[DragonJoeSmith]

Hopefully this will end the debate. Many manufacturers will market two or more models of identical specs under slightly different model numbers. Look through your local Best Buy and Circuit City ads and you will notice numerous "Guaranteed Lowest price" qualifiers. The fine print reads "exact model shown". Now even though cosmetically they look exactly the same, but because the model numbers are different, they can maintain the illusion of lowest price.
Another way this is used is when large companies like HP or IBM have gov. contract they are required to sell the contracted product to the Fed at the lowest price they offer. If they change the product model number, they can choose not to offer it to the gov. catalog, but still sell it to the consumer market at a consumer rate. This way they get to reap profit from the gov contract and increase volume sales on the consumer side.

[DragonJoeSmith]

Hopefully this will end the debate. Many manufacturers will market two or more models of identical specs under slightly different model numbers. Look through your local Best Buy and Circuit City ads and you will notice numerous "Guaranteed Lowest price" qualifiers. The fine print reads "exact model shown". Now even though cosmetically they look exactly the same, but because the model numbers are different, they can maintain the illusion of lowest price.
Another way this is used is when large companies like HP or IBM have gov. contract they are required to sell the contracted product to the Fed at the lowest price they offer. If they change the product model number, they can choose not to offer it to the gov. catalog, but still sell it to the consumer market at a consumer rate. This way they get to reap profit from the gov contract and increase volume sales on the consumer side.

[gunksny]

Did anyone ever determine for sure what (if any) difference there is between the hx4700 and hx4705?

Seems like anywhere between a $20 and $80 difference in price (4705 being cheaper).

Also, anyone know whether a newer model is due out soon?

Thanks!

[redleg]

I work for Iowa State University and we find ourselves needing another Ipaq, I have a hx4700 and this time we're going to get a hx4705, (cheaper at newegg) and I'll post any differences I find between the two. I'm going to try and load a ROM update from the 4700 onto the 4705, that should clear up any differences just being bundled software, if there are even any differences in that.