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$399.95
1.28% pricedrop
Avg. Price: $405.16
28 customer reviews
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- Whether you're an IT manager or a mobile professional, you can maximize your business results with an organizer that makes the most of your on-the-go style. The powerful iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld will run your work applications and a broad range of third-party solutions. The large 4" touch screen means excellent viewing in a variety of light conditions. It has robust SDIO expansion and it lets you connect to the Internet and get e-mail, at the office and in Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, cafes, and hotels. Integrated WiFi - 802.11 b/g with WPA2 security Integrated Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR Marvell PXA310, 624MHz Processor 4 transflective TFT 260K color Display, 480 x 640 pixel (VGA) touch panel with LED backlight 128MB SDRAM main memory for running applications, 256MB flash ROM 2200-mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable, user changeable battery 24-pin docking connector, mini USB, Micro SD card slot Integrated microphone, receiver, two speakers, and 3.5mm 4 pin headphone jack Operating system - Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Classic Dimensions - 4.96 x 2.99 x 0.63 Weight - 114.6 grams (3.68 ounces) with battery
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- HP iPAQ 210 Enterprise Handheld
HP hit a homerun! The IPAQ 210 is an outstanding handheld laddened with enough features to serve admirably as a laptop replacement. Its brilliant screen displays photographs, Adobe pdf attachments and spreadsheets with ease and is large enough to accommodate your favorite movie. Typical PDA functions - calendar, contacts, notes, voice recordings etc. are a snap with Windows Mobile 6.1. WiFi and Bluetooth are easy to use and well integrated. This little trooper runs for hours on a single charge. If you are serious about using the IPAQ as a laptop replacement, you will need to purchase the Bluetooth keyboard accessory. Excellence is expensive, but the IPAQ 210 well worth it -- think of it for less than $500 bucks you can stop lugging that laptop!
Pros: Outstanding PDA and Microsoft Office Mobile, Gorgeous Screen, Laptop Replacement
Cons: Weak Speaker, Bluetooth Bonding for external keyboard can be finicky
- Great product that I'm still learning how to use. This was bought to replace my Palm Lifedrive which was starting to fail. The HP works flawlessly with Windows Vista which the Palm did not. I look forward to learning new things to do with the IPAQ daily.
- This is my 4th IPAQ. The last one was an HP2400 (I think). The HP 211 is a real joy to use compared to my last one. The screen is really excellent - very easy on the eyes and a little larger which I like and 640 x 480 resolution.
Cons - This IPAQ has a small delay when you press the ON button. Not a big deal but sometimes I think I didn't turn it on - so I turn it OFF by mistake! The touch screen takes a slightly harder touch to work correctly. I am getting used to it and this is not a big deal. The screen seems to be very scratch resistant. Wireless and bluetooth function very reliably are are easy to implement from the Today Screen.
I use Pocket Informant 8.1 - This program offers a lot more view flexibility than normal Windows Mobile screens. For instance, you can look at your contacts by city or country. USeful for me. The month view is excellent also.
If this thing had a phone in it as well I would buy several.
- I have had my HP iPAQ 211 now for a little under a month and I use it constantly. For those who are highly attached to their computers but find laptops somewhat cumbersome to take all places - this little machine, while not a laptop, fits the bill. It's built for mobility and has many powerful features that equip it for that purpose. HP has put together an endearing and intuitive handheld that pushes the envelope of the pda. Frankly, I consider it a computer in it's own right - only ounces in weight and conveniently palm-sized with an excellent battery. What is more, it boots instantly and has a comparatively large screen with great resolution and graphic capacity. I liked the the software that is bundled with the machine. This includes MS Office - mobile version. I found its ability to connect to wireless access points exceptional. Mind you it's not meant to be a telephone so I won't recommend it for this purpose! Once you have a need to miniaturize your computing habit, you'll be pleased with this little companion. It is expensive but I think you get what you pay for.
