Product Description

The HP ScanJet 5530 Photosmart scanner scans up to 24 photos in less than 5 minutes - all with true-to-life results - at 2400 x 4800-dpi hardware resolution and 48-bit color. You can even scan your negatives and slides with the included adapter. Easily convert boxes of photos into scans for use within photo album pages, to share via email, or on CD with music and more. And restoring faded photos is a snap using the one-touch automatic photo-correction feature - for image quality that rivals the original. ... Read more

Features

• 2,400 x 4,800 dpi resolution, 48-bit color
• Maximum document size of 8.5 by 11.7 inches
• 4-by-6-inch photo feeder
• Scans photos to your favorite applications in just seconds
• USB interface, cable included; 1-year warranty

Reviews (14)

Stay away from this piece of junk!
Other reviewers who gave this scanner a one-star rating got it right.Read their reviews for a detailed description of problems.My experience pretty much dittos theirs.Let me start by saying that I am a really big fan of HP products, and had high hopes for this scanner.I didn't mind the size or weight of this unit at all.The problem is is that the primary reason to buy this scanner is for the automatic photo feeder, and it plain just doesn't work!Fuji paper photos don't feed at all.The photos that do scan are always cropped incorrectly:part of the image is cropped, always on the same sides, and part of the scanner is included as part of every scan.According to HP's support site, their is no remedy for this problem.

And the HP scanning software could have been written by 12 monkeys during their lunch break...it's horrendous!There is no excuse for a company with the expertise and experience that HP has to produce software with such a poor interface, and it doesn't even work right.I don't know how many times I spent an hour baby-feeding photos through the scanner, only to find out it didn't save a single, solitary image.Where the @%$!* are they???It somehow managed to rename some of my other images, though, that I had saved on my hard drive...what the **!?? I searched all over the web for reviews and comments on this torture device, and anybody whose actually used it for any length of time and tried to get help from HP got bupkis!This thing is defective and HP should step up to the plate and give buyer's their money back or something that works like it says it will on the box!

Kludge, but what's the alternative?
Yes, this scanner has all the problems mentioned by the other reviewers, but the autophotofeeder (APF) makes it worthwhile.Yes, it fails to pick up pictures now and then and gives you funny messages that should say, "Hey! Restart your scan!".Sometimes, you have to help it take up photos for some glossy prints (Fuji is the worst) or cheap paper.But, it rarely messes up your photos (I think this was by design.Better to not scan than to design a feeder that periodically rips up photos.)

I have two major critisms:1) Some photos have dust on them or because they are glossy, when they get scanned, they have what appears to be dust.An autodust remove feature would have been good here.2) The scanner should increment the photo names, just like your digital camera does.I've been saving the photos by month and year and now want to combine by year alone and the photos all have the same name since they start over the numbering with each scan job.

Despite the pains and failures of the scanner and the software, it's still the best alternative out there for scanning the last twenty years of photos that you may have squirelled away in your attic.We are doign it so that we can have our pictures show up on screen savers around the house.I've had some of my technobob friends over and shown them the thing when it is in operation.Their jaws literally drop!Yes, you don't have to painfully scan photos one by one.No, they aren't perfect scans.If you want that, you can always go back and do it manually.But if you want to digitally archive your photos (which I think is impossible to do manually), this is the only way to go.

5530 Works OK except for ........
I bought the 5530 primarily to be able scan a stack of photos and also 35mm framed slides. This scanner does both. I read the other reviews and was concerned about the device but bought it anyway. HP offers a 30 day money back return - no hassle policy. Regarding the "jam" problem, at last one of the other reviwers was correct in saying there is nothing in Help about this situation - you have to go to HP online to obtain the info. I told the help tech guy in India that they should mention this in the help screen - I got a song & dance - bottom line was they ain't gonna do it. But the jam is no big deal - the photo drops onto the glass before you get the jam error message. You must use photos of the same size - per the instructions - and do not use photos with "corrugated" edges. If you have any of those, trim off the edges before feeding them into the device. I found the resolution on the slide scans to be OK. The whole slide scanning operation is slow & even more so for me personally because the USB on the scanner is high speed and my PC is not. The editing software is not so hot as the other writers explained but you can use other software for that. All in all, I think it works as advertised.

Absolutely tragic.
I bought this scanner with the Automatic Photo Feeder so I could digitize my grandparents' photo albums and create a present for my mother.I'm now seeking a refund directly from hp.This is why:

1) The APF is not usable.
2) The scanning interface is abysmal. (actually a script running in Internet Explorer!)
3) HP support has offered no response to problems.

The hardware would actually be cool for the price.The APF does a good enough job sucking in a stack of photos, jamming frequently but not too frequently.But hardware cannot work without software, and tragically this scanner has been saddled with possible the worst scanning software ever written - actually negating the usefulness of the APF and making even normal flat bed scans a nightmarish experience.My simple photo album project revealed critical flaws that must have been found in HP's quality assurance department, but inexplicably were not addressed.

DETAILS:

1) Problems Using the Automatic Photo Feeder (APF)

PROBLEM: False "jam" errors. Often the scanner reports that a photo has jammed, but the scanned photo is not jammed at all. It is sitting in the output tray exactly where it should be.

PROBLEM: Scan is not saved when an error occurs (such as a "jam" error) even though the scan was completed successfully (and can be swiped out of the temp folder before it gets deleted if you are quick enough). This is by far the most infuriating item and shows that HP skipped the quality assurance phase of development.

PROBLEM: "Descreen" is not available as a scanning option when using the Automatic Photo Feeder (APF) in batch scans.

PROBLEM: Saved scanning profiles are not applied to photos in the APF - unless there is only one photo in the feeder (or it's the last of a batch) - which forces one to insert one photo at a time, virtually negating the concept of batch scanning a stack of photos.

PROBLEM: Photos are consistently cropped incorrectly. The left edge of the image is cut off, while the right side of the image includes a portion of the scanning hood. It appears there is an offset problem. This problem occurs regardless of the size of the photo and is especially problematic with photos with rounded corners (most of the photos I'm scanning)

PROBLEM: Photos are not saved after each scan. Instead the software waits until all photos in the batch have been scanned before writing the images to the destination folder. This methodology has three major drawbacks. 1) I scanned 6 photos through the APF without realizing there was a photo already on the glass. 2) Any errors / software mishaps will result in lost scan(s). 3) Work cannot begin on scans until entire batch is finished

2) Problems Using the "hp scanning" interface

PROBLEM: Cropping rectangle dimensions do not "stick". Clicking "Descreen" or "New Scan" causes new coordinates to be auto-generated, even when "Automatically Crop Scanned Images" is disabled.Most scanning interfaces remember settings from scan to scan so a pleasant workflow can emerge.

