Compaq iPAQ 3635 Pocket PC Bundle (with Compact Flash Jacket)

The most striking feature of the iPAQ is its bright, crisp color screen. We were a little surprised to discover that it only displays 4,096 colors (compared to color offerings from Palm and Handspring, for example, which display up to 65,536 colors). While the color quality is fine for everyday use, photos can appear somewhat grainy or posterized.

Other hardware notables include a headphone jack for listening to digital music (or even just the built-in alert sounds, which are the best we've heard on any device), an infrared port for beaming data to other similarly equipped Pocket PCs, and a voice recorder for capturing your ideas while in traffic. The unit is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that performed acceptably for a color display. A connection port at the bottom accommodates extension packs that can read CompactFlash media, PC Cards, and other peripherals (or just brightly colored jackets for expressing your fashion sense).

In terms of storage and software, the iPAQ is a modern workhorse. It has 32 MB of RAM for storing large media files like MP3s and movie or animation clips, plus 16 MB of ROM that houses the included applications. These include the Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 operating system, Pocket PC versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Money, Windows Media Player, and Reader as well as applications like a calendar, contact list, task list, and notes.

The iPAQ accepts data using a handwriting recognition system that was surprisingly tolerant of our scribbled notes--we encountered problems mainly with two-stroke letters like t, i, and k. An onscreen keyboard comes in handy in these situations, or you can use the "inking" feature to write directly on the screen, followed by a Recognize command that translates the writing into letters. Although inking seemed to lag slightly behind the stylus as we wrote, it picked up 80 to 95 percent of the letters.

This isn't to say that the iPAQ is perfect, however. Many aspects of Windows CE 3.0 drove us crazy, like the irrational choice to put the program menus at the bottom of the screen and present them so they don't appear to be menus at all. Another quirk is the iPAQ's Navigator, a large four-direction button below the screen that can be used to scroll through selections. Looking at the QStart screen (an icon view of most of the programs), you can highlight different icons using the Navigator. However, counterintuitively, you have to push up and down on the Navigator to highlight objects to the left and right, respectively. Pushing the center of the Navigator acts like the Enter key on a computer keyboard, taking you to the selected program or file.

The iPAQ interfaces with Windows-based PCs (sorry, Macintosh users) using Microsoft's ActiveSync 3.1 software (which also includes a full version of Outlook 2000). The synchronization process is pretty efficient, and lets you browse the contents of the iPAQ from your desktop. However, it took three PCs running three flavors of Windows and three ActiveSync installs before we were able to get the computer to recognize the iPAQ.

It's worth noting that the glitches we ran into were more interface annoyances that are probably easy to adapt to (though we'd rather have software engineers bend to users' needs). The iPAQ 3600 series is the closest device we've seen that (mostly) intelligently packs the capabilities of a full-size PC into a handheld. --Nelson Finn

Pros:

• Good color screen
• Easy transfer of Word and Excel files between PC and handheld
• Good handwriting recognition
• Expansion jackets provide for more memory and peripherals

Cons:

• Awkward Windows CE interface
• ActiveSync synchronization software can be flaky

The iPAQ offers 32 MB of RAM and 16 MB of ROM--enough memory to hold a robust package of applications while leaving you a lot of room for your own applications. The color TFT screen produces 4,086 colors, and you can view the screen from many angles and in a variety of lighting situations.

Other highlights of the Compaq iPAQ include a microphone and a speaker as well as an audio-in jack. It features an infrared port for wireless data transfer. The Compaq iPAQ uses five buttons plus a five-way joystick. The iPAQ connects to either USB or serial ports. The iPAQ allows you to input data in your own handwriting, by soft keyboard, by voice recorder, or through linking. Both audible and visual alarms alert you when you have a scheduled event.

At 5.11 by 3.28 by 0.62 inches, and weighing 6.3 ounces, the iPAQ is sporty and small, fitting in your hand or sliding into your pocket with ease. Don't let the size fool you into thinking you don't get many applications with your iPAQ. You receive a great deal of Microsoft software, such as Pocket versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook, as well as the full desktop version of Outlook 2000. Compaq has also built in utilities so that frequent actions--such as switching between tasks, adjusting volume, or changing backlighting--are only a click away.

Compaq offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor for the iPAQ.

What's in the box

• iPAQ 3635
• CompactFlash expansion sleeve
• 950 mAh Lithium Polymer battery
• Two styli
• Vinyl slipcase
• AC adapter
• User manual