Rating: 
Summary: The best PDA I've used yet!
Review: Having tested (but never purchased) many Palm Pilots, I can say that the handwriting recognition on the Jornada 548 is outstanding. It syncs better than the Jornada 820, which I also own, and certainly fits better in the pocket :). The multimedia capabilities are nice and occassionally useful. My favorite features are the Pocket Money 2000, the ability to use maps from Trips & Streets 2001 (also 2000), and the MS reader. It keeps me more organized than the Jornada 820 (since it's easier to carry) and the Windows interface is great. My only complaint is that closing programs (or tasks, as the 548 calls them) is not a simple operation that I've found. All-in-all, its a great tool!
Rating:
Summary: Good product, questionable HP support
Review: After testing several versions of Palm devices, I purchased a Jornada 548 last month. I use all of the Outlook functions at work and need access to them when I travel. The Jornada syncs up perfectly with Outlook as I have not encountered a single problem. The character recognition is far superior to the Palm units I worked with as the strokes are more consistent with natural printing. The color resolution is nice (even at 12 bit) but viewing during the day (direct sunlight) is nearly impossible. Don't bother with the HP "Executive Leather Case" accessory. The card pocket is poorly designed such that when you open the front flap any cards of significant weight (credit cards, business cards) WILL fall out. I have several issues with HP's customer service, however. I had contacted them regarding whether any external keyboards were available from other manufacturers. Two different reps told me they weren't. I then brought my Jornada to CompUSA and found 2 models that were available and which functioned just fine. On another call I was told that the compact flash memory I already owned was incompatible with the Jornada (it wasn't). As a loyal HP customer (of their consumer products as well as their business line of minicomputers)of 15 years I'd expect a much better level of service ...
Rating:
Summary: The best feature mix so far
Review: The Jornada 548 is not perfect, but for me its the best mix of features so far. I've had several color palm-sized Windows CE and Pocket PCs. I've had 2 Casio Cassiopeia E-105's, a Compaq Aero 1520, and a Cassiopeia E-10 and A-11. I've also looked at the Compaq iPaq. The iPaq is fast and light and its display is easily visible outdoors. But once you add a CompactFlash card sleeve it's bulky. And you still need a case to protect the screen, adding further bulk. (Screen protection is important to me because I've broken the display on my Cassiopeia E-10 twice!) The HP Jornada 548 has a built-in metal screen protector and CompactFlash slot, and a metal case. It looks sleek and its display is very nice indoors (but hard to see outdoors). Since I need screen protection and I always use a CompactFlash memory card, it's the perfect Pocket PC for me. A word about Pocket PCs vs. Palms: If all you need is an electronic organizer, a Palm is sufficient. It's easy to use, it's convenient, and its organizer functions are simple. But look at one of the Pocket PCs if you need an organizer that's FULLY compatible with Microsoft Outlook (including all contact information fields). Look at a Pocket PC if you want the power of a multimedia PC that you can carry in your pocket. To me there is no question the Pocket PC is the right choice for me. It won't be for everyone. You can get a color Pocket PC for not much more than the color Palm IIIc. If monochrome is enough for you, the Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC is thin and sleek. It's in the same price range as a good Palm, and it's more capable.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!! Now I can't leave home without my Jordana 548.
Review: I bought HP Jordana 548 about a week ago. The product has every feature that I could dream of in a palm held device. I was really amazed at its' performance and loaded features. Though I'm not an expert on computers, it hardly took me few minutes to set it up and start entering the data. Hardly there was any need to refer to the manual. I was particularly impressed with the ease at which you could transfer the data from desk top computer to Jordana 548 and vice-versa. The syncronization between Jordana 548 and desk top computer is made very easy and you don't even have to touch any buttons. Unlike working with a lap top computer, while travelling in aeroplanes, you can work on your Jordana silently without inviting any annoying/curious looks from the passenger sitting next to you. The sharpness of the color screen and it's pocket size (though little heavier for pockets) is amazing. After the invention of desk top computers this may be the best invention. Now I can't leave home without it!!
Rating: 
Summary: Clumsy, overpriced
Review: I bought the Jordana as a replacement for my old Palm 3. I'm keeping it and some of the features are a real benefit. But in general it hasn't exceeded my expectations and in a lot of ways it's been a disappointment. The problems with earlier Windows CE handhelds haven't been addressed. It's poorly laid out, too many menus. Too many buttons for too little space. And despite its name, the Jordanas don't fit well in a pocket. I think Microsoft's problem with handhelds is they see the world in terms of Windows and keep trying to make the CEs more like the desktop OS. Rather than making the layout more simple and intuitive, Microsoft has added more applications. I'd advise others considering this model to get something cheaper for now, like a Palm model. Perhaps in 5 or 10 years Microsoft will get it right.
Rating:
Summary: Begining of the end?
