iPaq 1915

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/2951.html' target='_blank'>http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/2951.html</a><br /><br /></div>Apparently, the European release of the iPaq 1910 was pushed back to make way for a 1915 unit, which among other things, <i>may</i> have integrated Bluetooth. If that's the case, it would be one killer unit! This isn't confirmed, but we will definitely post an update as more details are available (the unit is slated to ship in the 2nd quarter).

[PJE]

Hi,

While there at it why don't they increase the Flash size (64MB would be good) so the additional space can be used as a built in storage card to hold the applications missing from the OS as well as other user installed apps/games. This would free RAM for running programs and data.

My 2c

PJE

[vincentsiaw]

if the 1915 come with bluetooth and 64 mb ram, i'll buy it instead the 5400 series

[Jason Dunn]

if the 1915 come with bluetooth and 64 mb ram, i'll buy it instead the 5400 series

If HP could do that and keep it at, say, $349 or $399, they'd have a killer device. I still haven't seen one of these in person, but they look so small and sexy.

[JornadaJ]

if the 1915 come with bluetooth and 64 mb ram, i'll buy it instead the 5400 series

Why can't they add the CF slot without the sleeve concept in addition to the above? Seems as if Toshiba has figured it out.

I'm looking for my upgrade from my 568, but the CF (sleeveless) is a big thing.

[Mike Temporale]

I still haven't seen one of these in person, but they look so small and sexy.

for some reason, HP has't released these in Canada yet. I've called around and nobody seems to have any information on when they'll get them in. I'm seriously looking at orderig it from Amazon.com. This 1915 sounds nice, but I would rather see more memory before integrated BT.

[PJE]

if the 1915 come with bluetooth and 64 mb ram, i'll buy it instead the 5400 series

It HAS 64MB of RAM. The issue with it is that some of it is used up to hold the operating system. There are two ways to approach the problem:

1. Add more RAM to keep the available memory high, or
2. Add more Flash to store the applications not currently being used.

The advantage of option #1 would be no need to load programs into memory to run them as they're already there, but it has the disadvantage of using more power to keep the RAM from loosing its memory.

The advantage of option #2 is lower cost (the reason NAND Flash is used in the first place) and lower power useage, but the disadvantage is that some form of program removal from RAM would be needed. I used WISbar and always fully shut down programs I'm not going to be using again any time soon.

Thoughts...

PJE

[Ed Hansberry]

Increase the ROM to 32MB and I'll buy it! 32MB ROM, 48MB usable RAM without having to take some of that and put WMP, REader, Terminal Server, etc. and it is a solid device IMHO.

[Foo Fighter]

If HP could do that and keep it at, say, $349 or $399, they'd have a killer device.

That's the real question. If HP can market this for $399, it will surely put a world of hurt on Palm's Tungsten T sales.

[JornadaJ]

If HP can market this for $399, it will surely put a world of hurt on Palm's Tungsten T sales.

And the Axim. A lot more for a little more money.

[Foo Fighter]

And the Axim. A lot more for a little more money.

The high-end Axim you mean? Probably, but not the low-end unit. That model is targeted at budget conscious buyers.

[PJE]

If HP can market this for $399, it will surely put a world of hurt on Palm's Tungsten T sales.

And the Axim. A lot more for a little more money.

I have an Axim (400MHz) and still drool over the HP1910. Size does matter. The two reasons I bought the Axim over the HP were the lack of available memory and communications with other devices (Bluetooth/WiFi).

Even without the additional ROM add a 256MB SD card to the 1915 and you have a vary nice system.

PJE

[Gen-M]

I'd like to see SDIO and USB Host capability. Both are almost there in the 1910, just connect a few wires and use a different version of the graphics chip. More usable memory would be nice, but with combination SDIO cards and USB drivers coming out, not as important as connectivity.

Saying it has Bluetooth does not tell you what profiles it supports. If it does not have HID then it can't use keyboards. If it does not have the Headset Profile then it won't be able to use Headsets. If it does not have these, then sync over bluetooth is nice, but not worth it.

