Rating: 
Summary: Finally, I can graduate from my Newton
Review: I have stuck faithfully by my Newton for the last four years, as I have not been able to find anything that was better. With the transcriber software that comes free with the iPAQ, you can write directly on to the screen, and the transliteration is if anything better than the Newton. You can connect to a Mac using a Keyspan PDA adapter, and VirtualPC, and the connection is pretty good. I mainly connect at work using Windows NT, and a serial connector - it's not fast, but it's seamless. The iPAQ plugs into its cradle, and it instantly connects to the desktop. You can just drag and drop files across: the iPAQ appears as another disk drive, and you can delete files from your desktop. Why do I prefer this to a Palm? It has a better, bigger screen, so I can put pictures of my daughter on it - you need to buy a better application than the one that is bundled, but these are easily downloaded and installed. The main draw is the MP3 player - you need to pay extra to put this on the Palm. The price of the Palm and the MP3 player together is about the same as the iPAQ. The MP3 player sounds good through headphones, even with low bitrate (ie smaller file) recordings. But this review is really aimed at the Newton user. This device really is as good as the Newt. OK, there is no smart "Assist" feature, but it does a good job of predicting what you want to write in the appointments field, and there is no cute animation of the waste basket. But you can actually sit and take notes at a meeting with it, and the HWR really works. I have two Newton 2000s - one spare in case the main one broke, because I was so dependent on it. Both of them are going into storage now, because I now have smaller, smarter, more useful replacement.
Rating:
Summary: Love it, but I still miss my Palm, learning curve is STEEP
Review: The PocketPC is very very powerful. The Word and Excel programs are awesome, I had Excel on my Palm, but it wasn't as useful to me as my PocketExcel has been. I like the fact that I can still beam to Palms (via a free app(download)) The PocketPC has huge capabilities, but to learn of its features and options, I've had to do a lot of research on the web, the learning curve is HUGE compared to a Palm's, but there is a TON of resources out there for it(I've spent a lot of time at the website for pocketpc's). It seems that there are alot more programs/software available for the Palm. If you are a Palm user, don't be fooled by the extra memory on a PocketPC, it needs alot more memory than a Palm and programs take up more space. I have already bought an extra 128mb of memory, but just for multimedia stuff (music, etc.), the memory space is depleted pretty quickly. The MP3 option is nice, costly(the memory is expensive, about a buck a meg) but very cool. The speaker sounds much better than I would of expected and the headphone option is great for trips. The record button is awesome, add a voice note to pretty much any note or appointment. It's really handy and easy to use. I love my PocketPC and I learn more things everyday that make me like it more (albeit, with research). The Palm is great, but overall, my PocketPC wins in alot more areas. If you have the time and patience, you will love this product.
Rating: 
Summary: pope likes it
Review: The compaq PDA sitting on my desk is useful, and cumbersome at the same time. I like the crisp display and easy navigation tools, but don't like the depth when the CF expansion jacket is on. I use the 3650 mostly for scheduling, reminders, reading books, music, and maps (I travel). I still don't get how anyone could do any real spreadsheet work or document review using the pocket excel and word software. The user input (8 position "joystick") is fairly easy once you get used to it. The writing recognition works pretty well once you teach yourself to write by its rules. Definitely easier for me than trying to type on the virtual keyboard. I'm still looking for a folding keypad like the palms have, but no luck so far. All in all, I'm glad I bought it.
Rating: 
Summary: Battery life is poor
Review: This is a great machine as long as you can plug it in and recharge frequently. I took it on a short trip abroad and the battery went very quickly (life is only five days when not used according to the website!) and it emptied all the settings I had put in. This makes it very impractical compared to something like the Psion or Revo
Rating: 
Summary: I returned this and went back to my Palm V
Review: I'm a gadget freak, so I always have to have the latest of everything. And when I read about the iPaq I knew I had to have one. However, after lugging this thing around for a few weeks, I just could not get used to the size. I always used to carry my Palm V in the front pocket of my Levi's but you really can't do that with an iPaq-- the size is substantially bigger. iPaq is a real computer with a real operating system. But guess what-- I don't really need a real computer with me all the time. (I also discontinued web access on my cell phone after trying it for a while, but that's another story.) I'm back to my Palm V and very happy-- it is extremely fast and proficient at the stuff I do want with me-- my schedule and my contact list. And yeah, Palm is expandable too with tons of apps you can add to it if you want.
