Compaq iPAQ H3950

I

n mid 2002, owing to the way I was using Outlook, I started running out of space on my trusty Palm IIIxe. After several months of removing various applications and data, the problem became critical, and I had to do something about it.

After quite extensive research, I had ruled out getting a 16 Mb PalmOS device, or for that matter a replacement 8 Mb PalmOS unit with a memory expansion slot – the data I was putting into the Datebook required internal memory. So I had to look at PocketPC powered devices.

In the end, somebody offered me a Compaq iPAQ H3950 at a discount. After careful consideration, and checking the specifications, I decided to go for it.

The iPAQ’s technical specifications make the Palm IIIxe look like a kid’s toy! You get a 400 MHz Intel X-Scale processor, 64 Mb of internal memory, a 240 by 320 16-bit colour transflective screen with a very strong backlight, and the PocketPC 2002 operating system (which comes with Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and a few other natty utilities).

As far as size and weight go, the H3950 is significantly heavier and slightly larger than the IIIxe. Whereas the IIIxe doesn’t feel especially heavy in a shirt pocket, the iPAQ is quite a weight. So, yes, you get more computing power but there is a price to pay for this.

The H3950 also introduced me to internal (i.e. non-replaceable) rechargeable batteries. Although these are lithium ion cells and therefore they don’t suffer from fade on a day-to-day basis, they will eventually peter out and require replacing, which will be an expensive operation on the iPAQ. Given my heavy usage of the PDA, I was expecting to start feeling the effects of reduced battery capacity in late 2003 or early 2004.

As it happens, I grew fed up with PocketPC 2002 before that happened.

You can read a slightly modified article I wrote on the differences between the Palm IIIxe and iPAQ H3950 here.