution from pictures is pretty decent for the screen size (3in x 2.25in). The picture viewer prpogram runs a bit slow but it does the job. It comes with Nevo which is a good universal remote program that is easy to navigate. It uses Active Sync which allows you to syncronize email and calander between your iPAQ and PC.

Now I haven't been able to try Bluetooth (the campus I'm on uses 802.11b wireless) which is more common I think and would have been better than the integrated Bluetooth. I have been able to use the internet on it while it was connected to my PC. It wasn't complicated using the onscreen keyboard. For taking down quick notes it uses a handwriting recognition function because of course using the styllus on the keyboard can be a little tedious for some things.

The main reason I would recommend this iPAQ is that you can choose between two types of storage. The smaller SD memory, which is a little expensive or CF memory which which is cheaper. Not many Pocket PC's utilize CF memory and because the camera I have uses CF I decided to buy it.

At some point my iPAQ did stop functioning and I had to call HP tech support. I've seen lots of horror stories abobut them but I had a pretty easy time on thet phone with an ENGLISH speaking person with no accent. He was very helpful sent me a new battery (which was where the problem was) and I had my iPAQ back running in less than a week wait. I'm very happy now.

Rating:
Summary: The most expandable PPC...
Review: This is the best Pocket PC if you are planning to get some peripherals. Lets say you want to use a CF GPS unit, you would need a SD slot with a memory card to load the maps.

It's very useful to have Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD) slots. And eventhough HP support has some flaws, it's still one of the best ones. I think HP should not abandon this line of dual slots PPCs, and they should take them to the next step, with built-in WiFi on a similar model (CF+SD).

PROS:
- Size and Weight
- Expandability (CF + SD)
- Great design

CONS:
- Some users had some trouble with the rubber grips (HP will send you a pair if you have this problem).
- No Built-In WiFi (This is what would make this unit perfect), but you can get a CF WiFi Card, and have some SD memory in the SD slot.

Rating:
Summary: Beware of D-Pad button
Review: This is probably one of the best PDA today overall. However, I went through 2 of them, and both had annoying problem with D-pad - in MS Reader (and other apps) if I press "Left" to go one page back, it quite often would generate a couple of clicks instead of one and go back several pages. Fiddling with settings didn't help. I returned both, and Amazon refunded the money promptly, no question asked at all. Afterwards I bought it locally, it had the same problem, I gave up exchanging and just kept device. If it gets really bad, I'll just send it in for repair.

Rating:
Summary: Get what you pay for
Review: I was a long time Palm owner - this product blows Palm away. You can't multi-task with Palm and for business uses, Pocket PC presents so many more uses that cross over between my laptop and Pocket PC.

This is exceptionally easy to use and well designed. i debated about buying the 5555 series, but opted to purchase this and carry separate WLAN card - it all works so well. It's a small design and is extremely lite to carry.

If you are tired of incompatibility between Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point, etc. move up to this Pocket PC. Great display and user friendly!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent PDA 2215
Review: Just converted from a Sony PDA to the HP 2215. It was an easy change over with software installation. I am alway on top of my schedule thru Outlook.

Just purchase the GPS mapping hardware (Pharos), excellent system, which helps when I am on the road.

Can't wait until my next accessory purchase....

Rating:
Summary: Great PDA
Review: It's my first PDA ever. I had been sticking with Laptop and recently have used this PDA with a wireless connectivity via CF wireless card. My laptop's battery lasts for almost 5 hours, but this PDA lasts more than 6 hours. I don't feel uncomfortable using this for internet suffing. It looks so cool and small that goes with me anywhere.

Rating:
Summary: excellent pda
Review: I put a lot of research into pocket pc devices before buying this item. I came to conclusion that this device was an excellent size and had great features. Even in a case, this pda fits easily into my pocket...not too much larger than my wallet. I also bought a compact flash 802.11b card, but now HP has several new pocket pc's with built-in wireless. That is the only downside on this device...no built-in 802.11b. It does have Bluetooth and in fact that is what I use to sync with my computer (via an Ambicomb USB device). The iPaq 2215 has excellent speed and functionality.

Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful PDA!
Review: This is my 3rd Pocket PC in two years (I wear them out quickly), and by far, this has to be my favorite. The size is great, the nylon case is actually better than it initialy sounds, and Pocket PC 2003 is a definite improvement over PC 2002. The Bluetooth feature works well. HP didn't provide a lot of software this time around, but Microsoft does anyway within Pocket PC 2003. Overall, I'm extremely pleased, but I wish it had 802.11 wireless too, as there aren't too many phones or other PDAs with Bluetooth to interact with.

