05-05-2004, 08:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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iPAQ 5500 Series Coming To An End?
http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2034
This could be the end of sleeve enabled devices from Compaq/HP.
"According to reports that have reached us, HP representatives and resellets have been telling customers that the iPaq 5550 has been reclassified as "end of life", meaning that it will no longer be manufactured. Coupled with the age of the unit, and the decreasing stock at various retailers, it's not hard to believe that this is accurate. While it's still unknown whether HP intends to make another iPaq model that's compatible with the existing base of expansion sleeves, HP has shown little to no interest in the sleeve system since it took over the iPaq line, making only minimal concessions to the design to follow through on promises made to existing users. I would have to say that the likelyhood of seeing another sleeve-capable iPaq is probably low, so if you're that one diehard who won't give up their Whitney CF sleeve/case, you might want to order soon."
In a way, I am sorry to see this happen, but if you look at device capabilities today versus what they were the original 3600 shipped in 2000, there is very little, if anything, that an iPAQ 2215 can't do that a sleeve enabled device can do. While the article above doesn't specify the 5100 series, I suspect it too is on the block. Actually, I'm not sure if it is still available. This was so much easier when there were three devices, one from each of the big OEMs at the time. :wink:
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05-05-2004, 08:09 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 63
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Most of the features provided by third-party vendors can now be built into the body of the PDA.
It'll be sad to see them go, only because I still have some older iPAQs that still see use with the sleeves.
:-/
__________________
um, Moo
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05-05-2004, 08:25 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 106
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The main reason I kept to the sleeve-capable format is the ability to use my Navman GPS sleeve. Now, I know that I can get GPS units in both CF and SD formats, not to mention bluetooth or built-in varieties. Still, purchasing one of these units would be an extra expense, while giving me absolutely no functionality that my Navman sleeve doesn't already provide (except, of course, the ability for use on non-sleeved formats).
So, to me, this is sad news indeed. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a smaller 2200-sized unit, but at the same time, I don't want to have to shell out extra bucks for a new GPS unit. Besides, I haven't found a cover yet that I like as well as the sleeve-cover that came with the 3800/3900/5400 units.
Of course, when the iPAQs come out that provide GPS/GPRS/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth all built-in, with >128MB memory, biometric security, and a built-in keyboard... well, then HP may be able to drag me into a non-sleeve format after all.
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05-05-2004, 08:27 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 350
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Yes, I've invested in a couple of sleeves for my 5555 and my wife's 5455. If they're history, well, that's part of the price of changing technology, I guess. It would be nice to have CF & SD in the same PPC, yet have the 5555's capabilities. I can't wait to see what HP has in response to some of the "high-end" models out (or soon to be out) such as the Toshiba e800. Hopefully, we will see something announced soon.
My company has several 3800 series iPAQs. They're perfectly good for what we use them for. If sleeves are indeed on their way out, maybe it's time soon to watch for clearance prices on them?
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05-05-2004, 08:33 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 291
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I bet we won't see another device with the finderprint reader again either :?
One of my favourite features of the 5450!
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05-05-2004, 08:52 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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I think the sleeve concept was and is a great idea. However, in the iPaq's case, it's based upon 4 year old technology which is just too big. The only reason the 54-5500 series are as big as they are is to support the legacy sleeves. It seems in the mobile wold most of us thing "smaller is better" and it probably doesn't make sense to continue making devices large than you need to, just t support a sleeve, that will have limited usefulness -- since many "sleeve functions" are now built into the unit.
I wouldn't mind seeing HP or another vendor re-invent the sleeve for smaller units like the 41XX-43XX line. I'm sure some people would like to add CF or PCMCIA attachments this way.
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05-05-2004, 08:52 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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I don't have a problem with HP giving up on sleeves. I only used them once when I wanted a CF slot for memory purposes. SD cards are pretty well priced and any other peripheral I would like to use, I can use via Bluetooth.
I think the rounded top & bottom edges were a better visual design than what is currently out there. IPAQs are like the first generation iMACs. The iMACs changed the way people thought what a computer should look like. In my opinion, my iPAQ 5550 is one of the prettiest-artsy-cool PDAs out there.
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05-05-2004, 08:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 155
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The sleeve support has been around for quite some time, allowing many 3rd party vendors to develop customized serial communication interfaces to a wide variety of systems. I still can't believe they are planning to abondon those vendors. Alternatives out there like cf and sdio are now offered to the most commonly needed peripherals. But I have not yet seen some vendors upgrade from the legacy serial connectors that they currently use.
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05-05-2004, 09:14 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 830
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i bet nomore ipaq file store, just nand.
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05-05-2004, 09:19 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 270
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JT3
The main reason I kept to the sleeve-capable format is the ability to use my Navman GPS sleeve.
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The one consolation is that if and when you do get a new GPS unit, you can get a Bluetooth one that will be compatible with many PPC, not just ipaqs. That is until Bluetooth is discontinued.
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