PDAgold Reviews HP's iPAQ hx4700

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=206' target='_blank'>http://pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=206</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The HP iPAQ hx4700 is a new flagship product of Hewlett-Packard. Being the top model of the brand, it offers the best technologies available - magnesium alloy body, brilliant four-inch TFT display, the fastest processor to date, excellent sound, integrated Bluetooth and WLAN, and a large battery. All those features are prerequisites for a truly exceptional device. Read on to find out more in this detailed review."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041011-PDAgoldiPAQ4700.jpg" /><br /><br />As always, Pavel's <b>big</b> reviews are literally that in this case. I still haven't figured out how he manages to crank so many out without his fingers dropping off, but hey, that's all the better for us. :)

[OSUKid7]

Awesome review! Almost feels like I have mine now. :lol: Well, I saved some money, so hopefully it'll ship soon. :)

[yanathin]

Here's something I don't get... How in the world is the a730's graphical power better than the 4700? The a730 doesn't have an ATi graphics chip in it, yet it's still faster? I know the 4" screen has nothing to do with it, just the resolution (and they are both VGA). Really, really strange. I wish somebody could run an SNES game in MorphGear on both systems and compare framerates. That, and Pocket Quake stats. I already found PQ's average FPS on the a730 is 18.2, so would anybody with a 4700 be able to test out PQ on their system and record the stats?

[jpaq]

This thing just looks huge. Nice specs. Nice unit. Nice screen. HUGE!, but nice.

The price point is kind of funny, when I saw a site linking to a 40GB laptop with a 14.1" screen and Windows XP Home for around $500 at Wal-Mart. :?

I know. I know. I know. PDA's are different beasts. Smaller size, etc. It's just that, with the exception of instant on ability, they are lesser beasts and should be priced as what they are. PC companions with extended functionality. If you were building a home, would you spend the same anount on the garage or any one room as you would for the rest of the structure? Doubtful. But that is about what HP is expecting at their price points.

I like my Dell X30i. Good machine. Good power. Good price. And when the X50 comes out, I feel pretty comfortable saying it will be less expensive than this one....

Sorry for the rant. Just some thoughts on PocketPCThoughts....

[Palmguy]

Good review :D

[Deslock]

FYI, the specs for the X50v are official. It's smaller and lighter than the hx4700, but the difference is not as much as previously rumored:

6.2 ounces
4.7 x 2.9 x 0.7"
119 x 73 x 16 mm
64 MB RAM

Thanks to plutoniumshore over at www.aximsite.com, you can read the a PDF with all the specs:
http://plutoniumshore.com/BBSpics/Aximsite/PDA/AximX50-X50v.pdf

Also posted here:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33171

[Brad Adrian]

Great review! I almost wish the review wasn't so favorable, because I had almost convinced myself that the thing is just too ugly to own. Now, I may have to rethink things.

[mhowie]

Outstanding review...yes.

Question-- is it safe to assume the 900 mAH Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery I purchased as a backup for my hp2215 will NOT work with the hx4700?

[Wiggster]

Outstanding review...yes.

Question-- is it safe to assume the 900 mAH Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery I purchased as a backup for my hp2215 will NOT work with the hx4700?

I haven't compared them side-by-side, but the hx4700 definitely looks like it's a brand-new battery size/format for the iPAQ series. Definitely seems bigger, anyway.