So Long X50

[Jogga]

OK guys ... the machine is here and it's now all set up and running.


Conclusion: It will do.

-CB :approve:

CB, you are the greatest: thanks for an excellent review :approve:

I think that you are probably responsible for me spending a couple of hundred pounds in the next few days (that's what I'm telling Mrs Jogga anyway)! The fact that you transferred all of your software is a big selling point for me.

Just one other thought: I have probably changed my mind on screen protectors. Like you, I've never had a great deal of time for them but over recent weeks I have ruined my X50 screen with continuous use and data input. I'll probably spring for some in the early days to see how I get on with them.

Once again, thanks for the feedback. :approve:

[Julie]

Here's a link where you can get an extended battery for your IPAQ - I bought this battery for my hw2415 and it works great!

HP iPAQ HX2000 RX3000 Series OEM Battery 2880mah Extended Lithium Ion battery (FA833AA#AC3) :: HP iPAQ HX2000 :: Hewlett Packard :: PDA, Pocket PC, Smartphone :: Batteries :: Gizmos2Go

[CodeBubba]

Here's a link where you can get an extended battery for your IPAQ - I bought this battery for my hw2415 and it works great!

HP iPAQ HX2000 RX3000 Series OEM Battery 2880mah Extended Lithium Ion battery (FA833AA#AC3) :: HP iPAQ HX2000 :: Hewlett Packard :: PDA, Pocket PC, Smartphone :: Batteries :: Gizmos2Go

Julie,

Does this battery require a replacement back on the device, though? That would require a new case and all that which I think I'd rather not do. I think the 1440 will be enough, though.

On a different subject - I'm was just wondering if I killed my Axim by using 3rd-party batteries? They seemed to work just fine but that was seriously weird - the thing just stopped sensing the state of the battery - then I couldn't get it to boot. Maybe not related, but maybe it was. The machine was 3 years old - so maybe I just wore it out.

-CB

[CodeBubba]

CB, you are the greatest: thanks for an excellent review :approve:

Glad it was of help!

I think that you are probably responsible for me spending a couple of hundred pounds in the next few days (that's what I'm telling Mrs Jogga anyway)! The fact that you transferred all of your software is a big selling point for me.

I was really glad that it all moved over. I've spent quite a bit on the software for the machine. One thing I *did* finally decide to replace was spb Pocket-Plus, though. ($29). The one I had (v2.5) just seemed a bit long-in-the-tooth on the device and a few items (like the screen brightness tool) didn't work anymore. No other casualties, though - everything else seems to be running fine.

Just one other thought: I have probably changed my mind on screen protectors. Like you, I've never had a great deal of time for them but over recent weeks I have ruined my X50 screen with continuous use and data input. I'll probably spring for some in the early days to see how I get on with them.

I've been round-and-round with the screen protector issue over the years. I finally decided that I was causing more damage to the screen by applying the stupid things than I was doing with the stylus. The screen on the Axim does show definite wear (I mean, c'mon - it's 3 years old!) but no serious scratches that impede the device at all; you have to hold it sideways under a light to even see them. The screen is just so much more responsive as it was designed to be - and if gentle with only the stylus I haven't seen problems in recent units.

Offhand I think that if screen protectors were such a big issue HP might have suggested or pushed them when I bought this unit. Not one word; in fact they don't even offer them on the accessories page for the device.

Buy HP iPAQ hx2495 Pocket PC(FA674B#ABA) direct from the HP Home & Home Office Store

My attitude about that is that if the manufacturer isn't suggesting them then maybe it's a non-issue. Individual choice, obviously, but I've stopped being "anal" about junk like this. The device will wear, eventually wear out and be replaced some day.

Enough of that! :D

-CB

[Julie]

Julie,

Does this battery require a replacement back on the device, though? That would require a new case and all that which I think I'd rather not do. I think the 1440 will be enough, though.

On a different subject - I'm was just wondering if I killed my Axim by using 3rd-party batteries? They seemed to work just fine but that was seriously weird - the thing just stopped sensing the state of the battery - then I couldn't get it to boot. Maybe not related, but maybe it was. The machine was 3 years old - so maybe I just wore it out.

