O.K., I will include a few things that everyone else has forgotten to include in their reviews. First, not only does the pocket pc OS (which is Windows CE version 3.0) allow you to convert and view word and excel files, you can create and change them on your ppc as well. Pocket Excel allows you use most (perhaps all) of the formulas you are used to using with the pc version of Excel, but graphs don't show up on conversion and you can't create them. Merge cell also doesn't work in Excel and doesn't translate. Word translates pretty well. I'm impressed, but if you use the draw function (tool bar), or graphs, in a pc windows doc, it wont show up in the ppc. The Aero 1550 comes with 16M of ram, but it splits this up (and adjusts it automatically) between the programs and applications, and you need three or four meg of memory for each to run most applications, so, buy a flash memory card for it (I'm planning on buying the 64M). The battery lasts a long time, but it will last longer if you close out all the programs before turning it off because the programs you open will stay open until you close them (the Qmenu is a good way). I've read reviews that insinuated that pocket pc's are complicated, PLEASE! If you have any experience working with a pc and especially MS-office, then, unless you're a gibbering idiot, you wont need any help at all. It is totally user-friendly. I wasn't even aware that it had a manual on the program cd that comes with it until two weeks after it arrived. You will receive a program cd and a Autosync cd. The Autosync is the program that allows you to convert files from pc version to pocket version and vise versa. It also comes with a directory (file) with tons of books in it. You can get other free books online, but MS still needs to come up with a secure version of READER so you can buy commercial books online. You may be aggravated that it doesn't have pocket streets on the ppc, but it is in the EXTRA's directory on the program disk. The picture viewer works pretty well, although the LCD screen doesn't show pictures clearly ( I use scanned jpg files of electrical schematics on mine, for that application, it works great.) I didn't think the MSreader program would hold much appeal for me, but it's great to carry a few novels in your pocket. You always have a large assortment of interesting books to read at your fingertips. One last note, If you're disappointed that you can't carry this calculator sized pc in your shirt pocket without the risk of it falling out, please, get a life. I rated four stars instead of five because in the four weeks I have had it, it has locked up on me three times and crashed twice (confetti on the screen). The answer, as always with Bills product, is reboot. (I gotta have a talk with that boy.) PPS, Pocket Windows doesn't have spell checker-GET OUT!
Here is an update to my 5 stars review of the older Areo 1530. I just installed the Pocket PC upgrade ROM to my 1530. I ordered the upgrade direct from compaq which makes it equivalent to the 1550. It is a flawless upgrade and information was saved to my desktop first. With more memory, sound recorder with rewind and fast forward dial, palm V can't come close to its versitility. Recent additions include a 40mb compact flash memory card, pocket pc version of Calligrapher handwriting recognition, JOT is good but Calligrapher is better. I have also added the modem. Pocket PC is a blast to use, much more user friendly than the older Win CE, and more internet friendly, downloading and reading email is a breeze. Above all, it's a more efficient operating system and less hassle to get from one place to another. The Areo's screen has more resolution than the palm V's and it can be adjusted for lighting conditions. Four shades of grey mode is best for indoor low lighting, 16 shades for moderate to bright indoor lighting and outdoors. It also has reversibility in its LCD image for better viewing with the backlight. Its best feature however is it's size, about as thin as the palm V and weighs about the same too. I would like to give it 6 stars, an extra one for the new Palm PC OS!
Buy Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC Now
The Aero is about the same size and price as a Palm V, but it does so much more. PalmOS is still a bit easier to use than Pocket PC, but I'd take 8x the RAM and all the extra capabilities in a second.
I did have one disappointment, though. I had hoped to replace my portable MP3 player with the Aero, but the audio output quality is quite poor in comparison to what you would get from a Rio or a Nomad. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the media player or with the Aero's audio out jack (I suspect the latter) but then again, the Palm V doesn't even have a headphone jack.
Read Best Reviews of Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC Here
I did some research before buying my first PDA and concluded the Aero was the way to go I haven't been disappointed. The screen resolution is much better than a Palm, and you don't have 25%of it wasted all the time like a Palm of Visor for the character recognition. It's so much more versatile than a Palm The ability to read and write in Word on the device has been awesome I've written reports waiting in line at the grocery store (I know, get a life)and downloaded reports from others to use. I've heard complaints of short battery life but with normal use you can go many days between charges. I was a little worried about cross-talking with Palms, but with Peacemaker software..., it's almost seamless. Don't forget about the expansion capability. You can pop in C-Flash cards (up to 128mb now!) and tote around music, books, whatever. Great value!
