In addition to the new iPAQ h2200, Hewlett Packard introduced three other new Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PCs in the U.S.: the iPAQ h5500, the h5100, and the h1940. Complete specs for these devices can be found on page 24. Find out more about these devices on HP's Website (www.hp.com/country/us/eng/prodserv/handheld.html). You can purchase them through an HP dealer or at e store (www.shopping.hp.com)

HP iPAQ h5500: HP's

top-of-the-line Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Pocket PC

This is the successor to the h5400, which we reviewed in our March 2003 issue (www.PocketPCmag.com/Mar03/ipaqs.asp). The h5500 is similar to the h5400, but comes with 128MB RAM instead of 64MB. It also comes with Windows Mobile 2003 software, some new add-on programs, and a new CPU.

HP iPAQ h5500 Pocket PC

Powerful hardware features

The h5500 is powered by the latest Intel processor—the 400 MHz PXA255. It has a bright and very readable 3.8" diagonal, 240x320 pixel color touch screen and a single SDIO-compatible SD card slot. It is designed to accept iPAQ Expansion Packs, so you can add CF or PC Card slots, digital cameras, GPS receivers, and many other hardware accessories. It has an ample 128 MB of RAM to run programs and store files. The operating system and other built-in software programs occupy about 65% of the 48 MB of flash ROM, leaving 17 MB free as a non-volatile "File Store" for the user. The h5500 comes with a 1250 mAh lithium-polymer rechargeable user-replaceable battery. HP offers a 2500 mAh extended-service battery as an option.

What makes the h5500 (and the h5400) unusual are its built-in wireless options and biometric fingerprint reader. It not only comes with an IrDA port, which is standard on all Pocket PCs, but it has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11b) capability built in. The biometric fingerprint reader is an enhanced security feature that lets you "password-protect" your h5500 with your own fingerprint.

Impressive suite of add-on software

The h5500 and all new HP Pocket PCs use the Windows Mobile 2003 software that's described in the review of the h2200 on page 21 and reviewed separately on page 14. In addition, the h5500 comes with a rather impressive suite of add-on software from HP and third-party vendors (see the complete list in the spec sheet on page 24). Common to all of the new HP Pocket PCs are the iPAQ Image Viewer, Task Manager, Bluetooth Manager, Backup, and a variety of HP configuration utilities. In addition, the h5500 has Wireless Control, which lets you turn the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transceiver on and off. Add-on software from third-party vendors includes full versions of Westtek's ClearVue Suite (document and PowerPoint viewer for the Pocket PC), F-Secure FileCrypto (encrypts sensitive information), iPresenter Mobile Player (displays Powerpoint presentations on your iPAQ), a number of voice-over-IP applications, and more.

The h5500 is designed for mobile power users who require wireless connectivity, ample file storage, extra security, and more. Priced at $649, it's one of the most expensive Pocket PCs available.

HP iPAQ h5100: Successor to the h3900

This successor to the h3800/h3900 series iPAQs is almost identical to the h5500 except that it doesn't have a biometric fingerprint reader or Wi-Fi capability (note the absence of an antenna nub on the top of the unit). It has the same 400 MHz Intel PXA 255 processor inside, but only 64 MB of RAM and 32 MB of flash ROM (with 4 MB of the ROM available to the user). Like the h5500, it comes with a 1250 mAh rechargeable battery and accepts the optional 2500 mAh lithium polymer extended-service battery. An SDIO-compatible SD card slot is built in, and it accepts the optional Expansion Packs to add hardware features. The most noticeable outward differences between the h5100 series and the h3800/h3900 series are that the navigation button has been redesigned and the placement of the application launch buttons has been changed.

The Navigation and application launch button layouts of the h5500, h5100, h3900, and h1940 respectively. Note the Biometric Fingerprint Reader on the h5500. HP redesigned the navigation button and changed the placement of application launch buttons on the h5100 as compared with the h3900. the button layout of the h1940 and its predecessor the h1910 is different from that of the other three iPAQs.

The h5100 comes with the Windows Mobile 2003 software package and the same add-on software found on the h5500 (with the exception of the Wireless Control utility). It's designed for mobile power users who don't require the power and connectivity of the h5500, but still want a powerful device with a rich suite of add-on software. The h5100 is priced at a relatively hefty $599.

HP iPAQ h5100 Pocket PC

HP iPAQ h1940

The iPAQ h1940 is an update of the original h1910 that we reviewed in the March 2003 issue (www.PocketPCmag.com/ Mar03/ipaqs.asp). This is HP's no-frills, bargain Pocket PC. Outwardly it's identical to the h1910, but there are some internal changes. The h1910 was powered by a 200 MHz Intel processor but the h1940 has a 266 MHz Samsung ARM processor. It has 64 MB of RAM like its predecessor, but comes with 32 MB of flash ROM for program storage and non-volatile memory. This is a 16 MB increase in ROM over the h1910 and up to 14 MB of it is available to the user for data storage and program installation. The other important difference is the Bluetooth transceiver built in the h1940. Both the h1940 and the h2200 (reviewed on page 21) have the slightly small 3.5" diagonal, 240x320 pixel color touch screen. All of HP's newer iPAQs use the same Transflective TFT screen technology. All are very readable.

Like the h2200, h5500, and h5100, the h1940 uses the latest version of Microsoft's software for Pocket PCs, Windows Mobile 2003. The h1940 also has the iPAQ Image Viewer, a backup utility, the Bluetooth manager, and a few other HP configuration utilities. The suite of add-on programs is not quite as full as the ones found on the higher-priced iPAQs. Missing are some of the security and enterprise-related applications. A complete listing can be found in the spec sheet on page 24.

The h1940 is a very nice entry-level Pocket PC. But the fact that you cannot use Expansion Packs with it means that it doesn't have as much expansion potential as its higher-priced brothers. On the other hand, even the h1940's skimpy suite of add-on applications is lavish compared to the offerings of some of HP's competitors. The HP iPAQ h1940 is priced at $299.

Software updates for existing iPAQ users

HP will offer Windows Mobile 2003 software upgrades for owners of its iPAQ h5400, h3900, and h3800 Pocket PCs. Details can be found on page 18. They have no plans to upgrade the iPAQ 3600, 3700, 1910 or Jornada 560 series.