HP iPAQ 5450: this PDA gives you (almost) everything you'd want in a handheld.

There's an adage I've heard from New York friends--living in NYC, you can only have two out of three of the following: a good relationship, a good job, or a good apartment. The same may apply to handheld computers. That is, you can only get two of these options in a PDA: inexpensive, full-featured, or small. HP, in its first "go" at the venerable iPAQ line of Pocket PCs it inherited in its merger with Compaq, has created a handheld that's both incredibly powerful and small--and incredibly expensive. The HP iPAQ 5450 (and its cousin, the similar iPAQ 5455, different only in the included software bundle), raises the bar on handheld device capabilities. Although the device would be a dream for anyone, its steep price (US$600 to $700) keeps it out of reach for all but serious professionals.

I owned one of the early iPAQ 3630 models (three or four generations old, in the iPAQ world) and can compare the new model to the original. Most noticeable is the brighter, clearer screen. The screen displays 320x240 pixels, in 64K colors. It's easier to read, both indoors and outdoors, than the previous incarnation. The 5450 also includes a removable, replaceable battery, letting road warriors carry an extra battery for long trips. (Here's an interesting tidbit: If you remove the battery, you'll see a slot that's clearly meant to hold a GSM phone SIM card, underneath the battery. The foils at HP confirmed the slot is totally vestigial in this version, which can't be a phone, no matter how hard you wish it to happen. Actually, the slot is the opposite of vestigial, as it's there to support functionality coming in future versions of the hardware.)

The 5450 can communicate with just about any other computer, as it supports 802.11b, Bluetooth, and infrared. The 802.11b wireless LAN connection was amazingly simple to connect. within seconds, I was connected to my home wireless LAN, and surfing the Web (if that's what you want to call it on a screen this tiny). HP has supplied an easy to-use Bluetooth wizard that can search for existing Bluetooth devices, and connect to specific services on the discovered devices. I recently reviewed a portable printer from HP that includes Bluetooth support, and I was able to print to that printer from the iPAQ within just a few moments. The iPAQ also discovered and attempted to communicate with my Bluetooth phone, making it possible to use the GSM phone as a modem for the iPAQ.

Security features

If you think about it for even a second, you'll realize a handheld device carries the important data most likely to "sprout legs"--that is, get lost or stolen. Every handheld computer has some sort of mechanism for securing its data, usually simple passwords. The iPAQ 5450 adds a new biometric device for security. The fingerprint reader on the front lets you train the device to unlock only for your individual fingerprints (for one or more fingers). You can also combine the biometric security with an alphanumeric password.

Training the biometric scanner requires a great deal of patience. When I finally realized the device was using infrared/heat sensors to read fingerprints, it all became a bit more consistent for me. That is, I get much better results by "warning up" my finger before attempting to scan it. Rubbing it on my pants leg (as inelegant as that may sound) seems to do the trick. Now I almost always get perfect recognition on the first attempt.

Software features

In addition to the standard software features, the 5450 ships with iPAQ Image Viewer and several other HP-specific items. One item of dubious value is the Nevo remote control software, which lets you use your $600 iPAQ as the world's most expensive remote control for your home electronics. I guess there are those who will find this "cool-in-theory" software useful. My iPAQ tends to never be in the same vicinity as my home entertainment system, and I don't want to rely on a business device to manage my television watching. Others swear by this new feature. It's fun, but I'll pass.

Besides these cool features, the 5450 supports a new faster processor, the Intel XScale processor running at 400MHz. It certainly feds slightly zippier than my older iPAQ. The form factor is slightly different than old iPAQs, so all the old sleeves continue to work, but both the charger/data connector and the location of the buttons have changed. You should be able to use cables and styli from the previous few versions, but not as far hack as my original iPAQ 3635.

Although this handheld provides just about every bell and whistle currently available on a non-phone device, it's not quite perfect. To make room for the biometric device, for example, HP had to make the circular "pointer" device very small, and extremely difficult to use. Gamers beware; this device will make it hard to play games that require dexterous use of the pointer. Also, the speaker (which admittedly was never all that great on the 3635) is far worse now. I can just barely make out the sound coming out of the tiny hole. The concept of tin cans and string comes to mind when attempting to listen to voice recordings or music on the device without a headset.