Review: The Jornada series has come to be one of the major champs of the Pocket PC realm... but why? No sign of any great difference in price, or in usability. What put it over the top? Perhaps one element was timing. Another was no doubt alternative: Jornada offered a quick turn away from Casio's line, which seemed to be increasing in price before usability. Jornada came along as the darling of the day, but is now being threatened by equally atractive alternatives from Compaq. Where the Jornada 548 may be a viable alternative to a laptop computer, the question remains as to whether or not it will make a viable alternative to much else in the galloping Palmtop marketplace. Palm OS devices are gaining in expandability and features (still standing by realism in design and function, rather than "hey, wouldn't it be nice to be able to watch [one minuite of] "Days of Thunder" on my palmtop?"), keeping them in stride with the Pocket PC platform's lunges to try and replace the notebook. The major killer for this device as well as Casio's models is their pricing. When the question of "Will you use this new-found colour and expandibility" recieve an answer, the pricetag of $600 looks to be rather staggering, considering the alternatives. Another disturbing trend is the apparent move to turn palmtops into PCs... which also means the market will look to get people to buy new devices on a very tight schedule. This may be the place where Pocket PCs lose; they may have been made for obsolecence. New features, new designs... all good and well, but at what cost down the road? This shift into the Pocket PC era may require a brief period of watching before a real commitment is possible. For those who want to spend this much on a colour system, and who like the motif behind Pocket PCs (a replacement for the notebook), this may be the product for you. Those more interested in usability and longevity may want to look to the Palm OS devices. In either case, colour still needs some careful watching, especially at twice the price of greyscale units.
Rating: 
Summary: Sha-Wing!
Review: OH baby! does this thing have it all! (er..not that this hasent been said alredy but, hear me out) You guys know of the good 'ol jornada 545 right? yeah, anyways, take that particular "version" of the jornada(545)and times buy about mmm....aproximately 934837539358234575873457384743, and POOF! you get the 548...now some a you smart guys will say "But loki? its just two little digits above the 545, I mean what makes it so special" well i'm very glad you asked that (insert smart guys name here) and their is a logicl answer for that indeed, its just that I uh...cant think of it at the moment, but thats ok!why? you say?, cuz it just is!, anyway the jornada may not be the MOST practical product in the world, (hence the 4 stars) but aside from that this things the greatest since sliced bread I tell ya! now get yer you know what out their and buy one now!, (but loki!) no, no, no, no "but loki" just buy one NOW! (an don worry their are no KNOWN side effects) peace out....the one the only loki calamari..
Rating:
Summary: What a baby !!!!
Review: 65,000 colors ? you count them baby, cos I like this baby, 4k+ colors and all.I used a palm v , a Revo , and then bought this baby.Returned it ( u got class HP ) when I discovered the 12 bit problem and bought a cassopeia E115.Spent 4 hours struggling with it ,took it back to the shop and loss 15 % on it and guess what, I bought this baby again. Wellcome home honey,++++++. This baby is neat ,easy,snazzy looking, and a breeze to use.The CE 3.1 is the best,can't wait for the upgrade.The 545 has everything you want,put in a 64mb flash card and the sky is the limit.Excel, Word,wow this baby sings,great sounds,music ( sound ) that will blow your mind ,and syncing is 123,that easy.MY FINAL WORD buy it you will never regret it!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Jornada 548 raises the bar
Review: I have now moved up to the Jornada 548 and the bar has definetly been raised. I travel extensively throughout the southcentral US and I have created city maps using MS Streets & Trips 2001. I can locate addresses by street number or name and many hotels and resturants by name alone. I can leave the road atlas behind. I have also created and exchanged MS Word and MS Excel files between my desktop and Jornada. The programs on the handheld are scaled down versions but I can get work done while on the plane. With the limited space between airplane seats using a laptop was not easy, but now I can type out a letter, edit a spreadsheet, or read a book comfortably. With the new PDF viewer program from Ansyr I can even take technical references on the road with me and leave the product guides and manuals at the office. I added a 96 Meg compact flash card and I now have room to grow. I thought about the Compaq iPAQ 3600, but I didn't care to try to juggle the slip on cases for compact card slot, modem, gps, etc. With the Jornada I have a IR modem and leave the compact flash card in place. I have even connected a digital camera by using a male-to-male null modem adapter from Radio Shack to connect the serial cable for the Jornada to the serial cable for the Agfa digital camera. The only problem I have experienced to date is when creating or editing MS Word files with long file names. When cutting a pasting information from different sources the file will not save properly. This is a software problem and not the fault of the Jornada, although it is frustrating. You can save the file with a shorter name (fewer than 12 characters) and the file will work. I agree that the use of the unit outside is difficult, but after the unit warms up it can be used when I shade the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Good database . much better than plam
Review: I had been useing sharp 4600 organiztor. too big and heavy. after I brought hp 548 packet PC.I feel very is good handing and quictly. but I disaprointed that the power battery is too week, I just can use on half day.Anyone can reply me nornal or my battery something wrong ????????????? my e-mail tonylkw@netvigator.com
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