RED SEVEN

Just got myself a wireless router and have been surfing around on some PDA friendly sites. Found an article on PocketPCthoughts.com about an Irish women attempting to be the first Irish women to climb Everest and she's been equiped with an IPAQ hx 4700 as her communications unit.
So we can now live vicariously through our PDA as world adventurers.
I'm wondering how the unit will handle those temperatures though...

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RED SEVEN
7

IPAQ HX 4700

Phullcourt

I don't think it's going to fare very well; from the spec sheet:

Operating Temperature Range
0 to 40° C

Storage Temperature Range
–20 to 60° C

Operating Humidity Range
90% RH

I'm also interested in how she is going to "communicate" with it; via bluetooth to satellite phone or some other method?

If she thinks there is a Starbucks up there with free Wi-Fi she's in for a very rude surprise!

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"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend; inside of a dog it's too dark to read" - Groucho Marx

RED SEVEN

Originally Posted by Phullcourt

I don't think it's going to fare very well; from the spec sheet: Operating Temperature Range 0 to 40° C Storage Temperature Range –20 to 60° C Operating Humidity Range 90% RH I'm also interested in how she is going to "communicate" with it; via bluetooth to satellite phone or some other method? If she thinks there is a Starbucks up there with free Wi-Fi she's in for a very rude surprise!

She's going to send email and digital images according to the ARTICLE
"Using a PDA device enabled with Extended Systems' OneBridge Mobile Groupware solution, Grania has been sending Irish Times readers regular updates of her ascent"

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RED SEVEN
7

IPAQ HX 4700

DavesPPC

Originally Posted by Red Seven

Just got myself a wireless router and have been surfing around on some PDA friendly sites. Found an article on PocketPCthoughts.com about an Irish women attempting to be the first Irish women to climb Everest and she's been equiped with an IPAQ hx 4700 as her communications unit. So we can now live vicariously through our PDA as world adventurers. I'm wondering how the unit will handle those temperatures though...

Probably not very well ?
Extreme cold....no, I don't think it would fare well at all.

Chatbox

As HP is the sponsor, they might have done something to the 4700 so that it'll function under those extreme weather conditions.

gschoots

Maybe an otterbox will keep it alive....

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RaTBaG

At the temperatures she will be experiencing the batteries will last all of 2 seconds (ok maybe a tad longer). I just hope she keeps this thing close so that it will benefit from body heat. Anyone want to trade places with an iPAQ?
Opps... Please moderate this positing asap!
Totally non-PC.
Done in the best possible taste.
RB

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Anything I say will probably be stupid so ignore it anyway

RED SEVEN

I don't really think it's a question of will it work or not. People don't just casually climb Everest. Often months or years of planning go into a climb like this. Someone has obviously thought this out and figured out how to achieve this. Maybe the question is not whether it will survive the temperatures and conditions but how they will see that it does.
Recently a type one diabetic climbed Everest. Insulin will freeze but obviously they found a way to keep it warm enough. I'm sure they can achieve this with the Ipaq as well.
Any extreme sports people out there take your PDA into unusual conditions?

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RED SEVEN
7

IPAQ HX 4700

RaTBaG

I take mine to the gym. Not quite the same is it?

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Anything I say will probably be stupid so ignore it anyway

pdallow

Originally Posted by RaTBaG

I take mine to the gym. Not quite the same is it?

I use an Otterbox 1900 with a otterbox 1000 for the Tom Tom GPS, and find it's great for outdoor stuff. I have been using it for fell walking/climbing etc and was anticipating taking the thing for ski navigation. I would guess that with the Otterbox keeping the PDA airtight and waterproof, it should be warm enough inside a ski jacket pocket.

One slight problem I've had is turning things on and off without opening the Otterbox. My current solution is to have auto-turn-off after 1 minute and use one of upper buttons of the keypad to turn on iTask. Anyone got any better ideas?

Pete

imported_leighj

i know seagate recently sent some of their external hdd's up on everest for extreme testing. it was used for data gathering and photo archiving.
passed with flying colors.

spaceweasel

She will fair OK as long as she keeps the reset hole defrosted.

mikeypas

Maybe not really the same, but I use my Canon Digital Rebel camera in Nunavik (northern Canada). The camera has about the same specs as the Ipaq, and the usual warning about cold weather affecting battery life, but I was surpised on how long my battery power lasted (over 2 hrs LiOH battery).
In fact, my lens cracked before any electrical issues occurred.

(temperatures between -40celcius and -60celcius with wind)