PROBLEM: Number Fields do not always hold their values after typing them in manually. Sometimes this is not evident until several clicks later when the number fields spontaneously revert to previous values.

PROBLEM: After manually adjusting exposure and color settings - moving the cropping rectangle loses them and inserts auto-generated settings.

PROBLEM: Clicking "descreen" makes custom exposure / color settings revert to auto generated values.

PROBLEM: Dragging any of the sliders to min or max causes elements in the interface to become "selected" (like a web page) and can even "scroll" the entire panel behind its frame border so that some controls are inaccessible. Often adjacent sliders become selected and upon operating their knobs the mouse cursor turns into the "CAN'T DO THAT" symbol (circle with line through it). Once this symbol comes up, the slider knob will stop moving. Upon releasing the mouse button the user finds that the knob is stuck to the mouse cursor. Clicking on the interface a couple times will drop the knob and deselect the offending interface elements but by this time carefully placed settings have been lost.

PROBLEM: The "Color Adjustment" wheel features a an un-clickable surface, and an icon that cannot be dragged more than a few pixels before you get the Internet Explorer CAN'T DO THAT icon (circle with a line through it). Then when you let go of the mouse, the icon is stuck to the cursor and the carefully placed setting is lost. This makes trying to do color correction a waking nightmare.

PROBLEM: Menu bar: "Additional Items" and "Scan Preferences" lead to identical menus with identical title bars (the title bar says "Scan Preferences") However, the help file confusingly alludes to some significance in the difference between these panels.

PROBLEM: Auto Exposure consistently over-exposes skies, eliminating subtle details and creating huge areas of solid white.

PROBLEM: I have found no explanation for the "Best quality scan from Automatic Photo Feeder" preference. The only information I found on the hp support web site was that it "Optimizes scan settings for the automatic photo feeder" What does this option do and what would be a reason for disabling it?

3) HP Support responsiveness

After 22 days of promises from HP support (in India), they still have yet to address any of these issues.I send them this list over and over, and they tell me they have forwarded my comments but never address them.Even the simple questions about the functionality of the product (last item in my list) go unanswered.I've seen some of these issues about their software reported over a year ago and they have never addressed them.There have been no updates to the software since September of 2003.

From what I understand, this software is used in much of their imaging product line so beware.There's more but I have a 1000 word limit!

This one is going back
Many recent HP products have great designs but poor execution, and this is unfortunately one of them.

Like many other reviewers, I was looking for a scanner with an automatic 6x4" photo feeder, since I was very sick of placing pictures on a flatbed one by one only to be confronted with slanted scans.This HP is the only one on the market with this well-thought-out feature.And like some of the reviewers, I saw its high rating in both PC World and PC Mag.

But the two hundred bux was totally a waste.The scanner is bulky and huge!It's also heavier than most scanners you'll encounter.But the biggest problem is the photo feeder, which is very poorly constructed and jams all too easily.(Sidenote: I personally do not like HP laser printers because they jam easily, too.I guess HP's mechanical engineers need a re-education in designing these mechanisms.)I have hundreds of old 3x5 and 4x6 photos which I was hoping to digitize, but after getting very frustrated with having the first batch of a dozen photos (Kodak, Fuji and Agfa papers) jammed again and again and again, I pretty much gave up.

This is an expensive scanner and it fails miserably at the one thing I paid premium for, the photo feeder, so it's going back to the store.My advice: wait for the next version, or wait for a similar offering from Epson or another competitor (hopefully soon). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for use with a range of HP inkjet printers (see tech specs for compatibility), the HP 29 black replacement ink cartridge utilizes a water-resistant, pigment based formula for quality results. It is ideally suited to work with HP's specialty papers, transparencies, and plain papers to produce bright, crisp, fade-resistant prints.

The HP 29 is self-contained, so you don't have to worry about ink spills during installation. Simply open the cover of your unit, replace the ink cartridge, and you are ready to go. The cartridges supports resolutions up to 600 dpi and has a 40 ml volume, which yields approximately 720 pages. Each package contains one black ink cartridge. ... Read more

Features

• Black ink cartridge for all Hewlett Packard 600 Series DeskJet/DeskWriter, except for DesignJet 650C (see HP 51640A for black cartridge)
• Averages 650 pages per cartridge
• 720-page yield, 40 ml ink volume
• Water-resistant, pigment based ink
• Ideal for HP specialty papers, transparencies, and plain papers

Amazon.com Product Description

Compaq's iPAQ pocket PC combines a real Intel processor, new hardware, and a sleek industrial design that fits in your hand to create a powerful and stylish PDA you can take anywhere. It 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. The Compaq iPAQ wraps the power of a Microsoft Windows operating system in a new interface designed for ease of use in a portable format. Even if you've never used a computer or digital organizer, learning to use the Compaq iPAQ is easy.

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 inking. Both audible and visual alarms alert you when you have a scheduled event.

What sets this Pocket PC apart from similar devices on the market is its sleevelike expansion-pack system. The expansion-pack system allows you add functionality to suit your particular needs. Expansion-pack options currently include a CompactFlash pack, the ability to attach a CompactFlash card slot to your iPAQ, an executive leather and PC Card expansion pack, and a water-resistant sports pack. In the future, Compaq plans to release a global positioning system pack, so you can make your iPAQ pocket PC into a GPS unit.

The Compaq iPAQ is sporty and small. At 5.11 by 3.28 by 0.62 inches and 6 ounces, it fits in your hand or slides 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 3650
• Two Styli
• Vinyl slipcase
• AC adapter
• Docking cradle
• Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
• iPaQ Expansion Pack system
• User Manual

Features

• 240 x 320 TFT LCD screen displays more than 4,000 colors
• 32 MB RAM and 16 MB ROM
• Includes Pocket Excel, Word, Internet Explorer, and Outlook, plus desktop version of Outlook 2000
• Plays Audible.com spoken-word content; optional expansion packs can add a variety of functions
• What's in the box: iPaQ 3650, Two Styli, Vinyl slipcase, AC adapter, Docking cradle, Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery, iPaQ Expansion Pack system, User Manual

Reviews (108)

