HP iPaq hx2790

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After Microsoft's announcement of Windows Mobile 5.0 earlier this year, handheld vendors have been introducing updated versions of their PDAs with the new operating system. Thus it didn't come as a surprise when HP recently introduced the iPaq hx2790, an update of the hx2700 business handheld, running Windows Mobile 5.0 and sporting a larger onboard ROM memory. The hx2790, shipped with the Intel Bulverde 624MHz processor, is also the company's current flagship PDA model with the new mobile OS, at least until HP decides to come up with an OS-upgraded version of the hx4700.

Design
From the exterior, the hx2790 looks almost identical to its hx2700 predecessor, measuring 119.4 x 76.6 x 16.3mm. While the iPaq feels a tad too bulky, it is nevertheless amazing that HP has managed to pack a 3.5-inch screen, dual memory card slots and triple wireless connectivity into the device.

We like that HP has decided to bring back the plastic flip cover, seen earlier in its Jornada series, for the hx2790. Not only does the lid protect the large display, it does so without adding bulk to the device, as a carrying case would otherwise. In addition, the plastic flip does not obstruct the insertion of the unit into the docking station. Many of the PDA carriers in the market today require their handheld to be slipped out of its case for charging and PC synchronization. Lastly, the transparent cover also lets users check their reminders without having to flip it open.

Unfortunately, the use of the cover has its downsides, too. The most obvious being its tendency to attract smudges and fingerprints. And when a pair of earphones is plugged into the iPaq, the flip lid cannot be opened fully. A simple relocation of the 3.5mm earphone jack to the sides could have remedied the problem.

To give the hx2790 better overall grip, HP has lined the edges of the iPaq with a layer of rubberized material, which is a vast improvement over the rubber side gripes on the hx2100 handhelds. It also helps that the hx2790 sports a dark-grey casing which would undoubtedly blend in well with the business crowd.

It is a pity that HP has decided to go with a QVGA (320 x 240-pixel) display instead of a VGA (640 x 480-pixel) panel, given the large 3.5-inch screen real estate. That said, we did find the iPaq's display rather sharp with good vertical and horizontal viewing angles. The panel on the hx2790 also accurately displays white as white, without the yellow tint that plagued some of the older PDA models.

If you are into games and access the shortcut button frequently, the good news is the directional pad or (D-pad) and the five shortcut buttons are well-designed and easy to press. The unit also comes with a convenient voice recording button on the left side.

Features
The use of the Intel Bulverde 624MHz processor basically makes the hx2790 one of the fastest Pocket PC handhelds in the market today. This is further enhanced by the fact that this iPaq uses a QVGA screen instead of a VGA panel which technically translates to even faster speeds since it takes less processing power to render images on a lower-resolution display.

Using the bundled iPaq Wireless application, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity setup is a breeze. Much to our delight, the hx2790 can run both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth simultaneously, though this is likely to drain the battery faster. Corporate users will also appreciate the iPaq's built-in support for Virtual Private Networks (VPN). Adding to the triple wireless connectivity is the infrared port that's located at the top of the PDA.

The iPaq unit comes with both the CompactFlash Type II and Secure Digital (SD) / MultiMediaCard (MMC) media slots, so users have the flexibility to choose between the various established formats for memory expansion. In our file transfer test with high-speed cards, the transfer speed was fast. As with most PDAs today, the SD/MMC slot can also be used to attach SDIO devices such as a GPS receiver or digital camera to the iPaq. There is no miniUSB port on the hx2790, though, so the PDA cannot be linked directly to other portable devices.

With Windows Mobile 5.0, gone are the days where you have to slide the memory allocation bar to decide how many megabytes to allocate for storage and running applications. Also supported on the new OS is persistent storage, which means the data stays even when the battery is flat. Perhaps for this reason, HP has allotted more memory for ROM in the new iPaq. The hx2790 comes with 64MB of RAM and 192MB of ROM, compared with the 128MB RAM and 128MB ROM allocation on the hx2700.

In addition to the included charging/sync cradle, the vendor has also bundled a good selection of software applications with the hx2790 such as Image Zone and iTask. What's missing is the backup utility that was offered with the hx2700. As part of the Window Mobile 5.0 package, a PowerPoint viewer, a download agent, a new version of Internet Explorer and Window Media Player 10 are also included.

Like the iPaq H5550, the hx2790 comes with the ProtectTools utility that scans the images of your two index fingers for security protection. Overall, using the biometric fingerprint scanner is intuitive and easy. We'd love to see this feature applied on more PDAs as it really sets your mind at ease that critical information stored on the handheld is safe, even if the device is misplaced or stolen.

Performance
As expected, the iPaq's user interface is snappy and responsive, thanks to the fast Intel Bulverde 624MHz processor. 3D games run smoothly, too. The twin speakers placed above the shortcut buttons also offer a respectably loud volume range. The trick, we found, is to open the flip cover to prevent the sound from being muffled.

In our tests, the 1,440mAh Lithium-ion battery lasted a respectable 6 hours before the low battery warning popped up after playing a looped MP3 song. When we looped a video, the hx2790 lasted close to 3.5 hours. A typical usage that included listening to MP3s in the subway with the screen toggled off, playing games and reading news on AvantGo allowed the battery to go on for about two days before a recharge was needed. Do note that battery life may vary depending on individual usage habits. Users will appreciate that the iPaq's battery is removable, so you can always carry extra cells for extended mobility.

Conclusion
For business users who want a fast, secure PDA with good battery life, the HP iPaq hx2790, with its biometric fingerprint scanner and Intel 624MHz processor, will not disappoint.