I'm not going to pay for a bluetooth phone and then pay the phone company to use it (They can't offer REGULAR cell service to my home, anyway 8O - Massachusetts has hills, don't you know :? ).

In the meantime, my 1910 makes a great 2nd PPC for Business Formal.

[torring]

I live in Denmark, and I have known for almost two weeks that the 1910 was to be sold as 1915 in Europe.

I was just told by the resellers here that it was identical to the 1910 and it is not the first time Compaq has sold the same device under different names:

Ipaq 3835 = 3850 i know

3870 =3875 i think


I don't believe the hype yet, but let's hope the sources are reliable...

[don dre]

these are entirly different beasts. Axim is going for most bang for your buck while HP is slim and sexy. I would consider one of these with builtin BT...esp with these wifi/storage card sd combos coming out. will linear logix and pctechs be offering ROM upgrades? hmm..

[JMountford]

OK guys I think someone passed the crack around once too many times. Have you seen the 1910? Do you know the Price Point? If HP started adding all these dream functions then it would not be what it is, a sharp little inexpensive device.

Jason I have seen and played with this device. It is absolutely beautiful, elligant, sharp, just a really well put together device. It is much smaller than the naked iPaqs. I just drool over it. I would love to get one for my wife.

Still guys Bluetooth? Come on really. An extra 100 dollars, when people are not buying this device for high end functions. It just makes no sense.

[Ed Hansberry]

Still guys Bluetooth? Come on really. An extra 100 dollars, when people are not buying this device for high end functions. It just makes no sense.

What makes more sense?

1910 at $299. Add bluetooth and it is $399. Smallest PDA available today unless you find an old Vx somewhere. It is smaller than the M500 series.

3970 at $599.

I'll take the 1915 at $399 any day of the week.

[MikeB]

I still haven't seen one of these in person, but they look so small and sexy.


And the screen is REALLY REALLY good! It seems as though most power users dismiss the 1910, but for my usual tasks it seems to run about as fast as any other Pocket PC I've had. And I bought a Palm V leather case for it, and had to cut up some of the filler material that came with the case becuase the 1910 was TOO LOOSE in the case for the Palm V. That's how small it is. It will ruin you for any other PDA, whenever I pick up my Toshiba e570 now I just think, wow this thing has grown or something :o

Mike B.

[entropy1980]

Somebody could probably answer this pretty quick.... somebody do a search on the FCC site for the manufacturer of the 1910 was it LG or HTC? If it shows up it's got wireless.....and is being released in the US...

[ricksfiona]

if the 1915 come with bluetooth and 64 mb ram, i'll buy it instead the 5400 series

I wouldn't buy it INSTEAD of the 5450, but buy it in addition to the 5450.

5450 = Business unit. It's just too feature packed to use it as a casual 'personal' unit, especially when considering cost.

1915 = Personal/Dress-up unit. I don't like carrying my 3870 in my suit coat because it's a little heavy/bulky and makes a bulge in my jacket pocket. The 1915 with it's weight, thinness & looks make it perfect for the non-techie and simplier tasks. With the addition of Bluetooth, it would be even more versatile. Perfect for IM'ing during a meeting or doing a quick check on your web based e-mail.

Yes, the '1915' would do/is serious damage to Palm if priced around $250 - $299.

[tj21]

Add SDIO with the BT and that would almost be perfect once SanDisk releases their 256mb combo WiFi SD cards. I almost bought a 1910 the first time I saw it in person even though I have no need at all for it. Add BT and I doubt I could resist it a second time.

[hbcollins]

This thread gave me one of those deja-vu experiences... I was looking through a CDW catalog yesterday and noticed an hp1910 pic that had a tiny BT logo down in the lower right hand corner of the screen. Then I noticed that the exact same screen pic was on the 5450, so I just figured it to be a Photoshop trick, toying with me (which is probably still the case). Nevertheless... deja-vu. A 1910+BT+32M ROM would get my money in a heartbeat.