Sleek Tech with an eye on expandablity
Mr. Bits here to give you the straight dope. What we have here: Great screen, that is actually visible in sunlight. Expandability for CF cards AND PCMCIA(PC Cards). This will prove handy if you want add-ons later, like wired/wireless modems. The speaker is built into the navigation button for suprising directional sound. You can also play mpeg video and mp3 file formats. I hooked this bad mama jama up to a pair of Microsoft amplified PC speakers and you'd swear the sound was being generated by a High Quality Sony CD-Player. You've got the ablility here to connect to your MS Outlook. At about 206Mhz of processing power, this thing is processing at 100 times faster than Jethro Clampett. What you don't have: The ease of use when synchronizing with your PC that you will with the Palm Products.(think long and hard about this if you are a computer newbie). Also no love for Mac-Heads like my buddy Andy, the cat keeper. The connection on the cradle will worry you more than a Porsche hood ornament tacked on with duct tape. With the addition of programs like Pocket Pics and Hairy Palm you can view quality Jpeg/gif images with ease. That's right. In conclusion, forget all I've said(despite my truth). You're not here for facts. You just wanna look cool. A pocket full of food stamps and a cell phone is all to common for you. Pagers are played out like boy bands in the year 2001 and something has to fill those stubby fingers when the Starbucks

runs dry. You couldn't get a girl's number if you had caller ID, but hey this sleek little chunk of sexy technology may give you the self confidence needed to fill out a personals ad on the web.

iPAQ or Jornada or Cassiopeia?
You have heard by now that a new class of handhelds - the PocketPCs - have hit the market and selling like hotcakes. You have probably even decided that you would rather go with a PocketPC than a Palm because you use Windows at work and home and feel happy with MSWord, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and the whole kit-n-kaboodle. What you cannot decide is which one of these to buy - they all rate so high! Well, for good reason. Faster processors and simpler WindowsCE system are making these eminently powerful and useful.

Price: Cassiopeia E-115 and Jornada 548 are both ~ $600 (if you go for the 16 M RAM, the price drops, but I don't recommend it). iPAQs are cheaper at ~ $500.

Processors: Cassiopeia (MIPS) and Jornada (SH3) processors are about the same speed (131 MHz) but Cassiopeia is a 64 bit processor. iPAQ has a StrongArm processor running at 206 MHz and noticeably faster.

Expandability: Cassiopeia comes with a Type II Compact Flash slot. This means you can put any compact flash cards out there, including the snazzy 1 inch IBM-microdrives that store upto 340 MB of data. Jornada comes with a Type I slot which means it cannot accomodate type II cards or the IBM-drive. iPAQ needs to add an expansion "jacket" to allow any cards. It is an innovative design that allows the main unit to be smaller - but you have to carry more components if you want to lug around more data or music.

Display: Only Cassiopeia has a true 16 bit display (65000 colors). iPAQ and Jornada are both 12 bit (1000 colors). Can you make out the difference - mostly not, unless you are looking at photographs.

Size: Cassiopeia is bulky and comes in at 9 oz. It does not have a hard top - so it needs to be carried in a soft case that comes along. Jornada unit is about as bulky as Cassiopeia, but it comes with a hard top so the total package (unit and case) is definitely less bulky. iPAQ wins hands down with a Palm like form factor.

Bottom Line: If you need dislay, multimedia capabilities and expandability - buy a Cassiopeia. Looking for a sleeker option with decent built-in expansion options - buy a Jornada. You need speed and sleek - look not farther than an iPAQ (remeber you need a separate jacket at times).

An actual Review
The Ipaq is a great pocket pc overall. The Good and the bad

Bad- With small amount of memory you can sometimes have a problem of certain programs not functioning properly. Since the pocket pc manages its memory automatically you cant always use your on board memory to its full advantage.

The foul part on Compaq is that you must buy accessories for example the carring case you get with it is a sleeve which is tight as hell to pull your pocket pc which means you need to buy accessories and since there is no slot to stick a memory card in you have to buy a new sleeve that allows you to put a memory card in then you got to get the card seperately which all together can run you over another 100 or more which as we know will be more. Which is funny cause you can get a real pc for the price of this.

I guess buy now your wondering what the good is:

Well if your the type like me that has a lot of appointments on a daily basis and keeps forgetting those important meetings than this is definately for you. Its great because you have many programs that interact with your pc like word and excel plus once linked to your pc you can connect through the net download and whatever which is cool. The programs that you can load are amazing like you can turn your pocket pc from a calculator to a voice command gaming system to even a remote control for any tv stero or vcr or dvd player doesnt matter.

I have found it very useful in my newly busy life and a great benefit for reminders. Battery last pretty long even with the color screen I mean if you plan on using it the whole day and plan on doing serious programs on it better bring your charger.

Later

Love the concept and loved the product
But after several months of owning it, I am noticing some things I don't like.

Pro's:

Pocket PC operating system is wonderful. It is just like Windows and has everything Windows has to offer in a little tiny version. I am a programmer, and love the ability to connect to databases with this product

MP3. What else do I need to say about that?? Wonderful!

Document Library: A specially designated place tos tore eBooks was a wonderful idea!

Screen: Crisp and clean. Perfect clarity, much better than the Sony's.

Con's:

Battery Life: Very short. I need to recharge fully every night and do a restore as the battery dies throughout the day.

Size: Very bulky. In today's marketplace I find it hard to believe this model cannot be more compact. Warning: This BARELY fits in the Coach mini-office.

Lack of accessories: Try to find a hardcase for this model. Yikes! Without it, your iPaq will turn on on its own, draining the battery even more.

Solid device
Very nice machine - I use it everyday. The software out for it is growing. I have owned this machine since Jan '02, and have had no major problems with it. I think it is better than any palm device I have ever used.

Cons:
Software - MS still has some glitches... but only once in a while (~1/month) after a sync the machine will 'freeze' and needs to be soft reset (w/no loss of data).
Also be aware of another problem other ppl have encountered with pluging in the ear phone jack to listen to music, then removing them and having no sound on the external speakers. This may have been fixed on the more recent devices.

... ... Read more

Features

• 1,200 dpi laser quality; automatic two-sided printing
• Up to 22 ppm print speed, first page out in less than 8.5 seconds
• 133 MHz Motorola V4 Coldfire processor, 16 MB RAM, expandable to 144 MB
• Additional 250-sheet input tray, total 500-sheet capacity
• Parallel port, USB 2.0, and Ethernet interfaces; PC and Mac compatible

Features

• 600 x 600 dpi resolution, HP ImageREt 2,400 dpi effective resolution
• Up to 16 ppm print speed, first page in 22 seconds
• 64 MB built-in RAM; 350-sheet input capacity, expandable to 850 sheets
• Automatic media type sensing and print mode adjustment
• USB 2.0 interface, optional wireless networking; PC and Mac compatible

Amazon.com Product Description

Hewlett-Packard's 940C printer combines high-quality printing with a space-saving design that's ideally suited for small work areas. Weighing in at less than 20 pounds, it fits snugly into any 18-by-10-inch space and connects easily to your PC or Macintosh via either standard or USB connection.

