The HP Jornada 565
Home page: http://www.hp.com/jornada/
Specs and Photo: http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/hardware/devices/jornada560_spe...
Hardware: Pocket PC 2002, Intel StrongARM 206MHZ processor, 32MB RAM, 32MB flash ROM, 3.5" reflective screen, CompactFlash-slot Type I, IrDA-port, Li-Polymer battery, USB cradle.
Included software: HP Jornada backup, HP Jornada emergency backup, HP Microchai, HP Jornada home menu, HP Jornada settings, HP Jornada image viewer, HP Jornada task switcher, LandWare Omnisolve Business Calculator, Developer One CodeWallet Pro v3, Developer One Access Panel Platinum.
At the heart of the new Jornada 565 Pocket PC handheld from HP is a new OS from Microsoft. Dubbed Pocket PC 2002, it includes numerous enhancements designed, it seems, to woo potential buyers away from the Palm platform. Chief among these is a significant enhancement to the unit's handwriting recognition system. It now recognizes letter-forms familiar to users of Palm's "Graffiti" handwriting recognition system. (Microsoft says the technology, which it calls "Block Recognizer," is in the public domain.) The new Pocket PCs also improve the ability to share information more easily with Palms via infrared "beaming;" other long-time annoyances with the Pocket PC, such as the inability to sort contact lists by company name and a spelling checker for Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, have also been added.
Other key features in the 2002 version of Pocket PC include instant messaging software, an improved e-book reader, a new version of the Windows Media Player, better support for antivirus software and improvements to how the devices connect to wireless networks, including support for virtual private networking -- an essential component, considering the widely publicized security problems of the 802.11b wireless standard. There are also drivers for standard Ethernet networks, IRDA wireless connections, and modems.
The package includes a copy of Outlook 2002 (it will sync to Outlook 98 or later) and, says the company, is compatible with Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4 (SP6 or later), Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Microsoft says the ActiveSync software has been improved, although honestly, we didn't have any trouble with the last few versions, either. By simply dropping the unit into its cradle or, if you're on the road, connecting a sync cable or using the Jornada's built-in infrared port to wirelessly sync to your desktop computer, you can exchange data (email, addresses, phone numbers, contact info, documents, etc.) between your PC and the Jornada.
Fold-up Keyboard
We also tested the Targus Stowaway keyboard with the unit -- still on the top of our list of "must have" peripherals for this or any PDA if you plan on doing a lot of data entry. The Stowaway comes in a tiny case about 5"x4"x1" in size-- about the same height and width as the Jornada 565 itself. But when you press a button on the side, the unit pops open and unfolds like a "W" to reveal a full-size keyboard! Unlike the Jornada 540 we reviewed last year, the 565 includes a built-in driver for the Stowaway. See our Jornada 540 report for additional details on this keyboard.
The Jornada 565 uses a rechargeable Li-Polymer battery cell that, in our tests, provided about 8 - 14 hours of normal use between charges. We did, however, notice that the backup battery was sucked dry during an extended discharge test. To avoid this, you'll want to keep the unit recharging in its docking cradle. The unit's standard 14-hour battery or optional 28-hour battery is recharged by means of a very small AC adapter, either plugged directly into the unit, or attached to the docking cradle.
The Jornada 565's cradle design is quite different from that of the 540 series design earlier models. It's heavier, making it easier to connect and disconnect the PDA with one hand. There's also a removable USB Cradle Spacer (a plastic backplate), presumably for the 28-hour battery pack option for the Jornada. The Jornada connects to your desktop PC via a USB or serial jack; the company offers both dock and standalone cable options, for connection to computers with or without USB capabilities.
If you prefer, you can dock the unit without the use of the cradle, by using the optional (proprietary) serial or USB cables. We did not test these options. Considering the weight of the base, this is a good thing for travelers. (The 565 also plugs into the older bases designed for the 540 series, incidentally.)
Like the earlier Jornada 540 series models, the new 565 includes a metallic-finish (that may or may not be metal) cover that flips down to protect the screen when the unit is not in use. We really like this feature, but if you prefer, you can remove it. There's also a rubberized plastic bumper surrounding the unit, further adding to its roadworthiness.
The unit includes a flashing light on the top that alerts you of appointments and other events requiring your input. Pressing the light (or clicking an on-screen dialog) acknowledges the event.
The Jornada 565 comes bundled with software to play videos in either portrait or landscape modes. There's also an optional camera (F1869A), which plugs into the CompactFlash slot on top of the unit.
