HP iPAQ rx1950 Review

Technology never ceases to amaze me. Today, we can hold the computing power necessary to check email, take pictures, surf the Web, and more in the palm of our hands. Take the HP iPAQ rx1950, for instance. This PDA has a 300MHz Samsung processor and 96MB of memory (64MB of ROM and 32MB of SDRAM). Yet this handheld measures just 4.47 x 2.78 x 0.5 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 4.4 ounces.

Upon powering on the iPAQ rx1950, you'll immediately notice the handheld's iPAQ Entertainment menu, which replaces the traditional home screen of Windows Mobile 5.0. This handy menu includes links to Music, Internet, Games, and Photos. If you'd rather use a more traditional home screen, you can always divert back to Windows' typical views using the Settings menu.

A stylus will serve as your primary method of input on this handheld, though you will also find four programmable quick launch buttons with a five-way navigational button below the display. The left spine of the handheld also has a button to access text notes and record voice notes.

Perhaps one of the iPAQ rx1950's greatest strengths is the inclusion of Wi-Fi, which allows you to check email and surf the Web wherever a hotspot is available.

Another strength is the iPAQ rx1950's brilliant TFT QVGA color screen.

On occasion, the iPAQ rx1950 didn't respond to stylus taps near the edge of the display. This was a relatively minor issue over all, though.

The iPAQ rx1950 lacks integrated Bluetooth, though this may be a non-issue to some users.

Overall, the iPAQ rx1950 has a lot going for it, including an SD (Secure Digital) expansion card slot which gives you plenty of flexibility in storing large files and movies. If you're looking for an entry-level Windows Mobile PDA, this one is worth a look.