Providing both outstanding detail and economic use of consumables, this thermal inkjet easily earns its keep in the home office. Color prints are churned out at up to 10 pages per minute, with a fully saturated 2,400 x 1,200 dpi resolution. Monochrome print jobs are processed at up to 12 pages per minute and receive a letter-perfect 600 dpi resolution. The 940C input tray handles 100 sheets of 20-pound paper in letter and legal sizes. Additional paper-handling options include all types of photo paper, stickers, index cards, and envelopes.

With simple one-touch operation and clear onscreen windows to navigate you through the printing process, everyone in the family can use this solidly built machine. Hewlett-Packard includes a 90-day warranty on parts and labor. ... Read more

Features

• Prints up to 2,400 x 1,200 dpi on premium photo papers
• Prints up to 12 ppm in black, up to 10 ppm in color
• Easy-to-use photo software kit included
• 1-touch print-cancel button; supports optional 2-sided printing
• Parallel and USB interfaces; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (27)

Pleased with the HP 940C
I have owned this printer since Christmas ('01) and have had nothing but success with it. The print speed is great for text documents. I was also able to print great looking glossy slides for a poster presentation. The print cartridges seem to have a pretty good lifetime, as well. I haven't had any problems with paper jams. It has handled some documents with pretty hefty memory neeeds without locking-up too. Definitely, well worth the cost!

Mixed Feelings
I bought this printer about a month ago and was slightly disappointed by its performance. The print quality is great, the photos I printed looked 99% like the 35mm prints that came from the lab, but I made the mistake of using 4x6 photo paper instead of the standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. Approximately every-other print came out crooked on the paper, and the printer has an annoying habit of cutting off the last inch of the image because of margin restrictions. I couldn't find an option to use the maximum paper margins, and so had to end up making a white border around the image so that the printout didn't look strange.
I bought this printer as a replacement for a 5-year-old Epson brand, and am considering going back to it because of my frustrations with this HP. Summary: Great print quality and speed, but not good with custom paper sizes.

It worked fine until I bought a new computer
I owned this printer for more than a year. It worked fine until I bought a new computer, I unplugged it, moved to a new place, and replugged it. The power supply burnt out. The printer was dead. I wasted 2 packs of unused expensive ink cartridges.

Great perfomance printer
Excellent job for small office or home use. Good resolution and fine prints on paper and photo paper as well.

If you value your time and money then I'd something else...
I have owned an HP 940c now for about a year, and as it's now 4AM in the morning and I have a long project to work on, the printer has given me a hardware failure.

Having said that I've tried it on different computers, with different cartridges (thought maybe the OS X driver was to blame but evidently not), and it's dead. Now it's 4AM and I've spent 2 hours troubleshooting the printer only to have it dead.

To top it off this printer uses the HP #15 cartridge which is a #45 cartridge with half the ink at the same price.. you cannot use a #45 in this printer.

I highly reccomend against buying this printer. Not only is it subject to the expensive ink cartridges but it has been widely known for paper feeder problems (a school district recalled theirs), and they are all eventually prone to this sort of failure. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy solid performance with the easy-to-use HP Photosmart 320 digital camera, featuring 2.1-megapixel resolution--for quality prints up to 8 by 10 inches--and a 4x digital zoom. And with the HP Instant Share feature, you can select up to 14 destinations to deliver your digital photos the next time you connect to your computer, including e-mail addresses, printers, and more.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a CCD sensor with 2.1 million effective pixels, the Photosmart 320 creates images up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels and prints up to 8 by 10 inches. Like with many other entry-level digital models, HP keeps the price low by using a focus-free lens with no optical zoom. A 4x digital zoom does bring your shooting subject closer like an optical zoom, but at the expense of image detail.

Storage and Transfer
Store photos using the 8 MB internal memory. The Photosmart 320 also features a Secure Digital slot for optional SD memory cards.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Photosmart 320 can also record silent-movie clips of up to 30 seconds at a frame rate of 15 fps. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.

More Features
With the optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock (which includes 4 rechargeable NiMH batteries), you can connect easily to your PC or TV, plus recharge your camera batteries. This version of the Photosmart 320 includes the camera dock.

You can easily print photos directly from your camera to an optional HP Photosmart, HP PSC 950 all in one, or HP Deskjet (excludes 600 series) printer with USB connectivity--no PC required.

Other features include:

• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction.
• 1.5-inch backlit LCD display for preview and review of photos, battery levels, photo counter, and flash modes.
• 10-second timer

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four standard AA batteries. We recommend a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries. It measures 4.4 by 1.7 by 2.7 inches and weighs 5.6 ounces. This package includes the Photosmart 320 digital camera, four AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, hand strap, and a CD-ROM with HP Photo & Imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 2.0 megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Fixed 38 mm lens with 4x digital zoom
• 8 MB internal memory with Secure Digital card slot
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Powered by 4 AA batteries; NiHM rechargeables recommended

Reviews (32)

Solid Performer And A Great Value!
This HP 320 2.1 MP camera is rock solid and takes great pictures. 2 MP is totally adequate for typical picture taking. Very few people blow up there photos beyond 8.5" X 11". An optical zoom (digital zoom decreases resolution) would be nice, but more than doubles/triples the price. Instead, the operator just needs to move forward or backwards to get the proper framing.

I purchased this camera on sale with the free accessory kit (case, NiMH batteries and charger) for fewer than 100 clams here on Amazon. I also picked up a new HP 8881 docking station on ebay for 30 clams and a 128MB-memory card for 35 clams (after rebate) at Dell. So, you can get into great digital for not a lot of money.

This camera is an outstanding value and a rock solid performer. I highly recommend it for people who want to take great pictures without the added cost of advanced features. All you need is the camera initially to get started. From there you can decide if you want to add more accessories.

PS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ACCESSORY KIT OFFER, YOU WILL NOT FIND ANYTHING CLOSE TO THIS VALUE AT THE TIME OF THIS POSTING! THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY HP PRODUCT!

UPDATE- I did have to upgrade my camera's firmware to support the 128MB SD-RAM cards. HP sent me a free 16MB SD-RAM card for the upgrade process (you need a SD-RAM card to facilitate the procedure). The process worked well and I'm now enjoying my fully functional 128MB card!

