Dave's iPAQ Reviews the iPAQ rx3700

[Janak Parekh]

One of the units lost in all the hubbub between the iPAQ rz1715, the hx4700 and the h6315 is the rx3700. (I hope I got those letters right! 8O) It's been billed as a "multimedia device", and Dave's iPAQ editors Jack Cook and Dave Ciccione decided to give the unit a spin. You can read Jack's <a href="http://davesipaq.com/articles/000083/iPAQ_rx3700_impressions_review">first impressions</a> as well as Dave's <a href="http://davesipaq.com/articles/000084/iPAQ_rx3700_review">detailed review</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040818-DavesiPAQ3715.jpg" /><br /><br />Looks like a sweet device, and the camera pics look surprisingly good. If only it had VGA!

[dean_shan]

It may have a funny name but it looks like a very nice device.

[nosmohtac]

Very nice device. As usual though, Hp has lost track of what the consumer really wants. If you combined this unit with all of the features of the 4700, then make it 128MB of RAM instead of all that useless ROM, you'd have a TKO. Still gonna have to wait for the Asus or Loox

[EricMCarson]

I don't why everyone is down in the high amt of ROM in the new devices. I, for one, am a fan of what HP is trying to do here. It seems to be akin to the HDD/RAM setup on the desktop PC. Store your programs & files in ROM and/or Storage Card, and leave the RAM as avail. memory.

I agree this is a pretty sweet looking device, but it is basically a souped up 415x with camera (useless IMHO) and bigger form factor. I'll buy up all those excess 415x @ under $350 all day long until they're gone before I'll ever touch one of these.

[Jonathan1]

I don't why everyone is down in the high amt of ROM in the new devices. I, for one, am a fan of what HP is trying to do here. It seems to be akin to the HDD/RAM setup on the desktop PC. Store your programs & files in ROM and/or Storage Card, and leave the RAM as avail. memory.

I agree this is a pretty sweet looking device, but it is basically a souped up 415x with camera (useless IMHO) and bigger form factor. I'll buy up all those excess 415x @ under $350 all day long until they're gone before I'll ever touch one of these.

Why?

ROM= Slower then RAM.

[felixdd]

Pretty impressive. I'm very interested to see how this stacks up to the Asus.

[Jonathan1]

HP has done it again the innovator for all others to follow!

I disagree, like you didn't see that coming. :p , I don't define this device as anything innovative. They took a ho-hum form factor, engineered some decent specs into it, slapped an annoying, IMHO, startup screen on it. And called it a mobile entertainment PPC.

I call BS on this. It smells more or less like a marketing gimmick then anything else and isn't the current head of HP's PDA development team originally a VP from marketing? Ya there is a distinct air of gimmick in the air. Don't get me wrong. The specs look good. Quite good actually. But I think if they really wanted to call it an entertainment PDA it should have had a VGA screen or if nothing else had the high end device contain a VGA screen. Innovation comes in many forms. Will this device have anything that any other device won't have? Nope. Will this device be priced cheaper then the competition? Doubtful when you compare it to the 1715. Will this devices form factor make it stand out in the crowd? Next.. Honestly will anything associated with this system be innovative?
Honestly HP has a good device on its hands. Too bad they again are lacking in only one or two critical fields to keep this from being an outstanding device.


PS- Quick question. Did Dave sign the HP contract thingy to get first dibs at the hardware? I ask because I now consider it a legit question for anyone who does a review. I really question the integrity of any site who agreed to those terms. Consequently I question if a site might be, how do it put it, some want slanted towards a certain opinion to make sure they get a good seat for the next round of iPaq's which will doubtlessly come in a beige boxy design. :roll:

[Janak Parekh]

I disagree, like you didn't see that coming. :p , I don't define this device as anything innovative. They took a ho-hum form factor, engineered some decent specs into it, slapped an annoying, IMHO, startup screen on it. And called it a mobile entertainment PPC.
If you look carefully, there's actually some additional PC-side software to do things like stream music. It's a bit more than just a look. ;) Probably not critically important for power users who can set it up themselves, but it might be worth it for end-users.

--janak

[Brad Adrian]

I still think it's incredibly ugly. I really like the rounded corners of the 1900 and 4100 series. These new ones look like they belong in the 70s.

[nosmohtac]

I don't why everyone is down in the high amt of ROM in the new devices. I, for one, am a fan of what HP is trying to do here. It seems to be akin to the HDD/RAM setup on the desktop PC. Store your programs & files in ROM and/or Storage Card, and leave the RAM as avail. memory.



