Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile
    • Reviews

    iPaq Takes New Route

    By
    Anne Chen
    -
    September 28, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Hewlett-Packards iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion may not be a smart phone, but it is smart. With a GPS receiver, the Windows Mobile-based device offers business travelers effective navigation, connectivity and entertainment options.

      eWEEK Labs tested the iPaq rx5900 on the road while covering the 2006 DemoFall conference in San Diego. The device comes equipped with mobile versions of Microsofts Office suite applications, but we found that the PDA really excelled when it came to navigation.

      Our review unit was loaded with Microsofts Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC with the Security Feature Pack (an update that enables Windows Mobile 5.0-based devices to take advantage of the wireless features in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2.)

      The iPaq rx5900 features a 400MHz Samsung SC32442 processor. The device we tested came armed with 80MB of storage memory, 54MB of program memory and 400MB of available memory on the 2GB of GPS-related Flash memory—in short, plenty of memory to meet our various application needs.

      The iPaq rx5900 has a manufacturers suggested retail price of $599, which is high for a GPS-enabled PDA without cellular network connectivity options (like those of Research in Motions Blackberry 8703e on the Verizon Wireless network).

      /zimages/4/149285.jpg

      However, the iPaq rx5900s price is on par with GPS-specific devices such as Pharos Traveler GPS 525.

      Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the new iPaq compares to Dashs forthcoming Dash Smart device, which uses the same form factor as the iPaq rx5900 but has the ability to connect to cellular networks.

      The iPaq rx5900 weighs almost six ounces. It measures 4.74 by 3 by 0.65 inches, and it features a 3.5-inch QVGA display with LED backlight.

      The iPaq slips into a coat pocket or purse, and its screen size makes it easy to glance at maps while driving or to watch videos (not while driving). The processor had no problems handling video during our tests.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifSecurity is the focus of DemoFall Day 2. Click here to read more.

      Along with the integrated SiRFStar III GPS chip set, the iPAQ rx5900 comes with 802.11 b/g wireless. We easily connected our review unit to a Linksys WRT55AG wireless router over a network secured with WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy).

      Unfortunately, the iPAQ rx5900 has no option for connecting to a WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)-secured wireless network.

      The iPaq rx5900 also supports Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), which allowed us to connect the device to a Bluetooth-enabled Nokia 6230 cell phone to get around the lack of a cellular modem. While this setup is probably not ideal for most business travelers, it works.

      The iPaq rx5900 is most capable when acting as a GPS navigation system. Travel directions—which can be announced by either a female or a male voice—are clear and easy to understand.

      And, since the iPaq rx5900 has Bluetooth connectivity, voice prompts can be routed to an A2DP-compliant Bluetooth device, such as a headset or a car stereo.

      The new iPaq includes the TomTom 6.0 navigation software, which comes preloaded with 2GB of U.S. and Canadian maps. The maps are stored in Flash ROM, so we were able to update them by connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi and over Bluetooth to our Lenovo ThinkPad x60 test machine.

      While testing the GPS capabilities in San Diego, we ran into some problems finding a signal close to the Lindberg Airport. Once we were on the road, though, the GPS easily located our desired destination and directed us there.

      The iPaq rx5900 does not have an external antenna, but this did not seem to affect the units ability to find a signal.

      The new iPaq also is no slouch when it comes to multimedia: We found its built-in microphone to be great for impromptu podcast recordings, and the devices speaker was surprisingly loud and clear when playing music files.

      We were able to play videos in full screen (off of a 2GB Secure Digital card) in Windows Media Player with acceptable viewing quality.

      For those who actually need a PDA for business purposes, the iPaq rx5900 comes with the standard mobile versions of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer. The unit also includes Microsoft Outlook 2002 for Pocket PC.

      The iPaq rx5900 comes with two mini-USB synchronization/charge cables, an AC adapter, a case, a car charger and a windshield mounting kit.

      Senior Writer Anne Chen can be reached at anne_chen@ziffdavis.com.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis on mobile and wireless computing.

      Anne Chen
      As a senior writer for eWEEK Labs, Anne writes articles pertaining to IT professionals and the best practices for technology implementation. Anne covers the deployment issues and the business drivers related to technologies including databases, wireless, security and network operating systems. Anne joined eWeek in 1999 as a writer for eWeek's eBiz Strategies section before moving over to Labs in 2001. Prior to eWeek, she covered business and technology at the San Jose Mercury News and at the Contra Costa Times.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×