HP iPaq hw6965

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Features
One major difference between the hw6965 and the older hw6515 is the operating system. Running on the newer Windows Mobile 5.0 means the hw6965 comes with souped-up Mobile Office applications such as Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile which offers slide viewing but not editing. The two dedicated softkeys, matched with the two menu options that appear at the bottom of the display, allow for added accessibility and navigation.

According to HP, the hw6965 is one of its first PDA-phones to come with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0. The key enhancement with this service pack is the push email capability which worked without a hitch on the iPaq during tests.

Generally, despite using a 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor with 64MB of RAM, load times can occasionally be less than optimal. Because closing applications via the little cross on the upper right corner only minimizes it while letting it run in the background, users need to manually clear resident programs from the memory to prevent sluggish operation, a prevalent note for Windows Mobile 5.0.

Owning a device with a built-in GPS receiver is almost a godsend for many who need to find their way around often and tend to lose their bearings. This is especially true when this gadget serves as your mobile phone, a must-carry whenever one goes out. Our test results of the hw6965's GPS performance was somewhat of a mixed bag. Most times, the unit was able to smoothly chart and monitor our current location as we traveled briskly around via public bus or while driving. Via the MapKing software, we could also set destinations and get recommended routes. Occasionally, though, we could not get the GPS unit to locate where we were despite repeated attempts to pick up the signal. Overall, the GPS service is definitely a big feature plus for the hw6965.

Sporting a 1.3-megapixel camera sensor, the hw6965 offers a range of adjustable settings such as white balance, color and a flicker filter to remove banding due to fluorescent lighting. Image quality is acceptable if unspectacular, with low-lighting shots boosted slightly by the onboard photolight. In addition, the camera startup time is on average a decent 6 seconds, while the screen refresh rate during panning is pretty smooth. However, what mars the imaging performance of the handheld is undoubtedly its long shutter lag. At the highest-resolution settings, the hw6965 required anything between 2 and 4 lengthy seconds before the image was captured. In most cases, the photos shot during tests were ruined by our uncertainty of when the image was actually recorded.

The hw6965's multimedia functionality is handled via the Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Using the packaged earpiece, sound quality is commendably clear but lacks a little bass, a common complaint among most other handhelds. Unfortunately, the 2.5mm audio jack means users need to use an adapter if they wish to listen to music through their favorite, traditional 3.5mm-type earphones.

The addition of Wi-Fi--the one glaring absentee on the hw6515--coupled with the prevalent suite of Bluetooth, infrared and EDGE connectivity as well as quadband GSM support, make the hw6965 a true traveler's boon to bring on those business trips.

Unlike the hw6515, which had both SD and miniSD slots, the former presumably as compensation for the lack of Wi-Fi, the hw6965 comes equipped with only the latter found on the bottom right. Also, since HP uses a proprietary cable connection via docking station for syncing to your PC desktop and charging, users will not be able to use their spare miniUSB cables lying around the house.