HP's New iPAQ hx2755 Reviewed

Brandon Miniman submitted a story that discusses the whole iPAQ line of handhelds and specifically looks at the newly released iPAQ hx2755 Pocket PC. This one is unique in that it has a biometric fingerprint reader.

Comments

I'm a luddite

[jacobcaz]

I have tried - multiple times in the last 5 years - to switch to a PDA. I started with a Newton 100, upgraded to a Newton 110 then a 120. Finally I settled for about 2 years on a Newton 2100. Then I got a hand-me-down Pilot, I rushed to buy a Palm III when it first came out. I upgraded to a Palm V because it was sleek-n-sexy. I bought an HP iPaq 1945 because I had tried PalmOS and thought maybe PocketPC was for me. Now, even my phone has PDA capabilities!

And I still use a $0.89 Mead Composition book (UPC #043100090236) for my daily to-do and I keep it tucked inside a small calendar to track my "appointments". Why? Because it's just easier for me to grab a pencil and scratch an entry down. I was never able to get the entry down quickly with a PDA (despite using Rosetta, Graphiti, Jot and Transcriber). It's just not fast enough for me. As a plus I also get to use some of my nice fountain pens, they are a joy to write with. The calendar folds out to the size of a comp book when open (9.75"x15") and gives me an easy view of my month or my week. Flipping forward and back is a cinch and takes no time at all. I always hated hunting for appointments and tasks on a PDA because I could only efficiently see one day at a time no matter what the platform (though the Newton did it best, but was the largest unit).

If I drop it on the way to a meeting it doesn't break, and I don't have to worry about batteries running down at the worst possible moment. Plus the comp books are literally $0.89 and the Calendar was about $11.99 and is refillable.

Sure, I can't play super break out or solitare or freecell, but I don't care. At work I'm there to work and when I'm someplace waiting I'm usually reading a paper or adding notes and "todo's" in my book. Or I just put the damn thing down and enjoy the environment I'm in. I don't miss the games.

I've converted...back to paper for good I think. I'm not planning on rushing out and upgrading with the next generation of PDAs (unless Apple does another one). I'll save that money and buy another Pelican or Parker or Delta fountain pen instead.

Here is my question about biometric fingerprinting

[antifoidulus]

on mobile devices. These devices can get tussled about a decent amount, what happens if the device breaks? Do you have to pay for an expensive repair just to get access to your files?