Compaq iPaq H3850

One of the biggest complaints users of the original iPaq Pocket PC have about the device is the lack of a built-in slot for adding additional memory; you have to purchase an optional "jacket" to add CompactFlash cards. But the iPaq H3850, with a built-in Secure Digital (SD) card slot, Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 OS, a 65,000-color reflective screen, and an improved battery, answers the critics. Nice as this handheld is, though, it's still hard to declare it a hands-down winner over the competing products from Casio and Toshiba.

And Now For Something Slightly Different
The most noticeable cosmetic change is the addition of the SD memory card slot at the top of the PDA, which is also where the device's built-in speaker is now housed (it used to live underneath the directional pad below the screen). An upcoming model, the H3870, will include a Bluetooth radio within that same housing. On the inside is a 206MHz Intel StrongARM processor, 64MB of RAM, and now 32MB of ROM, which together deliver comparable performance to that of previous iPaqs and current Pocket PCs from other manufacturers.

By sticking with essentially the same design as that of the H3600 series, the H3835 has the advantage of being compatible with existing CompactFlash, PC Card, and double PC Card sleeves. The sleeves make the iPaq line especially versatile, allowing you to store gigabytes of music or connect wirelessly to data networks. We're also glad to see that the H3850 ships with a fold-over screen-cover sleeve--a welcome improvement over the black slipcover that comes with other iPaqs. All PDAs should come with some sort of screen cover.

Compaq has managed to increase the capacity of the rechargeable battery in the H3835 without increasing the battery's dimensions. The company claims that you can get 10 hours of battery time, but that's with the backlight turned off. We got around 5 hours with the device set on medium brightness, which is about an hour more than we managed from the H3600-series PDAs we've tested. One gripe we have with the new design is the lack of a dedicated power port. To recharge your iPaq while on the road, you'll now need to attach a little dongle onto the end of the power cord to adapt it to the port on the PDA. Great, one more thing to lose.

Improved Software
The software bundle for the H3850 is quite good. It includes Pocket PC 2002 and all of its associated improvements, plus some new features, such as a Block Character Recognizer for people who are proficient in Palm's Graffiti writing system. The OS doesn't use all 32MB of ROM on the device. Compaq includes a File Store application that allows you to put your most critical files in the remaining 6MB of ROM. If you ever run the iPaq's batteries down completely or hard-reset your handheld, the data stored in ROM won't be lost. Compaq also bundles IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite, which lets you dictate commands to your calendar, contacts, and in-box. The PDA can even read back the contact names, numbers, and addresses that you request. There's also a special data-encryption package, the Insignia Java Virtual Machine, and other useful software included on the CD-ROM.

Clearly, the addition of the SD card slot, the more colorful screen, and the improved battery make the S$1,099 (US$599) iPaq H3850 a compelling PDA. At the same time, Toshiba and Casio each offer models with both an SD card slot and a CompactFlash slot. For an extra S$90 (US$50), you can pick up a CompactFlash card sleeve for the Compaq, but the combined package is bulky. If you're bent on getting an iPaq, paying the extra for the H3850 would be a better choice than buying the H3760. But owners of iPaq H3600-series models should simply order the Pocket PC 2002 upgrade from Compaq rather than purchase a whole new PDA.

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