- Known as the 212 in Australia
- I bought this product yesturday, after owning the 111/112 for 6 months.
I absolutely LOVE the 4" screen. This is great for reading ebooks and surfing the internet.
Wifi on this product is great.
It fits snuggly in my hand and is so easy to use.
The screen has minimal glare, is great for reading in bed and is as crips as.
Awesome product.
Mez
- I've been using Windows Mobile and Windows CE products for almost 10 years. I've owned the 4700, 2595 and now the 211. My wife has the 110. I use these devices extensively and have an entire workflow planned around it. It goes everywhere with me. My requirements are such that a converged device doesn't provide much use to me: processor usually too weak, memory too little, and definitely the screen too small.
I bought the 211 about a month ago. Here are my impressions:
- My first reaction was "BIG!". It is bigger than all my other devices. It's thick, more so than the 4700. The weight is ok, though. I don't think about the size any more. I've gotten used to it.
- The screen does require more pressure to operate, but again, I'm used to it now and it's forgotten. I haven't noticed different pressure reactions on different screen locations.
- The screen is perfect. To address previous comments about being able to see more stuff: I scan all my documents and commit to PDF. Everything. Then I sync to the 211's SD card. I have a lightweight PDF reader, and I can read PDFs easily without scrolling horizontally. I can't come close to doing that with my wife's 110, or my 2495. Yes, you can fit much more on the screen, and it's much much sharper than any other device. Yes, the unit takes advantage of the higher resolution: it's not just bigger pictures on a bigger screen, honestly. Having said that, it's up to the application to do that. Most do.
- I have *not* noticed any negative performance difference between this and my previous devices. It's as fast as my 2495 and my wife's 110.
- I have approximately 30 applications(!) on it. None have had compatibility issues. And because of the impressive amount of memory, I still have approxiamtely 55% of storage memory left.
- Yes, there's a proprietary cable for sync and power. However, there's also a mini-USB port, so the proprietary cables aren't necessary at all. I don't travel with them. I only use a retractable mini-USB for charging and synchronization. It's really not an issue.
- Battery life is better than the 4700 and the 2495.
- I love the buttons. I honestly don't understand the criticisms I have read about them. I'm happy.
- Bluetooth and WiFi have worked without any issues. My only complaint here is for WM6: it can't connect to my work WiFi network because WM6 doesn't support WPA enterprise.
Sorry for the rambling review. Just wanted to give my opinion on issues raised here. It's the perfect device for my requirements: no converged phone/PDA, and I don't need a camera. BTW, my employer gave me a 8525. I don't use it at all. It simply can't do what the 211 does.
- Great performance and great looking!
- I have to admitt that this is my first PDA but I think I have enough computer technology experience to judge this as a wonderful product.
It's performance is outstanding. I have not only used all the applications that came with the PDA but two others that I find really interesting.
One is adding a Compact Flash GPS and using GPS Tuner software and what a great combination of hardware and software to have a superb GPS utility.
The other is using Remote Desktop to have remote access of the server I daily work with and it's just unbelievable how great it performs with this application.
Battery life is very good. Usually more than 7 hours without needing to recharge.
The screen and touch interface works perfect and the visibility is great for a 4 inch screen.
The only thing that I wished this PDA to have is an infrared port so I could use it as a remote control for my TV and other appliances but I still think this product well deserves a 5 star rating.
- Great product if your looking for a top of the line PDA. Great screen resolution, large spreadsheets are readable. Very usable for web browseing. Expensive, but worth it.
- My Dell Axim X50v died unexpectedly and I had to get another PDA. After using a VGA screen I could not go back to QVGA. Since there aren't too many units to select from I decided on the IPAQ 211.
Already there are some good reviews out there so just a couple of comments based on what's already been said.
1. It is big, but then the screen is incredible.
2. I didn't have any devices that already used the connector so the new configuration was no big deal. The large connector accommodates sync and charging and the mini USB does both as well.