[ricksfiona]

Add SDIO with the BT and that would almost be perfect once SanDisk releases their 256mb combo WiFi SD cards. I almost bought a 1910 the first time I saw it in person even though I have no need at all for it. Add BT and I doubt I could resist it a second time.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[JMountford]

What makes more sense?

1910 at $299. Add bluetooth and it is $399. Smallest PDA available today unless you find an old Vx somewhere. It is smaller than the M500 series.

I just don't see HP adding BT. And wouldn't adding it add size to the device, as well as some reenginering?

[Ed Hansberry]

What makes more sense?

1910 at $299. Add bluetooth and it is $399. Smallest PDA available today unless you find an old Vx somewhere. It is smaller than the M500 series.

I just don't see HP adding BT. And wouldn't adding it add size to the device, as well as some reenginering?
iPAQs have never change in size within a family when features were added. If my tiny T68 can have a bluetooth radio in it, so can a 1900.

[Janak Parekh]

I just don't see HP adding BT. And wouldn't adding it add size to the device, as well as some reenginering?
iPAQs have never change in size within a family when features were added. If my tiny T68 can have a bluetooth radio in it, so can a 1900.
That's the whole point of Bluetooth - the cost of integration is very, very low, and the circuitry is absolutely tiny. BT is designed to be embeddable in nearly anything. I hope HP's reading this forum... ;)

--janak

[JMountford]

I just don't see HP adding BT. And wouldn't adding it add size to the device, as well as some reenginering?

iPAQs have never change in size within a family when features were added. If my tiny T68 can have a bluetooth radio in it, so can a 1900.

That's the whole point of Bluetooth - the cost of integration is very, very low, and the circuitry is absolutely tiny. BT is designed to be embeddable in nearly anything. I hope HP's reading this forum...

Well I hope it happens for the sake of those that want it. I am just skeptical for the sake of pricing issues.

[slugnut]

I'd be happy with SDIO and 32M ROM (Flash upgradable) at the same price point. Is that too much to ask for?? :D

[R K]

Giving everybody the ROM they want would be a bit more expensive.
Not only does it have to have 32MB, but it has to be NOR FlashROM, not NAND ROM.
If you had 32MB NAND ROM, it would only eliminate the process of having to go to your companion CD for Windows Media Player, Microsoft Reader, Terminal Service Client, etc... This would take up more RAM however because 64MB - 28MB = 36MB, and that's exactly how much memory the Viewsonic PPC has because I think it uses NAND FlashROM as well.

[Eitel]

This is the reason why I don't think there's such thing as a 1915. :)

http://islabonita.org/ss/2200.jpg

[st63z]

So will the US also get the 1915 at the same time, or Europe first (which would mean it's Expansys time again)? As long as the BT supports all profiles so I can use Bluespoon... More ROM/RAM, SDIO, normal headset port, rightside-up sync port, etc...

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Why can't they add the CF slot without the sleeve concept in addition to the above? Seems as if Toshiba has figured it out.
Add a CF slot and suddenly this low priced unit offers something their higher priced unit doesn't... wouldn't be smart way to boost sales of their higher end units.

Plus remember the audience this device is primarily targeted at. While we would love to see CF support, it's not demanded by the audience its targeting.

Finally, the battery on this thing barely supports the unit as it is. CF would bring it down to near unpractical levels.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Add SDIO with the BT and that would almost be perfect once SanDisk releases their 256mb combo WiFi SD cards. I almost bought a 1910 the first time I saw it in person even though I have no need at all for it. Add BT and I doubt I could resist it a second time.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
I'm not sure this is as convenient as it sounds.

Unless someone has heard differently, the combo WiFi/memory SD cards may not have any mechanism allowing you to disable the WiFi, meaning that it would continue to drain the already-limited amount of battery power that the 1910 possesses as long as it's inserted.

If you need to remove the card to save some battery juice, then of course you lose access to the memory as well. In that scenario, you'd probably end up needing an additional SD card to serve as your primary storage.

I guess we'll see.