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

Not new

[opusman]

iPAQs have had fingerprint readers for over a year now. 5550 was the first I think?

Slashvertising?

[lucabrasi999]

Ok, without having read the FA, I'll make a prediction about this article:
1) The article reads like a press release from H-P.
2) The submitter is just pushing traffic to his own site in the hopes he can cash in on some advertising revenue.

Am I correct or am I correct?

Re:Slashvertising?

[Marxist Hacker 42]

1) incorrect- HP press release would NEVER mention Windows Media Version (still 9 not 10) or the QVGA screen (when HP already has a full VGA model, as well as some of their competitors). Final analysis was "surprisingly good machine- now if HP could only get it right".

2) correct, it seems.

Re:Slashvertising?

[somethinghollow]

I don't think he wants ad rev. I think he wanted to do a load test. As you can see, he faild that test.

Dear Problems With Fingerprints

[Letter]

Dear Problems With Fingerprints,

There's much debate about whether fingerprints are the primary keys to human identity. Law enforcement has based over 100 years of work on the premise that no two humans, anywhere, ever, have the same fingerprints. Some people say this is hogwash. Let's leave out, for now, the fact that it's not possible to verify this claim at all: there's no way to test all living people and compare their prints. This is troubling, but a bit of a red herring. More troubling is the way fingerprinting is practiced. There's a case in Philly right now where a federal judge has prohibited the prosecution from testifying that two fingerprints "match" -- and Tom Ridge wants fingerprints added to U.S. passports. From this article:

But in 1993, a Supreme Court decision required judges to take a more active role in deciding what scientific evidence to admit. In the case of fingerprints, the so-called "Daubert" guidelines would lead to questions such as: Has the practice of fingerprint identification been adequately tested? What's the error rate? Are there standards and controls?

The answers, respectively, are "no," "no one knows," and "no."

Letter

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?

Pocket PC's are dead

[Szentigrade]

I just read a recent report that said smartphones with pocket PC capabilities, sale numbers rose an average of 120% while smartphones have only gained about 6% growth. IMO pocket PC's wont be around much longer, it just makes more sense to include the features in cellphones, i really dont want to pay $300+ for somthing im most likely going to keep notes and addresses in. And i think its clear which side the public is on. Death to pocket PC's, long live the smartphone!

Re:In the age of the budget PC

[stratjakt]

Hey, instead of worrying about it, why don't you just spam slashdot with some lame-assed "free iPaq" ponzi scheme?

Fuck you and your "free mac mini" offer.