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Compaq iPAQ 3650 Color Pocket PC
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9 new or used available from $59.95
Average customer review:
Product Description
Great starting PDA
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #23663 in Consumer Electronics
- Size: Palm Size
- Brand: Hewlett-Packard
- Model: H3650
- Platforms: Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me
- Dimensions: .62" h x 3.28" w x 5.11" l, .39 pounds
- CPU: SA-1110
- Memory: 32MB
- Native resolution: 240 x 320
- Display size: 3.77
Features
- 240 x 320 TFT LCD screen displays more than 4,000 colors
- 32 MB RAM and 16 MB ROM
- Includes Pocket Excel, Word, Internet Explorer, and Outlook, plus desktop version of Outlook 2000
- Plays Audible.com spoken-word content; optional expansion packs can add a variety of functions
- What's in the box: iPaQ 3650, Two Styli, Vinyl slipcase, AC adapter, Docking cradle, Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery, iPaQ Expansion Pack system, User Manual
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Compaq's iPAQ pocket PC combines a real Intel processor, new hardware, and a sleek industrial design that fits in your hand to create a powerful and stylish PDA you can take anywhere. It offers 32 MB of RAM and 16 MB of ROM--enough memory to hold a robust package of applications while leaving you a lot of room for your own applications. The color TFT screen produces 4,086 colors, and you can view the screen from many angles and in a variety of lighting situations. The Compaq iPAQ wraps the power of a Microsoft Windows operating system in a new interface designed for ease of use in a portable format. Even if you've never used a computer or digital organizer, learning to use the Compaq iPAQ is easy.
Other highlights of the Compaq iPAQ include a microphone and a speaker as well as an audio-in jack. It features an infrared port for wireless data transfer. The Compaq iPAQ uses five buttons plus a five-way joystick. The iPAQ connects to either USB or serial ports. The iPAQ allows you to input data in your own handwriting, by soft keyboard, by voice recorder, or through inking. Both audible and visual alarms alert you when you have a scheduled event.
What sets this Pocket PC apart from similar devices on the market is its sleevelike expansion-pack system. The expansion-pack system allows you add functionality to suit your particular needs. Expansion-pack options currently include a CompactFlash pack, the ability to attach a CompactFlash card slot to your iPAQ, an executive leather and PC Card expansion pack, and a water-resistant sports pack. In the future, Compaq plans to release a global positioning system pack, so you can make your iPAQ pocket PC into a GPS unit.
The Compaq iPAQ is sporty and small. At 5.11 by 3.28 by 0.62 inches and 6 ounces, it fits in your hand or slides into your pocket with ease. Don't let the size fool you into thinking you don't get many applications with your iPAQ. You receive a great deal of Microsoft software, such as Pocket versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook as well as the full desktop version of Outlook 2000. Compaq has also built in utilities so that frequent actions--such as switching between tasks, adjusting volume, or changing backlighting--are only a click away.
Compaq offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor for the iPAQ.
What's in the box
- iPaQ 3650
- Two Styli
- Vinyl slipcase
- AC adapter
- Docking cradle
- Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
- iPaQ Expansion Pack system
- User Manual
From The Industry Standard
Say you've made the tough choice to forgo the
Surprisingly, that's the easy part. With a handful of options in Pocket PC devices, picking the one best suited for you becomes a matter of studying form more than function. Fortunately, if you're after Palm's form factor, you won't be forced to forego fine design for expandability as you might at the Palm-
The first thing you'll notice about the H3650 is its sleek, silver finish. Unlike most chrome-painted plastic devices, the H3650 feels as sturdy as it looks. But it weighs only 170 grams - 90 grams less than the
While HP promises eight hours of use from its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Compaq boasts 12 hours. (Of course, your mileage may vary.) The H3650's color screen is as brilliant as its competitor's, while employing a sensor to automatically adjust the screen's brightness depending on the ambient light. The 32MB of onboard memory is plenty for flipping through an electronic book or playing a few MP3s, and the integrated microphone is useful for recording quick verbal notes. (Only the top-of-the-line and $100-more Jornada 548 has 32MB of memory - the other models hold half that.)
Like its competitors, Compaq is pushing the expandability aspect of its Pocket PC devices through PC Card or CompactFlash connections.
THE DETAILS
iPaq Pocket PC H3650
Compaq
Score (1-5): Utility: 4; Design: 4
Est. Lifespan: Six months (the Pocket PC game is all about one-upmanship!)
