marukka's Full Review: Hewlett Packard iPAQ h2215 Pocket PC
This is the most amazing PDA ever! I've owned a complete series HP handhelds including 3 different Jornada models. The problems I had with the Jornada 545 and 568 were the screens just weren't that reliable (especially after loading Cubicle Chaos). For that reason I was a bit hesitant to purchase another HP handheld but figured the new processor might make a difference. WOW! What a difference! I loaded Cubicle Chaos right away to see if the screen would be glitchy for a swift refund if so. Well it passed the test with flying colors!
I chose the 2215 over the more expensive alternatives for one HUMONGOUS reason... Compact Flash and SD! The possibilities of two expansion slots raced through my mind and boy have I taken advantage it. Right now I have a 1 GB CF card and SD Wi-Fi in the same PDA, yes, that's right, in the same PDA. Some naysayers would argue you could get integrated Wi-Fi in the more pricey models and use the single slot for more memory. Not an option because the Wi-Fi models only have SD and I like the ease of sharing my CF cards between my PDA and my Digital Camera.
Another reason I wouldn't choose another model is NEVO! This is the greatest PDA program ever! HP should bundle this on every PDA they make! But alas, apparently it's only available with the 2215. I control every gadget in home and office with my PDA and have since lost the annoyance of searching for the TV remote. Working for a cable company I find myself using this feature ALOT and the range is decent, about 15-20 feet. The fact that it controls EVERY and I mean EVERY electronic device known to man is absolutely mind boggling (technology eh?!).
The HP Jornada series actually had decent battery life so this really wasn't a concern with my new 2215 but to be on the safe side I installed Batterybar (a cheap little program you can add) and after using my PDA a full day at work it never falls below 74% charged unless and this is a BIG UNLESS I use the Wi-Fi SD. Connectivity comes with a price... it can drop your charge time to about 15%! However, a co-worker sitting next to me has the Dell Axim with integrated Wi-Fi and he finds himself in the same predicament so this is to be expected I gather.
I rarely use my PDA outdoors but when I've attempted to I've concluded to never attempt it again. In sunlight it's horrendous which in my experience seems to be the norm with just about any handheld device. Being a tech junkie I've recently ordered a Sony Clie UX50 which has been rumored to perform well in sunlight. I'll update this review if that turns out to be true.
One of my only complaints is that Windows Mobile 2003 is still a bit touchy and you may find a soft reboot in order every now and then which can be an annoyance. Keep in mind this is the case with every PDA running Windows Mobile which is one of the reasons I've ordered the Sony running Palm OS. My co-worker with the Dell Axim finds himself in the same predicament. Trust me however, this is a MINOR, let me repeat MINOR annoyance.
Since we're on the subject of software, let me mention Jawbreaker. Yes, I know this game is featured with most systems running Windows Mobile but let me just say this for those deciding between Palm OS and Windows; this is the most addictive and FUN game you'll ever play on a handheld device! You can find yourself playing this when you should be doing other things and even though you know you SHOULD be doing other things you find that the need to play this game is even greater. I'm addicted!
I use my HP for just about everything under the sun; contacts, appointments, gaming, portable MP3 player, web searching, remote control and with the added 1 GIG Compact Flash card even as my personal movie machine. This is the most complete PDA I've come across and the only thing missing is a coffee maker.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 382.00 Recommended for: Gadget Lovers - Trendy and Hip
A sleek Pocket PC with the optimal combination of features, performance, and expandability Compact Flash and Secure Digital slots for flexibility and ...More at Amazon Marketplace
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.