Yes, Virginia (as we say in the holiday season), there is such as thing
as "new and improved." Case in point: HP's new Jornada 560 series handhelds
and the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 operating system.
The $600
Jornada 565 (or 564) has 32 MB of RAM while the $650
568 (also sold as the 567) has 64 MB. (In HP's marking practices, the
564-65 and 547-48 numbering simply reflects the kind of retail outlet
selling it.)
What I particularly like about the 560 is the way HP sweated the
details--small as well as large--in making improvements on the previous 540
series. The 560 steps up the Intel StrongARM 206 MHz processor, adds 16-bit
color at PPC 320x240 resolution, and the OS is now flash upgradeable. And,
of course, it uses PPC 2002, which adds numerous interface enhancements
ranging from fun--you can change its look with downloadable "themes"--to
increased value for mobile professionals--more Internet and networking
capabilities.
This is all great stuff that means the 560 series runs faster, has more
legible screens, and greater potential for future expansion than the 540.
However, some of these features were previously seen on the Compaq iPAQ and
are part of Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 specification.
What sets the new Jornada apart from the pack is a series of key
advancements that make it a leader in user friendless. Weight, for example:
The 560 checks in at about 7 ounces, about the same as a "naked" iPAQ and
down about 25% from both the 540 series and the iPAQ with a Compact Flash
(CF) memory card sleeve. (The Jornada has a built-in CF card slot; the iPAQ
needs an add-on jacket.) HP accomplished this by using a sleek silver color
plastic for its casing, adding a nice esthetic touch as well as shaving
ounces.
Battery power is from a rechargeable Lithium-Polymer pack
that is removable and replaceable, cell-phone style. HP claims 14-hours of
battery life, but let's face it, with a back-lit color screen that's highly
optimistic. The 560 also uses a watch-type disk battery for backup power to
guard against data loss when the main power cell runs down. That was a major
flaw in most earlier handhelds. As another safeguard, HP sets aside some
flash memory for backups of crucial files.
Another of the nice little touches is the new stylus. The 540s had a flat
stylus (it looked like a Popsicle stick with a point) that fit into the
unit's flip-up cover--and, therefore, was useless if you took off the cover.
The new stylus adopts an industry standard "stick" design and fits into the
handheld's body. And, happily, the Targus Stowaway folding keyboard from the
540 works with the 560.
A nicely designed navigational "joystick" button resides below the screen,
surrounded by the standard handheld hot keys. Moreover, HP endeared itself
to me by being the first Pocket PC to pass my "Annoying Voice Recorder
Button Test." Voice recording is built into Pocket PCs and to emulate
dictating machine design, the practice has been to put the record button at
the top of the unit. So positioned, a user is guaranteed to turn on the
recorder when inserting the handheld into its sync cradle or into a carrying
case. HP finally figured out that if the button is recessed a little bit,
accidental activation can be virtually eliminated.
Not lost in the changes, however, is HP's long-standing advantage over other
Pocket PC handhelds: you actually can find them in the stores. In fact,
there is a $50 rebate available, and I found some retailers ready to make
deals.
As always with reviews of handhelds, my caveat remains: if you just want a
portable address book and calendar, buy an inexpensive Palm OS unit. Pocket
PCs make sense only if you are looking for a handheld with significant
mobile communications and document capabilities. If you do, then the new
Jornada is a worthy choice that would look great under the tree.
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