I understand what they are doing, and I think there may actually be a market for it, but I'm not a fan of it at all. I have run low on RAM many times with a 64MB PPC, and I don't store any programs (other than Today plug-ins) in RAM. I also have had many programs that will not work when installed in ROM, but they work fine on a storage card. With the price of SD and CF cards dropping, I just don't think it is a credit to the device, other than for expandability for future OS's, which is often times bloated with software programs that many users don't want or need.

But to get back on topic: The multimedia options on this device are quite impressive, aside from the proprietary WMP only support.

[DavesiPAQ]

First of all I would like to thank the news team for posting the link of our two reviews.

Jonathan yes we are part of the enthusiast program for the past 3 years. Our reviews do not go through any PR person nor do our thoughts and feelings on the unit. I hope you enjoyed the review and appreciate the feedback.

HP has done it again the innovator for all others to follow!

I disagree, like you didn't see that coming. :p , I don't define this device as anything innovative. They took a ho-hum form factor, engineered some decent specs into it, slapped an annoying, IMHO, startup screen on it. And called it a mobile entertainment PPC.

I call BS on this. It smells more or less like a marketing gimmick then anything else and isn't the current head of HP's PDA development team originally a VP from marketing? Ya there is a distinct air of gimmick in the air. Don't get me wrong. The specs look good. Quite good actually. But I think if they really wanted to call it an entertainment PDA it should have had a VGA screen or if nothing else had the high end device contain a VGA screen. Innovation comes in many forms. Will this device have anything that any other device won't have? Nope. Will this device be priced cheaper then the competition? Doubtful when you compare it to the 1715. Will this devices form factor make it stand out in the crowd? Next.. Honestly will anything associated with this system be innovative?
Honestly HP has a good device on its hands. Too bad they again are lacking in only one or two critical fields to keep this from being an outstanding device.


PS- Quick question. Did Dave sign the HP contract thingy to get first dibs at the hardware? I ask because I now consider it a legit question for anyone who does a review. I really question the integrity of any site who agreed to those terms. Consequently I question if a site might be, how do it put it, some want slanted towards a certain opinion to make sure they get a good seat for the next round of iPaq's which will doubtlessly come in a beige boxy design. :roll:

[thunderck]

If im going to spend top dollor for a PDA i'll get a PPC PE. Nothing earth shattering here for me IMHO. The only think I would even begin to miss is the VGA :|

[christak]

Decent review, but I don't see buying this one... Nothing really "grabs me" enough for me to part with my 2210...
:roll:

[felixdd]

But I think if they really wanted to call it an entertainment PDA it should have had a VGA screen or if nothing else had the high end device contain a VGA screen.
You bring up an interesting point, although I would call it a multimedia PPC if it had both a VGA screen and 262K colors. 65K only goes so far.


PS- Quick question. Did Dave sign the HP contract thingy to get first dibs at the hardware? I ask because I now consider it a legit question for anyone who does a review. I really question the integrity of any site who agreed to those terms. Consequently I question if a site might be, how do it put it, some want slanted towards a certain opinion to make sure they get a good seat for the next round of iPaq's which will doubtlessly come in a beige boxy design. :roll:
I was wondering that....the reviews of the new lineup are overwhelming positive, and any negative points that are brought up seem to be so in passing, and mentioned in a "it's just a minor thing" sort of way.

But maybe they just love their Ipaqs :D.

Or it could be because they haven't used the unit for an extended period to pickup the hidden faults yet. I know I'm guilty of that when I get a new toy. They did mention the proprietary file format for capturing movies on the camera, and I'm glad they pointed that out because that's definitely a point to consider.

But I digress! ;)

[Duncan]

PS- Quick question. Did Dave sign the HP contract thingy to get first dibs at the hardware? I ask because I now consider it a legit question for anyone who does a review. I really question the integrity of any site who agreed to those terms. Consequently I question if a site might be, how do it put it, some want slanted towards a certain opinion to make sure they get a good seat for the next round of iPaq's which will doubtlessly come in a beige boxy design. :roll:
I was wondering that....the reviews of the new lineup are overwhelming positive, and any negative points that are brought up seem to be so in passing, and mentioned in a "it's just a minor thing" sort of way.

Two things:

1) I don't defend the HP 'enthusiast' terms and conditions in any way - they stink. It is the case, however, that Dave runs an iPAQ dedicated site, and this way he got to see the new iPAQs for review. There are at least two sides to everything and sometimes more than one side can be right at the same time (sites that signed and sites that didn't can both have done so for good reason and with integrity).

