PDAgold.com's Huge Review of the iPAQ rx3715

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=199' target='_blank'>http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=199</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The new HP iPAQ rx3000 series has been somewhat overshadowed by the models h6300 and hx4700 that are currently in the limelight. As you will soon find out, this is unjustified. This series is designed to provide maximum multimedia experience. The most powerful model, which I am reviewing, offers an integrated digital camera of unprecedented quality and an infra port that can be used to remotely control home appliances."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040902-iPAQrx3715.jpg" /><br /><br />This device has a pretty sweet software bundle, and this monstrous-sized review (who else thinks Pavel should rename his site to BigPDAReview.com? ;)) gives a thorough runthrough of its features. I was surprised at the picture quality of the integrated camera. If only it had VGA... :|

[Take1]

HP Blew it onthis model. It's VGA or nothing,nomatter how great everything else is. Leave low rez for the low end and let the med - high end experienceVGA. HP really missed an opportunity here!

[DaleReeck]

Since HP already has a VGA model, the 4700, they probably wanted a cheaper mid-range QVGA one to complement it (the 1700 would be "low end"). Not every Pocket PC coming out can or should be VGA. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a Pocket PC under $500 and backorders (due to an already short supply of VGA screens) would be months.

Once VGA devices become more reasonable in price and more numerous in screen availability, most devices will probably be VGA (with maybe 800x600 Super VGA being the new high end?). The sweet mark would be a VGA device at around $300. But that could be at least or year or longer IMO.

[sracer]

For multimedia-centered PPCs, is a VGA screen a wise choice?

VGA requires 4x the data. That means video files will be larger. Shorter video clips on a 256MB card or requiring the purchase of larger cards. How about the performance of the device to push data to all those pixels? And what is the effect on battery life?

[Jason Dunn]

That was a very impressive review. Pavel must not sleep. :lol:

[darrylb]

For multimedia-centered PPCs, is a VGA screen a wise choice?

VGA requires 4x the data. That means video files will be larger. Shorter video clips on a 256MB card or requiring the purchase of larger cards. How about the performance of the device to push data to all those pixels? And what is the effect on battery life?

Battery will suffer as a result of the larger screen. Hence the 1800mh battery in the 4700.

VGA is very good for data intensive applications (e.g. spreadsheets, word, etc), but less useful for multimedia. The nice thing about this device is that it is very functional in terms of multimedia and offers as much functionality as traditional Pocket PC's.

This is a very good review...

[nuka_t]

For multimedia-centered PPCs, is a VGA screen a wise choice?

VGA requires 4x the data. That means video files will be larger. Shorter video clips on a 256MB card or requiring the purchase of larger cards. How about the performance of the device to push data to all those pixels? And what is the effect on battery life?

you can select between reses. also, you can play any size video on the any screen, a 320x240 movie will work, as will a 1600x1200 one.

a 256mb sd card is commonplace these days, in fact 128meggers are scarce.

however, vga will take a while. i wont spend more than 200-300 for a ppc, even with the announcement of the X50, i still dont regret buying an x30. the only difference between the two midrange models is some ram and some proc speed, and the x30 looks better so its all good. i think that dell will keep the x30 line having only the high-end one, scrap the x5's and sell the x50's mostly, with the vga one at 500ish dollars and the current high-end X30 keeping its price segment.

[tanalasta]

Is it just me or does this model almost look like a PALM?!?

Even the integrated digital camera.

Sweeet - now I know what to put on my wish-list for when I actually have some cash lying around. *sigh* :oops:

Certainly looks like a very nice device! Go IPAQ. Yet to be disappointed by them.

[Darius Wey]

Certainly looks like a very nice device! Go IPAQ. Yet to be disappointed by them.

"No WM2003SE for the past generation of iPAQs" - didn't that disappoint? ;)