Beware Of "Savings" on the 1910 iPAQ

[Ed Hansberry]

I'm not sure why this is happening but the iPAQ 1910 seems to still be out there at full price. CompUSA even has it for $339 on their web site despite it having a MSRP of $299 from HP before it was discontinued. There is nothing wrong with the 1910, it is a great PDA, but when the new <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2621&pf%5Fid=MP965603&listing=1&dp%5Fid=MP965603">1940 series costs $295</a>, $5 less, but includes an iPAQ File Store, bluetooth, an SDIO slot <i>and</i> the new Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC OS, the 1910 at $299 makes no sense.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/ipaqh1900.gif" /><br /><br />Someone sent us an email today that a CompUSA flyer was distributed with his Thursday paper that the 1910 would be $199 after a $100 HP rebate this weekend. Well, that makes no sense either. You can get the <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2621&pf%5Fid=MP965608">1930 series for $199 after rebate</a>. It is virtually identical to the 1940, sans bluetooth, the file store and has a slightly slower processor. It is still more machine than the 1910 is, and a machine I've been recommending to anyone asking my opinion of PDAs. The 1930 is a <i>great</i> deal!<br /><br />So, if you find a 1910 for $150 or so, go for it. But anything much more than that? Just get the 1930. I guess some of these retailers will continue to find people that aren't as savy on the latest models and pricing. :| <i>(Affiliate links)</i>

[davin1378]

CompUSA even has it for $339 on their web site despite it having a MSRP of $299 from HP before it was discontinued

:soapbox:

Yet another reason to boycott CompUSA. Seriously, has there ever been a less consumer friendly chain? 15% restocking for all items (even if defective), price gauging discontinued items (OK, except the Maestro, which was a decent deal), changing their TAP policies (and possible commiting massive breaches in contracts). It just never ends.

On the other hand, I guess maybe screwing consumers does put the USA. in CompU$A :devilboy:

[Scott R]

Has anyone done any performance benchmarks between the 1910 and 1935? I suppose a case could be made for the 1910 over the 1935. Some certainly seem to prefer the "right-side-up" screen over the 1910 over the 1935. Still, I would agree that I would personally recommend the 1935 over the 1910 at the same price, if for no other reason than to be at the latest version of the OS.

Scott

[AppleMac]

Sorry if this is an underinformed and completely wrong post that causes a giggle or two among the bigwigs in Pocket PC authority :lol: but doesn't the 1930 use a Samsung processor that means it is incompatible with the vast majority of PPC apps? Because if you want PPC apps at a cheap price, then your only choice seems to be the good ol' 1910.
But then small form factor, cheap price etc. make the 1xxx iPAQs more geared towards getting as many of those crappy Palms out of people's hands as possible, and these people will not need lots of apps so much as a personal organiser. So that means this is ridiculous: i was expecting the 1910 to fall to about $130-150. I guess CompUSA decided they could get away with charging this stupid amount of money :evil:

[davin1378]

doesn't the 1930 use a Samsung processor that means it is incompatible with the vast majority of PPC apps?

Nope - The Samsung is ARM architecture. Don't feel bad though. A lot of people asked teh same thing when the X-Scale CPUs came out. Most programs that run on ARM architecture will work (barring WM 2003 issues)

[Ed Hansberry]

Has anyone done any performance benchmarks between the 1910 and 1935? I suppose a case could be made for the 1910 over the 1935. Some certainly seem to prefer the "right-side-up" screen over the 1910 over the 1935. Still, I would agree that I would personally recommend the 1935 over the 1910 at the same price, if for no other reason than to be at the latest version of the OS.
The 1930 smokes the 1910 in no uncertain terms - http://www.pdaavenue.com/forum/displayarticle.php?threadid=3045

What do you mean "right side up?" Is the 1930 screen upside down or something? :confused totally:

Don't forget the 1930 also has SDIO whereas the 1910 doesn't. It is more than just the OS.

[PJE]

What do you mean "right side up?" Is the 1930 screen upside down or something? :confused totally:

Probably the same thing I saw when trying out a 1940 in CompUSA. The screen has a yellowish tint to the white areas when held in a normal operating position, but a perfectly white screen if held upside down. It's as though one of polarizing layers in the LCD has been installed backwards.

When specifying LCDs it is standard practice to specify its viewing direction. The PDA LCD should be viewed from on or below the normal to the screen axis, but the screen seems to be built for viewing above the normal by mistake.

[Scott R]

The 1930 smokes the 1910 in no uncertain terms - http://www.pdaavenue.com/forum/displayarticle.php?threadid=3045Good to know. Thanks.