HP PS320 Teenage Review
After having this camera for about a week i'm throughly pleased. I had previously had a cheap $20 camera with .3mp resolution. I immediatly found the difference amazing. The price was just right for the HP PS320 (i had bought it in a bundle with printer and memory card). I had been researching for about a month, and finally decided to buy the Kodak ES4530 but realized that I didn't even need a 5mp if I only wanted to get 4" by 6" pictures. The screen is kinda fuzzy and takes a while to take the next picture, but that is liveable. Also the screen is incredebly easy to use, it took a while to figure out how to delete. Now that i found out that the delete button is not directly on the camera but in menu mode I feel safer that my pictures will not be deleted. When you get the camera, don't forget extra memory. The camera only has about 8 pictures with the internal memory; but with a SD64 card you can take about 64 pictures at highest resolution. Since I am in high school mostly this camera was to take pictures of my friends and it has worked very well for this task. One problem is that when I upload the pictures to my website they turned out VERY blurry. Another complaint is that the software would not load onto my computer. Luckily my computer is also a HP so it recognized the model and I found an old program that lets me upload pictures. Over all this is a great camera. I've tried to work other camera's that my friends have, but they are to complicated. Just some things to remember to get
-extra memory (YOU WILL NEED IT!!!!!!)
-photo printer (the prints come out better than the disposable photos and is great for you money)
-BATTERIES!! (after A DAY AND A HALF!!! my battereies were gone! I did take alot of pictures but that seems to short of a life for the batteries.)

Awesome Camera
This is an Awesome camera. I tried the equivalent Vivitar Camera, it was horibble! This little camera blows it away. I also bought rechargable batteris(a must have), a 64 MB SD Card (also must have)and I bought a HP Photosmart 435 photoprinter. The printer is awesome and together it prints out beautiful pixs! I would highly recommend this to anybody!! :)

Excellent Choice
I recently received this camera with the HP printer bundle for my birthay. Both work wonderfully. They are so easy to use and are great for taking just basic pictures. The price was very affordable as well.

Good, inexpensive choice.
This camera does a good job for the money. The pictures are plenty clear to print unless you want to enlarge. The zoom is somewhat annoying since it puts a box around a piece of the picture in the viewer rather than erasing the part you won't see. This leaves you to imagine what the picture will look like once the outside of the box is cut off. Other than that, this camera has worked well during heavy use. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

For many, Compaq's iPAQs were the pick of the first round of Pocket PC releases. Now that Microsoft has released a new version of its Pocket PC operating system (Pocket PC 2002), the company's previous hardware partners have all updated their products and some new players have joined in. The net result is greater competition--so how does Compaq fare?

The new range of iPAQ is available in two versions. The iPAQ 3765 is much like the popular 3635 model, but has the new OS on board. The iPAQ 3835, our review unit, is similar in body, but adds a few extra features.

The 3835 is driven by Intel's fast StrongARM processor, which runs at 206 MHz, and is outfitted with a healthy 64 MB RAM. The Pocket PC 2002 OS itself is stored on the 32 MB flash ROM, so you should be able to easily install OS updates as they come along. The screen quality is superb and can show over 65,000 colors--a greater color depth than the 3765.

Most hardware expansion is provided via an optional CompactFlash expansion jacket, with CF cards and modules from previous iPAQs largely compatible with the iPAQ 3835. Note, however, that this does not carry through to hardware add-ons that use the docking port (such as keyboards), as the connector on the 3835 is different than on the 3635 or 3765.

Additionally, there is now a built-in expansion slot onboard that enables you to add both software and hardware to the iPAQ without the need for the CF expansion jacket. This slot is compatible with both Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards.

The iPAQ's design and build quality are superb; this is still the best-looking Pocket PC around. The docking station is both USB and serial--this "one size fits all" approach is intelligent and user friendly. Data input has also been improved, including the ability to register more than one button press at a time, making speedy gaming possible as some light relief from all the serious work you can set the device to.

Overall, Compaq's new iPAQ 3835 beats the rest for looks and performance. The built-in SD/MMC expansion card slot is a plus, and the iPAQ becomes an even more powerful productivity machine with the addition of the optional CompactFlash jacket. --Sandra Vogel

Pros:

• Expansion card slot for SD and MMC cards
• Fast processor and good amount of onboard memory
• Bright screen with great color depth
• Latest Microsoft operating system--Pocket PC 2002

• Use of CompactFlash cards requires optional expansion jacket

Features

• Pocket PC 2002 operating system features improved handwriting recognition and new versions of Pocket Outlook, Word, and Excel
• 64 MB RAM and 32 MB ROM ; 206 MHz Intel StrongARM 32-bit RISC processor
• 240 x 320-inch TFT LCD screen displays more than 4,000 colors
• Pre-installed software includes Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player (MP3), Inbox (e-mail), Microsoft Reader (e-books), and more
• What's in the box: iPAQ Pocket PC H3835 series, Extra stylus, Protective cover pack, Universal cradle for both USB and serial connections with tether, AC adapter, DC adapter plug

Reviews (76)

Oh Baby Oh Baby
Look, I did hours and hours of research. I could write a publishable paper on the various features of PDAs so let me assure you if you're considering this product it is a pretty safe bet compared to it's peers. That also includes hours of reading consumer reviews. If you are looking for a product with Microsoft Office software, then this is the one you MUST buy. Dell has serious customer service issues and the Toshibas just didn't rank as high on quality and reliability. Spend the extra $$ and get the Ipaq. You will pat yourself on the back later.

What's great about this little gizmo is that you can download all of your Microsoft files in a heartbeat. It is a high quality computer. You can spend a little more and get higher meg and such but now you're just buying a whole new system aren't you? If you want a high quality PDA then this is the one you should buy. It has every feature imaginable (or obtainable) boasts of a high battery life and the graffiti feature is brilliant. If you've read something about a vulnerable screen, don't worry. Ipaq now boasts of a hinged case to protect the screen. This looks awesome and is awesome. So far, I have been really pleased.

Good, but some frustrating moments in store for Palm users
I just bought three iPaq's for my company to replace a fleet of aging laptops (people only used them for Word anyway) and I am actually fairly impressed with the 3835. It is much more affordable than the 3900 series without giving up too many features.

The display is bright and easy to read and Pocket PC's have resisted the Palm urge to shrink the size of the screen. Battery life is above average from some of the other color units I've seen and unlike the Visor Prism, you get an AC adapter right off the bat. Like most of the current PDA's, the 3835 has a SD slot built in for extra storage. This comes in handy almost immediately, as the install CD contains a few megs of ebooks but you will need to buy a bulky sleeve to get a CF slot for expansion purposes. The expanision sleeves makes finding a good carrying case difficult. FYI, the Toshiba e740 comes with a SD and a CF slot built in for almost the same price, so you may want to look in that direction too.

