Tom's Hardware Guide Reviews the iPAQ rx3715

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www20.tomshardware.com/mobile/20041105/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www20.tomshardware.com/mobil...1105/index.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"There were two main reasons why we liked HP's iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media Companion. One is its very nice array of factory-installed features, such as an integrated PAN and WLAN module, a 1.2-megapixel digital camera, stereo headphones and 192MB of memory. The incredibly long eight-and-a -half hours of battery life of this Samsung S3C2440 microcontroller-based Windows PDA is another plus."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041110-TomsiPAQrx3715.jpg" /><br /><br />It's always good to see reviews from mainstream technology sites -- they have a slightly different perspective on PDAs. In general, Tom's generally liked the unit, although they weren't so impressed with the bundled media software. For those of you who own a 3715, do you use the iPAQ Moblie Media Companion software, and if so, how do you find it?

[tthiel]

I don't own one but thsoe buttons have a cheap plasticky feel that should not be on a PDA this expensive. The new Dell PDA eats this one for lunch.

[shb]

The dell might eat it for lunch, but one doesn't find the dell in stores where one can actually see it in person. After almost 10 years as an avid Palm user, I just switched to PPC a few weeks ago, and the 3715 is the unit that I bought. I am quite happy with it and glad that I switched too. I have gotten the streaming working without too much trouble and nevo is great. I might well have bought a Dell instead if I could have seen one in person first and if accessories were locally available like they are for the HP's. Anyway, FWIW.

[brianlee]

I switched to the 3715 after my 4155 started giving me writing recognition problems. Overall, I miss my 4155 because it was smaller, lighter and it has all the features the 3715 has sans the 1.2 megapixel camera and Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.

Pros:
-Nav buttons push better than the 4155, although they're small.
-Windows Media Player 10
-USB Charging (no more separate power cable needed on the dock)
-Long range IR beam

Cons:
-HEAVY!
-THICK!
-Rear battery lid has minor gaps on the corner and moves around.
-Doesn't remain steady when I place it on a flat table to write because of the bulging camera in the back
-Steady hand for good camera shots

Pictures taken with the 3715 (VERY GRAINY)
http://www.cezo.com/HPIM0015.jpg
http://www.cezo.com/HPIM0017.jpg

Brian

[Kati Compton]

That second one is quite good for an embedded camera. The problem with the first one would probably be the same as you'd have with a regular digital camera if you didn't put on macro mode.

[Take1]

This device has some great specs and fantastic battery life. Why HP didn't make this VGA is a mystey.. Hopefully a VGA version will come out next year with a new 'look' -- these new HP models really don't agree with my sense of aesthetics!