View Full Version : HP rx3715 Pre-purchase Advice Request
I'm thinking about the HP rx3715. To buy or not to buy. I'm still poking my trusty iPAQ 3845 so if it lacks some minor feature, I obviously haven't discovered I need it yet. Advice appreciated especially re: unit weight, screen clarity & brightness, batt. life, etc.
Menneisyys
12-29-2004, 05:23 PM
I'm thinking about the HP rx3715. To buy or not to buy. I'm still poking my trusty iPAQ 3845 so if it lacks some minor feature, I obviously haven't discovered I need it yet. Advice appreciated especially re: unit weight, screen clarity & brightness, batt. life, etc.
The most obvious question: why don't you go for a VGA model? They're SO much better, for not (much) more money.
I know they're 'highest end' screens for not much more $ but aren't they bigger & heavier? (incl. Dell X50v). I'm even tempted to root around for an HP 1945 but the smaller screen size may talk me out of that.
Menneisyys
12-29-2004, 05:43 PM
I know they're 'highest end' screens for not much more $ but aren't they bigger & heavier? (incl. Dell X50v). I'm even tempted to root around for an HP 1945 but the smaller screen size may talk me out of that.
Actually, both the Pocket Loox 720 and the Asus 730w are almost as small and light as the iPAQ RX3715. Some tech spec from http://www.firstloox.org/VGAppc.htm and http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ps_11230431/114501.html:
iPAQ RX3715:
7.1 cm *1.6 cm *11.4 cm
159g
Asus:
7.28 cm * 1.69 cm* 11.75 cm
170g
F-S:
7.2 cm * 1.52 cm* 11.8 cm
170g
As you can see, the PL720 is even thinner than the RX3715. And, both of them are only 11g heavier.
So, I don't think you should avoid VGA devices because of their weight/size. (Of course, the hx4700, the Dell and the Toshiba ARE considerably heavier / bigger).
Fishie
12-29-2004, 06:24 PM
Yah size difference is neglibleand both the Asus as well as the FS are dual slot devices with a VGA screen to booth, they dont have the batterylife of the 3715 though, thats for sure.
This is really helping & Thanks ! I need batt. life more than VGA. I look at my data and close out. Not looking for an entertainment center. :? Keep the comments rolling & thanks again !
Menneisyys
12-29-2004, 08:10 PM
Yah size difference is neglibleand both the Asus as well as the FS are dual slot devices with a VGA screen to booth, they dont have the batterylife of the 3715 though, thats for sure.
The Asus definitely doesn't, but the F-S is pretty good at being able to run on one charge for a day - say, 3-9 hours of work. depending on whether you use Wi-Fi / CPU extensive apps.
Menneisyys
12-29-2004, 08:11 PM
I need batt. life more than VGA.
If battery life is that important for you, why don't you get a 2210? Nothing can beat the battery life of it, and it's even smaller/lighter/much cheaper than the 3715.
I just handled an rx3715 and a 2210/2215 at a CompUSA. I perceived both to be about the same weight but the 2210 to be slightly thicker front to back. The 3715 screen seemed brighter but both made my 3845 screen look like peering through fog. Choices, choices...
Menneisyys
12-29-2004, 09:33 PM
I just handled an rx3715 and a 2210/2215 at a CompUSA. I perceived both to be about the same weight
It's lighter by 15 grams (144g), see http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ps_4328097/114501.html
That's about 1/2 oz. difference; About the weight of a standard piece of mail. No wonder I thought they were the same. :wink:
njl2016
12-30-2004, 12:04 AM
I got a rx3715 for Christmas. Coming from a Palm, it has been a mostly postitive experience, but that's for another thread. The camera on it is not that great, my LG cameraphone takes brighter images. The screen is good, but has a very slight yellow tint to it, but it does not bother me that much. I love the Nevo home control software that comes with it, it had the IR codes for 4/5 TVs I wanted to control. I get great reception with WiFi, I have a good connection in my house, even when I'm two floors below my router.
applejosh
12-30-2004, 04:35 AM
If battery life is that important for you, why don't you get a 2210? Nothing can beat the battery life of it, and it's even smaller/lighter/much cheaper than the 3715.
I looked at the capacities of the 3715 and the 2215. The 3715 has a 1400 mAh capacity battery while the 2215 has a 900 mAh battery. How does the 2215 manage to have outstanding battery life in comparison to the 3715? I'm just curious. I'm looking to replace my aging 3955, and looked at both of those models.
This reviewer only got 4.5 hours out of a fully charged, new 2215. http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/hp2215-review.html .
Menneisyys
12-30-2004, 08:06 AM
This reviewer only got 4.5 hours out of a fully charged, new 2215. http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/hp2215-review.html .
Yeah, but he used 50% / 100% brightness level with 30 minutes of Wi-Fi and one hour of processor-intensive image decoding. No wonder it "only" produced 4:30. As for the 50% / 100% brightness level, I've always used my 2210 with just a notch over the minimal - it's perfect when there's not much ambient light. That way, I was able to achieve some 6.5-7 hours of offline HTML reading inside PIE (no BT/Wi-Fi/ processor-intensive tasks). Even with the BT unit on and actively used (for, e.g., web navigation) I haven't encounter much more power consumption.