Buying a portable keyboard for the 3800 series is a real pain. Apparently, Compaq changed the bottom connector from the 3700 series and the Targus stowaway keyboard (best one for any PDA) only works with the addition of an small adapter piece that is just begging to be lost. Compaq's own brand of keyboard and the iConcepts one are not nearly as comfortable to use, but do not require the adapter piece.

If you upgrading from a Palm, beware. There is no real easy way to get all of your data out of the Palm Desktop and into Outlook. Contacts move over okay if you are careful with Outlook's import function, but the calendar doesn't move easily at all. Also, if you have never used the Pocket PC OS before, be prepared for some things to be a little less accessible than they used to be.

I've Had This For Over A Year And I Still Love It!!!
I looked online for hours to find an affordable PDA that would allow me to do everything I wanted. I'm a full time college student and I find I can take notes, set up appointments and have my schedule on demand. I have my tasks organized and get more accomplished. I can also pull up phone numbers and email addresses of friends, teachers, and even restaurants when my friends and I order out. Plus I can play games while waiting for my next class to start. It also synchronizes perfectly with my desktop computer's version of Microsoft Outlook. I can download maps to my PDA for trips with step-by-step driving directions. The PDA is light and I can carry it in my purse all the time without it weighing me down. The unit has held up great for the year and few months I've had it. I know that newer systems have come out since I bought this back in November of 2002, but if you find a new or used version of this PDA I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. I also bought, and would recommend, a zippered holder that is waterproof (I spill things on my nightstand a lot.) It also helps protect the unit if you drop it. The only other thing you might want is to buy the memory expansion card. It's only about $35 and it triples your memory. You'll find that you can fill up your memory a lot faster than you think. (I buy too many e-books from Amazon!) I really think this is a good PDA for a student or anyone else and I take mine with me everywhere.

Best Business PDA Tool I have used
I have owned Several Palm Based PDs and one Palm Smart Phone. This is by far the best of the bunch. I never thought I could use a PDA as a palm comuter, but this product does it hands down. I am an oustside sales person and really need to have access to my Act Database and need to be able to access several XL files. Not only does this product provide me the access and editing tools it also allows me to print via IR to a protable printer in my car. Now my lap top stays in the trunk and my PDA travels with me. BIG Thumbs up.

I'm going back to a Palm!!
When I originally bought this PDA it had such great reviews and I though it would be a good replacement/upgrade for my old Palm (that never gave me any trouble by the way). I have had it for over 6 months now and I have been so unhappy with its performance. The battery life is horrible!! I travel a lot and need something that I don't need to charge twice a day. I don't play games or read books on it, so I don't use up the battery life that way. The worst thing is that unlike Palms you lose everything if your battery runs out!!!! Who ever heard of that. If you keep backing up to your computer you can restore it, but you really have to be on the ball with that, because if you don't too bad it's gone! I will admit it is a nice looking machine that has some nice features, but I just bought a new Palm because I need something I can rely on. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you need to keep up with your fast-paced business courses whileworking and planning for your future career, invest in the HP10B businesscalculator. Featuring over 100 built-in functions for business, finance,mathematics, and statistics, the HP10B is an ideal calculator for businessstudents who want to get ahead. Easily calculate loan payments, interest rates,amortization, discounted cash flow analyses, TVM (loans, savings, and leasing)and more. Statistical analysis is cumulative and you can figure standarddeviation, mean, and weighted mean in addition to forecasting and thecorrelation coefficient. Cash flow analysis is register-based and has 15functions.

The HP10B business calculator has an algebraic entry system and alogical and intuitive keyboard layout with easy-to-read labels. The LCD displayscreen features up to 12 characters on one line of text. Small and sturdy, thiscalculator is easy to slip into your backpack or briefcase and bring to class oryour workplace. Hewlett-Packard offers a one-year warranty on the HP10B. --Dana Van Nest ... Read more

Features

• Over 100 built-in functions
• Algebraic data entry
• Intuitive keyboard layout with easy-to-read labels
• Adjustable contrast display
• One-year warranty

Reviews (5)

BEST Financial Calculator for the Money
I have used (and own) many of the available financial calculators on the market. I "recommend" the HP-10B to my university finance students, both graduate and undergraduate.

The HP 10B is a directly positioned competitor to the TI-BA-II+, but HP's entry is superior. The keys feel more solid, the machine itself "seems" better made. Having worn out more than one of each, my experience has been that the HP has more staying power. And, the TI-BA-II+ often requires more keystrokes to accomplish the same tasks (i.e., NPV calculations). ...

The HP 10B has a well written manual, including examples on using the function. HP has the manual available on-line on their website for the inevitable time that the user needs it and has lost the original.

While there are cheaper financial calculators, it seems that this particular level is the minimum I would recommend to professionals or students. Less expensive versions, while saving a few dollars, miss important features. As a general rule of thumb, if the calculator can perform the "IRR" function, as this can, it will be able to handle pretty much any calculation into which the finance student, professonal, or banker will run. Lesser machines do not have this function.

Ironically, even larger fancier calculators, such as the venerable HP-12C, are in my estimation inferior as well. The 12C uses RPN logic which, while saving even more keystrokes, is simply foreign to most students. More importantly, some functions, such as the Time Value of Money functions, on the 12C require interpretation. On the 12C, for example, solving for the number of periods in an annuity, the value gets rounded UP to the next integer.

Strongly recommended as the best value in inexpensive financial calculators.

This calculator feels good to use.
I had bought a cheap TI calculator in a grocery store, and was very unhappy with the tactile feedback of button pushing. I always had to check the display to see if the numbers that were being input were actually registering correctly. This HP-10B not only has a good display, but it is also comfortable to hold, and it feels good when you use it. That's all I was looking for. I don't actually use any of the financial functions.

Very Capable for Business or Personal Use
I bought this calculator as required equipment for my CFP program. It is far more capable than the old TI BA-II I had used for years. I spent about an hour going through the well written manual and doing practice problems to familiarize myself with the calculator's logic. You can do all kinds of cash flow analyses with it that are not possible on the TI. I use the Time Value of Money calculations frequently, and you can even change the payments and rate of return in specific periods. The only thing it won't do is print out the information!

I would recommend it for any financial professional or a serious do-it-yourself financial planner.

