HP iPAQ hx2495b Pocket PC (FA674B#ABA)

Okay, so I bought a brand spanking new hx2495b. One of the first things I did was install a SD card. Then the problems started. Fairly frequent soft boots required to get the thing to turn on. Battery dead (0%) from full charge over night. Not too often, but a couple of times in the 2 weeks I had it.

Emailed hp support about the problem (I did forget to mension I had a SD card installed) and they, of course, recommended doing a ROM update. Okay, I just got a brand new unit, why should it need a ROM update all ready? I go and locate the update, down load it and go to install it. Sure enough the update they wanted me to install was the exact same version all ready in the silly thing! Like that is going to do any good, duh?

Then I notice one of the things the ROM update was suppost to fix is a lock up and battery drain problem when an SD card is installed. Humm, maybe they haven't really fixed that. So, I pull my SD card and whad ya know, all the problems went away!

Well, I really don't need the SD card, so I can live with that, but I'd wish they had said something about it! Even though I forgot about the SD card being in there, they should have realized the problem when I said the battery went dead over night! I can't be the only one to have this problem. Guess they don't want to admit there is still a flaw in the programming. A year after it was suppost to be fixed!

So, I'd recommend if you don't need an SD card, don't put one in. If you do need it, pull it out when your not using it.

One other thing to keep in mind is when you turn the PDA off, it doesn't really turn off. The display goes out, but a lot of stuff is still running inside. This is so it will come back exactly where you left off when you turn it back on. That's nice, but if you don't have it on a charger, it will drain the battery in 3-4 days just sitting around. Maybe not a big deal to most people, but I want to use the thing to keep a trail journal while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I could go a week between towns and AC power. Guess I'll have to lug a solar charger along too if I want to use it.

Other than the problem with the SD card and not really turning off when its off, its a great little gizzmo. Solidly built and otherwise works great.

Oh, one other thing you might want to know. The instructions aren't clear about this. Activesync likes to turn it's self on all the time. The way to stop this is to set it to manual sync only. Unfortunetly, the button to access this command is not available if you have it set for USB sync. To set it to manual sync only, you have to set up a server connection first.

Start activesync (if it isn't already running!)

Menu > add server source

enter a dummy server address like 1.1.1.1

enter some other dummy info into the next blocks it wants you to fill in

then go back to menu and click on schedule.

Now select manual sync in two places.

Go back and delete the server connection.

Now active sync will only come on when you want it too.

I have had mine for a few weeks now. Pretty much I like it for all the reasons stated in other reviews. Syncing was easy with WXP Home, WIFI connection is two tap simple, lots of extra software written that works with WM5. I'm using subscription medical software. I'm not having the power management issues even with a 1GB SD expansion card in place. Its the goofey OS thats the problem (Microshaft/soft).

#1. The Today screen, (Desktop), sometimes leaves out some of the device status icons. To fix it, tap START, SETTINGS, TODAY and uncheck any item to display. Exit and it will be removed. Then go back in and recheck the box and it (and the missing display status icons) will reappear. #2. For whatever reason, sometimes the device will not turn on. Fret not, you have done nothing wrong. Stick the stylus into the soft reset hole...and BLINK...the screen comes back on and the device reboots itself. #3. Navigating the device is partly intuitive and partly not. There are still some screens I've seen only once. I have no idea how I got there and no idea how to get back. #4. Internet Explorer, Its a MEMORY and STORAGE hog. You can clear the storage caches of IE by doing OPTIONS and deleting the history and files. But the only way to clean out the memory cache is to do a soft reboot. The more you use IE, the more you'll notice the available system memory continually deminishes. I do a soft reboot weekly now to keep the system free of as many temp files as possible.

But overall I like it. I'm used to fiddling with tech stuff so it doesn't really bother me. I use it at work daily and all the included and extra software works great!!

Buy HP iPAQ hx2495b Pocket PC (FA674B#ABA) Now

No doubt HP (Compaq?) did a good job translating market needs into a specification. The problem happened when they went into production.

This PDA has most of what "mobile professionals" need. Power, speed, connectivity....HP however, missed the boat on the quality dimension.

My machine keeps turning on & off throughout the day and night until it runs out of juice. By the time I need it, the battey is almost dead.

Synchronizing is another problem, Activesync 4.2 is much more unstable and limited than previous versions, thus loosing recently modified information or "forcing you" to create duplicate files in order to retain your changes. Before you know it, you have 3-4 documents for the same file. This isn't synchronizing anymore, this is...duplicating.

Overall the product has more pros than cons, however these quality glitches does detract from the good job made by R&D.

This product isn't the HP quality product we became accustomed to, when in college !

--Manny Rosillo

Read Best Reviews of HP iPAQ hx2495b Pocket PC (FA674B#ABA) Here

I had an entry level iPaq the 1910 for a couple of years. Had lots of trouble with it (some of which I believe were created by an aftermarket synch/charging cable). It finally died, and I replaced it with a Palm TX which I quickly returned. Windows compatible yes /work efficiently no.

I replaced that with the iPaq hx2495 and love it. I would have given it 5 stars rather than 4, but I would need to have the unit function w/o problems for another few months before giving it the fifth star.

I have it synched w/2 computers and had no problems loading or using the software. ActivSynch 4.5 seems to be working w/o flaw. The connections seem a little better built than my old 1910, and I have been able to use the wifi to access Internet Explorer and email w/o a problem either.

Right now, I am very happy with this, but then it cost me $350.00, so it should make me happy! I'd spend that again just to have something that works this efficiently and is powered by Microsoft rather than just Microsoft "compatible". Spend the extra bucks it's worth it.

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Lots of features, lots of function, great display. BUT bulky and heavy compared to a Palm VX. Frequently requires a soft reset after charging. The charging cradle should have a socket for a spare stylus, since getting at the stylus while charging is inconvenient.

It is hard to determine which accessories fit a particular model of IPAQ.

The removable battery is a great feature, as are the slots for CF and SD cards.

Unfortunately, for the core functions it is slower and less convenient that my old, long-in-the tooth, Palm VX.

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