h2215 out in stores!

[scoopster]

I bought 2 h2215's last night at Frys in Palo Alto. There were three on the shelf, and now there is probably only the one left. It was $399, and it's damn lightweight! I'll have to compar it to my colleagues' 1910 when I get to the office. Lightweight, built in BT, 2 slots....yum....can't wait to play with it....hope it's not a busy day at the office today! Will report more later here.

[paris]

if that is so post some pics for both the device and the ppc 2k3 os

[portus]

Go visit Brighthand.com. There's already a 10+ page discussions on this. At least I confirmed that at Fry's Campbell, CA store. Wanted to take some pics but just didn't have time. There're bunch of pics on that Brighthand thread you can enjoy...

This unit is so small and light weight compared to anything else with both CF and SD slots on the market.
- Could be even better with a metal case rather than plastic. (The battery cover seems to be metal, though.)
- No recording button. No Scroll button.
- But very good 5-way action button. Performance is better than the Axim X5 (as expected, though, with PXA255 processor).
- Too bad the side grips are plastic, not rubber.
- Speaker on the back but quite effective even when sitting on a PDA holder in the car for GPS navigation. Sound quality is better than the one on the Axim X5 with no obvious noise at loud settings.
- If only the CF cover is like the one on the Toshiba e550G. It's a removable, like the one on the Axim and the Toshibae700 series.
- Screen is bright and rich in color.
- Some iPaq 3600/3800 series accessories seem to be working fine with it. (USB charge cable/Cigarette lighter charger ...) I'd think folding keyboards also work with the 2200s.

It'd be inetersting to see what Gateway comes out with. Also coming are Dell Axim X3/X7?
-

[xoiph]

Sweeet :rock on dude!:

[scoopster]

Portus,
Your comments are just about dead on, except that the side grips are rubber, not plastic. I've had very mixed results with the 5-way button so far...tend to get a lot of errant left or right presses when I try to navigate just up or down.

More later.....been a busy day today at the office, damnit!

[Mitch D]

Hmm... strikes me that someone slipped up on the sales date. Bonus for the people that got one, their not even listed in my system at work yet.

[emmfan]

Picked up mine during lunch at Fry's, Fountain Valley. There are at least 6 more left on the shelves. I guess I'm no longer a retro-jornada, time to change my icon. :wink:

[Gremmie]

what's the new OS like????

[Kati Compton]

what's the new OS like????
From what I understand, most of the changes are "under the hood".

[scoopster]

what's the new OS like????

What I liked is that while I was syncing via bluetooth, I went to PIE and was able to surf on the 2215 over the bluetooth (my PC was connected to a LAN) and I never once even touched the connection settings. I don't think PPC2002 was smart enough to figure that out...then again maybe PPC2003 just changed to defaults to be "connect to Internet" instead of that silly "connect to Work"

Since I can't post pics here, I'm posting some over at Brighthand.

[Gremmie]

What about program compatability? Rumor is that the new core creates some incompatibility.

[Kati Compton]

What about program compatability? Rumor is that the new core creates some incompatibility.
Yes, but if you search you'll find an awful lot of programs that work just fine. For programs that are still "current", if they don't work, I would expect most to be updated quickly to work on PPC2003... Otherwise, the developers are leaving out a segment of the buying public that's only going to get larger and larger as new devices are sold.

It's the old freeware or commercial apps that haven't been updated in years that may be a problem if not compatible.

[pdagal]

I'm trying to find a WiFi card that will work. Looks like we'll need PPC 2003 drivers (I'm trying Socket, SMC and D-link cards).

Age of Empires refuses to install (says PDA isn't compatible).
CNETX FlashFormat runs but isn't able to format SD cards
MS Money isn't included, MS wants you to buy MS Money 2003 for the desktop which includes the PPC version. The MS Money 2002 version that came with previous PPCs will not install (it tells you to buy MS Money 2003).
Thunderhawk will not install.

What does run:
Netfront 3
Resco apps like FileManager 2003
Pocket Artist by Conduits
Peacemaker Pro by Conduits
pretty much all Conduits apps :)
Hexacto Bounty Hunter Pinball
Diamond Mine
Omega Battery Pack (possibly- did have a hard reset issue which seems related to its install).

I should have a preliminary review posted tomorrow. Meanwhile, ask questions if you like.

What about program compatability? Rumor is that the new core creates some incompatibility.

[portus]

- PocketMVP is not compatible as of build .8.041303. Prompting "Wave audio error" upon loading DiVX videos.
- StorageTools refuses to perform any operation (all ops immediately canceled) when installed to the iPAQ File Store.
- IE is noticeably faster in loading and rendering pages (could be improvements of either of or both IE code and OS optimization for PXA255 processor)
- Most 'obvious' PPC2003 improvements are cosmetic (e.g., more elegant calendar, notes, and contacts background; Start and IE 'waving' Windows logo that's in line with XP look; ActiveSync status icon on the title bar;
- Most significant improvement could be overhaul of wireless connection management, as some already mentioned.
- The 5-way button feels quite good for me on games and scrolling, reminiscent of the joystick-like button on the Toshiba e550G, only bigger and more comfortable.
- Side grips could be rubber, but pastic feel - not as good as the one on the Axim X5's.
- The cradle is well designed with respect to spare battery charging. The spare battery charging area is like on the Axim which is located in the back of the 2215 charging area. Difference is, the spare battery charging area is not exposed when the 2215 is sitting in the cradle. This is not only more elegant from visual design aspect, but it also help keep the battery charing contacts from dirt.
- No obvious bugs on the hardware so far. The software incompatibility are supposed be related to the PPC2003 OS update.
- BTW, the screen size is actually a little (1-2mm on each direction) smaller than the 3.5" one on the Axim X5, so the screen protector from X5 requires a little 'preparation' before you can apply to the 2215.
- Again, on the size. 2215 is (not only looks or feels) much smaller and lighter than the Axim or 3000/5000 series iPAQs. About the same size as the 1910 only thicker - a physical limitation of having both CF and SD slots. Although I believe the device can go even thinner IF the bluetooth module is eliminated and the SD slot is relocated. But I'd rather have BT. I don't actually feel comfortable (or more precisely, secure) holding a small and thin device like the 1910. It's a matter of personal preference.