3. As for screen tapping it is a bit stiffer than the Dell, but I've already adjusted.
4. Connecting via WiFi is a breeze compared to the Dell. It just connects quickly without a big hassle.
5. It may be a touch slower, but I'm assuming that's a result of the persistent memory.
6. I have quite a wide variety of software that I've installed with no problems whatsoever.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this unit.
- I've owned HP pocket pc's since they first came out and have owned 5 different models, each better than the one before, and the 211 is no exception. Maybe some want their phone and pocket pc melded into one, but not me. I've checked out the teensy weensy screens on the PDA/cell phones, slow processors and limited memory, and that doesn't work for me. Yes, the new 211 pocket pc is bigger than previous models, but the screen is bigger with incredible resolution. And no, I don't want to use my PDA as a phone, either. I pretty much forget about my cell phone in my pocket, and I depend on my PDA dozens of times a day as a fully functional computer. Whenever I need to do something on my computer, I pop this on and in a few seconds I'm on. I wouldn't pay attention to the reviewer who said the screen is bigger, but so is everything else. This isn't true. Also, all of the Office Mobile applications have a "Zoom" feature that lets you scale the text down if you want, giving you more useful real estate. Combined with the fact that the resolution itself is higher, this screen is spectacular. Connectivity via WiFi is faster as well. And I don't know what the reviewer meant when he said the applications are slower. Mine certainly aren't, and again, I use mine every single day, many times a day. For the first time, internet browsing is pretty amazing with the fine detail and larger screen. It's hard to imagine a better pocket pc at any price. This is an extremely good balance of form and function.
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- It broke after 10 days and HP would not fix it
- My ipaq 214 broke after 10 days of use, and HP refuses to fix it even though it is obviously well within the warrantee period. They plan to charge me half the price of the new item. The 24-pin connector was always stiff (unlike the nice cradle that came with my 4700) and became more and more difficult to connect during a trip I took to Iraq. On the 10th day it stopped working altogether, having mashed the teeth on the motherboard. I was only using this to charge the unit. HP simply does not stand by their products.
- large but insensitive screen; battery life issues
- I owned previously a Dell Axim 50 (produced in 2005). The ipaq 211 has larger and better screen. However, it is quite insensitive and annoying, it takes time to get used to it. It does not feel significantly faster. The worst part was that the battery was being drained overnight. Online customer service was useless. I installed the updates from hp site with no benefit. I searched the net and I found the solution of the problem which was to disable the automatic sync feature. It worked:
1. Launch ActiveSync from the Programs folder (on the Pocket PC).
2. Tap "Menu" and then tap "Add Server Source"
3. Type in a fake server address, such as 1.1.1.1. Tap Next.
4. Put anything in "User name:", "Password", and "Domain" and tap Next.
5. Tap Finish.
6. Tap "Menu" and then tap "Schedule..."
7. Select "Manually" for "Peak times:" and for "Off-peak times:"
8. Tap "OK"
9. Tap "Menu", then tap "Options"
10. Select the fake "Exchange Server" you created and tap "Delete".
11. Tap "Yes" when the message box appears. Tap Ok and exit from program.
12. Do a software reset.
I do not recommend this device.
- I have always owned Pocket PCs made by HP, and their quality hands down has always been superior for me. These include the 3800, 5555, 4155 and 2755. When the Ipaq 211 came out, I bought it because it was the first PPC to include 128MB of Ram, 256MB of ROM **AND** have a VGA screen. It's something I wanted for years and have always criticized companies like Dell for always sacrificing one strength for another when releasing a new design...such as creating PPCs with more storage and a VGA screen, but intentionally limiting the ram to 64MB so running multiple robust applications became next to impossible.
The Good: Beautiful design, terrific screen size and color...and superior wireless connectivity. Loaded with a good complement of software, and includes both compact flash and secure digital slots. It also has a decent battery life, even when running Bluetooth or Wireless (I used it for almost 5 hours straight.) Windows Mobile 6 is feature rich and is ready for business right out of the box. On the outside, it appears to have it all.
