HP iPAQ rz1710 Pocket PC (Silver & Black)

A few months a go I traded in my palm for the ipaq. The reason being that I wanted wifi option and more power for games and other applications.

The change has been nothing short of meteoric. I hadn't realised how much difference a wifi connection would make to how I use the device.

Here are some of the things I now get upto with my newfound ipaq friend:

- Reading and sending email in real time
- Viewing BB film trailiers on the loo!
- Listening to worldwide radio anywher in my house
- Listening to MP3's (I've now also sold my minidisc player).
- Playing old Lucas Arts games like Monkey Island etc
- Playing Arcade games on mame
- Recording live audio
- Having a sync calandar and contacts where ever I go
- Chating to friends on messenager in the lounge
- Keeping up with the Papers (guardian unlimited is great!)
- Having my photo's and movies with me all the time.

All in all, this has been an excellent purchase. One worth shopping around for as prices seem to vary greatly.

Within 30 seconds of powering mine up I was surfing the web on my home wireless network and the tiny browser did a great job of displaying the pages. Some sites now detect that you are browsing from a PDA and serve up appropriatly formatted content, and quite a few places now offer wireless access, including some coffee shops and airport lounges.

Connecting via Bluetooth to a Bluetooth enabled phone is also possible although more effort. You can use your phone to dial your ISP or you can utilise your phone company's GPRS service. GPRS is preferable as you do not need to use your own ISP - and an SMTP (outgoing mail server) is also provided. This all means that you can access your email whilst on the move.

For a list of compatible software titles, go to www.handango.com - I've downloaded lots, including mySportTraining and a map of the London Tube - both very useful.

Overall a great product. Much smaller and therefore much more usable than the larger format IPAQs.

Just one warning though - avoid the inbuilt Jawbreaker game. My whole family have become addicted to it!

It's very easy to use, programmes are easy to download onto it. I love the way it switches on and off instantly without any hassle of loading screens you get with normal pc/laptops. The battery usually lasts me at least 4/5 days before a recharge, and it fits neatly into my trouser pocket, ready for use.

A spare SD card in the slot is ESSENTIAL. It's been said that the ipaq 3175 can't handle more than 2 programmes at once. This is not true. I can usually open around 8 programmes before it slows... and crashes. The key is to download the programmes onto the SD card, NOT the default main memory, which is 128MB and shared with it's ability to open programmes. One quickly learns to close programmes that one is not using anyway!

I don't find the internet explorer on it practical enough to use frequently as the screen isn't great for it, and the camera is quite awful in poor lighting. I do occasionally use these functions though. Also, the case that comes with it is not that practical, as you have to take the damn thing off every time to use it - not quick enough when you have consultants firing questions at you left right and centre! Invest in a trendy case that opens up like a book.

I've never used any other ppcs before, so I can't compare, but I'm quite content with this one and can't see myself needing to upgrade for a good few years.

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