iPaq rx5900 series reviewed

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://laptopmag.com/Review/HP-iPAQ-rx5900-Travel-Companion.htm' target='_blank'>http://laptopmag.com/Review/HP-iPAQ...l-Companion.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Garmin, Navman, and others have each tried their hand at making a combination PDA/navigation device, but most of these products wound up feeling like PDAs with GPS functionality thrown in as a bonus. Now HP, in partnership with TomTom, is giving it a shot, and the result is the best hybrid yet."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hishamh-20050928-5275.jpg" /><br /><br />Laptop Magazine has delivered the first review of HP's new iPaq line, and confirmed a few details of this new device. Bundled along with the iPaq at the $599 price tag for the US version are TomTom Navigator 6 (which isn't even available in retail yet), Teleatlas maps and Mobimate's Worldmate Standard Edition travel software. That makes the price a lot more palatable and represents pretty good value, though I wonder if it would be possible to get this device without the software bundle - some of us already have the necessary software and maps. You can get details of the other regional bundles in our previous <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,51572">post</a>. All those big maps cut down on storage space though - out of the 2GB onboard ROM storage, only 450MB is available to the user 8O!

[haesslich]

"Only" 450MB he says. And to think just a year ago, people were raving about the Axim x51v offering 256Mb of storage, of which 190 or so was available...

I just wish this thing had a VGA screen - as it is, it gets most of the other things right so far, but having a CF slot as well would make it almost perfect as a media companion as well as a GPS unit.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

"Only" 450MB he says. And to think just a year ago, people were raving about the Axim x51v offering 256Mb of storage, of which 190 or so was available...

:jester:

It's the proportions that got me - 450MB would be only about 25% left (the Dell would be about 75%). If you bought this thing on the basis of the storage ("2GB - wow!!"), you might actually be disappointed. Then again I've got two 8GB CF cards....

[Duncan]

I'm afraid I'm not getting why this is supposed to be the best yet (according to Laptop Mag anyway)?

I don't know the specs of other GPS PPCs - but comparing it to my beloved Loox N560:

The rx5900 is 120 x 76 x 18 mm and 170 g.
The N560 is 116 x 71 x 14 and 160 g.

So it isn't down to size or weight.

It can't be stamina - the iPAQ gets about 90 minutes of battery life with GPS using a 1700 mAh battery. My N560 gets about 2.5 - 3 hours of GPS from an 1100 mAh battery.

It can't be the screen - since the N560 has VGA and other GPS enabled PPCs will at least match the QVGA of this iPAQ.

It can't be the processor. The iPAQ has a 400 MHz Samsung, my N560 has 624 Mhz Intel.

It can't be the wireless - nothing special about WiFi and BT inclusion these days.

Pretty much leaves just the 450MB available storage - but in these days of 4GB SD cards costing just a few pounds - what's so impressive about that?

I don't know - am I missing something here?

[Phillip Dyson]

I'm afraid I'm not getting why this is supposed to be the best yet (according to Laptop Mag anyway)?



Probably if you pressed Laptop magazine, they would say that the N560 is not in the same category. Not that I would agree.

Garmin, Navman, and others have each tried their hand at making a combination PDA/navigation device, but most of these products wound up feeling like PDAs with GPS functionality thrown in as a bonus.

They definitely seemed to be impressed with the Travel focus of this device versus the aforementioned ones whom tried to be.

IMO, the interface design, storage capacity, and the software bundle is what makes this appealing to me. I would definitely have liked to see Compact Flash here. As I was reading the review I was thinking that I probably wouldn't even sync my PIM data onto this device. We'll maybe contacts for navigation convenience.

When I look at this device I think, travel, media (VGA would have been nice here), maybe gaming, and document and book reading.

[JesterMania]

I don't know - am I missing something here?

I agree that for us Pocket PC junkies 8) this package could have probably been constructed out of a standard Pocket PC and a customized software selection and still have been a little more impressive, but I think this product is trying to shift focus away from the standard PDA. I see this device useful primarily for someone who probably has little to no knowledge of Pocket PCs and just want a traveling solution. In some ways this device is like a fully-assembled computer you buy in retail stores with stuff like Windows and Office pre-installed already. You just press the ON button and go, simple as that no questions asked. In fact, I bet a large portion of the people who will buy this device may have no idea that the WM5 OS powering this product is the same OS that's powering the Pocket PC PDA devices. They might never even venture away from the customized interface HP has built, or realize that they can install other 3rd-party programs meant for your "standard PDA".

I guess what I'm trying to say is maybe this device could be use to strategically capture more of the market. If you can get PPC illiterate people to buy a PPC-type device, maybe they can slowly transition their way into future PPC offerings.

On a separate note, what catches my attention is the 2GB ROM though. I would really love to know just how much HP spent to manufacture this gigantic ROM. I once thought that the pitiful 128mb ROMs shipping with most phone devices were due to some sort of manufacturing limitation/costs but it appears HP can deliver a device with a 2GB ROM at decent prices.

[ADBrown]

"Only" 450MB he says. And to think just a year ago, people were raving about the Axim x51v offering 256Mb of storage, of which 190 or so was available...

Look at it this way--if you don't like the maps they bundle, or if you only need to carry say one state or small country, how much of a waste is putting the maps in ROM?

[Phillip Dyson]

I would like to know if you an uninstall the Tom Tom software and maps if you favor another software package. That could be an issue.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

I'm afraid I'm not getting why this is supposed to be the best yet (according to Laptop Mag anyway)?



Probably if you pressed Laptop magazine, they would say that the N560 is not in the same category. Not that I would agree.


Being Laptop Magazine,

1. I doubt they're very proficient with Pocket PCs generally, esepcially those not available in the US, and
2. They've probably never heard of the Loox 560 nor that Fujitsu Siemens even makes Pocket PCs.

I see this device useful primarily for someone who probably has little to no knowledge of Pocket PCs and just want a traveling solution.

I was thinking much the same thing - especially since it has the HP name behind it.

I would like to know if you an uninstall the Tom Tom software and maps if you favor another software package. That could be an issue.

Plus it'd be really great if they'd sell it sans bundle if you already have your own software - no need to pay twice.

[BoxWave]

8O 450 mb. Not exactly overwhelmed by the offering. &lt;25%?