The Bad: HP changed their universal 22pin serial cable connection to a larger 24pin version for no reason, so none of the external docking peripherals, cables or anything that previously interfaced directly with the HP series will work. The new interface offers no new benefit and renders your PPC incompatible with a lot of hardware. If you own a GPS with a serial connection, get ready to buy another one with a wireless Bluetooth interface or pray that your GPS company decides to offer a converter cable. Unlike every other PPC I have ever bought, there is no docking cradle included, and instead of giving you a USB serial cable that syncs and charges through the USB port, the cable given also requires a separate power connection, making carrying the included power supply more of an unnecessary burden. In addition, the amount of force necessary for the stylus to interact with the screen is greater than what I was ever used to, and different parts of the screen were more sensitive than others.
The Ugly: Despite the 624Mhz processor, this PPC is SLOWER and demonstrates more inconsistent and laggy performance than any other PPC I have ever owned, period. The Marvell PXA310 processor...being a member of the XScale family, has broken compatibility enough so that even applications like Pocket Hack Master, which ran on every other Pocket PC I ever owned, cannot recognize or make full use of it. TCPMP, probably the most efficient video player in the PPC world, would crash after attempting to end the playing of video. No other PPC ever had that issue. Every application I installed exhibited enough of a delay to the point where I was certain that the machine was clocked to run at on 1/4th the speed it was advertised to do. The difference was so obvious that I even installed the same applications an another friend's Ipaq just to do a side by side comparison. Both hard and soft resets yielded no benefit, and since I bought this direct from HP, it already had the latest drivers and firmware.
The performance and compatibility issues...both on the software and hardware side...make upgrading to this unit a very risky proposition for people who have come to expect more from their PPCs. I was so profoundly disappointed that I promptly returned it to HP for a full refund. Aside from the drawback of only having a 320x240 screen, my hx2755 outperforms this unit in every measurable way. As such, I have come to the conclusion that no PPC manufacturer has any intention of actually giving people what they want without *intentionally* introducing drawbacks or flaws into the design or functionality. HP has no valid excuse whatsoever for releasing what I have no choice but to deem a sub-standard product that is easily outmatched by units that have been discontinued for years. If you are someone that expects more for your hard-earned money, this is not the unit to get.
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- HP iPAQ 210 Enterprise Handheld
HP hit a homerun! The IPAQ 210 is an outstanding handheld laddened with enough features to serve admirably as a laptop replacement. Its brilliant screen displays photographs, Adobe pdf attachments and spreadsheets with ease and is large enough to accommodate your favorite movie. Typical PDA functions - calendar, contacts, notes, voice recordings etc. are a snap with Windows Mobile 6.1. WiFi and Bluetooth are easy to use and well integrated. This little trooper runs for hours on a single charge. If you are serious about using the IPAQ as a laptop replacement, you will need to purchase the Bluetooth keyboard accessory. Excellence is expensive, but the IPAQ 210 well worth it -- think of it for less than $500 bucks you can stop lugging that laptop!
Pros: Outstanding PDA and Microsoft Office Mobile, Gorgeous Screen, Laptop Replacement
Cons: Weak Speaker, Bluetooth Bonding for external keyboard can be finicky
- All in all I'm pleased with the product. It has the best "video/screen" resolution I've seen, battery life is pretty good when you aren't running a boatload of wireless connections, and synching with Exchange is improved over my Palm T|X. All in all the online experience (browsing, mail, synching) is superior to Palm.
Nits and irritants:
1. When connected via USB, I cannot seem to find a way to configure the device to not come on every few minutes (maybe with every change in schedule/mail/contacts, etc.) and it is almost impossible to survive without saving your password as a result. You can't just turn it off it seems, it will pop back on within minutes. Half the time my goal is not to have it sync, simply to let it charge, so this is a major annoyance. If there's a better way, it isn't obvious and that leads to irritant number 2.
