Hewlett Packard IPAQ h4150 Pocket PC

This is the third (well, fourth after I'm done with this review) handheld device I have purchased. My first two were both Handspring Visors, which both worked very well and did everything I ever asked of them. At the time, Palm was the main program for using handhelds, as Pocket PC's were still a very new technology, and very expensive. I liked the Handpsrings because of the springboard slot, which allowed for expandability. Over time, however, I found I was never going to get a GPS unit, Camera or MP3 plug-in for the Visor (the only plug-in I ever got was a Memory Plug-in to expand my memory capacity). Four or so years later, I was looking for something much more powerful, something with color (monochrome is so boring) and something that I could use on the road or at home. The HP iPaq 4155 with it's Pocket PC power and Wi-Fi capabilities was the perfect match for me.

The Hardware

Pulling it out of the box, it was much slimmer and very taut compared to the old Visor handhelds, and even some of the other new Pocket PC's. Considering it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth inside, I was surprised and delighted to not see an antenna poking out like on the iPaq 5155. It is a very slick design, with a silver, metallic looking cover that is very professional, but with a dark grey backing that seems cheap. It's easy to hold, though the buttons on the side (one on the left to record audio and the one on the right that slides down to open the battery casing) are easy to bump and can cause the 4155 to turn on and begin recording a message. To turn the unit on, you have a recessed button in the top-center that is easy to start, but at the same time not-easy to accidentally hit, so you won't turn it on unless you mean to.

The button configuration on the bottom is easy to use, with the common datebook, notes, e-mail and enter buttons available, as well as a directional button. However, what if you don't use e-mail with this unit; that the button has a envelope etched into it is perhaps just something visual I'll have to deal with (or I'll just need to use it for e-mail). It has a port on top for using headphones to listen to your mp3's, and a slot to the right of that for SD media, which I have a 256mb SD card for expanded memory. It simply pops in, and a gentle push down on the card has it pop out. The stylus is simple enough to get to, as long as you have nails. Difficult to get out, but it also means it won't just fall out.

The cradle is kind of weak, it doesn't slide into it like on the Dell Axim's, which I would've liked to have seen. It rests in mid-air, almost, and you have to be gentle, it seems, to set it in the cradle. I've gotten used to it, but it was a tense moment at first when I thought I'd break the iPaq.

The Software

Using this handheld is very easy. It's like using your regular PC, with similar programs such as word, excel and Internet explorer. Everything on here seems much more professional than they did on Palm (maybe that's just me). This handheld seems faster than my PC, as well, with a 400mhz processor (compared to 300mhz on my laptop) that speeds through programs and runs everything I need it to when I need it to.

I did have some problems with the first one of these that I purchased. For some reason it wasn't connecting to the PC and after I unplugged it and was using it on a trip, it began to slow down and all of my programs moved at half speed. I couldn't get it to connect to the computer still after getting home, so I took it back in and traded it for another one. Again the same problem happened, but after much tinkering and continual syncing, I got it to work. So, basically, it can be tough to sync at times, but when it does sync, it sync's very quickly.

While I have yet to use the wireless capabilities of the 4155 (I bought it in hopes of future use on wireless networks), it is very easy to turn on the wireless or bluetooth, with a simple push of a icon, you can turn both or just one on. On each side of the power button are two leds, the one on the left blinks blue for Bluetooth and Green for 802.11b. The light on the left is the power button, and blinks when charging, or stays red when full.

Movies and audio play easily and well, and with a memory card and a power supply for 12v, I could listen to music or let a friend watch movies while on the road with ease.

Comparison

Compared to other similar units, this unit works very well, basically doing the same as everything else in some areas, better in others. HP has the 4355, which is basically the same thing, but with a mini-keyboard at the bottom of the unit with mini-butttons, which I could never press. The ability to either just handwrite on the screen or just push buttons on the screen are easy enough.

Dell's unit was comparable, as it has Wi-Fi capabilities as well, but it was very bulky compared to the slim HP, and it had an antenna that poked out a bit, which I didn't like. I did, however, like the price, which was much cheaper than the HP, and the cradle, which the Dell slipped into, instead of rested on.

Conclusion

There are really not that many more units in the $350-$450 price range that have Pocket PC and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability. After weighing all the features, including battery life, in which the HP 4155 is good, but not the best (Dell's unit was better), I chose the HP and am very happy with how it works. Hopefully soon I will be able to get wireless access somewhere, and I will further review on the capabilities of the Wi-Fi uses of this handheld.