Rating:
Summary: It has everything I needed
Review: First check my review on 1945.

Pros:
1. 400 Mhz processor
2. Nevo
3. CF for expansion
4. Craddle with regular purchase.
5. Price
6. Provide some leather casing.
7. Mobile 2003 OS. I expect they are still developing and offer everything that is available on Palm OS in future.
8. Support from India will improve. They will not be sleeping while on support at our odd hours. I understand that they have their limitatins as not to disclose problems with OS on your PC. I love India.

Cons:
1. It says only bluetooth ready with optional card.
2. Active Sync
3. Screen is not reflective screen. I mean you can always see yourself on the screen whenever you use this PDA. I felt screen on 1945 was better than this. They say it as liquid transreflective screen.
4. Trial versions of Vindigo & Avantgo are no good to really evaluate them whether they are useful or not
5. We can't have all the software that is available on Palm OS
6. 400 Mhz of intel processor look weaker than 260 mhz of samsung. This is a real problem. It takes a while to surf internet and use some programs. I am not satisfied with Intel processor on this PDA. I hope they will do something to correct this problem.
7. This unit is not as thin as 1945. This will resolve as we always increase our cababilities and electronics.

How to get away with problems that I mention about 1945 or 2215:
1. Active sync problems. Active sync will not work properly when you have firewall software or any anti virus software. Disable them when you have problems. Customer Support told me that there may be un-necessary softare running on your PC so contact your o/s vendor and remove them. So I disabled them on my own and corrected the problem. Anyways, the next release of active sync should take care of these problems.
2. No caps loc button appears on soft key board: The reason was I selected big buttons. When you select big buttons the caps key and some other keys do not appear. Select small keys for best settings. (If You don't understand what I am talking about, then select input options and select keyboard and select big keys).
3. slip in leather case is ok. Not so good but I can adjust with it for som time till I get new convenient one.

Rating:
Summary: Great PDA
Review: This is a great product, well built and carefully designed. Excellent for new-entry to mid-level PDA user. This is my third PDA, my previous items were Compaq Aero 1500 and HP Jornada 568.
My conclusion is that there is no perfect PDA...like everything in this world.
The only thing that I miss is the continuous reminding sound of the Aero..if you don't took action it could kept reminding you forever and LOUD! But this looks more due to changes in the OS than to PDA design.
In the 2215 HP removed the side navigation wheel/buttons that most pocket pc's have and put antislip rubbers instead...I miss the navigation feature, but due to the size of the unit the rubber bands are a good thing, specially if you, like me, have large hands
I dislike the size of the control buttons and the responsiveness of the four-way navigation control, being so small the clearence the positions have is not enough and you'll often come up with wrong selections.
The integrated Nevo remote control application is really cool, but due to the navigation button issues it can frustrate you, and force you to use the stylus instead...not a natural thing, really.

It comes with integrated Bluetooth...I'd prefer to have WiFi instead, I cannot asses the usefulness of Bluetooth on such a device other than connect it to a cellphone, but with growing number of WiFi hotspots there is no real need for this interface.

PROS
- Bright screen
- Huge memory
- iTask application (the best application management interface I've seen on pocket pc's)
- Slim design
- Excelent sound (w/headphones...obviously)
- Nevo remote feature
- Dual expansion slot (CF/SD)

CONS
- Buttons size
- Navigation control responsiveness
- Integrated Bluetooth

NOTE: If you have an Ambicom CF 802.11 card be aware: you'll have to fight with it in order to make it work.
What I finally did is install the drivers for PPC 2002 that came in the card installation CD and THEN installed the new drivers posted by Ambicom in their website. You must run the Ambicom application to configure your network. In order to connect you should run the application each time, go to the Configure page and click apply...not a big deal.

UPDATE: Is evident that the Bluetooth/WiFi discussion is a simple matter of personal needs. I started planning my home network for WiFi from the early beginning so I got a WiFi laptop, then a linksys AP/switch/router and CF adapter for PDA...never spent a cent in wired networking. That's why for me bluetooth is a con, probably for other users this is a pro...that's what review are for to express our opinions, isn't?it