2. Documentation, especially configuration assistance is abysmal. What's new about that anymore? The art of good technical writing simply seems lost on us as a society anymore.
3. On occasion you have to wait on some update in the device to finish, just like on PCs. One of the main reasons I spent more on this than I would have on a micro-PC is I wanted instant on for schedule purposes and a usable web interface. It's truly annoying to be delayed. Easiest way to avoid delays seems to be to leave the wireless off as might be expected. The concept of throttling down background tasks seems less advanced.
4. Like a lot of folks I dislike the "up" position on the directional rocker - too small for my fat fingers to use accurately.
5. Text recognition is far inferior to early Palm Graffiti in my estimation. I could really input almost as fast as I could stroke characters on early Palm. None of the input methods on this device are as trustworthy, accurate, or fast, in fact I tend to hunt and peck the keyboard.
6. Oh yeah, really stupid thing - you can adjust the backlight down to 0, that is can't see a thing. Pretty hard to find the slider to adjust it back once you do if you happen to take your stylus off the screen. I don't know what they were thinking.
7. App interface is a bit vertical, that is seems to stack a little too much. Don't like all the drill downs, Palm was quite a bit simpler, and for general purpose more usable in my mind. It can be difficult to figure out why something is "grayed" out or why some button isn't working on iPAQ, and drilling down often requires too many levels in book. Hides/Obfuscates functionality meaninglessly.
Value/Cost: Give the price of micro PCs, 2*s.
Interface/Visuals: 4*s. Font scalability is remarkable.
Browsing: 4*s. Nice to be able to see a whole page when you need to. Not all pages reproduce accurately tho.
Wireless: 3*s: Somehow it's just more difficult to configure correctly than it should be.
Synching: 3*s: Especially bad with the auto turn on/alert features. No amount of work seems to get that configured in a likable way. Otherwise pretty good. Blame ActiveSync and the Device here.
Apps: Powerpoint I like, does what I'd want it to in this format. Word seems to not manage graphical content well at all. Haven't tried Excel much or the Media Tools yet.
Palm vs. iPAQ? For usability, simple schedule/contact management I prefer my Palm T|X, cept it's dead. For Web/Browsing and Exchange Integration the iPAQ get's my vote. For input, the old Palm Graffiti with all its proprietary quirks remains the most functional in my estimation.
- It broke after 10 days and HP would not fix it
- My ipaq 214 broke after 10 days of use, and HP refuses to fix it even though it is obviously well within the warrantee period. They plan to charge me half the price of the new item. The 24-pin connector was always stiff (unlike the nice cradle that came with my 4700) and became more and more difficult to connect during a trip I took to Iraq. On the 10th day it stopped working altogether, having mashed the teeth on the motherboard. I was only using this to charge the unit. HP simply does not stand by their products.
- USB Host - lose the laptop!
- The iPaq 211 is quite a bit bigger than than the 2200 that I have had for 3 or 4 years now and does seem a bit clumsier to hold. BUT it has a larger screen with twice the resolution so that it is a joy to look at and it does seem a bit more responsive. I bought mine refurbished and it's perfect. It did have a few spots of something sticky on it but they were easily cleaned off and there are now no signs that it was anything other than brand new.
The good:
It has USB host capabilities so I can transfer photos directly from SD or CF cards to a powered hard drive without a PC or Laptop. You need a special cable which costs another $50 but it is well worth it for me. The hard drive must have a separate power supply, as all 3.5" ones do. The smaller 2.5" drives are usually powered from the USB port and the iPaq has not got enough power for that. However, my Buffalo 320GB ministation is capable of being powered from the mains (my TomTom mains charger fits and supplies the 5v with the correct polarity). File transfer is SLOW (about an hour for 1GB) but that is no problem if you can get through the day and download while you have dinner or something. The reason I value this capability so highly is the ever increasing restrictions on baggage that the airlines are imposing. Hand baggage allowances within Europe are so measly now that a DSLR camera with 2 lenses, a hard drive, a PDA and a silver flute + piccolo is as much as I am allowed leaving no room for a laptop as well. And no, I would not want to pack any of that into the checked luggage.
