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Kicking Into High Gear
Steve Morgenstern
From the Print Edition:
Don Johnson, Mar/Apr 02
(continued from page 5)
Pocket PC devices are now offered by several companies, which include Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba. With the Pocket PC 2002 release, the most important PDA features are now standard, no matter which manufacturer you choose. They all offer the same admirable screen technology pioneered by Compaq's iPaq -- a side-lit high-resolution LCD that's readable indoors or out. The basic software suite is also standard, including versions of key Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Outlook) that let you easily transfer documents and information back and forth between your computer and your handheld. Built-in audio support is also standard, with a microphone for recording voice memos and a stereo headphone jack for listening to music or (my personal favorite) downloadable audio books.
Even pricing is similar from manufacturer to manufacturer, so choosing one Pocket PC model over another becomes a matter of styling, expandability and additional software. With that in mind, the model in my briefcase is the Jornada 565 from HP. The solid built-in cover is a big plus -- it effectively protects the delicate screen, but swings completely out of the way when not needed. The case is slim, lightweight (just 6.1 ounces) and elegantly curved -- it feels good in your hand and slips easily into your pocket. The Jornada accepts standard CompactFlash memory expansion cards via a top slot, and additional expansion is possible through battery-pack adapters. Speaking of which, unlike other manufacturers, HP is using a removable battery, which means you can carry a charged-up spare when traveling -- a huge plus for any portable device.
The new Jornada comes in two models, differing only in memory (32MB for the Jornada 565, 64MB for the 568) and price (a $50 difference).
Hewlett-Packard, $599ñ$649, www.hp.com/jornada, 888-999-4747
Steve Morgenstern, a freelance writer living in New York, writes often on technology issues for Cigar Aficionado.
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