HP iPAQ RX3115 Pocket PC

• Integrated WLAN 802.11b, Bluetooth IrDA and USB
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software
• Watch and listen to your favorite video and music on the go
• Control most home and office audio/video equipment with a single device
• 56 MB of user-accessible memory

My Palm Zire 31 recently died of a traumatic screen impact. I had every intention of replacing it with another of the same, but after poking at handheld display models around town, I decided to upgrade from my Palm to a Pocket PC.

I found the Pocket PC to be aptly named. It really is a pocket sized mini-computer. There's a fossil PC in my basement with less memory, less storage, a slower processor, and absolutely no multi-media capabilities. It cost over $3000 in 1996. The iPaq rx3115 cost 1/10 the price and delivers so much more. I am really impressed.

I chose the rx3115 over the rz1715 because the rx3115 has built in wi-fi and bluetooth. You can buy a wi-fi card for the rz1715, but it costs about $80 and takes up your only SD slot. The rx3115 is $100 more than the rz1715, so it seemed more efficient to just spend the extra $20 on the better model. If you never expect to need wi-fi, go ahead and save the $100. Me, I like being able to access my husband's amazon.com wish list from a Panera Bread parking lot.

The rx3115 starts with the same basic features as any handheld: an outlook compatible calendar, address book, and task list.

In addition to those basics, you get pocket versions of Word and Excel. The built in print manager allows you to print wirelessly from network ready printers.

On top of basic workhorse programs, the rx3115 adds built-in Avantgo software, which allows you to select free news and entertainment channels then download those pages onto the handheld. This means you can read this morning's Wired while standing in line at the DMV.

Then, it takes the multimedia capabilities to a whole new level. You can stream video, music, and photos from a desktop or laptop to your handheld, so if you want to listen to your MP3's from the basement, you don't have to bother copying them onto your SD card. If you want to load an album onto your iPaq, you can do it wirelessly on the way out of the house no messing with the USB cord needed.

It also acts as a universal remote control, usable on any device with an infrared control. This is a mixed blessing, to say the least. Try to use your powers for good instead of evil, people.

The built in one-touch voice recorder works surprisingly well for (so far) unlimited voice memos. You can manually set the sound quality, so you can get incredibly crisp sound if you're willing to take up a lot of space. The built in speaker is very loud and clear for a device this size.

I like a lot of little details about the rx3115 namely, the fact that it is slim enough to fit into my tiny little purse when in its hard case, the full size screen (no graffiti area unless you call it up), the ability to flip the screen sideways and back at the push of a button, the very responsive mini-keyboard which is a breeze to pull up or shrink whenever needed, and the one-touch voice memo button.

Finally, it's easy to download additional programs ranging from Age of Empires to ListPro (a very useful and highly recommended program!)

Incidentally, if you don't like the goofy multimedia home screen, you can download other free Pocket PC themes from Microsoft.

Cons:

All that said, this is not the most intuitive device I've ever used. The walk-through is beyond useless. (It tells you things you can do without showing you how.) Finding files can be surprisingly complicated. It looks a lot like Windows XP, but doesn't follow the same well established rules, which can result in some initial confusion.

Some features do not have a back button, so there can be an awkward amount of closing the program and starting over.

Because HP assumes people want this handheld for the sake of watching TV and listening to music, none of the buttons take you to normal handheld destinations, such as calendar, address book, and tasklist. You can reprogram the buttons, but it takes some digging to find how.

The Close and OK button are in the same place, so it's very easy to have half a dozen programs open, all hogging your memory, without realizing it. Separate screen buttons would go a long way to clearing this up.

Basically, you have to spend a little time learning the quirks of the system, but when you do, I find it well worth the time investment.

Other:

Some useful links for additional software include:

illiumsoft.com makers of listpro

handango.com quality Pocket PC and Palm pay downloads

pocketgear.com more quality pay downloads

audible.com audio books and magazines to download and listen to on your palm or PC.

There are free download sites out there, but I find you get what you pay for. While there are some free gems, but you have to dig pretty far to find them.

Finally, BUY A HARD CASE! Handheld manufacturers all include awful cases and HP is no exception. The screen is much more fragile than you think. One impact and you're out $350 for a handheld and trust me, once you get hooked, you'll NEED a new one. Amazon sadly lacks good rx3115 hardcases, but I found an excellent one at styluscentral.com. You can find plenty of other cases through Froogle.

