I'd like to ask if the language does affect the date/time formats. That is, can you change the format to the german convention dd.mm.yyyy in the english version of the hx4700? Furthermore, does the language version affect the writing recognition via touchscreen? Does the Pocket PC have a language-specific dictionary which is used for writing recognition?

The date/ time formats are taken from the Regional Settings section of the Settings panel, and so should default to their 'normal' version for the country you are in (so Australia is dd/mm/yyyy).

Don't know about the recognition - but I would be surprised if it didn't.

Regards

Rob