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View Full Version : HP iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger


Jason Dunn
05-05-2005, 12:16 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ipaqchoice.com/Generic3.aspx?page=ipaqmodels_hw6500' target='_blank'>http://www.ipaqchoice.com/Generic3....aqmodels_hw6500</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The sleek HP iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger is a global communications device giving you the best in connectivity, productivity, and mobility with high-end features such as support for EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks, GPS Navigation and multiple messaging capabilities. With integrated high-speed wireless technologies, such as support for Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) and GSM/GPRS networks, GPS navigation and multiple messaging capabilities, the HP iPAQ hw6500 series Mobile Messenger keeps you connected on the go."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hw6500_ani.gif" /> <br /><br />The hw6500 Mobile Messenger is official! Kind of. There's a product page up at iPAQ Choice with the official specs, but it's still missing from the hp.com Web site. If the iPAQ Choice page is pulled down, you can <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ipaqchoice-messenger.mht">download an archive of it here</a>. I think this is a really interesting device and it should find a useful niche among people who are heavy messaging (email + IM) users. <br /><br />The move to a square screen was critical in order to get the size of the device down - just look at what a monstrosity the 4350 was. Great concept, way too tall. It would have been great to see a resolution higher than 240 x 240, but given the rather poor battery life I get from the Axim X50v, I can see why HP wanted to put more emphasis on lasting battery life over crisp text and images. It looks like the unit is coming out soon, so if you're interested in pre-ordering <a href="http://www.ekmpowershop.com/ekmps/shops/agbglobal/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=48">you can do so through our affiliate partner AGB</a>. Pricing hasn't been finalized yet, but as per usual you won't be charged until the product pricing is finalized.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> The link to the iPAQ Choice site is now working. Apologies for linking to the archived file instead.

OSUKid7
05-05-2005, 12:31 AM
HP iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ipaqchoice-messenger.mht)
Hmm, apparently mht pages only open in IE. :?

PPCMD
05-05-2005, 12:53 AM
Rather odd I could view it at work but not at home on my MAC :evil:

brianchris
05-05-2005, 12:59 AM
I may be in the minority, but I like this device.

As a side note, PPCT's partner (where you can pre-order it....linked to in the front page post) has some errors in the specs. Specifically, they state it has 802.11b and an XD card slot. :roll: Got my hopes up even more (reagrding the 802.11b), for a second or two at least.

Matt Kitchen
05-05-2005, 04:03 AM
For those interested, i drew up a quick size and weight comparison from the official hw6500 specs. Its compared to the JAM and the Treo 650. I am sure it is not a surprise that the JAM wins in all categories, but if you are still trying to get your head around what it will compare to, then it might be worth a look for yah.

I know it mainly helped me see just how wide the thing will be.

Table Here (http://www.mozongo.com/movabletype/archives/2005/05/hp_hw6500_size_1.html)

bdegroodt
05-05-2005, 04:37 AM
Thud! :(

KTamas
05-05-2005, 06:10 AM
312 mhz processor...240x240 screen...no WiFi...64 mb ram....I hope it was Carly Fiorina's (or however we spell her name) very last shot at HP (yes, i know she got fire....erm...left ;), but who knows :P )...

pcboy2003
05-05-2005, 02:13 PM
312 mhz processor...240x240 screen...no WiFi...64 mb ram....I hope it was Carly Fiorina's (or however we spell her name) very last shot at HP (yes, i know she got fire....erm...left ;), but who knows :P )...

Oh please, HP doesn't design these devices, they just buy them from HTC , Compal and Lite-On.

Sven Johannsen
05-05-2005, 02:40 PM
I don't know, I'm not sure the lack of WiFi bothers me all that much. I don't get much opportunity to use that, but I do connect via GPRS fairly often, and do that via BT through my Cell. With the GPRS built in, and Edge at that, I think this will offer more ubiquitous access, at reasonable performance.

Anyway, IIRC there is a version with WiFi, but sacrificing the GPS? Personally I'd like the WiFi and sacrifice the camera. A built in camera is problematic for me. I do notice that there is a comment "in some models" behind the camera, so I'm encouraged.

