HP Rumor of the Day: hw6515 WM5 Support + hw6715 Release Schedule

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Some of you may recall a couple of HP rumor threads several days ago. The <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42822">first post</a> discussed an HP recall of the hw6515 and its lack of Windows Mobile 5 support and the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42888">2nd post</a> rebutted the recall. Both posts were based on external tips. Well, I just spoke with my contact with HP who told me that the hw6515 is set to be released at the beginning of October and it will NEVER support Windows Mobile 5... ever. As some of our own readers noted, the ROM limitations of the hw6515 were the constraining factor for WM5 support.<br /><br />On the other hand, the hw6715 WILL ship with WM5, but instead of shipping at the beginning of next year, I'm now told that the release date has been broadened to "sometime 1st quarter of next year" which means we may not see the device until February or March.

[revolution.cx]

Or to translate: they so totally screwed up on the 6515 that a follow on product was quickly needed to fix the embarassing situation. Unfortunately there's still a huge pile of 6515's that have to be sold to uninformed suckers before they can release the 6715.

[Shaun Stuart]

What a mess HP have made of their reputation with pocket pcs. The great ipaq (although originally compaq) followed by the Jornada line and then the 1900 series set them well above the competition. There was a time when all pocket pcs were referred to as ipaq- now IMHO they have ruined the brand by releasing poor quality (6300) or mediocre (1700) devices. The 65/67 series had promise but it looks like they cant even get this right.

A real shame!

[MitchellO]

Yeah, they have really mucked up this one.

[jeasher]

HP must be incompetent for doing what they're doing. It's kind of hard to believe.

[Silver5]

I've been posting on a number of boards about the iPAQ name being ruined by HP. It was for a while the one brand name that everyone followed. Much of this site's success can be attributed to the iPAQ line, yet now there is little need to even mention iPAQ at all. Now we talk about Wizards, Magicians, Blue Angels, and other weird names that sound like they came from some Harry Potter movie...HTC has taken over completely. This isn't a bad thing though, because we are getting some pretty nice products out of them for now...well see if that holds up...

[/i]

[ricksfiona]

Ever since I bought my iPAQ 5550, I haven't had the urge to buy another iPAQ. The 4700 has some good things, but it's nothing really special.

The iPAQ brand was to Pocket PC what the iPOD is to MP3 players at one time. It's sad, but HP's recent history is full of problems.

It's a shame that they're in such bad shape. HP used to stand for quality, performance and engineering.

[Paragon]

Hey remember the Compaq Ipaq? Wasn't that a cool device, and the support was great!...geez...whatever happened? ;)

Dave

[Gex]

HTC has taken over completely. This isn't a bad thing though, because we are getting some pretty nice products out of them for now...well see if that holds up...

[/i]

FYI: I think HTC made the 6500/6700 for HP...They made the MPx200 and 220 too I think.

[R K]

I think HTC made the 6500/6700 for HP...They made the MPx200 and 220 too I think.

I don't think HTC had anything to do with the MPx line. The MPx200 was Motorola and the MPx220 came from Chi Mei.

[R K]

Although HP's Pocket PCs are arguably still top performers, their support has gone downhill ever since the Compaq days.

[dhpss]

I think all of us think the same way about HP latest saga, except the 2 guys at DavesiPaq, in their before last Podcast still think HP PocketPC is Cadillac and others (e.g Dell Axim X50v) are Huyndai...
C'mon guys wake up! :?
:?

[TheMouseMan]

What HP should do is to put the '4500' on the market...

The 'iPAQ 4500' has the following specs (and yes, this is all in my mind!):
- Design equals the 1900/4150 series
- Windows Mobile 5.0
- VGA
- 128 mb RAM / 128 mb ROM
- USB host
- Bluetooth + WiFi
- Consumer IrDA
- VoIP
- ...

...as all of this is probably NOT going to happen given HP's strategies and directions lately - I guess I'll just get the Loox720 or new Acer n311 instead.
(see: http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/6165.html)

[Mik]

I've used IPAQ from the early 36xx models and gave up on them after the 55xx I had. I've had smartphones and most recently the JAM. When 6515 came out I just had to have it for one reason, the integrated GPS.
Phone/PDA/GPS is what I need and afaik, it's the only device out there. I'm willing to put up with a lot of pain to get this combination and was expecting the worst.

I gotta tell you, I'm impressed with the 6515 from both feature and stability point of view. I dont think I'm one of the 2 guys from DavesIPAQ who like it so there you go, a third one.

Don't get me wrong, it's far from perfect and I'm buying the 6715 when it comes out and ebay this one. But for now, this is clearly the most suited PDA/Phone/GPS combo out there and it does what it says.

[Menneisyys]

HTC has taken over completely. This isn't a bad thing though, because we are getting some pretty nice products out of them for now...well see if that holds up...

[/i]

FYI: I think HTC made the 6500/6700 for HP...They made the MPx200 and 220 too I think.

So have they the iPAQ hx4700, the Dell Axim x50v, the HTC Universal and the Pocket Loox 720, the four best Pocket PC's.

Actually, the only one widely-known non-HTC-manufactured device, the Asus A730(w), proved to be a disaster.