HP iPAQ hx4705 Reviewed

Tong writes "PDA Buyer's Guide has published an in-depth review of the HP iPAQ hx4605. 'This has been the month of the iPAQ with so many new models released! The hx4705 is one of the most anticipated because it features a fantastic VGA display and a super-fast 624MHz processor. Heap on plenty of memory, Bluetooth, WiFi, both CF and SD slots and a touch pad navigator and you've got the 4705. It's one of only two Pocket PCs with a VGA display sold in the US.' Read the full review on the buyer's guide."

Comments

Zaurus 6000

[Kent Swanson]

You can buy the Sharp Zaurus 6000 in the US. It has a VGA screen, in fact it has been around for quite a while. Snoooooze.

There are lots of VGA pdas coming out soon

[jomas1]

Check out this article if VGA is something you really want on your next pda:

http://www.brighthand.com/article/Which_VGA_Pocket _PC_is_Right

VGA Pocket PC Comparison

[llZENll]

Here is a comparison chart of the VGA Pocket PCs coming out soon.

And the only VGA Pocket PC Game so far (a breakout game).

Re:Forgive a curmudgeon, but...

[IronChef]

What do I use it for? What do I NOT use it for?!

reading ebooks every single day... in bed, on the couch, on the can: uBook
keeping track of miscellaneous bits of info (eg, project shopping lists): Noterrific
Listening to my MP3 collection, via earphones, over WLAN, while reading in bed: BetaPlayer
scientific calculator: Calc98
Getting online (via T-mo GSM phone & Bluetooth) anytime, anywhere. (In other words, I have Yahoo Yellow Pages in my pocket.)
All of my contacts and appointments kept in sync with home & work desktops: organizer software is built in but I bought Pocket Informant
Various games, of course
Keeping track of how much I spend on lunch: Pocket Excel
Taking notes in meetings: PhatPad
Storing every single number and password that plagues my life in a secure format: eWallet

Sure, it isn't as good as a laptop, but I can (and do) take it everywhere.

I am upgrading to one of the new VGA models shortly after they hit the streets. I have my eye on the Dell Axim X50V, which has specs similar to the HP 4700, but is less expensive.

I can't imagine not owning a nice PDA.

Why Not Real Linux on a PDA?

[civilizedINTENSITY]

Well, actually... yes you can, because they did it for us:

Currently Familiar's Linux distribution supports some of the following key features:

• Entirely based on XFree86's/keithp's Tiny-X server, which includes the latest RENDER extension.
• Anti-Aliased True-Type Font support in rxvt-aa, matchbox, and fltk (this is extended to any X application using the Xft APIs).
• Dropbear sshd included by default.
• The latest releases include JFFS2 support, which enables you to have read/write access to the iPAQ's Flash.
• Integrated Python v2.3 w/ PyGtk and PyGDKImlib.
• Binary and Library compatible w/ Debian's ARM distribution. In most cases, programs (as long as their dependencies are met) can be taken from Debian and executed on the iPAQ w/out issue.
• Full package support based on ipkg.
• Many system programs are implemented using busybox, saving much space.

If thats not enough Linux in your PDA, try:

The intimate project is a fully blown debian based linux distribution for the Compaq iPAQ. Taking the work being done by the Familiar Project and combining it with fully blown debian package management, and access to the thousands of existing debian arm packages. The goal is simple. We want the best of both worlds. Sure... it won't fit in the 16MB Flash but for the lucky few with microdrives then this is the way ahead. The minimum requirements are currently around 140MB of storage for the base image.