HP IPAQ Rx5935

mchu6am4

Hi,

I'm having 2nd thoughts on getting TomTom 1 sat nav but instead would like to buy a PDA/Tablet (preferrably with a large widescreen-mode) on which I can install TomTom 6 Navigator software.

I think this gives me more flexibilty (as I already have a bluetooth gps receiver) and with a PDA/Tablet I can do alot more such as play music, watch videos and do some work. I can be away on company business alot and having such a gadget would be great.

What do people think? Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance

Little_John

You need to decide tablet pc or a PDA, they are both very different a PDA runs windows mobile software like tom tom a tablet pc runs PC software like autoroute and windows XP or vista. the only way I know to run PDA apps on a PC is with the developer tools available for software testing.

I use a PDA with phone funcionality and it is the best of both worlds I no longer carry a PDA and a mobile phone around. I would drop the idea of mounting a tablet pc on your dash also even if you go got on of the ultra mobile things like the Samsung Q1's they still run windows.

mchu6am4

Thanks Little John. (When I said Tablet I meant Nokia n800 or similar) as a proper Tablet pc would cost too much.

So its looks like I'm looking for a PDA. My limit is about £300 but would prefer a decent size screen (pref wide) for map navigation along with handfree calling functionality etc.

Ash

Little_John

Get yourself on a mobile phone contract and get them to give you one of the PDA based phones. Sat nav is more than looking at the screen, you shouldnt need to look at it that often I rarely look at the map more the information displayed like distance to the next instruction so I dont go flying past and its too late to make the junction as I'm stuck in lane 3. the map is only usefull if junctions are complicated or roundabouts.

I also find the horizontal screen view anoying I prefer to see more of the map that is ahead of me rather than what is at the sides so the PDA in a portrait position is perfect for me. my mate has a tom tom 510 and I dont like the widescreen.

Screen size most pda's have a standard size and they are not wide screen, mine is about 3" diagonal its a small formfactor the biggerones are 3.5" I think they just take up more room in your pocket and have 240 x 320 resolution but some have a 480 x 640 resolution but the physical size is still the same just higher resolution and it makes little difference I have had high res and low res screens and when I returned to the lower res screen I didnt miss the higher resolution. watching videos I dont use it for that mainly becasue the battery life isnt vood enough to use as a PDA for a day and watcha film. yes I use it for short clips but not a movie. buy a PSP if you want movies on the go.

mchu6am4

I do have a smartphone (N80) and have TT 6 installed on it. Although, I have not mounted it so I can see it, but like the idea of knowing how far the next turn is, is it roundabout, left, right, what road I'm currently on or the next road etc.

I feel the instructions are good but seeing a screen helps alot as I'm not the best on finding my way round on the road.

hollie.weimeraner

My wife has an XDA Orbit on O2 (It's also available as other guises with T Mobile and Orange). O2 ship it with Co Pilot which not everyone likes but it will run Tom Tom if you purchase it separately. It also runs MS Mobile Office and has Push Email, Wi Fi, Blue Tooth ..... Oh and it's a phone as well:D with voice dialling. Absolute stonking piece of kit more info and links below

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456446&highlight=orbit

It's available SIM free in some places but cheaper on contract.

odowdchr

You can get an Ipaq PDA (without the phone) and then turn the screen from portrait to landscape when using TT....gives you an extra inch or so.

The Ipaq phone version (6915) is a square screen so makes no difference....but you can use the phone's GPRS to update traffic hotspots on the move etc.. That comes with TT6 burnt into the ROM, you get one free city map then purchase the extras. It also has it's own built in GPS receiver...a true all in one running on Windows Mobile 5.
With all these phone/PDA's though...the processing power is not breathtaking because of all the features packed into them. NOt great for doing a lot of work on.

A tablet PC is too big to mount on the dashboard, so would you really want it on the seat next to you?

mchu6am4

odowdchr wrote: »

You can get an Ipaq PDA (without the phone) and then turn the screen from portrait to landscape when using TT....gives you an extra inch or so.

The Ipaq phone version (6915) is a square screen so makes no difference....but you can use the phone's GPRS to update traffic hotspots on the move etc.. That comes with TT6 burnt into the ROM, you get one free city map then purchase the extras. It also has it's own built in GPS receiver...a true all in one running on Windows Mobile 5.
With all these phone/PDA's though...the processing power is not breathtaking because of all the features packed into them. NOt great for doing a lot of work on.

A tablet PC is too big to mount on the dashboard, so would you really want it on the seat next to you?

Thanks, I like the idea of Ipaq (as I already have a Sirf Star III GPS receiver) but would like to know whether its possible to configure either the Ipaq screen or TT to landscape mode when I'm using TT? Also, do any of these allow handsfree calling feature using bluetooth (like the latest TT units)?

Any suggestions on the Ipaq models etc?

blisteringblue

mchu6am4 wrote: »

Thanks, I like the idea of Ipaq (as I already have a Sirf Star III GPS receiver) but would like to know whether its possible to configure either the Ipaq screen or TT to landscape mode when I'm using TT? Also, do any of these allow handsfree calling feature using bluetooth (like the latest TT units)?

Any suggestions on the Ipaq models etc?

How about one of the new HP Travel Companion models, these are Ipaq's with built in GPS and pre installed TomTom6 with UK and Ireland Maps. They are also horizontal PDAs.

For example the HP Ipaq rx5720. TotalPDA have it for £175 (inc VAT) and you can save a tenner using google checkout !!

mchu6am4

Thanks, this seems an excellent device - very tempted (unless there are others that are better).

However, I have a couple of questions, from what I can tell the ONLY differences between Ipaq rx5720 and rx5935 is the latter has wifi built-in and double (2GB) flash ROM.

Am I right? Also, would it be possible to upgrade the rx5720 model to wifi cheaply? Would that mean I don't have a spare slot for extra storage etc?

Further, is it possible to install Windows Mobile 6 & apps- I mean does it have enough memory or can you add more - will the programs run off the added memory or do they need to be installed on built-in memory?

Lastly, what are the real advangtages of going for the latest model albeit at an extra £100 or am I better off with cheaper version?

Another Q: I've seen the rx5965 model - Is this a newer model? link below:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/au/en/ho/WF06b/1090709-1113753-1113753-1113753-1117925-12816826-78082245.html

Thanks to all for your help and look forward to your replies.

Ash

Little_John

mchu6am4 wrote: »

I do have a smartphone (N80)

The N80 isnt a smartphone smartphones run windows mobile operating systems the n80 I am sure is a symbian system but there is a version of tom tom available for the symbian OS.

it is possible to upgrade the version of windows mobile on PDA's but you need to wait for someone to come up with the update for the PDA, it isnt a case of putting in a disk and updateing it is a little more complicated than that.

Wifi can be added with the use of a wifi SDIO card ir compact flash wifi card, the downside is that you loose the expansion slot if you ever want to use the wireless. I have a wireless car for my older PDA's it was a pain to use but it was useable I would buy a PDA with it built in.

PDA's have 3 types of memory ROM where the restore info is held, RAM where installed programs and files are stored (this is wiped if power is lost) you can also add additional storeage cards. they dont loose the contents when power is lost.