HP iPaq 112 Classic Handheld

Dedicated PDAs are a dying breed. The demand for such devices is shrinking because PDA-phones make more sense for many who wish to reduce the number of items carried around. Granted, some organizations still need them for specific tasks like inventory management. And certainly, some consumers still prefer to have a dedicated device because the lack of cellular radios means longer battery life. It will take a big organization to cater to such a niche market, and they don't come bigger than HP, which has one enterprise and one consumer model in its portfolio of non-cellular iPaq handhelds. Here's our review of the consumer-oriented and long-windedly named iPaq 112 Classic Handheld.

Design

The design of the 112 is reminiscent of the HP iPaq rx19xx series because of the rounded base and slim design. The metallic silver front panel is complemented by a black soft-touch finish around the sides and back, which makes it feel pretty good in the hands. Those who like their PDA compact won't be disappointed by the 112. Its dimensions are 116.7 x 68.9 x 13.6mm with a weight of about 115g, pretty light for a device with a 3-inch display.

The Today screen on the 112.
(click for larger image)

While 3-inch displays are nothing new, most current handhelds are also mobile phones which have significantly smaller LCDs. By comparison, the one on the 112 is huge. Its resolution is still only 320 x 240, though, which is a pity considering PDAs from a few years back already sported VGA-resolution ones. This is surely a decision to keep cost down, but we felt it would have been a nice inclusion. Nonetheless, the current panel shows text sharply and is plenty bright. Above the LCD is a light sensor which even adjusts the brightness automatically--increasing it under strong light so you can see and dimming it in dark places for battery conservation.

Below the LCD are a five-way navigator and four shortcut buttons. There's one more voice recorder button on the right for instant access to voice memos. The power button is also found on the right. There is a grand total of two connectors on the 112, a 3.5mm audio jack on the top and a standard mini-USB port for charging and syncing.

The stylus is important for a PDA without a keypad; the slot for the 112 is found on the top right corner. The metal stylus has a good weight and feel to it but we did find it to be too snug when inserted--a problem that should solve itself over time as the stylus is used more.

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