Buy HP iPAQ RX3115 Pocket PC Now

I will not go into the details of the product as the review before mine went over every possible point any user of this device could possibly think of.

I am a casual user who is still in college and found this device to fit my needs very well. The multi media buttons, optional landscape view, and overall multimedia focus make this an ideal PDA for people who are going to use their device for entertainment purposes. I have been able to fit full movies onto 128 mb memory cards, so I always have something to look at in between classes, or on long trips.

I have also been able to record most of this past semesters lectures (with permission of the professors of course!) using the amazingly clear nuilt in microphone. It was able to pick up the professor from across the room without a problem(we have small class rooms, maximum 20 students, so you guys with mega sized classes might not find it so useful.)The downside to such a receptive microphone is that it also picked up the sound of paper being shuffled near it, which can sound a bit like finger nails on a chalk board when replayed.

It also comes in handy for a Word doccument viewer. I proof read my papers on the Ipaq and use the stylus to make my corrections. I do not recommend typing an entire paper on the mini keyboard, but it does work well for makr ups. I have all my papers written while in college in an SD card that is in the case with my IPAQ, 4 years of papers easily accessible!

I decided to buy this with some extra money I had instead of an IPOD. Unless you have 5,000 songs the IPOD is not that great,and can cost more than the Ipaq. I use my Ipaq for music using SD cards to hold the music. Granted I can only listen to a few hours of music at a time, but its worth it to get all the other features, you can't watch a movie on an IPOD! The earbuds that come with the Ipaq are pretty bad, consider buying a third party ear wear.

One last thing, I managed to write (and hopefully send) this review using the Ipaq's wireless internet connection. If that doesnt work I will just use the built in blue tooth connection and send it to my laptop.

Read Best Reviews of HP iPAQ RX3115 Pocket PC Here

I preordered this pocket pc about 2 weeks ago and recieved it las week, and I am in love with it. I control my tv, dvd, audio reciever, and my HP zd7000 laptop with it, and can also chat in msn and surf the web (in landscape mode, it is MUCH better for web surfing) from my bed using wifi, and I can also connect it with my t-610 using blue tooth.

The features on this PPC are great, and everything you need comes included. It is one of the smallest Pocket PCs, and is also vey light, and it looks very sleek and modern.

I recommend this to everyone who has the need for an entertainment PDA or for a business PDA .

Excellent Product, thoroughly recommended.

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I had a Cassiopeia for about 2 years and this HP blows my Cassiopeia away. I installed all the software in about ½ hour. The wireless works fine to look at web pages and use AOL Instant Messenger (must purchase the program). The screen is bright and the battery lasts all day.

I bought this one specifically for the wireless, it uses a SD card instead of compact flash, and you can set the screen up to be sideways. The sideways screen is easier for writing notes and reading AVANTGO web pages. The scheduler is great. I use it to hold over 100 business contacts and keep my schedule. For an extra $150, you can get this same model, but with a camera.

I highly recommend this PDA.

I had a Palm Pilot a few years ago and it just wasn't useful to me. Inputting text was difficult and slow, and there were not enough useful features I suppose. I sold it after about 6 months.

Now we finally have the rx3115 with builtin wireless, bluetooth, calendar, notes, web browser, MP3 player, video player, Word/Excel, instant messaging (download the free Agile Messenger program), games, you name it. And all for under $300 (well under if you get refurbished). This thing truly is a mini-laptop. A poor man's (like me) laptop, if you will.

The rx3115 doesn't have the fastest processor or highest amount of RAM, but it is more than enough for common usage. It doesn't have a camera or cell phone capability, but the cameras I've seen on other PDAs are poor quality compared to normal digital cameras anyway.

There is one very significant con to consider for this or any other PDA. That is text input. The handwriting recognition is excellent, so much better than the old Palms, but it is still a bit slow and imperfect. The mini in-screen keyboard is nice, but also slow to use. If this is a significant concern for you, spring for a foldable keyboard. I got the HP FA118A and it is perfect. The Stowaway brand is also highly rated.

Some tips if you get this PDA. Search google for freeware pocketpc to find some useful free software (like Agile Messenger which connects to Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Jabber chat). Go to the HP.com site to download the latest firmware updates for your PDA. Also at Microsoft there is an SP3 update for the .NET Compact Framework.

This is the best affordable PDA out there.