COMPUTING on the go
HP's iPaq 912 is a little on the large size, but it works very well
PEE KAY
Unlike other PDA phones I've reviewed lately, the HP iPaq 912 is not sexy in any way, in my opinion. Nor is its design minimalist. But while not being fashionable, the device is very practical to use. I like it, as might other consumers who are more into function than form.
With dimension of 114 by 64 by 18mm., the unit is quite large by today's standards, and weighing-in at 151g (with battery), it's the heaviest PDA I've laid my hands on in recent history, definitely not light enough to slip into your shirt pocket unnoticed. Its glossy "piano black" and silver rim front looks all business. It also attracts fingerprints.
Like most PDAs with full keyboards, the iPaq 912 features a smaller-than-normal screen display, 2.46in. instead of the usual 2.8in. in this case. Unlike others however, shape of the screen is not square. In fact, the iPaq 912's 320 by 240 screen resolution is equal to those of other current PDAs, only rotated 90 into landscape mode.
 |
| HP iPaq 912—extremely practical |
Below this screen lie eight buttons (that's right, eight, including Send key, Left SoftKey, Right SoftKey, End key, Calendar key, Windows key, OK key, and Messaging key), a five-way navigator, and a full qwerty keyboard along with necessary buttons like Fn, Sym, and Tab. Power switch, reset button, and External GPS Antenna Connector are located on the top of the unit. Except the stylus slot, nothing is located at the bottom.
Volume control, Voice Commander, Micro SD slot, and Mini-USB port are on the left, while Scroll Wheel, another OK button, and a Camera key are on the right. The three megapixel camera (with its associated mirror lens and flash) and a speaker are situated on the unit's matte black back panel.
With HSDPA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, this tri-band PDA phone is adequately equipped, connectivity-wise. Although not top of the line, its 416MHz CPU and memory (128MB SDRAM and 256MB Flash ROM) should be plenty for most people. The somewhat smaller "landscape" screen is also okay for normal use - although it might take a little getting used to, due to its atypical orientation.
At first glance, HP iPaq 912 seems bland and lacks of interesting features. Its accompanying three megapixel auto-focus camera is mediocre at best. There is no features like accelerometer nor flashy user interface on the unit either. Still, for all HP PDA phones I have tested, I like this iPaq 912 the most.
Maybe I'm old school, but my engineering background is always telling me that function is more important than form. And functionality, in a form of practicality in this case, is what sets HP iPaq 912 apart from the rest.
Like the Palm Treo, this device is designed with one-handed operations in mind - to the extreme. And I said this not only because it features a whole host of buttons, but also because of the way these buttons are laid out. Need to access Start menu? Just press the Windows button. Need to send a message? Just press the Messaging button. Some of these buttons are programmable too.
The qwerty keyboard is firm, although the keys' arrangement is a little more cramped than I'd like. Still, it beats hunting and pecking with a stylus by a wide margin. The most practical of all the iPaq 912's buttons is the OK function, one of which is located on the front, another on the upper right side. But there's more! The Scroll Wheel, also situated on the upper right side, above the okay button, can also be used as a selector. All these are in addition to the already workable five-way Navigator on the front. As a result, you have a PDA phone which can be comfortably used single-handedly, whether you hold it in your left or right hand.
Practicality extends to other aspects of the device as well. The stylus is extendable. It's automatically extended when pulled out of the slot, and retracted when returned, just like the iPaq 612.
While we still discuss practical aspect of the device, I should also mention that, unlike other PDA phones I've reviewed recently, MicroSD slot on the iPaq 912 is placed externally (as oppose to internally near battery or SIM). Such design decision from HP makes backing up the Micro SD card much easier and more practical for those who do it via memory card readers.
All in all, practicality and usability seem to be the high point in designing this tough looking, well-built PDA. So while the iPaq 912 is a bit big, heavy, and not sexy, it should attract no-nonsense businesspeople who are more into functions than forms. Speaking about business, the device also supports HP Enterprise Mobility Suite (sold separately), the HP mobile device management solution that allows easy set-up and over-the-air manageability.
The iPaq 912 is available in the Thai market now, the first in the Southeast Asian region, and is bundled with Speed Navi GPS. It is priced at 18,900 baht (inc. VAT).
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Next