In any case, you can always throw an SDIO WiFi card in it and still have the Mini SD for memory.

Ryan Joseph
05-05-2005, 02:47 PM
I may be in the minority, but I like this device.

I love it! If I can afford it, I will definitely be getting this device. I need GPRS back...I really miss it now that I don't have my phone edition device anymore. And this thing is so nice and small, has the keyboard for messaging (which I do a LOT of), and even has GPS support. I can't wait!

Birdman
05-05-2005, 02:59 PM
Will this be sold unlocked?
Are there any WiFi cards that don't stick out of the slot?

Jason Lee
05-05-2005, 03:41 PM
If Cingular sells it then it will be unlocked.. At least that's what they've done with all their windows mobile devices so far.

As far as i know all SD wifi cards stick out some.. :(

stevelam
05-05-2005, 03:58 PM
HP iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ipaqchoice-messenger.mht)
Hmm, apparently mht pages only open in IE. :?


Arghhhhh it dosent work on Firefox HOW DARE YOU i'm almost temped to delete my user account because of this :bad-words:

Jason Dunn
05-05-2005, 04:14 PM
Arghhhhh it dosent work on Firefox HOW DARE YOU i'm almost temped to delete my user account because of this :bad-words:

You're joking, right? The archive file is only a backup in case the iPAQ Choice link gets taken down, which it hasn't, so you don't need to open it.

Jason Dunn
05-05-2005, 04:18 PM
Will this be sold unlocked? Are there any WiFi cards that don't stick out of the slot?

The phones from AGB will be unlocked. Unless a Canadian phone carrier adopts this, you'll need to buy an unlocked version (which always tend to be a litle bit more). There was a small WiFi SD card that I saw recently...but I can't seem to remember the name of it. It wasn't a brand I was familiar with. My hunch is we'll see something similar released from Sandisk or Socket Communications in 2005.

Darius Wey
05-05-2005, 04:38 PM
There was a small WiFi SD card that I saw recently...but I can't seem to remember the name of it. It wasn't a brand I was familiar with.

It's probably the Spectec card: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39662

For interest, Kodak also have a compact Wi-Fi SD Card, although I wouldn't expect them to release PDA-based drivers since its intended function never was to work with PDAs.

Jason Dunn
05-05-2005, 04:41 PM
It's probably the Spectec card: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39662

That's the one! I was searching the archive page for the keyword "WiFi" - I see why I didn't find it. ;-)

stevelam
05-05-2005, 05:24 PM
Arghhhhh it dosent work on Firefox HOW DARE YOU i'm almost temped to delete my user account because of this :bad-words:

You're joking, right? The archive file is only a backup in case the iPAQ Choice link gets taken down, which it hasn't, so you don't need to open it.

Yes i was joking but people need to take Firefox more seriously, I mean it has 50,000,000 downloads and 1 in 10 businesses use it, you can't just ignore it www.getfirefox.com :D

PS Can you decree all pages must be Firefox viewable or somethig?

PPS I'm doing quite well,l 62 post since the beginning of April (i want to be a moderator one day!!!)

brianchris
05-05-2005, 06:18 PM
Indeed, this very well may be my next PDA. HOWEVER, I have one question, that hopefully some existing Cingular subscribers can help me with:

While the town I live in IS big enough to be a Cingular market (complete with three stores), it is apparently NOT big enough for them to justify establishing a lot of towers, and therefore our Cingular (AT&amp;T before that) service has always been notrably bad (despite's Cingular's new ad campaign). So, I would (unfortuenetly) have to maintain a seperate cell phone for voice calls (US Cellular....great coverage where I live). Would Cingular let me activate this PDA (or any windows mobile PDA for that matter) on a DATA ONLY plan (no voice plan)? Hopefully so, as then this would for sure be my next PDA! TIA!

eugarps
05-05-2005, 07:01 PM
While I like the concept, I'll keep my Treo 650. Even with its memory issues, the form factor is better and Enfora is bringing out a WiFi sled which has its own battery.