I'd say the 2210 consume way less power than today's hi-end PDA's. For example, with switched-off screen (so that noone can say it's because the VGA that it consumes more power) and using NoteM to record audio, the Pocket Loox 720 consumes 1.5 times more power (I've measured) than the 2210 with exactly the same settings. And, for example, the iPAQ hx4700 has quite similar (relatively large) power consumption as well.
Menneisyys
12-30-2004, 08:11 AM
If battery life is that important for you, why don't you get a 2210? Nothing can beat the battery life of it, and it's even smaller/lighter/much cheaper than the 3715.
I looked at the capacities of the 3715 and the 2215. The 3715 has a 1400 mAh capacity battery while the 2215 has a 900 mAh battery. How does the 2215 manage to have outstanding battery life in comparison to the 3715? I'm just curious. I'm looking to replace my aging 3955, and looked at both of those models.
The 2210 does have an excellent battery life. I haven't used the 3715 so I can't really comment on it, though.
BTW, are you sure you want to upgrade to a QVGA iPAQ from the 3955? You'll certainly hate the 2210 washed-out screen. The 3715's screen is much better than that of the 2210, but nowhere as good as that of the 3955. Why don't you choose the hx4700 / PL720? They have beautiful, colorful, albeit a little too "contrasty" screens.
Fishie
12-30-2004, 11:36 AM
From the short time I owned the 3715 I did notice longer baterylife then I averaged with my 2215(which I had for a looooong time and which I really liked a lot for its time).
Not enouhtime spend with the 3715 to acuratly judge but I do think it runs for longer then the 2215.
applejosh
12-30-2004, 06:13 PM
Well, I was thinking about a VGA PPC, but I don't know if I want to justify the extra bucks for something that I don't think is realyl worth it. I don't web surf that often (mainly just try to retrieve email and such), and with there still being incompatibility issues with some programs (looks like mainly today screen plugins, which I make heavy use of), I don't think I'm really all that interested in it. I was thinking about the Dell, but I haven't heard fantastic things about their screens. One of the reasons I like my 3955 is the screen, which is bright and vibrant. What I don't like is the speed of the system (PXA 250 with the clipped cache, etc.) and the bulkiness.
I also have a T3 (pretty washed out and dim screen), and I find it difficult to read the T3 screen in any kind of bright light. So I'm trying to pay attention to things like the brightness, etc. in selecting my next device. The Dell's seem to be washed out and dimmer when compared to the HP screens, so I really don't see the cost savings as being that fantastic given that concern. I liked the rx3715 when I looked at in the store the other day, but I liked the fact tat the 2215 had two memory card slots (and my digital camera has a CF slot). The rx4700 series might have both types of slots, but I have to decide if the VGA issues and the odd trackpad are tolerable for access to a CF slot (plus the extra $150 in price). My year end bonus at work wasn't as good as it has been in the past, so I'm going to have some more thinking to do.
After all this harang the $100 rebate on the rx3715 that the CompUSA folks said yesterday was still in force, has today mysteriously expired on Christmas eve. Deal breaker. Back to shopping.
Menneisyys
12-30-2004, 08:18 PM
and with there still being incompatibility issues with some programs (looks like mainly today screen plugins, which I make heavy use of)
Actually, most Today plug-ins have bene updated lately to support SE/VGA/Landscape, so I don't think compatibility should be a concern.
I was thinking about the Dell, but I haven't heard fantastic things about their screens.
Check out Deslock's review at http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35630&start=20 and decide whether it's OK. The reduced contrast CAN be advantageous sometimes.
The rx4700 series might have both types of slots, but I have to decide if the VGA issues and the odd trackpad are tolerable for access to a CF slot (plus the extra $150 in price). My year end bonus at work wasn't as good as it has been in the past, so I'm going to have some more thinking to do.
(orry if it has already been discussed before, but) why don't you check out the Asus, or, even better, the Fujitsu-Siemens PL 720, then?
applejosh
12-31-2004, 04:38 AM
Price was a big issue. I really don't want to spend over $500 on a PDA (I've done it before, only to watch the device drop in price by $200 in 3 months), especially since I'm a gadget freak and always want to try out new devices (not necessarily the most impressive/expensive gadgets - I have a mortgage now). And since all VGA devices I've seen (except the Dell) are over $500, I really don't feel the need for one yet. (I've also run into issues with Dell in the past (it was with PC's, but nonetheless), so I'm leary of their wares.) An Asus 730w would be cool, but I voted with my checkbook, which really couldn't take a hit like that (if they have even shown up yet).
Anyway, I went to CompUSA today (I don't really care for the store that much, but they're local). The rx3715 had a $100 mail-in rebate on it, bringing the price (after rebate) down to $399. So I snatched one up and am in the process of re-installing all my apps, etc. It is quite a bit faster than the 3955. So far, no surprises.
Applejosh, I was looking at that very unit at the CompUSA but they said the rebate was expired ! The rx 3715, right? I'd have bought it yesterday like you did but their website and a store manager said the rebate was expired and no other one in force. Can you tell me any details (including a UPC # on the rebate coupon, if any) that 'proves' that rebate and I'll ask my store here. I'd like to stay w/ iPAQ to keep my same accessories but Dell's tempting and I've had 100% good experiences with their support and service with our 3 PCs.
Many thanks !
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