HP iPAQ hx2755 Pocket PC

Rating:
Summary: One secure powerhouse!
Review: I just got the hx2755 a couple of days ago. Overall, I really like the PDA. It fits in your hand better than the 2200 that is replaces thanks to the wraparound rubber grip. The buttons are all in the same place that they were on the 2200 but look better on this model. The screen is big, bright and clear for a QVGA. As for performance, it rocks! I can surf the net faster via wi-fi faster than my old pentium II laptop can on the LAN. I have placed all the installed programs I have in the extra 128meg nonvolatile storage, so I don't have to worry about resetting the thing up if it crashes (more on crashes latter.) It's great for previewing images on a compact flash or SD card and I've even watched a couple of movie clips on it. The bluetooth and wi-fi have great range for a unit this size and were easy to set up. And of course, there's the security features. I set it up to lock when turned off. To unlock, all I have to do is swipe a finger. The fingerprint recognition is great on this unit and far more secure than the 4 digit "pin" I was forced to use to save time on my old 2200. Additionally, for the true PDA paranoid like myself, it has a automatic backup that can be configured to back up the entire devise if the battery gets too low. I can't count the number of times I lost all my data on the 2200 when I forgot to bring a spare battery on a weekend trip.

Now for the down side. It did crash several times and I had to do a complete reset. I finally traced it down to the new Windows Mobile 2003 SE and Calligrapher 7.4, they just won't play nice! Pity, Calligrapher is a great program, but once I removed it, the unit stopped freezing up. Additionally, you have to remember to turn the wi-fi off when you turn the hx2755 off or it will "wake" periodically and run down the battery. The included Microsoft Internet Explorer is better in the SE version but still isn't compatible with many secure sites like Wells Fargo and does sometimes close unexpectedly. Once again, Microsoft has given us a beta version as a "final" product. And last, the hx2755 is so new there are few dedicated accessories available.

Overall, if you don't need aVGA screen the HP hx2755 has more than enough features built in with room to grow. It's speedy and compact with plenty of security features designed for people who need their information to stay private.