-CB

Yes, the battery comes with a replacement back and if you have a form fitting case for the pocket pc, it will not fit with the extended battery in it. I bought the extended battery when I was going to be making a long flight home and I wanted to watch some movies on the pocket pc. I really don't like cases, so it didn't really matter that much to me, and it has been nice being able to use the pocket pc without having to always be concerned about battery life.

I've read quite a lot of threads from users who have had problems with replacement batteries. I avoid buying stuff like that on eBay or from a supplier that is not well known, since these kinds of things (batteries, storage cards) are easily counterfeited and there seems to be a lot of inferior products out there.

BTW, I don't use screen protectors on any of my IPAQs. I never liked them and I could never get them on straight. The most wear I see (which is not much) is on the spot at the top right hand side of the screen where you tap the X.

[Jogga]

Ok, it's done: I've just ordered my hx2790

I'll update here when the new toy arrives. Once again, thanks to CB & Julie for some excellent advice. :approve:

[spunker88]

Dont they usually make you sign for the more expensive packages like that?

So wouldnt ur neighbor had to have signed it if they thought that was the right house? If i remember right i think i had to sign for my axim.

[Julie]

Jogga,

I think the 2790 is a pretty good pocket pc, except there is one problem with it that has never been addressed by HP (I don't have a 2790, so I am only referring to what I've read on this and the HP forum).

The 2790 has a thumb security option and uses HP Protect Tools by Credent. I think when the highest level of HP Protect Tools is enabled, the Pocket PC turns on in regular intervals (I guess to encrypt data) and this causes the battery to drain. The only way to avoid this is by disabling HP Protect Tools. I don't use HP Protect Tools on my IPAQ because I've read too many threads from users who either forgot their passwords and had to perform a full reset to regain access to the pocket pc. I've also read threads from users who have gotten locked out of their pocket pcs because the pocket pc did not recognize their thumb print.

There are a couple of threads I could find and post for you to read more about it. I'll be interested to hear about your experience with this after you've had a chance to explore it for yourself.

[CodeBubba]

Ok, it's done: I've just ordered my hx2790

I'll update here when the new toy arrives. Once again, thanks to CB & Julie for some excellent advice. :approve:

Cool! We'll look forward to hearing about the new toy. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

-CB :D

[CodeBubba]

Dont they usually make you sign for the more expensive packages like that?

So wouldnt ur neighbor had to have signed it if they thought that was the right house? If i remember right i think i had to sign for my axim.

Yeah ... I don't get it. They just left it on Larry's front porch. They told me that signature would be required. There was no one home at Larry's house.

Fortunately I checked the FedEx site and spotted that it had been marked "delivered" so I immediately ran up there and found it sitting there - so no harm done. This happens a lot where we live - my driveway goes back about 600' between two other houses - people frequently make that mistake. Actually a good thing - most of the time people can't find us unless we tell 'em exactly where we are.

I guess from now on I'm going to have to issue special instructions when I order something telling them the location of the house. Didn't occur to me to do that.

-CB :D

[CodeBubba]

I've had an ipaq hx2795b for about 9 months, so far I have been very pleased with it. Although it doesn't have a VGA screen, it does have one of the nicest QVGA screens I've seen. Very nice contrast and colors are very rich and vibrant.

It's quite fast and has a large enough standard size battery (1440 mAh) that the battery life is very good. Also, the operating system seems to be quite stable, I very seldom have the occasion to have to reset it.

James,

Sorry ... must have missed your post!

Yes, the display on this box is brilliant - even better than the X50's which I thought was excellent also. On this one I have the backlight set at half brightness and it's almost as bright as the X50 was on full-bright. Also, the X50 backlight had a minor issue ... you could see at the bottom of the screen some alternating bright/dim zones. Not a big deal - but it made the display look just a little "patchy". On this HP, though, it's completely uniform no matter which way you turn it and the display is really sharp and clear. I'm really pleased with this one.

-CB :approve:

[CodeBubba]

Yes, the battery comes with a replacement back and if you have a form fitting case for the pocket pc, it will not fit with the extended battery in it. I bought the extended battery when I was going to be making a long flight home and I wanted to watch some movies on the pocket pc. I really don't like cases, so it didn't really matter that much to me, and it has been nice being able to use the pocket pc without having to always be concerned about battery life.

