Compaq H3835 iPAQ Color Pocket PC

This is my first Pocket PC, and my first PDA for that matter. This thing is really awesome! I was worried about the synchronization function of this unit since the Consumer Reports stated that it was below average in this area. Boy were they wrong. The synch feature is the BEST feature of the unit! I use it everyday between work and home to synchronize every Outlook updated item, my favorite internet sites, as well as any other file I wish to synchronize. The Avantgo feature is really handy too, even if you do not have a bluetooth card (which I don't) installed. Every time I plug the unit into its cradle, it automatically synchronizes with my favorite websites in about 15 seconds, and I have a MINIMUM of a weekends worth of up-to-date reading information ranging from news, weather, sports, or whatever. I take this thing everywhere, and am amazed that I survived without one. I especially like the fact that I can load excel spreadsheet files in and out of this thing (even synchronize them!) without any sort of silly conversion. The handwriting feature is surprisingly very good, with number mode recognition being its strong suit. The ViaVoice feature is surprisingly accurate. I will admit, however, that I took the ViaVoice feature off since I don't really see a need at this point to have voice activated commands. Battery life is decent, with half backlight on it will generally last for 4 hours with only a 128MB SD card add-on. Finally (and this is perhaps its best feature), the 3835 is "instant on". No waiting to boot, this thing is instantly on when you hit the button. It is also "instantly off" without going through a shut down menu. It is everything a mobile computer should be without all the hassles and weight of a laptop. All in all, I love this little thing!

I gave it four stars only because I dislike putting up with Windows' quirkiness and memory hogging. Otherwise, the new iPAQ 3835 is terrific. I decided to switch from the Palm Vx to the iPAQ 3835 after reading about the advantages of Pocket PC 2002 and seeing the larger screen of the iPAQ. I've been getting to know the iPAQ for only about a week and half, but I'm very impressed. All the standard PDA features - calendaring, contacts, and tasks - work well. Occasionally, it starts running noticeably slower than any Palm, but reclosing applications and fiddling with memory allocation fixes that (ain't Windows grand). The ability to pull up Word and Excel files is a great plus. The promise of being able to import PowerPoint presentations (just haven't gotten around to trying this yet) offers intriguing possibilities. And the ease of syncing with Outlook's e-mail and control over subdirectories is much better. And, frankly, I'm finding the bigger clearer brighter screen even more important than I thought I would. My advice - if you're thinking of switching, do it.

The title says it all. This machine does everything I had hoped for with a very intuitive user interface and so far has worked perfectly (been using it about 3 months). What more can one ask for? One feature of this particular model is the ability to add a Secure Memory card in a recepticle located on the top of the iPAC. You don't need an extra "slip on" accessory to add memory with this model. I listen to mp3s that I download a great deal of the time so the extra memory (I use 256MB cards) is a necessity, as the internal memory will only hold half a dozen songs. With a 256MB memory card you can have much more than a CD's worth of tunes right in the iPAC, add a good set of ear phones and you've got great sound along with everything else the iPAC offers. I usually take two or three loaded memory cards with me so I have a huge variety of tunes to fit any mood. Never having used a PDA before, I don't know how the Note Pad function compares, but the one on this model works wonderfully in all three modes ... audio recorder, typed notes using the soft keyboard, and I use the hand writen notes all the time to jot down a quick reminder, like highway exit numbers when going to places I've never been ... its very easy to grab the iPAC, push the Notes button, having already selected the note with the exit number or other directions, and read the large print while driving. I know that there are newer models which probably work just as will but don't think they have the memory expansion capability built into the naked unit (I could be wrong about that). The ability to have all the expanded memory you want in the naked iPAC is worth choosing this model, all else being equal.

The iPaq series has been a fine platform for those looking for a nice PDA. The expansion sleeve approach taken by Compaq (now HP) makes it possible to carry the add-ons you want and ignore them when you don't. Techno-types who want more than an overblown PIM with MP3-playback will appreciate the ease with which Linux moves onto the iPaq -- alas, the SD slot can only be operated with slow MMC cards due to nondisclosure licensing terms (security through obscurity rides again...or still). Linux on PDAs is advancing as rapidly as its PC version has done and if you've thought about playing with it, the iPaq's a great machine. (Oh, and you can also restore PocketPC if Linux is not for you.)

It crashed on me with in 10 minutes of breaking the seal on the package. The "soft" reboot did not work. I had to perform a "hard" reboot. It worked about 2 more minutes then it crashed again just trying to set the time. The battery showed 98% charged so I unpluged the thing and went mobile. It kept shutting off. When I pluged it back in I could not get a battery reading. I called compaq and before I had a chance to tell them the whole story, the agent said I had a bad battery to send it back. Total time in-hand 20 minutes. Had to pack it up and set it back the day after Christmas. Good luck to all who plunk down 600+ bucks. I hope you have better luck with yours.