A few weeks ago, I was sitting in the doctor’s lounge at Memorial Hospital-Memorial City, in Houston, TX browsing the Web (in real time) on my new iPAQ. A crowd of physicians gravitated around me to try to sneak a peak at this cool, new Pocket PC recently introduced by Compaq. One doc’s interest really took me by surprise, because Dr. Naaman is a devout Palm Pilot user and was never interested in even looking at my previous Windows CE devices. We both have owned nearly every manufactured device of our respective operating systems and neither of us was going to convince the other to “convert” to the competing product. When Dr. Naaman looked at my iPAQ I thought I saw envy in his eyes. I showed him some of the features that you will read about below. Now, after all of these years he’s giving up his color Palm Pilot and is going to buy an iPAQ. Read on and you will understand what, in my opinion, makes the revolutionary new Compaq iPAQ the best Pocket PC (or Palm Pilot) money can buy!

A bright and crisp display in a thin and light package

The first things you notice about Compaq’s new iPAQ H3600 Pocket PC are its cool design and clear 12-bit color TFT screen. The crisp, ultra-bright screen measures approximately 2 by 3 inches and uses a new reflective display from Sony. There is no question in my mind that the iPAQ has the best overall screen of any portable device I have ever used. Images and documents can be easily viewed both indoors and out. Take it out on the golf course, on a plane, in a car, or to the theatre. No environment will challenge your vision. Be warned however, the backlighting is so bright on the “Superbright” setting, it might offend your neighbors in the theatre, or worse the actors on the stage. The sidelit screen displays 4,096 colors. Though competing products claim 65,000 colors, I could find no discernable difference in side-by-side comparisons of currently available Palm-size and Pocket PCs. The Palm IIIcx has only 256 colors and the difference between it and the color-screen Pocket PCs is very noticeable. Another plus built into the Pocket PC is the ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display quality by detecting the amount and intensity of light of the surroundings. There are five brightness settings (Power Save to Super Bright) but no contrast control. The contrast control isn’t needed.

Fast processor and lots of memory

Opening and closing applications and documents is quick on the iPAQ. A 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor powers this Pocket PC. The iPAQ is well over twice as fast as its predecessor, the Aero 2100, and faster than any of the other Pocket PCs. The iPAQ’s built-in software is stored in 16 Mb of ROM and 32 Mb of RAM provides plenty of room to run applications and store thousands of Contacts.

A quick tour of the device

The iPAQ is a unique, well-designed, information appliance. The sturdy brushed- metal case measures 5.11" high x 3.28" deep x .62" wide and weighs 6 oz (similar in size and weight to the Palm III series). The action buttons are ergonomic, well placed and easy to use. As you hold the device, in your left hand, your thumb automatically gravitates to the recessed “voice recording” button. This button is user programmable if instant recording is not desired. Continuing the tour, the top of the device contains the stereo headphone jack, microphone, IR port, and spring loaded stylus (with a separate release button – an improvement over the previous Aero 2100 series).

The face of the device contains the ambient light sensor, indicator light, and power button. Below the screen is the large “Navigator” button, which doubles as a game pad. This large, 5-way rocker panel replaces the traditional side jog-shuttle wheel used by most other Palm-size and Pocket PCs. The Navigator button provides easy access to any application with a single click. It allows up, down, left, and right navigation, and pressing down the center of the Navigator button is just like clicking a mouse or tapping the screen. The audio speaker is placed under the Navigator button for better sound quality and a standard 3.5mm audio jack with stereo output provides high fidelity when listening to audio books or MP3 titles. (Note: the speaker on my pre-release version of the iPAQ was not functional.)

Surrounding the Navigator button are four user programmable application buttons. The factory presets are shortcuts to Calendar, Contacts, QMenu, and QStart respectively. (See “Software” on spec sheet for descriptions of the latter functions.) The bottom of the iPAQ has an AC power port, a recessed on-off master reset switch, connectivity port (for USB, serial, and docking stations) and a soft reset “pin hole.” A recessed 100-pin connector for Expansion Packs rounds out the device.