Great Value
I have owned all of Hewlett Packard's financial calculators. The HP-10B has several features that make it the calculator I like to use. It has a 1 line BOLD display, which makes it very easy to read. This feature is extremely important to me, as my eyes aren't as good as they once were. It has all of the standard financial functions, such as uneven cash flow analysis and TVM (time value of money). The only thing I miss on the 10B is RPN. It would be nice if that were an option, along with a built in cover, like the HP-19B. I solved the cover problem with an Astech plastic case, which, unfortunately, is no longer available. If your vision is less than perfect and you don't want to spend alot of money for a financial calculator, you will be very pleased with the 10B. Even if you have perfect vision, you won't go wrong with this calculator.

Great Value in a Mid Range Capability Business Calculator
This is a well designed calculator for quick TVM,cashflow and basic business as well as light statistical calculations. This specific model was required for an MBA Finance class I took recently, or I probably would not have purchased, as I already had a TI Business Scientific (now renamed to Business II or something like that.) A few classical basic scientific functions are included as well except for trig. The numerical range of the calculator (E+/-499 power) is impressive and consistant with the HP 20S mid-range scientific. The keyboard is well laid out, and the calculator helps maintain the high quality HP image. At recent prices like Amazon's it is a bargan, and occasionally has a $5 rebate which makes almost a gift. If you need something more powerful, look at the HP-17BII (quite a bit pricier if you don't need the power) or even higher end business models HP makes in the clamshell. ... Read more

Features

• For HP Color LaserJet 1500 and 2500 printers
• Rich black ink for high-contrast images and clear text
• Yields 5,000 pages at 5% coverage
• Part of HP's precision printing system
• Genuine HP quality consumable

Features

• 600 x 600 dpi color and black resolution
• 264 MHz processor, 64 MB memory, expandable to 192 MB
• Manual duplexing; includes second input paper tray
• Parallel, USB 2.0, and 10/100Base-TX Ethernet/Fast Ethernet RJ-45 ports
• Up to 4 ppm color, 20 ppm black; PC and Mac compatible

Amazon.com Product Description

The Compaq Presario 2210US notbook offers equal parts mobility and productivity, with a price tag that won't break the bank. Road warriors will appreciate the power-saving benefits of the 1.4 GHz Celeron M processor, while digital media enthusiasts will go for the bright, 15-inch display and 24x combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. It also features a 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and 54g Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The younger sibling to Intel's Centrino processor, the Celeron M processor is also closely related to its desktop and Mobile Celeron predecessors. The 1.4 GHz speed measurement is similar to the 2.0 GHz Mobile Celeron processor, which puts it in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor class. It will aby execute tasks from productivity and multimedia applications, but it's not recommended for high-end video needs. Its M classification denotes its built-in power-saving technologies, so you'll get good battery performance while on the road.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 266 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is becoming standard on notebooks and it's a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 16x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 101-key keyboard and two-button touchpad with on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This 2210US model has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a basic offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money, Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 60-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Plus, HP Image Zone Plus, InterVideo WinDVD Creator,Sonic RecordNow, and Apple iTunes.

Dimensions and Weight
At 12.96 x 10.72 x 1.69 inches and 6.7 pounds, the 2210US is average in size compared to other notebooks in its class.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides an average of battery life of around 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Compaq Presario 2210 US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Extra heavy 24 lb paper for no see-through 2-sided color printing
• Treated on both sides to prevent bleeding & improved contrast
• Ideal for color & black printing
• Super brightness rated 106

Amazon.com Review

One of the nice things about Windows CE devices is that manufacturers don't have to stick to a specific design. They can make large screens or small screens, add keyboards or rely solely on the touch screen for input, and basically do whatever they want. Hewlett-Packard decided to make a do-anything device when they designed the Jornada 720, and on most counts they have succeeded.

The device sports a keyboard just large enough for comfortable touch typing anda large 640 x 240 screen that makes Web browsing and document editing mucheasier than is the case with a smaller device. This useful combination meansthat most people will be able to use the Jornada 720 as a notebook computerreplacement. However, if you're looking for the ultimate in portable handheldcomputing, you'll have to look elsewhere.

The 720 is about as loaded as a Windows CE device can get; it comes with anintegrated 56 Kbps V.90 modem, docking station for easy connection to a PC, ACadapter, and rechargeable battery. It's outfitted with 32 MB of RAM and a 206 MHz StrongARM processor that really makes applications fly. On themultimedia side you get an integrated speaker and stereo headphone jack foraudio playback, and one of the most beautiful TFT active matrix displays we'veseen. It can mix and match more than 65,000 colors at once, renders very crisptext, and never had trouble keeping up with our input like inferior passivematrix screens do.

The very thing that makes the Jornada 720 so useful--itsrelatively large size--is also its biggest drawback. Its weight can make itunwieldy, and there's no good way to get a grip on it when there isn't a flatsurface to use it with. We ended up accidentally pressing keys far too oftenwhen holding the unit with one hand, though with a little practice jugglingbecomes much easier.

If you are graduating to the Jornada from a smaller handheld (such as a Palm)instead of slimming down from a notebook, prepare to be underwhelmed by itsportability. Expect to be impressed, however, by its zippy performance, generousdisplay, and expansion possibilities. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Large, colorful display makes working with large documents practical
• Keyboard is large enough for touch-typing, albeit at a slower rate than a full-sized keyboard allows
• Comes standard with so many features that you likely won't have to buy upgrades for some time

Cons:

• It's heavy and too big for most pockets
• Difficult to use without sitting it down on a flat surface

Features

• Get fast performance with 206 MHz processor, 32 MB SDRAM, and 2-D graphics acceleration
• Features 640 x 240 screen and 3/4-size keyboard
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Includes pocket versions of familiar Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint as well as Internet Explorer for Handheld PC
• What's in the box: Jornada 720, Stylus, AC adapter, Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, USB Docking cradle, Sync cable, User Manual

Reviews (33)

It's perfect for me. Is it for you?
If you want a put-in-a-shirt-pocket PDA, this isn't for you. If you want or need a keyboarded device, this is the only choice without adding external keyboard. For me, that means it's the only choice. Contrary to the review, it is really difficult to touch type on it. It's got a large form factor, but I can carry it in a pocket (but I'm a size 56;)

You can find the Jornada external keyboard on eBay once in a while (part F1275A.) If you find one, snap it up! It works with an additional free driver from HP, and it adds six times the functionality.

The bad news: The product is discontinued. Additional NiMH batteries (proprietary design) aren't available on HP shopping. HP Parts told me they're backordered, but I did get mine in 24 hours.