It has both SD and CF card slots so you can have your cake and eat it. That covers both my point-and-shoot and my DSLR camera so I am very happy. It also means that you can get 64 GB of storage if you invest in 32GB cards in both slots. Yes, it does support SDHC.
It has full VGA resolution so that your photos actually look good. And you can rotate the screen with a long press of a button.
It can run movies (with added software) without significant glitches and the screen does a good job.
The wireless just works. It picks up a new connection without fuss and there is an icon to disable it (to save power) right on the Today screen.
I haven't tried the Bluetooth yet but I see no reason to suppose it works any less well than the 2200 which was fine. Apparently it does support the protocol that allows for stereo bluetooth headphones.
And Skype (free download) works almost as well as on my laptop (without the webcam of course). There is a tiny speaker on the front and a microphone to bottom left so that when you hold the iPaq up to your left ear it works just like a large cellphone.
Some people seem to hate the fact that the headphone jack is at the bottom instead of the top. However, I love that. It means that all the cables come from the same edge. It also means that you can put it in your pocket top down so you can easily reach the control dial and the headphone wire comes straight out from the exposed edge.
The not so good:
It takes a second or two to turn on when you press the button. The 2200 turned on almost instantly. Not a deal breaker but disconcerting. Also, the buttons for contacts and calendar do not turn the unit on as they did on 2200. It has to be on already for the buttons to launch the programs.
I read all the reviews of the weakness of the main speaker (at the rear) and decided that for me this wasn't so important. They are right, the speakers are very very quiet. But you can hear it very well if you hold the unit up to your ear and a pair of headphones solves the problem completely. Now I need to invest in a stereo bluetooth pair!
Also you do need to press a bit harder on the screen than on the 2200 but you get used to that very quickly. I found the bare screen rather sticky so that my letters had breaks in them and were therefore mis-recognised. (This could have been because I was afraid of scratching the screen before the screen protector arrived.) Anyway, I forked out for the official HP screen protectors (you get 3 and they last for ages) and after that, writing on the screen was a joy. If choosing off-brand protectors go for the crystal-clear ones rather than the glare-reducing. I think that will get you the smoothest writing experience.
HP has not provided the backup software that saved my bacon a couple of times on the 2200. I believe there are free downloads and I will have to get one (you never know when you'll forget about it long enough for it to run down completely). However, I have now learned to install all new software to a card or to the iPaq store rather than to the default location so that at least I won't lose the programs if the power goes.
Talking of which, the unit does seem to need charging at least every other day. I believe that while in use, the power lasts longer than the 2200, but when in standby, the 2200 would go for the best part of a week without significant discharge. The 211, however, seems to lose 10% of its power just overnight even with bluetooth and wireless turned off. I haven't been able to find out why this is. Some say that it is better if you stop all running programs (and maybe pop the CF card out) and so I have found, but it still isn't as carefree as the 2200 was.
All in all, this is a pretty good PDA and the only one on the market running Windows Mobile that has USB Host capabilities, dual card slots and a big VGA screen. I don't need a keyboard so I am not prepared to pay almost twice as much for a umPC. In spite of its drawbacks, I love the 211 and really enjoy using it.
- This is my first PDA, maybe I'm just expecting too much.
- The product itself is not too bad. It has a solid feel to it. Programs open quickly and respond well. As soon as you turn it on its ready to go, there is no bootup time. Has a great picture but lousy sound. I ended up buying a Bluetooth headset so I can hear it. I also strongly recommend buying screen protectors because you'll be poking and stroking pretty hard with the diddle stick until the touch screen breaks in after a couple weeks of use.