2) If you do run an OEM specific site it is all too easy for anyone to assume that any positive reviews must be overly biased. I'm inclined to think that doesn't hold water (if anything you are likely to hold the OEM to higher standards and be more critical of things done wrong).

The thing is - I may think the new iPAQs stink - but I see nothing in Dave's reviews of them that makes me think they are anything less than his genuine views - just ones I can't agree with...

[felixdd]

You may be right Duncan, and by no means I'm discounting the validity of their opinion. I was just openly musing (as can be seen by the remainder of the quotation you included) :)

[EricMCarson]

Why?

ROM= Slower then RAM.

I have never noticed any speed difference between programs stored in iPaq File Store vs. those stored in RAM. Nor do I notice any difference in the OS programs loaded in ROM vs. previous PPCs that didn't have these in ROM (for example, Windows Media Player on 3630 with 2k2 upgrade, WMP was a RAM install from disk, while the 3870 had it in ROM).

I guess, I'd rather have the non-volatile ROM and know my data is safe regardless of battery issues and give up the (not noticeable) speed.

[huangzhinong]

I remember that the same website also gave a good POSITIVE review for rz1700 8) . I believe they love every ipaq.

[jpjehu]

It's amazing that HP is getting away with such poor designs. The specs/programs seem great in my opinion (I love that it ships with Pocket TV Pro!) but the design is flat-out ugly, if not just plain. Why can't the design have the innovation (or at least MAINTAIN the previous designer's innovation) of the first iPAQs that made pocket pcs what they are today????? Also, I use a 2215, and I can't believe there's not a dual slot device besides the 4700. Having two options for expandability, I hate the idea of limiting things to just one. I really want some explanation from HP engineers/designers regarding the first complaint- - why are they ridding the market of the original innovation and stylish design? why? It makes absolutely nooo sense! If we all wanted Jornadas they would have been the Pocket PC that sold out in every retail store world-wide and sold on ebay for OVER retail cost, and the ipaq's would have been in plenty supply, but that's NOT what happened. As an iPAQ user that's owned every design besides the 1935 and the 3150 - I'm glad to say that I can't wait until the ASUS a730 finally arrives (or maybe the loox 720). I'll take some of their preliminary internal speed problems over the digression of innovation anyday.

[pgh1969pa]

I remember that the same website also gave a good POSITIVE review for rz1700 8) . I believe they love every ipaq.

Yeah, I do get the impression that someone is trying to sell me wares when I read the last couple of reviews on Dave's site. Cnet has a more objective and critical review posted. I'd like to get second opinion on this before I form an opinion. It appears to be a fairly decent device.

[webagogue]

I remember that the same website also gave a good POSITIVE review for rz1700 8) . I believe they love every ipaq.

I believe that someone is shilling... but hey... that's just my opinion.

[kmchong]

just two things....

the ipaq always good regardless what model on the review
the page view is incredibly high

i agree it is like promoting some sort... not objective

[marlof]

I still think it's incredibly ugly. I really like the rounded corners of the 1900 and 4100 series. These new ones look like they belong in the 70s.

Although I'm rounded myself, people tend to state I belong in the 70s as well. ;) But although it's hard to argue on taste: I prefer the older industrial design of the iPAQs as well, with the exception of the 4700 which I like way better than the 5500 series.

[MikeInDallas]

I still think it's incredibly ugly. I really like the rounded corners of the 1900 and 4100 series. These new ones look like they belong in the 70s.

Whew! :huh: There for a few minutes I thought I had fallen through a crack in the space-time continum. This looks like it should have TRS-80 stamped on the top of it! The funny thing is, HP has been making handhelds for a very long time, longer than anyone really (I refer to their handheld calculators). They have experience under their belts. Plus, their iPAQs have been selling well. Why, then, would they take something we like and make it look like Radio Shack started producing scaled down Z80 minis? :pukeface:

I haven't even checked out the tech specs. Maybe they're great. But I frankly think the early Jornada PocketPCs had more visual appeal than these.

I've been a 'PAQker since the original 3630 (3630, 3750, and now 2210). They've always been my first choice. Tell me this is just a design burp please.

[ctmagnus]

Tell me this is just a design burp please.

We can only hope.

[chunkymonkey75]

If I recall correctly, I remember people saying that the 2215 was ugly until they saw it with their own eyes....

I saw the 1715 at other day (similier design to the 3715) I didn't find it to be quite as ugly as I first thought...but certainly not as beautiful as last year's models.