The worse news: WinCE/Pocket PC devices are not supported by the software manufacturer after a new revision comes out. As another reviewer mentions, much "Windows CE 2.0" software will NOT run on Windows CE for Handheld PC (H/PC.) Don't expect much additional software to come out; companies just won't have a profit motive to support an obsolete platform.

The good news: There is a LOT of software out there now that works. You just need to find a good forum like Raul Lucky's web pages to help know what works and what doesn't.

The better news: With my Jornada 720 I can just take the unit along and have great functionality as a PDA. Between the add-on keyboard, Accurite 20 GB hard drive which slots into card slot 1, a 64 MB Compact Flash Card, Ansyr's Primer PDF reader, and other goodies which aren't necessary (1 extended batt, 1 reg batt, docking cradle, external charger, etc. - it seems like a lot but really isn't) I have no need of a laptop. I've even got most of my CD library burned to the external HD. I don't need an MP3 player, either. In short, this is much more than just a PDA with lots of flexibility and expansion capability.

The best news: With the flexibility of the system I've always got it with me, in the configuration for whatever I'm doing. It takes a little learning, but far less than the MessagePads did, and I suspect less than your average first-timer using a PDA. This is really more than a PDA, though it is less than a laptop. And with the lower price points, it's even sweeter. If I had the ready cash, there wouldn't be any of them for sale here, because I'd have them as backup units. :)

I'm expecting (batteries willing,) to be using it until Pocket PC 2010 comes out - at least. :)

Fast, compact, light weight and full of features!
The HP Jornada 720 does everything I need to do for on-the-road computing. Checking and responding to e-mail, surfing the net, taking meeting notes, drafting memos and other documents, and accessing all those usual organizer functions. I now leave my heavy and bulky laptop brick at the office and take the 720 instead when traveling for business or pleasure. Lots of bundled software tools are included making the Jornada 720 a versatile machine. It's flexible allowing for expansion and scalability. I especially like adding PCMCIA Type II, compact flash and smart cards. The audio recorder and built-in speakers are also nice. The standard 32 MB of memory is an improvement over the older 600 series models. The improved Windows for HPC OS will be very familiar to Windows NT/95/98 users and the sync capability makes the 720 a logical extension of my desktop machine. Some minor drawbacks: it is somewhat pricey compared to the Jornada 548 and other Pocket PC handhelds; the keyboard (although nice) is a bit tiny. I use a two-finger or two-eraser heads poking technique to minimize keyboard errors. Great battery - 9 hours! I do love it!

Perfect
I wrote an entire novel on this trusty machine - and was able to throw it in a backpack, bike to the library, pull it out and work. Loved being able to sit in my living room and write, also. ActiveSync works perfectly. Infrared works perfectly - sends documents directly to my printer AND I am able to use it to store data from my Quicklink pen.

I LOVE THIS COMPUTER! I am upset that HP discontinued this line...If you're looking for a TRULY portable computer (and don't require all the extra bells and whistles of a laptop) that syncs up beautifully with your desktop - THIS IS THE COMPUTER FOR YOU!

Jornada 720 the perfect PDA!
For more than 3 years, IÕve owned HPC Palmtop PCÕs. My first unit was a 360LX, which was black and white, ran on 2 AA alkalines, offered a 60mhz SH3 CPU (fast for the time) no built in modem or Ethernet ports, and only 8MB of Internal memory. Back when the 360LX was released many people did not use their palmtops to connect to the Internet, and most people did not store music on their computers, so 8MB of Internal RAM was perfect for data purposes. My next Palmtop was the J680, which was a HUGE jump from the 360LX. The J680 offered twice the RAM, a color screen, a built in modem and a CPU twice as fast.

Well a couple weeks ago I purchased a J720 which is also a HUGE leap from my former HPC PDA. The J720 features a 206MHZ ARM RISC CPU, a 51mhz Bus, a much improved CF/PCMCIA slot design, a far superior and less buggy OS, better battery life, a headphone jack, and a whopping 32MB of RAM! With the CF slot, users have the option of adding more memory by installing a CF card, which are cheap these days.

I am very impressed with my new HPC Palmtop. As a student, I need a device to accominidate by bulky battery hogger laptop; well the J720 does it for me! No Palm/PocketPC can fully replace my J720 device. Students need device for fast data entry, and adding an external keyboard to a Palm/PPC would be bulkier to carry around than a HPC.
I recommend HPCÕs to all those in education, wanting a device many times smaller and lighter than a laptop.

Great little machine
For me, this has been a great little machine. It has everything I need, including Pocket Access (which you can't get anymore). With a keyboard that works well once you get used to it, a modem, a windows platform, this little pc keeps me functioning while on the road... Much better than a PDA - this is a computer! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The mid-line HP Pavillion zv5430us is a great desktop replacement, adding mobility to its powerful multimedia and home office computing features. The large 15.4-inch screen is perfect for watching DVD movies, and the Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go video/graphics card keeps 3D gaming smooth. You can also burn your own CDs and DVDs with the multifomat DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive. The zv5430us features a strong, 64-bit AMD Athlon 3200+ processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, and a multiformat memory card reader for easy access to pictures captured on your digital camera.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is one of the larger sizes you'll find in a notebook, and it's befitting of such an entertainment-centric PC. It offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors. You'll also be able to store a good-sized digital audio library.
• Processor: AMD's Athlon 64 3200+ processor is built for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, which will require a processor with significant power. This 2.0 GHz 3400+ processor offers a system bus with speeds up to a blazing 1600 MHz and 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.) It includes such AMD features as HyperTransport Technology (which increases the communication between integrated circuits) and Cool'n'Quiet Technology that conserves power while also keeping the PC nicely quiet.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users, and it offers a faster than average RAM speed (333 MHz). It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1280 MB (1 x 1024 MB, 1 x 256 MB), which is a smaller maximum than other entertainment-centric laptops.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive is compatible with a wide variety disc formats, including DVD+, DVD-, VCD, and SVCD discs. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 16x write/10x rewrite/40x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 101-key keyboard and two-button touchpad with on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The zv5430us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a good offering of connectivity options, including both USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 parallel port
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack
• Multiformat memory card reader, compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Antivirus 2005 (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, InterVideo Home Theater, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Adobe PhotoShop Album STE, Muvee autoProducer, Microsoft Money, MSN Encarta Plus, and Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition (60 Day Trial Version).

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
Best used as a replacement for your desktop PC, the zv5410us weighs 7.9 pounds. It measures 11.18 x 14.25 x 1.8 inches (LxWxH).

Power
This notebook is powered by a 8-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers an average of 2 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the zv5430us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more