Windows Phone Thoughts: Breaking the Mold: The HP iPAQ 4350

HP has broken more than one mold with the new iPAQ 4350. Not only have they significantly departed from the usual form factor we've seen for iPAQs, but they have introduced the first Pocket PC with an integrated keyboard! I hope they're not the only vendor to go this route, and that the 4350 is not the last iPAQ of its kind.

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who had the Jornada 560 with the keyboard cover and loved it. In fact, all the PDAs I've owned over the years (except my current iPAQ 2215) have had integrated keyboards, or ones quickly acquired as an add on. I guess I'm just most comfortable with keying, as opposed to writing on the screen. Besides, my handwriting is almost as bad as a Doctor's! :oops:

What's neat about the 4350 is that it's a high power performer with an integrated keyboard, in a package that's not much larger than its 5500 parents, but considerably lighter and less bulky. Thanks to Josh Kerwin of Waggener Edstrom, I was able to play with one of these beauties over the holidays and I have to admit, I fell heavily in lust!



What's in the Package
As with all HP units, the iPAQ 4350 comes well equipped, right out of the box.


Figure 1: Contents of the HP iPAQ 4350 box.

Here's what you get:

• iPAQ 4350
  
• 1560 mAh Lithium Ion battery pack (more on this later)
  
• Cradle
  
• Power Supply with cable and serial dongle
  
• Quick Reference User Guide
  
• Extra Stylus
  
• USB/Serial cable
  
• Cloth cover case
  
• Companion software CD

As usual, HP has provided an extensive and very useful collection of utilities -- both free and trial period -- on the companion CD:

Full Versions

• HP Web Registration
  
• HP Mobile Print Center
  
• Westtek ClearVue Suite
  
• F-Secure FileCrypto Data Encryption
  
• Colligo Personal Edition
  
• Adobe PDF Viewer
  
• RealOne Player for Pocket PC
  
• iPresenter PowerPoint converter
  
• MobiMate WorldMate
  
• Resco File Explorer (on US Retail models only)

Trial Versions
These usually have a time limit of 15 to 30 days each:

• Xcellenet Afaria Device Mgmt. Agent
  
• Margi Presenter-to-Go (needs the VGA card)
  
• Illium ListPro
  
• CommonTime Cadenza mNotes
  
• Resco Picture Viewer (on US Retail models only)

CD Links
The CD also contains links to the following web sites, for purchase of software:

• NetMotion
  
• Avaya IP Softphone
  
• IP Blue VTGO!
  
• Cisco CallManager
  
• Pocket Presence Running Voice IP
  
• Vindigo
  
• Audible Mgr. and Audible Player
  
• Single Tap
  
• Handango
  
• Pocket Backup Plus

The CD also contains additional documentation from HP in .pdf format, such as the Safety and Comfort Guide, and the full 4350 User Guide.

Setup of everything took about 20 minutes, including reading of the Quick Reference Guide. I don't normally do much reading before playing with a new unit, but since this one was a loaner, I didn't want to take any chances. Out of the box, the battery came with some charge, which was a nice touch, since it allowed me to satisfy my urge to turn the unit on immediately. Based on previous Pocket PC experience, I decided to give it a complete charge though, before putting the 4350 through its paces. Charging took about 2 hours from out of the box 10 100% and generally, that's been my experience with the 4350. Going from almost dead to fully charged is about 2 hours. (Sorry, I didn't measure it exactly).

Another nice touch is that HP supplied two styli - one in the 4350 and another in the box, which is a change from the usual 'get one, and buy a three pack accessory' mentality of other vendors.

HP makes it VERY CLEAR (in a number of places) that you must install ActiveSync on the laptop/PC with which you will be partnering before connecting the 4350 to the laptop/PC. This wasn't a problem for me, since I already had the software installed and partnerships established for my 2215, but I wondered what the harm would be to the 4350???