Now, if I could only get the Treo to play nicely with my 4355.

Best,

Bill

Chris Spera
05-05-2005, 07:43 PM
I will likely pick one up as well. I've already got a pre-order in at eXpansys USA (sorry Jason...). The device looks very nice, and ever since I got my PDA2k, I've been doing a lot more e-mail and IM-ing on my device. I suspect that will increase as 1. time goes on; and 2. I use this device.

While some may consider the lack of WiFi to be a serious hole, I don't. I se BT for hands free, GPRS for data/ Internet, and rarely use the WiFi on my PDA2k. Its off 9.9 times out of 10.

I am really looking forward to the built in GPS. I can get lost inside a wet paper bag and can't find my way out with a fork and a flashlight! I understand that TTN will be included as a GPS app. They are my GPS tool of choice. I really hope that the unlocked version isn't too expensive... We've just had a new baby; and my wife would kill me!

Birdman
05-05-2005, 07:55 PM
GPRS all you can eat for a flat fee is fine for data, and then I agree, WiFi might not add much to the mix.
But here in Canada, and at least on Rogers, where data prices are still prohibitively expensive, it would be nice to be able to use WiFi to surf, check mail etc. while at home or where WiFi is available, without having to resort to expensive GPRS data charges.

I guess the other point to keep in mind, is that this thing is supposed to launch around the same time that WM2005 is to be released.

Don Tolson
05-05-2005, 07:58 PM
I kind of wish the Canadian cell vendors would get more behind support of smartphone and cellular-enabled Pocket PCs. It's disheartening to see these new toys announced and realize there is little or no chance we'll see them here in our Bell, Telus or Rogers/AT&amp;T stores.

Yah, I know we could get an 'unlocked' one, but then I'd have to deal with phone agents who wouldn't know what I was talking about when I said I'd like to have this as my new phone.

Jason Dunn
05-05-2005, 08:08 PM
Yeah, I hear ya. It's frustrating.

Yah, I know we could get an 'unlocked' one, but then I'd have to deal with phone agents who wouldn't know what I was talking about when I said I'd like to have this as my new phone.

That's why I love GSM so much - you put in your SIM, configure the phone, and you're done. The phone company doesn't even know what kind of device I'm using.

Damion Chaplin
05-05-2005, 09:35 PM
That's why I love GSM so much - you put in your SIM, configure the phone, and you're done. The phoen company doesn't even know what kind of device I'm using.

I agree. Cingular has no idea what phone I'm using. My girlfriend is using the SIM card from my first cell phone ca. 1993 (since before Cingular bought out PacBell Wireless). I have never called Cingular to upgrade our phones.

Not to mention you can just copy all your contacts to the SIM, insert into new phone, copy contacts back into new cell's memory and voila! none of that one-phone-in-each-hand phone number exchange monotony.

LaserProUSA
05-09-2005, 12:27 AM
I've had the TMobile MDA II since it's release but recently lost it in an accident. Fortunately I had insurance on it but will only get the HP6315 as a replacement so that sucks. Since I need the phone abilities and already use a BT GPS and GPRS quite exensively this phone is very appealing. My question is from all my reading I cannot tell if this is phone enabled so I don't have to have another device to carry. It looks like the phone features are only for the email/im functionality so is there phone ability here or not?

Thanks.

Jason Lee
05-09-2005, 12:56 AM
I've had the TMobile MDA II since it's release but recently lost it in an accident. Fortunately I had insurance on it but will only get the HP6315 as a replacement so that sucks. Since I need the phone abilities and already use a BT GPS and GPRS quite exensively this phone is very appealing. My question is from all my reading I cannot tell if this is phone enabled so I don't have to have another device to carry. It looks like the phone features are only for the email/im functionality so is there phone ability here or not?

Thanks.

yep, it is a phone. hold it up to your head or use a wired or bluetooth headset.

LaserProUSA
05-09-2005, 01:17 AM
Thanks Jason, appreciate the clarification. A couple of other questions. Anyone know when this cool unt will be available in the US, if TMobile will carry the unit and of course how much will this sell for in the US?

Thanks in advance.