Hmm ... well, I don't travel as much as some folks do (at least not commercial) so I think I'll try with the 1440 for now. If I find myself routinely running low or something then maybe I'll get a 2nd charger or another battery.

I've read quite a lot of threads from users who have had problems with replacement batteries. I avoid buying stuff like that on eBay or from a supplier that is not well known, since these kinds of things (batteries, storage cards) are easily counterfeited and there seems to be a lot of inferior products out there.

Yeah ... I'm beginning to wonder, now, if that's what happened. My regular Dell batteries were starting to wear out about a year ago and I bought one 3rd-party one. Didn't seem to have any problems with it. More recently I phased out the last Dell battery and bought another 3rd-party one (from the same supplier). What I found strange, though, was one of them was label-rated at 1000mAH and lasted longer than all the rest. The most recent one I bought was rated correctly but seemed a little light on performance. Then all-of-a-sudden the device refused to read the battery charge and started acting really weird. Even a hard-reset didn't fix the battery-sensing. The device thought it had 20% remaining, I'd put a full battery in and it still wouldn't reset. Then I had trouble booting the device (soft-reset) which has NEVER happened before - the battery sensing never fixed itself. I figured that was, as they say, IT.

I guess I learned the hard way (again) that you get what you pay for. Those after-market batteries were about $10 each. Turns out they may have been far more expensive. That Ax really should have lasted another couple years at least. Oh well. I'll buy nothing for this HP except what HP supplies this time. I'd like this one to last five years.

BTW, I don't use screen protectors on any of my IPAQs. I never liked them and I could never get them on straight. The most wear I see (which is not much) is on the spot at the top right hand side of the screen where you tap the X.

The first two PDA's I had seemed to develop major wear without a screen protector. (The E-10 and E-100). So I tried using protectors for awhile. However I discovered that the more recent displays were made of a different material and didn't scratch from stylus use anymore. After futzing with a couple of screen protectors on the Ax I finally said "to hell with it" and tried going "naked", as they say. The display took the wear just fine. Oh yeah, some wear marks eventually developed - but no significant scratching. I won't waste money on those overlays again. Not worth the hassle or the money.

-CB :)

[Jogga]

Jogga,

I think the 2790 is a pretty good pocket pc, except there is one problem with it that has never been addressed by HP (I don't have a 2790, so I am only referring to what I've read on this and the HP forum).

[...snip...]

There are a couple of threads I could find and post for you to read more about it. I'll be interested to hear about your experience with this after you've had a chance to explore it for yourself.

Thanks Julie. Actually, I was aware of some of the issues surrounding HP security, I have some colleagues that have used this device previously. However, the biometric scanner is no more than an interesting toy that is unlikely to see much use. :)

I confess, my X50 security is pretty lax (with the exception of a few personal files that I encrypt), but, as I never leave it anywhere, it hasn't presented a problem to date.

However, I will be trying out all the stuff on the new machine and promise to report my findings.

[CodeBubba]

Hey Jogga,

I take back what I said about the screen protectors awhile ago. I was just over at Wal Mart and spotted some "Write Right" universal screen protectors on the shelf for about five-bucks. I wondered if, maybe I should try them one more time.

As it turns out these are MUCH better than the ones I tried last time. Previously I found the thin skin ones would grip the stylus when I tried to play Virtual Pool or anything else that required a stylus "stroke" and they caused the screen to look hazy. They have apparently addressed both issues - I sized one to the screen and applied it and now can't even tell that it's not the original screen surface. Very clear and very slick with the stylus. Considering that it's that much better now it's definitely worth protecting the screen. Two years ago they just weren't that good. (And, yes, I tried the hard shell ones - they were what turned me off of the protectors; it was hell getting them in place without getting crud under them).

Anyway .. these are made by "Fellowes" - and they're set up so you can easily measure your screen and cut them to size with scissors. Application of them is easy and they also lay down without bubbles better than previous ones did ... I see no bubbles already; used to take a long time for them to all work out.

Now I can use the device without having to constantly check to make sure there isn't some crud on the stylus. That was no big deal but it's nice not to have to worry about it.

-CB :D

[Jogga]

Thanks for the update CB: I probably will try them on my new toy and see how it goes. I just don't want to see the same type of damage to the IPAQ as I have the Axim.