BostonPocketPC

Well, the new Ipaq 200 series is not new news really, but it is to me, and I could not hold off on my excitement about it anymore!  I have been using my trusty windows mobile 2003 Dell Axim X5 since 2004. Sure I have been tempted by several devices since then, but this new 200 series from Ipaq really did something to me. By now you have already seen the specs on it. If you have not, you can check out the Ipaq series 200.

I was originally looking at an Ipaq 2495 with windows mobile 2005. My upgrade interests included built in wifi/BT, office mobile, and persistent storage. I also wanted the compact flash expandability. The problem that I was facing was that the 2495 series was almost the same price as the series 200, which at the time of this post is listed as $399.99 from HP.com. I was doing all kinds of research from Aximsite.com and YouTube.com. I saw on Aximsite that a user bought the new Ipaq from a site called techonweb.com. They were the cheapest, and offered free shipping. For less than $10.00 more than the Ipaq 2495, I ordered the Ipaq 210 Wednesday afternoon and received it before 11 am the next day. Now that's service.

Now I am in the process of setting up my new gear. Because of the expandability, I can use most of my accessories (CF GPSr, existing memory cards, USB/Mini USB power adaptors). I am in the process of looking for a nice case now and most of my software that I used on the dell installed with no issues to the Ipaq.  I just need to upgrade to the newer version of Sprite backup.

Here is a size comparison of the Ipaq and Axim. It is longer than the axim, but a bit lighter and thinner. The VGA screen is incredible.

The price of the Ipaq is listed as $449.99 on HP.com. No doubt this is a lot of money. I had a hard time justifying the cost because my X5 ran well. I decided to take advantage of the price I got it at, at the time because the pro's as compared to my device were pretty high. This was my basic comparison I did:

Ipaq-Built in wifi and Bluetooth, 624 MHz, WM2006 (expandable) HP product life cycle of at least 3 years, SD/CF slots, 128/256 internal memory, SD slots supports high capacity SD cards and is SDIO, removable battery, office mobile (includes powerpoint) and HP included Adobe reader, 4 "VGA, persistent memory, USB connector

X5-wifi/BT ad on via CF adaptors needed, 400 MHz, wm2003 (no upgrades past this), CF/SD slots, 48/64 mb internal memory, SD slot supported up to 1 GB (although some people got more from various posts), not SDIO, removable battery, Adobe and powerpoint 3rd part software needed, QVGA, no persistent memory

I am looking forward to putting this baby to work and see what new things I can do. Installing Skype is also on my shortlist. I am sad to see my X5 be taken out of service. It has served me well and is still a powerhouse in general. As I said in the beginning, I could not hold off my excitement and had to shout it out to the world.  There's a new sheriff in town.