HP iPAQ hx2100 Review
Review by Jonathan Cheah
At A Glance:
Local Distributor: HP Sales Malaysia (M) Sdn Bhd.
Contact: 03-2332 3333
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Build quality: 8/10
Applications: 8/10
Interface: 8/10
Value-for-money: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
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+ Bluetooth
+ Removable Battery
+ Landscape/Portrait Modes
- No WiFi
- Screen protector badly placed
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Small and simple
There are three iPAQ PDAs in the hx2000 series of products. This one is the lowest end of them, and the hx2100 is pretty similar to the hx2110. The hx2410 uses a more powerful 510 MHz processor and comes with WiFi capabilities. Finally, the top of the range is the hx2750, with double the ROM and RAM available to the 2110. It further has a 624 MHz processor and the WiFi capability still remains in the device.
The next step up
The hx2100 is probably the next step up for a relatively new PDA user. It is slightly up the range compared to the rz1710 we looked at earlier, including the Bluetooth capability and a Compact Flash slot.
Instead of having a pouch or container for the device, this PDA has a flip-up plastic screen. In my opinion, the screen is one of the best ideas to ever show up on a PDA, and the only downside as I see it would be that it impedes the stylus. If HP placed the stylus elsewhere, the plastic shield would be just perfect.
The record button can be accessed even with the shield covering the screen because this button is located smack in the middle of the rubberised grip on the right side. The quality of the recording is not very usable, but the rubberised grips were a nice touch to enable the user to hold the iPAQ with a better grip.
The hx2100 does not come with a cradle, which must be purchased separately. Instead, it uses a synchronisation cable that can be plugged into a USB port on a computer. An extended battery is also available, and is rated at about one and the half times the standard battery that comes with the hx2100.
| Editor's Opinion |
If you are able to spend an extra RM 400 or so, then I would suggest going straight for the hx2400 we mentioned earlier, although there has yet to be any news as to whether this is going to be available in Malaysia or not.
The extra RM 400 begets you a proper USB cradle and an extended battery, and the faster processor and WiFi capabilities would mean that you have got a really good deal. I would say that the removable battery is a huge plus, as you will be able to simply purchase a new battery to replace this one when it dies eventually.
The price is a little stiff, as usual. Expect the price for the sister hx2400 model to be even more expensive, as Malaysia places a tax on PDA devices with WiFi. Perhaps that is also one reason why HP Malaysia neglected to mention anything about the other two versions of this PDA coming to Malaysia.
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