What do you mean "right side up?" Is the 1930 screen upside down or something? :confused totally:Back when everyone was discussing the 1945's "yellow" screen (let's not go there again), I mentioned that my "findings" at CompUSA indicated that the 1910 screen looked identical to the 1945's and also exhibited the yellowing phenomenon. Many posts later, someone seemed to discover that the 1910's and 1945's screens seemed to be identical (and different than the 2215's, for instance) but that the screen was now being installed "upside down." Apparently, the yellow tint is worse when tilting the screen away from you (more towards the ceiling) on the 1945 and worse on the 1910 when tilting it more parallel to your body (assuming you're standing up). I believe the consensus was that the 1910's installation was superior because you'll view it aimed a little up more often than a little "down." I think I got that right, but maybe I dreamed the whole thing.

Don't forget the 1930 also has SDIO whereas the 1910 doesn't. It is more than just the OS.Thanks again. Definitely a worthwhile improvement. Though, out of curiosity, is this really because of new hardware or is SDIO support now built into PPC 2003? Not that it much matters.

Scott

[Scott R]

Ah, my longwindedness allowed someone to post ahead of me...

The PDA LCD should be viewed from on or below the normal to the screen axis, but the screen seems to be built for viewing above the normal by mistake.I wonder if it was really "by mistake" or if they did it intentionally because they needed to wire things differently (e.g. - make room for the Bluetooth circuitry).

Scott

[Ed Hansberry]

SDIO is new hardware. The 3900 and 5400 series have SDIO too and they were 2002 devices.

BOth of you - thanks on the "upside down" thing. I read many of the yellow screen posts but never saw the polarization threads apparently. I wonder if this is somethign PPCTechs could fix for a fee for distraught 1930/40 users?

[SandersP]

h1910 is a model that refuses to die. It has beautiful screen, OC'able Xscale, replaceable battery and better moniker :D

It's the best of PPC2k2. It might even be the first ultrathin Linux machine once the team figure out the bootloader. Can't do that with those funky Samsung stuff.

I bet HP will continue to sell this at full price until the remaining stock are gone.

Too bad HP doesn't upgrad this to 2k3, put SD/IO and give it serial port, otherwise this machine will be a hall of famer classic computer.

[Ed Hansberry]

Too bad HP doesn't upgrad this to 2k3, put SD/IO and give it serial port, otherwise this machine will be a hall of famer classic computer.
Except for the serial port they did this. They called it the 1930.

Then they threw bluetooth in it, gave it more ROM and called it a 1940.

[stevew]

I was ready to purchase the Ipaq 5555 so I was searching for the best price. I went to CompUSA web site and they had it for $584.00 which was a great buy. So I called the closest CompUSA which is 50 miles away. They confirmed they were in stock and were $584.00. I drove to Orlando and they did have them but the price was shown as $649. I told the salesman that I called and that they told me $584. He looked it up and he said yep they sure are $584. So I took the Ipaq 5555 to the register and when the cashier scanned it, it was $649. So after a 15 minute wait for the salesman to find out what was going on, he came back and said "well sir the price of $584 was a CompUSA internet price and that the store does not match their website price but we will honor it anyway". So I did indeed finally pay $584. But the whole experience made no sense because when I called they said $584 and the salesman told me in store the same thing. But anyway I have my Ipaq 5555 and I'm feeling the love.

[Ed Hansberry]

But anyway I have my Ipaq 5555 and I'm feeling the love. :grouphug:

[stevew]

I just looked up the Ipaq 5555 On CompUSA website tonight. Now they have $649 AFTER REBATES. Regular price $769.09 -$198.98 of Mail-in rebates. :roll: jeez. I feel even better about paying $584 now :D

[alcdroid]

If you want a laugh, check out Cendirect (http://www.cendirect.ca/main_en/tab_01.asp?rHot_dir1=HandHelds). The h1910 is just CDN$10 cheaper than the h2210 and over CDN$100 more than the h1940. 8O

[Warwick]

On the same lines, I have seen 3870's here on "Special" for $999AUS in store. And $399AUS not on special, this is insane. Just proves you need to shop around.

[AppleMac]

1) Thanx for the reply.
2) Some resellers are so ridiculous :roll: sometimes your only choice for someone who won't rip you off is The HP Shopping site.

[HOLLYWOOD_]

I bought a beautiful "refurbished" 1910 for $124 at usedhandhelds.com to replace my girlfriend's Casio E-105. Great Deal! :D The website always shows them being "out of stock". If anyone is interested, email Wayne Kneeskern at [email protected], and he will hold the next one that comes in for you. :wink:

[bjornkeizers]

You think you guys have it bad? Hah! You know what I pay for a 1910? 199 euro. A 1930 cost 399, a 1940 499 and a 2210 599! It's a total ripoff !

[Fishie]

You think you guys have it bad? Hah! You know what I pay for a 1910? 199 euro. A 1930 cost 399, a 1940 499 and a 2210 599! It's a total ripoff !

I payed less then 400€ for my 2215.