Hands-on with HP's Windows Mobile iPaqs - CES 2008

HP's iPaq offerings at CES this year are nowhere near as exciting as what was leaked last week - namely the Oak and the Silver - but they're alright. First up, HP is still trying to get traction with their cute-as-a-button iPaq 500. It's a decent little candybar phone on Quadband GSM/EDGE (only) and WiFi. The rest of the specs are decided low end - but with 6.5 hours of talk time maybe that's ok. AT&T and T-Mobile don't seem to think so - HP still hasn't managed to pick up any official carrier support in the US.
The only other notable thing about the iPaw 500 is it features “HP VoiceReply.” It's just a plug-in that lets you record a voice reply to an email and send it as a wav instead of trying to type it out on T9. While you're driving. And shaving. And eating a burrito. Really, you should just pull over.
...After the break, HP has a brand new non-smartphone iPaq coming that's just a beast - the iPaq 210 Enterprise
The iPaq 210 Enterprise
First thing's last - when I asked the HP rep “Seriously, who's your target market for a Windows Mobile 6 Classic device” (“Classic” being the new nomenclature for “Non-Smartphone.”), he replied:
“Existing enterprise customers who want more power.”
...In other words, don't deride HP for thinking they're going to have a retail smash hit with the iPaq 210.
All that aside, the 210 is actually a great device - it's a trip down memory lane for us to get just a little excited about a straight PDA. I mean, this thing has dual memory card slots! Anybody else remember Handera?
So, Specs: It's about 5 “ by 3” by .63“ (yeah, huge), but in that huge package you get Wifi b/g, Bluetooth2.0, a 624 MHz processor, 64 RAM / 256 ROM, a 2200 mAh battery, Microphone and speakers (hello VOIP), SD, CF, and 480x640 screen.
This thing just might be the King of PDAs. Of course, that's a dying kingdom, isn't it?
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Well, being the gadget loving freak that I am, I can't help but drool over this straight PDA. I'm glad someone is still making them for those who don't care to have their PDA and phone combined. I'm sure there are still "some" folks who don't want a PDA/smartphone. Of course I'll take any kind of PDA, phone or no phone. ;-)
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I am very pleased that they are still making PDAs that are not phones as well. The cellphone networks over-priced services and holding customers hostage with contracts is the primary reason I and quite a few people I know specifically do not want one that is shackled to a cell carrier. With a pure PDA you get more for your money and can change carriers without having to invest time and money into a new device that will work on your new carrier.
Also, unless HP changed things for CES, the iPaq 200 series PDAs have 128MB RAM and not 64.