Better batteries, but beware

The back of the device is solid and there is no user access to the main or backup battery. In this way, it’s similar to HP’s new Pocket PC, the Jornada 540 series. The downside of this arrangement is that you can’t keep a spare battery with you and swap it in when you get a “low battery” warning. Part of the reason Compaq went with this design is that the iPAQ uses new Lithium Polymer battery technology, which has almost twice the capacity of the Lithium Ion batteries used in other Pocket PCs. Compaq claims that it will give you 14 hours of usage. I put the iPAQ through its paces and achieved about 15 hours of life on my pre-production unit. To achieve 15 hours I ran the batteries down completely ignoring low battery warnings. In the process, I lost all my internal data. Fortunately, the iPAQ warns you well in advance of the total meltdown. Take the low battery warning seriously and backup often!

Faster connectivity with USB

The iPAQ ships with a synchronization cradle that connects to your desktop PC via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. I found the USB cradle to be noticeably faster than a 115,000 baud serial connection. But to use it, your desktop PC needs to have a USB port. If you don’t, I suggest you get one on your desktop PC—the faster connectivity is worth it! The alternative is to get a optional serial cable or serial cradle from Compaq and live with the slower synchronization.

Built-in software from Microsoft and Compaq

The iPAQ includes the standard Pocket PC applications from Microsoft loaded permanently in the 16 Mb of internal ROM. The Microsoft programs include Pocket Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet Explorer. Also included are Microsoft Reader and Windows Media Player. (Complete descriptions of these programs can be found the May/June issue of Pocket PC magazine.) Also built into ROM are three incredibly useful applications to assist managing data on your iPAQ. These include QMenu and QUtilities (previously available on the Compaq Aero Palm-size series) and the new Qstart.

QStart (see Screen 1) is a customizable alternative to the Pocket PC’s Programs menu. You can add new categories to the menu, place applications within different categories and organize the menu in a way that makes sense to you.

Screen 1: QStart is a customizable alternative to the Pocket PC's Programs menu.

QMenu (see Screen 2) is an alternative Start menu for the iPAQ that lets you organize applications in a way that makes sense to you. QMenu lets you launch applications and close them down with a single tap. QMenu also gives you the flexibility to close all running programs, just the active one, or all running applications except the active one.

Screen 2: QMenu is an alternative Start menu for the iPAQ that lets you organize applications in a way that makes sense to you.

QUtilitieslets you adjust backlighting, backup and restore to a CompactFlash card, adjust the screen brightness levels and access system diagnostics. I added bSquare’s bUSEFUL Utility Pak 2.0 (www.bsquare.com) to my iPAQ, primarily for bUseful Backup, the best and most versatile backup program that I have ever seen.

Compaq added several other utilities in the Settings menu, including Auto Run, Microphone AGC, and AssetViewer. Auto Run is a “plug and play” on/off option for the Expansion Packs. Microphone AGC provides automatic gain control for the built-in microphone. (I was unable to test these features on the pre-release version of the iPAQ I looked at.)

AssetViewer is not a personal money manager, but a utility that provides technical information about the iPAQ (see Screen 3), including the identity of the user. It’s primarily included for the benefit of the person managing the deployment of one of these devices in an organization.

Screen 3: AssetViewer provides technical information about the iPAQ, including the identity of the user.

Customize the iPAQ with Expansion and Style Packs

By itself, the iPAQ Pocket PC has great functionality. But what makes it unique among Pocket PCs and other handhelds is its ingenious modular concept. You can add hardware features to the iPAQ by slipping it into option Expansion or Style Packs. Expansion Packs add specific functionality. Style Packs are cosmetic or physical covers without electrical capabilities.

The first two Expansion Packs available as options will be the PC Card Expansion Pack and the CompactFlash Expansion Pack (see Screen 4). The PC Card Expansion Pack adds an industry-standard card slot to the iPAQ, allowing you to use a number of Type II PC Cards with the Pocket PC. For example, you could use it with a Circuit Data/Packet Data (CDPD) card or certain wireless LAN PC cards to connect wirelessly to e-mail, the Web, or corporate networks. The CompactFlash Expansion Pack allows the user to plug in a variety of CF cards to add file storage, LAN connectivity, modems and barcode scanners. The Expansion Packs come from Compaq. The PC and CF cards are industry standard and come from a number of independent vendors.

Screen 4: The CF and PC Card Expansion Packs adds a CF or PC Card slot to the iPAQ letting you add storage, modems, wireless communications and more to your iPAQ. Shown here is the iPAQ with a PC Card Expansion Pack resting in the USB data synchronization cradle.