The software and firmware is what's bad about it. Every time you put it on or off the charger, connect or disconnect anything, it automatically turns itself on. There is no setting to defeat this. The mobile office software and clear view PDF don't have full screen mode, so a third of the screen is taken up by the window frames. Bring up the input window and now you only have one third of the screen left see what you're working on.
Bottom line, it's a great tool for doing simple tasks. It won't replace a laptop when traveling. If you're waiting for the mini PCs to become practical, this is a great pacifier.
- Great product that I'm still learning how to use. This was bought to replace my Palm Lifedrive which was starting to fail. The HP works flawlessly with Windows Vista which the Palm did not. I look forward to learning new things to do with the IPAQ daily.
- HP IPAQ 211 contra HP IPAQ 3715
- The sceeen on my lovely 4 years HP 3715 broke just before my vacation - I used it also as a navigator together with a GPS receiver - and I had to buy a new PDA. I chose a HP 211. OK The screen are larger but the touch function was better on the HP 3715. Sometimes you have to touch the screen several times to activate the function. I later bought a new display for my HP 3715 - not original but cheap $25.
- This is my 4th IPAQ. The last one was an HP2400 (I think). The HP 211 is a real joy to use compared to my last one. The screen is really excellent - very easy on the eyes and a little larger which I like and 640 x 480 resolution.
Cons - This IPAQ has a small delay when you press the ON button. Not a big deal but sometimes I think I didn't turn it on - so I turn it OFF by mistake! The touch screen takes a slightly harder touch to work correctly. I am getting used to it and this is not a big deal. The screen seems to be very scratch resistant. Wireless and bluetooth function very reliably are are easy to implement from the Today Screen.
I use Pocket Informant 8.1 - This program offers a lot more view flexibility than normal Windows Mobile screens. For instance, you can look at your contacts by city or country. USeful for me. The month view is excellent also.
If this thing had a phone in it as well I would buy several.
- I have had my HP iPAQ 211 now for a little under a month and I use it constantly. For those who are highly attached to their computers but find laptops somewhat cumbersome to take all places - this little machine, while not a laptop, fits the bill. It's built for mobility and has many powerful features that equip it for that purpose. HP has put together an endearing and intuitive handheld that pushes the envelope of the pda. Frankly, I consider it a computer in it's own right - only ounces in weight and conveniently palm-sized with an excellent battery. What is more, it boots instantly and has a comparatively large screen with great resolution and graphic capacity. I liked the the software that is bundled with the machine. This includes MS Office - mobile version. I found its ability to connect to wireless access points exceptional. Mind you it's not meant to be a telephone so I won't recommend it for this purpose! Once you have a need to miniaturize your computing habit, you'll be pleased with this little companion. It is expensive but I think you get what you pay for.
- I have been using the iPaq 211 now for a couple of weeks after upgrading from the iPaq 2755 that I purchased when it first hit the American market - 3+ years ago. I haven't had a chance to really test the multimedia capability but am willing to bet the 211 will be better for MP3 and movies. Overall, it is a good devise, but not as much of an improvement over the 2755 as I was hoping for. Below is a comparison between the two devises.
Screen
2755 - Bright and easy to read but type gets more difficult as it gets smaller. Web pages are really difficult to view making Internet Explorer nearly pointless.
211- Even brighter in comparison to the 2755. It also has automatic brightness adjustment that actually works well. But the biggest difference is the VGA resolution on a comparatively BIG screen. Web pages, books and everything is much easier to read on this devise. I have been using my iPaqs for reading books for several years and this devise is really a pleasure for that! The on screen keyboard is also a lot easier to use, almost good enough to use with just a finger.
Processing power
2755 - HP's second unit with the 624 MHz processor blew away the previous units for speed of applications and handwriting recognition. It made the unit much more useful that previous with slower processors.