In addition to the enhancements to the new Pocket PC 2002 operating system provided by Microsoft (the most notable new additions are a Pocket PC version of the MSN Messenger instant-messaging client and a beefed up version of Windows Media Player, plus the previously mentioned improvements to the character recognition capabilities), HP includes several of its own software titles, including HP Backup, HP Emergency Backup, HP Home Menu, HP Task Switcher, HP Image Viewer, HP Pocket Camera software (for use with the optional camera), HP "Microchai" (a Java environment that allows you to run Java apps on the unit), plus HP utilities for changing settings, display profiles, volume, or turning off the display.
Also in the package are several third-party apps of note:
Improvements
HP seems to have listened to complaints about the screen quality of its Jornada models. The 565's sidelit screen is significantly improved over that of earlier models. There are control panel options for adjusting the display's brightness -- or turning it off entirely, for maximum battery life. Fortunately, the improved screen hasn't negatively impacted the battery life of the unit -- or lessened the Jornada's superior performance in Microsoft Reader (in which text on the Casio units we've tested, was surprisingly hard to read, particularly when the unit was angled slightly away from the viewer). And, unlike the Jornada 540, which was originally advertised as supporting 16-bit colour but was actually limited to 4096 hues, this model really does support 65,536 colours.
As is the case with new Pocket PC handhelds from Compaq, Symbol and others, the Jornada 565 complies with the more strict hardware specification of the latest Pocket PC spec defined by Microsoft. Hoping to alleviate the confusion caused by having models based on different processors (previously, there were Pocket PC models based on at least three different processor designs, and a resulting fragmentation of the software market for Pocket PC), Microsoft now requires all Pocket PCs to include an (Intel) ARM4 processor and a Flash ROM, allowing for easy firmware upgrades. We think this is an important improvement that will finally help Pocket PCs avoid the rapid obsolescence problems that have so far plagued not only Pocket PC models, but the entire handheld device market.
The Competition
Here is a list unique features of the new units. Refer to http://www.davespda.com/hardware/pda/compare/ for more comparative specs.
| Casio Cassiopeia E-200 |
Compaq iPaq 3760 |
Compaq iPaq 3850** |
HP Jornada 565 |
Toshiba e570 (AKA Genio) |
|
| Expansion slot(s) | CompactFlash Card (TYPE II) slot MMC/SD memory slot |
SD/MMC, optional card jackets for CF and PCMCIA cards |
SD/MMC, optional card jackets for CF and PCMCIA cards |
Type 1 CompactFlash; optional PC card adapter with MMC/SD slot | SD and Type II CompactFlash |
| Display | 65,536 colours, sidelit | 4,096 colours, sidelit with ambient light sensor |
65,536 colours, sidelit with ambient light sensor |
65,536 colours, sidelit | 65,536 colours, sidelit |
| Standard Memory | 64MB | 64MB | 64MB | 32MB* | 32MB |
| Battery Life (claimed) | 8 to 10 hours | 8 to 10 hours | 8 to 10 hours | 14 hours | 8 to 10 hours |
| Weight | 7.1 oz | 6.3oz. | 6.7oz. | 6.1 oz with standard battery (without cover) | 6.3 oz |
| Size (inches) | 5.12" x 3.25" x 0.68" | 5.3" x 3.3" x 0.62" | 5.3" x 3.3" x 0.62" | 5.2" x 3.01" x 0.68" | 4.9" x 3.1" x 0.69" |
| Street price | US$599 | US$499 | US$599 | US$599 | US$569 |
* Jornada 568 includes 64MB of RAM
** iPAQ 3870 includes integrated Bluetooth
Conclusion
Although Compaq's iPAQ, based on a similarly clocked Intel StrongARM processor, continues to be the best-supported Pocket PC in terms of third-party hardware products, the new iPAQ 3850's lack of a CompactFlash slot without the addition of a bulky (and expensive) adapter jacket makes that unit somewhat less desirable than its competitors in terms of innate hardware compatibility with the broad base of CF devices -- Ethernet cards, modems, wireless adapters, cameras, etc. Conversely, the Jornada 565's lack of an SD/MMC slot is a potential liability (at least without the purchase of an optional PC card adapter with MMC/SD slot), if this emerging standard -- already common on new Palm handhelds and a growing number of other digital devices -- catches on.
Nevertheless, the Jornada 565 is high on our list of the best of the 2000-2001 crop of PocketPC machines. Its long-life, removable battery and hardshell screen cover makes it a superior choice for those who need a rugged and dependable portable, and it is slightly lighter than similarly configured competitors. The Jornada 565's main drawbacks are its lack of an SD/MMC expansion slot and its limited memory (the latter issue is addressed by the higher-priced Jornada 568). Now if only the price of CompactFlash modems would drop from their current $220 level....
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