There are even plans for a Camera Jacket that will allow wireless transfer of pictures and possibly video over the Internet! I have yet to get my hands on any expansion packs, but according to Compaq, the PC Card Expansion Pack will have a built-in battery to help increase the overall battery life of the iPAQ.

"Style Packs" will be available to provide varying levels of protection for the device. The first Style Pack will be an Executive Leather Style Pack (see Screen 5), a black high-quality leather case that will fit snugly around the iPAQ Pocket PC and includes two pockets inside the case for business cards.

Screen 5: The first Style Pack will be an Executive Leather Style Pack, a black high-quality leather case that will fit snugly around the iPAQ Pocket PC and includes two pockets inside the case for business cards.

New third-party solutions will increase flexibility

Compaq is encouraging third party manufacturers to build additional Expansion Packs for the iPAQ. For example, a new Compaq-Infowave-Sierra Wireless Pocket PC bundle offers the first fully integrated wireless solution for connecting mobile customers to their enterprise information from a Pocket PC. The Sierra Wireless Aircard 300 is a wireless CDPD modem that plugs into the iPAQ Pocket PC and provides the wireless connection. Infowave’s software will provide the link back to the enterprise and enables mobile users to securely and reliably access their Exchange messaging system, as well as other critical corporate information and applications, including Web-enabled CRM (customer relationship management), SFA (sales force automation), or ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems.

Other wireless PCMCIA modems will be available in the future for the iPAQ that should provide broadband Internet speeds equivalent to today’s wired DSL and cable modems. Compaq is working with Extended Systems to provide a server-based corporate synchronization solution allowing users to get their critical corporate information on the iPAQ Pocket PC through wired and wireless communication methods. These products are expected in the second half of the year.

To demonstrate future wireless data content, Compaq is working with Packet Video to develop applications for streaming video over wireless connections. An example of such standard MPEG 4 streaming video might include playing back a sales presentation, an educational film, a training video, or a surgical procedure for review on the road. (Note: this feature is not yet available, but we will keep you updated on our Web site (www.PocketPCmag.com) as more information becomes available.)

Final Thoughts on the iPAQ

The one thing missing from the iPAQ is a built-in CF Card slot. To add storage cards you have to first add the Expansion Pack. And I love the look and feel of the iPAQ all by itself, without an Expansion Pack. I would love to see Compaq add the smaller Smart Media card slot to future iPAQs. Smart Media cards are about 1/3 the size of a CF card. It wouldn’t take up very much room and it would give users an inexpensive way to add storage memory without needing an Expansion Pack.

The iPAQ Pocket PC has an estimated street price of $499 and modular Expansion Packs will vary in price depending on the functionality. For example, the CompactFlash Expansion Pack will sell for $39.00 and the more versatile PC Card Expansion Pack for $149.00. Considering the features it offers, this is price competitive with other Pocket PC’s currently available. It is more expensive than monochrome devices with far less features, but that’s really comparing apples and oranges. In a world of planned obsolescence and rapidly evolving technologies, the quality, speed and expandability of the iPAQ make it a great value!

By itself, the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC is a thin, robust Pocket PC with a great screen and unprecedented functionality. Coupled with the new Expansion Pack System, the iPAQ Pocket PC transforms into a variety of other devices, giving you multiple functions and style choices. This is the first information device I have ever seen that can grow with the needs of corporations and consumers. In addition, it is positioned for the unpredictable advances in future technologies. To keep up to date with the iPAQ, visit Compaq’s iPAQ’s Web site at www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc or visit us at www.PocketPCmag.com.

What’s Coming

As this product continues to evolve, we will keep you abreast of the changes. In the future, we will be looking at other Expansion Packs including a Global Positioning System (GPS) that will transform the iPAQ Pocket PC into a navigator, as well as a combination Bluetooth/CompactFlash Expansion Pack for simultaneous multi-device connectivity and storage expansion. A cell phone expansion pack is even in the works. Compaq tells me that an expansion pack that has a built-in battery and two card slots may be available in the future.

The PC Card Expansion Pack opens up some options to the iPAQ that aren’t available to other Pocket PCs. There are a number of external storage devices that interface with a portable computer using a PC Card slot. Examples are the Travel 120 SuperDisk drive and the new Travel HD with 13 Gb of storage, both from Accurite (www.accurite.com). SanDisk is coming out with a super-high-capacity PC storage card (1.2 Gb) making it possible to use this extremely high capacity card for the first time on a Palm-size or Pocket PC device.