211- It has the same processor which is a mixed blessing. Since the 211 lacks a high powered graphics processor, it is actually slower on some tasks than the 2755 due to having a screen with 4 times the resolution. That said, it is only a little slower and only in certain aspects like initially opening a document. Handwriting recognition is actually slightly better for some reason; possibly the increased memory.
Internal Memory
2755 - More than adequate for several documents and programs to be stored. Bogged down or crashed if several apps were loaded at the same time, but that was easily solved by the task manager that allowed you to close individual apps or all of them at the same time.
211 - Even more memory, making easy to store loads of applications and files without issue. It does still slow down if you keep the Internet Explorer, Word and other large apps running. I couldn't find a task manager that worked like the 2755's included so installed a freeware program TMAN that works even better.
Touch screen
2755 - Good but sometimes difficult near the edges of the screen. It was often hard to hand write anything due to the size of the screen and my writing style (or lack there of.) Taps and gestures were very responsive, but it was nearly impossible to use a bare finder or even a man's fingernail.
211 - The screen is only about 95% as responsive in comparison which isn't that bad though occasionally annoying. But due to the screen size you can actually use your finger tip for many applications including the contact list making the 211 slightly better than the 2755 overall.
Included programs
2755- HP included the standard office mobile, image viewers, media players and a backup program. You also got Outlook on the disk for your desktop computer just in case you didn't have Office.
211- Actually has less than the 2755, no Outlook and no backup software. As it comes with Windows Mobile 6, the Office apps are better than the 2755. Still, plan on purchasing Sprite Backup and Outlook if you don't already have it.
Accessories
2755 - sync cable, power cable and cradle. Options include SD and CF card slots for LOTS of storage space. I have an extra battery and charger that makes it even more flexible.
211 - No cradle included. Same optional card slots except that the SD can reads SDHC cards which are a lot more versatile. There is also an optional host cable that allows you to use USB mice, keyboards and external hard drives. There is also an extended battery available that can double the amount of time before charging or exchanging batteries.
Looks and build quality
2755 - Looks are OK, though I never really liked the color tan/gray. Great build considering that I have been using it daily for more 3 years without any issue. Buttons are easy to use and can be programmed. NOTE; the first thing I do when I get a new electronic devise is put a screen saver on it.
211- It looks great in black! Same or better build quality than the 2755. Despite being lager, it is still very easy to hold and use.
Connectivity
2755 - Uses Activesync 4.5 in XP which is still my operating system of choice; sorry Microsoft but Vista totally sucks! Slow and buggy, but can be used with the included Bluetooth as well as cable.
211 - Exactly the same accept that does include a standard USB mini port for sync and charging. Charging on the USB is slower but is a welcome addition.
Security
2755 - Comes standard with password security and a biometric finger print reader that really works!
211 - No finger print reader which is a real disappointment, but does still have the password security.
Portability factor
2755 - Easily fits in a pocket and there lots of great cases available.
211 - Slightly bigger to allow the great new screen, but still pretty easy to pocket. The included case is OK, but I will be looking for a nice leather one instead.
--Summery of the 211--
Pros
Very readable screen, probably the current leader for any Windows Mobile devise that can still fit in a pocket.
Very powerful with more storage options that most people will know what to do with.
Mobile Office apps are way better under Mobile 6 and very usable. I can really create a full Word document on the devise without too much effort
Battery is sufficient for the devise, allowing several hours of use before charging is necessary.
Quite stable, very few resets and nearly all the programs that I wanted to use work great including a couple designed for WinCE 3.0.
Optional USB host adapter.
SDHC comparable.
Finger touch usable in some applications.
Opera Mobile web browser 9.5 works like a charm!
Plenty of internal memory.
Easy to carry and use.
Cons
A little slower than I would have expected.
No cradle.
No Outlook or backup software.
No biometric fingerprint reader.
No independent graphic processor for the VGA screen slows it down at times.
The speaker is a little weak.
Touch screen takes a little more pressure.
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28 customer reviews