Price: $499
System Requirements: Windows 95 and up, or NT Workstation 4.0 running on a 486/66 DX or higher processor; 9-pin or 25-pin communications port, infrared port or USB port; CD-ROM drive
Customer Reviews
Some useful pointers
I've had my IPAQ for several months now and am extremely satisfied with it. Over that time I've learned a few things that might be helpful to to other users, so rather than write another general review, I thought I would post a few suggestions on this, especially for those that may be making the transition from the Palm platform to the iPAQ, (as I did).
The iPAQ saves individual Notes that you make in the sub-directory where you create them in the Notes app area. This results in them initially having a name such as "Work1, Work2, etc. (i.e., if you have a Note directory called Work). This is not very helpful so you have to rename them by doing a "tap and hold" on the file name, and giving it the new name. Otherwise you end of with lots of Notes with non-descript names with numbers at the end. Not too helpful.
For better power management, watch the screen brightness setting which you set from the Settings menu. You can also hit the "Q" button and pop up the Q menu and get to it from there. A lot of times you can reduce the backlight setting and save power and extend battery life. Otherwise running it at the highest intensity you'll only have about 3 hours. Also, in direct sunlight, where the iPAQ works great but the Palm and Casio units wash out totally, you can set it on "power save" mode
If you use the digital recorder function, be careful what you have the settings here. The iPAQ will record anywhere from 8,000 Hz, Mono, 2KB/sec, to 44,100 Hz, 16-bit, stereo, 172 KB/sec. You'll find that even the 22,050 Hz, stereo settings will cause even short notes to take up 300K of space. After a few of these you're out of memory and you'll wonder why. The default setting of 8-bit mono is okay so I just leave it there.
This setting is also hard to find and can be found under Settings\Personal\Input\Options.
I've found my iPAQ to be the best of the Pocket PCs out there. Hope these suggestions help.
iPAQ or Jornada or Cassiopeia?
You have heard by now that a new class of handhelds - the PocketPCs - have hit the market and selling like hotcakes. You have probably even decided that you would rather go with a PocketPC than a Palm because you use Windows at work and home and feel happy with MSWord, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and the whole kit-n-kaboodle. What you cannot decide is which one of these to buy - they all rate so high! Well, for good reason. Faster processors and simpler WindowsCE system are making these eminently powerful and useful.
Price: Cassiopeia E-115 and Jornada 548 are both ~ $600 (if you go for the 16 M RAM, the price drops, but I don't recommend it). iPAQs are cheaper at ~ $500.
Processors: Cassiopeia (MIPS) and Jornada (SH3) processors are about the same speed (131 MHz) but Cassiopeia is a 64 bit processor. iPAQ has a StrongArm processor running at 206 MHz and noticeably faster.
Expandability: Cassiopeia comes with a Type II Compact Flash slot. This means you can put any compact flash cards out there, including the snazzy 1 inch IBM-microdrives that store upto 340 MB of data. Jornada comes with a Type I slot which means it cannot accomodate type II cards or the IBM-drive. iPAQ needs to add an expansion "jacket" to allow any cards. It is an innovative design that allows the main unit to be smaller - but you have to carry more components if you want to lug around more data or music.
Display: Only Cassiopeia has a true 16 bit display (65000 colors). iPAQ and Jornada are both 12 bit (1000 colors). Can you make out the difference - mostly not, unless you are looking at photographs.
Size: Cassiopeia is bulky and comes in at 9 oz. It does not have a hard top - so it needs to be carried in a soft case that comes along. Jornada unit is about as bulky as Cassiopeia, but it comes with a hard top so the total package (unit and case) is definitely less bulky. iPAQ wins hands down with a Palm like form factor.
Bottom Line: If you need dislay, multimedia capabilities and expandability - buy a Cassiopeia. Looking for a sleeker option with decent built-in expansion options - buy a Jornada. You need speed and sleek - look not farther than an iPAQ (remeber you need a separate jacket at times).
No confusion here
For those of you are trying to find this very hard to get PDA, Keep in mind that the H3650 and H3630 are the same device. The H3630 model is sent to direct re-salers (i.e. Best Buy, Circuit City, Comp USA, etc), and the H3650 is sent to the online retailers. However, I've noticed on-line that you will see both. I've called compaq to confirm this. Good luck, and good shopping! I've been sold!