Speaking of the headset, the jack has migrated from the top of the device to the bottom, which may not be a big deal; but, if you use your iPAQ as a portable music player (far more likely, now that the device sports a Secure Digital slot on the top), you may be surprised to find the connector inconveniently located on the bottom.

I originally purchased the iPAQ 5450 intending to use it with the Novatel Wireless Merlin C201 card available from Sprint PCS, which allows for wireless access to the Internet anywhere Sprint PCS has coverage. This card works great in my laptop, and with the old iPAQ 3635. Unfortunately, attempts to make it work with the 5450 fail. Many folks have complained about this on the public newsgroups, and I have at least two friends who had the same problem. Sprint PCS's tech support was hopeless ("I guess it doesn't work in that device" wasn't very helpful), Novatel doesn't provide tech support, and HP's frontline tech support folks just said "It has a different processor. Guess the drivers don't work."

Finally reaching someone who could get me an answer at HP, it appears that at least HP and Novatel are now aware of the problem and are seeking a solution. This doesn't help if you need this functionality immediately, but it does at least indicate there's hope.

UpShot

I bought the iPAQ 5450 because it was the first Pocket PC 2002 device to support both 802.11b and Bluetooth, provide a Secure Digital slot, and support existing sleeves and add-ons. If you need all those features, it's a shoo-in. It satisfies all these requirements, and does it elegantly. On the other hand, it's worth considering whether you really need all the features. For example, you can get Bluetooth adapters in a number of configurations, including CompactFlash and PC Card. (You can find Secure Digital form-factor implementations, but I couldn't find one compatible with the iPAQ.) The same is true for 802.11b adapters. Therefore, if you want to save a bit of money, you can invest in the cheaper 3900 iPAQ series, and get most of the same features for less. If you want it all in one package, however (or, at least, two out of three), check out the iPAQ 5450/5455. You won't be disappointed.

Hewlett-Packard

http://www.hp.com

iPAQ 5450

US$600

DIMENSIONS: 5.23" height; 3.30" width: .63" depth

WEIGHT: 7.26 oz

SCREEN SIZE: 3.02" height; 2.26" width

RESOLUTION: 320x240

DISPLAY: 64,000 colors

BACKLIT SCREEN: Yes

BATTERY TYPE: Li-Ion

OS: Pocket PC 2002

PROCESSOR: 400MHz Intel PXA 250

MEMORY: 64MB RAM; 48ME Flash ROM

EXPANSION SLOTS: SD/MMC

PORTS: Headphone jack

INPUT DEVICE: Stylus, keyboard

VOICE RECORDER: Yes

INTERNET: Web, e-mail

TEXT MESSAGING: MSN Messenger client included

APPLICATIONS: Standard Pocket PC applications, plus IPAQ Image viewer, IPAQ Backup, Nevo remote control software

SYNC: Microsoft ActiveSync

INFRARED: Yes

DATA SPEED: 11 Mbps for 802.11b; 721 kbps for Bluetooth

ADVISOR[R] EVAL[TM]

BUSINESS BENEFITS

You'll pay more for the package, but this smartphone provides a ton of useful PDA features.

(+) Full-featured

(+) Biometric security

(+) Offers Bluetooth, 802.11b, and infrared connectivity

(-) Doesn't yet work with Novatel wireless card for Sprint PCS

(-) Steep price

(-) Poor sound quality on speaker

Technical Editor Ken Getz is a programmer, technical writer, educator, and senior consultant with MCW Technologies. He develops custom applications and tools using ASP.NET, Visual Studio .NET, and Microsoft Office, and spends much of his free time researching and testing mobile hardware. He's been a Microsoft MVP award winner since the program began. Ken teaches ASP.NET, C#, and VB.NET for Application Developers Training Company, and is a frequent speaker at Microsoft events, ADVISOR DEVCON, and other technical conferences. He's co-author of ASP.NET Jumpstart with Paul D. Sheriff (SAMS), Access 2002 Developer's Handbook series, and VBA Developer's Handbook (Sybex). http://www.developershandbook.com, [e-mail].