Rating:
Summary: With grave doubt, I was amazed...
Review: With the #3635 at $... on Amazon (I suspect less costly elswhere), I purchased a non Palm OS platform that up 'till then generally received poor reviews. To my suprise, this is one rocking machine. Screen is great, OS interface to the real world is remarkable, and sync with OUTLOOK 2000 is effortless. Most remarkable is the quality of the character recognition interface - far supperior to my several years of Palm OS. Even the goofy little 56K land modem executed well (a $... extra). If you want to spend the money, do so. This is the future of PDA's (and just possible, mini's).
Rating:
Summary: Windows 95 Users Beware! Serial Cable Needed...
Review: This looks like a good machine, but so far I have not been able to connect it to our other computer. Users of Win95 should be aware that the USB cradle that comes standard with the IPAQ 3635 is not compatible with Windows 95. Win95 users will need to buy the optional Serial cable. I wish the description of the product had made this clear so I could have bought the serial cable at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: IPAQ IS THE FUTURE!
Review: I thought I owned the state of the art PDA when I bought my Visor COLOR PRISM, that's all passed when I finally broke down and bought a pocket PC. Granted, the IPAQ is much much more expensive than the Palm but you spend it, you'll know where the money went. PRISM boasts 65,000 colors, big deal, the resolution is still in the stone age. I play a lot of games and I'll do a little comparison here to illustrate it for other gamers. PALM developers have to be nostalgic and create games that are similar to the commodor 64 Atari days, the games on the pocket PC are like Playstation games. That's no exaggeration! I didn't believe it either until I saw it with my own eyes! But IPAQ isn't for everyone. It's very "thick." Installing applications isn't just one file anymore, you have to really INSTALL it to your Desktop in these huge multi meg files. Cleaning files out of it can be a little confusing. The interface is more robust and therefore more complicated to a lot of people. Palm's philosophy was simple and easy, and they've achieved that. There are just certain people in the world who don't want simple and easy. Some people like me and my fellow POCKET PCers want the biggest and baddest thing out there. That's the pocket pc, that's IPAQ. I'm about to order an IBM microdrive for it. 1 GIG of space on a handheld!!! Palm's 8 meg and Handpsring's memory expansion just looks childish next to a pocket pc. I think everyone would have a pocket pc if it was cheaper. that's what took me so long!
Rating:
Summary: Just a couple of complaints. . .
Review: ***THIS REVIEW CONTAIN QUALITY INFORMATION*** Some complaints: (1) Battery life is POOR (only last in terms of hours instead of days for other PDAs), especially if one uses a CF device with the included sleeve. Problem is CF memory is a MUST if you want to listen to MP3s. (2) Apparently Compaq still has not corrected the problem with dust getting into the screen. The dust reflect light from the backlit apparatus and is quite visible. A minor annoyance but one nevertheless. I recommend keeping the stylus silo occupied so there is less of a chance that dust will creep in. (You get 2 styli with the package so you can keep one in the silo at all time.) (3) The high-gloss silver finish of the iPaq is very bad with fingerprints, but if you keep the CF sleeve on all the time this problem would be minimized. Productive recommendations: (1) Don't get coerced into shelling out [the $] getting a CF modem; they are completely unnecessary. The only thing that modems are good for is emailing in real-time. Browsing regular html paged with the iPaq is neither practical or productive. (2) Make sure you get an AvantGo account. This makes an iPaq really worthwhile. (3) Make sure you install ActiveSync 3.3 and set up a relationship between your PC and your iPaq so that you can do email and access the internet (in conjunction with AvantGo). (4) Make sure you find MS Transcriber on the ActiveSync CD and install that puppy. This writing recognition program is AMAZING! (Transcriber is an different program from the writing recognition program in th iPaq, so you need to install it separately.) (5) Finally DO look through the iPaq Tour CD, there are some VALUABLE applications hidden in there that you can install. Enjoy this wonderful lil machine!
Rating:
Summary: It's the one
Review: This PDA has an incredicle processor speed. It easily let's you multi-task more than 1 app. at a time. Who doesn't like the idea of listening to your MP3s will working on a spreadsheet at the same time, and it keeps up with no lag at all. This is the only one to consider, it's really a mini-laptop at a great price. Gotta have!!!!
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