[dh]

You might want to check in at the forums at www.pocketinformant.com.

Alex bought a 2210 a couple of days ago and has posted a lot of pictures and thoughts.

Go to support then forums, it's in the Developer Blog section.

He seems to find the new Ipaq to be really fast compared to his 5450 Ipaq.

[Gremmie]

- The 5-way button feels quite good for me on games and scrolling, reminiscent of the joystick-like button on the Toshiba e550G, only bigger and more comfortable.

One thing I notice about my e550g d-pad is the tendency to go left and right when I want to go up and down.

[disconnected]

Has anyone tried Mapopolis on a 2215 yet (preferably with a bluetooth GPS receiver)?

[scoopster]

I just posted a series of 15 or more pictures of the h2215 and screen shots at Brighthand:

http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81008


enjoy,
scoopster

[dh]

Great, thanks scoopster.
Wish Dell would hurry up with the X7 or I can see myself investing in one of these.
Your photos made me search my Axim to try and find a ClearType tuner.

[Dazbot]

Whats the battery life actually like?

I'm tempted to buy one to replace my 3850 and cf+ pack which has a buggered external battery that only lasts about 45mins :devilboy:

With the cf reader its too big and too slow to be useful, epecially while surfing via wireless.

[jkabaseball]

any news on landscape mode? there were rumors, but no news from the people that have it.

[Enderet]

Whats the battery life actually like?

I'm tempted to buy one to replace my 3850 and cf+ pack which has a buggered external battery that only lasts about 45mins :devilboy:

With the cf reader its too big and too slow to be useful, epecially while surfing via wireless.

Various reports are floating around at Brighthand but they all indicate very very good battery life. One person in particular reported playing PocketSNES, then watching part of the Animatrix and doing other things for about an hour and his PPC showing 89 percent battery life left. Many other reports indicate such battery lifes. Very Impressive, check it out for yourself at the brighthand hp 2200 series forum.


http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81209&perpage=10&pagenumber=3

Check the post by Charger71

[pdagal]

No landscape mode.:(
Battery life using an SMC type II CF card has been very good. I surfed for an hour and had 75% remaining.

any news on landscape mode? there were rumors, but no news from the people that have it.

[g0097]

I also agree that the battery life is very good. that was my biggest fear before getting this handheld at I am very very pleased so far. :D

[kagayaki1]

You might want to check in at the forums at www.pocketinformant.com

Why don't we just give them the link (http://www.pocketinformant.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1435) instead? Excellent, excellent pictures. Top notch for getting an idea of size.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I was just in the Fry's Electronics in Canoga Park and saw that they had one box left. Played around with the demo unit for a few minutes and can confirm that it does feel zippier (at least in comparison to my 38xx). It only felt slightly larger than the 19xx and it still felt competitively sized against the Viewsonic V35. I was SOOOO tempted to grab that last box, but at this time it wouldn't be able to supplant my 38xx b/c of PMVP compatibility (I spend a lot of time on airplanes).

I've been waiting patiently for a new PPC that meets all my reqs for a new device (while holding onto the 38xx), this unit looks like the unit I've been looking for. If the PMVP folks release a stable version of PMVP that works with PPC2k3, I'm there.

[Dazbot]

Is the port underneath the same as the 38,39 and 5450 series?

I've got a TT Tech iPAQ 3800 Snap'N'Type Keyboard, and a set of serial and USB sync cables I'm guessing they're not going to fit.

All I need to know now is when will it be avaliable in the UK.

[Jacob]

Is the port underneath the same as the 38,39 and 5450 series?

I've got a TT Tech iPAQ 3800 Snap'N'Type Keyboard, and a set of serial and USB sync cables I'm guessing they're not going to fit.

All I need to know now is when will it be avaliable in the UK.

I've heard a number of reports saying keyboards will work - the only problem is the shape of the devices are different on the bottom so if the keyboard depends on cradling a device shaped like the 38/39/5450 then it just won't fit.

[Dazbot]

Jacob wrote:
Dazbot wrote:
Is the port underneath the same as the 38,39 and 5450 series?

I've got a TT Tech iPAQ 3800 Snap'N'Type Keyboard, and a set of serial and USB sync cables I'm guessing they're not going to fit.

All I need to know now is when will it be avaliable in the UK.

I've heard a number of reports saying keyboards will work - the only problem is the shape of the devices are different on the bottom so if the keyboard depends on cradling a device shaped like the 38/39/5450 then it just won't fit.

Thats what I thought, the keyboards dock looks identical to a cradle with the moving supports that are used if there isn't an expansion pack, or slip down if there is a pack installed.

Oh well, didn't like the keyboad much anyway, might buy the 38/39/54 folding keyboard instead.

[Dazbot]

Expansys now have it expected in 5 days, for £364.25 inc VAT :evil:, thats way too much, I think i'll wait till it drops a bit.