HP iPAQ H5550 Pocket PC
Posted by laptop online staff | Posted in PDA | Posted on 14-10-2010
5
Amazon.co.uk Review
The h5550 Pocket PC is Hewlett Packard’s latest, top of the range iPAQ. The hardware design is modelled very much on the similarly named h5450 and it retains the stylish looks that characterise iPAQs in general. Like the h5450, this new model has built in 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, as well as fingerprint recognition. The latter works in conjunction with the password system that comes with Pocket PC as standard, to make this probably the most secu… More >>
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This is my third Pocket PC PDA, the previous two being a Dell Axim X5 and a Ipaq 2210. However, unlike those two this PDA has one serious advantage – 128mb of ram. Its just so much better to have all your programs installed in main memory than a memory card as the programs run so much faster. And having both 11b WiFi and Bluetooth gives the best of both worlds.
As for the reviewer complaining about the fingerprint reader, I’ve never had a problem with it. Their comment about the XDA II? Well that has a number of hardware & software compatibility issues with Pocket PC software…
Rating: 5 / 5
We have 2 PDAs in our family – this one and a Dell Axim.
This is by far the more expensive of the 2, but the features are worth it.
Both WiFi and Bluetooth without adding cards or expansions, lots of memory, and very easy to use.
I use mine mainly for listening to audible books (via bluetooth headset in my ear) and reading ebooks in Microsoft Reader format.
I can carry easily about 80 pictures from my portfolio, plus about 70 ebooks (nice selection), plus on an expansion card carry several audible format books.
Plus plenty of space for other programs.
If you want a cheap item, look elsewhere. If you want quality and something that has the capacity to do what you want, then buy this PDA.
Rating: 5 / 5
I’ve been using an iPaq 3850 for 3 years, and have just upgraded to the 5550. The 5550 sorts out all the (minor) shortcomings of the 3850: it’s much faster, has far more memory, the battery is user-replaceable, and it’s got wireless & bluetooth. The ‘original’ iPaq shape fits my Navman GPS sleeve, and all my old programs loaded up with no problems.
The old 3850 was built to last for ever, and the 5550 has the same solid, industrial build quality. Only gripe? It doesn’t come with the old-style plastic flip-top cover – essential bit of kit that makes it almost indestructable. I bought mine in Tottenham Court Road as they are hard to find on the web.
Summary – essential upgrade. Expensive, but worth every penny.
Rating: 5 / 5
Just before Christmas (2004) I bought an iPAQ 2210. As well as the usual PDA tasks I also wanted it to use with my Fortuna GPS sat nav/Tom Tom3. Unfortunately the Bluetooth link kept dropping out due to a Bluetooth glitch in the iPAQ. So, the 2210 has gone and I now have the 5550. Although considerably heavier I like the 5550 much better. This is the Rolls Royce of PDAs. The performance is superb and it feels really well built. The WiFi, Bluetooth and Infrared make it very versatile. I do agree with “gray 2112″ about the low sound output with the sat nav, but have got around this by using a mobile phone hands free kit. Simply clip the mic’ ever the speaker of the iPAQ and bingo, loud enough to hear anywhere in the car. Apart from that it is the bees knees!
Rating: 5 / 5
The essentials from your main PC in a handheld package. More and more applications available for it that increase it’s effectiveness. On a recent trip to New York I found a wireless network from my hotel room that I could connect to that let me browse the web and send / receive e-mail.
Rating: 4 / 5