Want Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC Discount?
Normally, I do not write reviews. However, when a product is as outstanding as this one is -I will make an exception. Having owned and used the Everex Freestyle Associate model A-10 for the past two years, I can speak with some certainty and confidence about the Compaq Aero model 1550 Pocket PC that I recently purchased from Amazon.com.
The Aero 1550 is an exceptional product. In fact, Compaq and Microsoft have made so many improvements to the pocket PC in the last two years that I hardly know where to begin. I guess I'll start by talking about some of the pitfalls and problems that I experienced with my Everex Freestyle.
When I first bought my Freestyle, I thought it was awesome. There were only a few minor drawbacks that I felt needed improving. Every time I turned the unit on it seemed to take forever to boot up. Finally, after the unit booted up there just did not seem to be very many applications from which to choose. I must have spent around $500 purchasing additional applications like: CoolCalc, Bsquare Spreadsheet, Bsquare Utilities, Grundle Palm Explorer, PowerTime, and many others. Another expense was the cost of a CompactFlash card to expand the Freestyle's memory; it only came with 4 MB, and after loading all those applications not much memory remained for contacts, calendar items, and to do lists, etc.
The Freestyle had two other quirks that needed improving. One, its screen was so dark that it was only barely usable even in good light. And, two, its battery life was pathetic -absolutely pathetic. After an all-night charge, the batteries would only last approximately two hours the next day. I put up with this for two years. Eventually, the battery life began to drop off, and finally they would not hold charge for even two minutes. The icing on the cake was trying to get replacement batteries for it. Everex had stopped manufacturing the Freestyle, and apparently they had stopped supporting it as well. I was unsuccessful at finding any batteries that would work in the Everex. And that, of course, is what led me to purchase the Compaq Aero 1550.
Compaq Computer Corp. has done an exceptional job with the Aero 1550. They have addressed every single concern that I ever had with my first Palm PC. First of all, when you turn the unit on it comes on immediately -there's no waiting for the unit to boot up. And, when you do turn it on, there are a lot more built-in applications to choose from. For example, Microsoft pocket Excel is included, which eliminates the need for Bsquare Spreadsheet. Compaq also includes their own version of file Explorer, which eliminates the need for Grundle Palm Explorer. I won't be needing PowerTime anymore either; my new Aero includes a convenient power management utility. In fact, the only application that I have added to my Aero is CoolCalc -absolutely the best add-on calculator utility on the market.
The Compaq comes with a standard memory installation of 16 MB of ROM as well as 16 MB of RAM. Compaq had the foresight to put all of these essential applications in ROM, thus preserving 16 MB of RAM for user applications, contacts, calendar items, and task lists, etc. Also, with all of these applications in ROM there is no chance of any of them ever becoming corrupted and having to be reinstalled, etc. Furthermore, I don't know about you, but 16 MB of RAM is quite adequate for my needs. That's enough memory to hold thousands, and thousands of contacts, years, and years of appointments, and a "honey-do-list" that would reach from here to the moon and back. The only reason that I can think of to add additional memory to the Aero, is if you're into downloading lots of information, or music files off the Web. That's right, I said music files. The Compaq Aero includes a Microsoft multimedia player, which allows you to download your favorite tunes into your pocket PC and play them back through stereo headphones with near CD-like quality. Compaq even includes in the documentation package information on a web site that offers tens of thousands of audio books, etc. that you can download.
Some of the other fine features of the Compaq that have just tickled me pink are: (1) its screen is brighter and sharper than any other monochrome PDA I've ever seen, (2) at only one-half inch thick, the Aero is almost exactly the same size as the ever popular TI-55-III calculator, and it's about the same weight too, (3) the Aero sports a brushed aluminum finish like the TI which is just too cool to look at, (4) it fits nicely in a shirt pocket, and it's comfortable to carry around, (5) Compaq has included a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack, which charges in only three hours, yet provides approximately 14 hours of use, (6) and, last but not least, there's no extra charge for the docking cradle -Compaq thoughtfully includes one with every unit.
The short version: it's awesome, it's extreme, it's near `bout perfect! Take my word for it, or do your own research. Either way, I believe you will come to the same conclusion. The Compaq Aero 1550 is an exceptional unit that offers unmatched value for its price.
Great price. We could not beat it anywhere! But we did but 2 of them for our daughters phones and one of them did not work.
