Rating: 
Summary: In-depth and VERY useful!
Review: Although I own a Compaq iPAQ, I purchased this book on the advice of a friend. Designed for people who own a Pocket PC and want to use it to its fullest potiential, the "Handbook" is 25 chapters and 5 appendixes of truly helpful information. My favorite sections are Ten things every user should change in the control panel, ActiveSync: desktop communications for maximum speed & security and the Improve your text entry accuracy section. Character Recognizer users will also appreciate Appendix E, a complete list of all of the symbols you can write with the recognition program.
Rating: 
Summary: Well Written and Clear
Review: Dan Hanttula's new Pocket PC Handbook is, without a doubt the premier Pocket PC book on the market today. As most of you loyal reader/surfers know, I was not very impressed with the first book on the pocket PC. It seemed to me that it had been rushed to press. Information in it didn't always work and it just felt off a notch. The "For Dummies" book is... well, I don't use those, much :) In comes Dan with the new Pocket PC Handbook, commissioned by Hewlett-Packard. While this book may seem to be Jornada specific, it really isn't. All the chapters use Jornada illustrations, but the information applies to any Pocket PC. Dan has really hit the mark with this book! The initial chapters give an overview of the hardware and software that comes with the Pocket PC. Some of the information here is Jornada specific, but you have to expect that. The next set of chapters cover getting the most from the built in applications on every Pocket PC. This is where this book really starts to shine. Dan covers hints and tricks that will help any user, regardless of their experience. The benefit of his having used the Pocket PC for a while shows, everything works as advertised and Dan has top-notch advice. The best part is that Dan offers great tips on how to customize each of the apps for your own needs, all the while explaining things. What a great approach! In later chapters, he covers other applications that are available for the Pocket PC, including Avantgo and other well known freeware/shareware apps. He also covers different hardware available, but this is mostly for the Jornada user. The next section is all about customizing and personalizing your Pocket PC. Once again, the information here is useful and it works! These are must have chapters. The last two sections cover items like how to interact with the Palm crowd and how to understand the limitations of your device (these aren't desktops :). Lastly, Dan covers the future of the Pocket PC platform. More good information here :) The appendixes list useful FAQ information and some great websites. Generally, when I read a computer book, I can always find something I don't like. Not so with Dan's book. The information is timely, accurate and incredible useful. Dan's book gets 5 stars from me, an I highly recommend that you run, not walk, to your favorite book seller to buy it, no matter what Pocket PC platform you use!
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect book for Jornada Users
Review: I bought this book and this is one of the best book i ever bought. it is recommended for the hp jornada users (i have a hp 545)because you find everythink you want. All the chapters cover ererythink. you must buy this book
Rating: 
Summary: Not for previous Palm or Pocket PC users
Review: I purchased this book after being disappointed by the documentation that came with the HP iPAQ. I have finished the book in about 45 minutes and did not learn anything other than I could write over my notes in Transcriber without having to wait. It did not make me a PowerUser and able to do everything with my iPAQ. It seemed more like a manual for a Jornada that was formed into a book than anything.
Might be good for basic novices.
Rating:
Summary: Not for previous Palm or Pocket PC users
Review: I purchased this book after being disappointed by the documentation that came with the HP iPAQ. I have finished the book in about 45 minutes and did not learn anything other than I could write over my notes in Transcriber without having to wait. It did not make me a PowerUser and able to do everything with my iPAQ. It seemed more like a manual for a Jornada that was formed into a book than anything.
Might be good for basic novices.
Rating:
Summary: This book is so good, you'll actually read the manual!
Review: I've never actually sat down and read a manual. Heck! I barely even touch a manual - usually I'm more likely to play around with a product until I figure out how to use it. This book changed all that. I just spent all weekend reading it cover to cover. It was full of helpful information, as well as entertaining. This is a GREAT book to get if you have any kind of Pocket PC. And how romantic that he asked his girlfriend to marry him in the book. Hope she said yes!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Handbook
Review: If the Pocket PC is the best companion for your desktop PC, then this book is the best companion for the Pocket PC. Written in a clear and concise manner this book is a helpful guide about the complete use of the many features the Pocket PC has. And do not think that because it is mainly wrote for the Jornada 54x users the content is overdue for the owners of the 56x, because this handbook brings an excellent beginning for the comprehension of both operative systems, and the full utilisation of their advantages.
Para aquellos no acostumbrados a las lecturas en inglés, de seguro tendrán muy pocos problemas con este libro debido a su formato bastante básico, concebido para principiantes en el mundo de los computadores de bolsillo.
Rating:
Summary: Covers Much Ground in a Concise Yet Friendly Style
Review: If you want an excellent book to get you up and running with your Pocket PC, this is it. It covers everything from getting started, to using Pocket Outlook, to recommended software, to security and many other areas as well. Because the Pocket PC operating system is common to many PDAs, the fact that the HP brand is used as the model plays almost no bearing on the usefulness of the content. I have an iPaq and practically all the information was as applicable to it, as to the HP. Great starter book for Pocker PC users.
Rating:
Summary: Covers Much Ground in a Concise Yet Friendly Style
Review: If you want an excellent book to get you up and running with your Pocket PC, this is it. It covers everything from getting started, to using Pocket Outlook, to recommended software, to security and many other areas as well. Because the Pocket PC operating system is common to many PDAs, the fact that the HP brand is used as the model plays almost no bearing on the usefulness of the content. I have an iPaq and practically all the information was as applicable to it, as to the HP. Great starter book for Pocker PC users.
Rating:
Summary: In-depth and VERY useful!
Review: Useful, well-organized, and very readable, this book is appropriate for users at any level. The (Hewlett Packard Official) Pocket PC Handbook is organized so to be useful for beginners, intermediate and advanced Pocket PC users. It starts out with a few chapters covering the basics, then moves on to detailed chapters covering the built-in applications. The later chapters cover more advanced information, including personalization, optional accessories and recommended third-party applications. The last 2 sections of the book cover problems and future technology, and 5 appendices contain FAQs, troubleshooting info, internet resources and other helpful information. What makes this book such a standout, in my opinion, is the way it covers real-world use of the Pocket PC, rather than being limited to just the Pocket PC itself. For example, one of the beginners' tips is to put your name on the outside of the case, not just in the settings (too many people learn that one the hard way). There's a whole chapter about how to exchange information with Palm handhelds and other PDAs, information about external keyboards and replacement styli, and detailed information about synching Pocket PC information with cell phones and other (non-Outlook) applications and even the atomic clock. Rather than "How to Use Pocket Streets" you'll find sections like "Finding Food, Transportation and ATMs". This book is solidly in touch with the reality -- not the theory -- of day-to-day Pocket PC use. The book's cover has an HP logo, and all the actual photos (as opposed to screen shots) of Pocket PCs show the HP Jornada, but except for a few specific sections, the information in the book is every bit as useful to Compaq iPAQ and Casio Pocket PC users as it is to Jornada owners. It is very much a Pocket PC handbook, not a Jornada handbook. This is an extremely useful, well-organized, readable book. I'd recommend it to anyone who has -- or is seriously considering buying -- any kind of Pocket PC.
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