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When looking for a new personal-use Pocket PC, you most likely search for a model that delivers the best bang for the buck (see Dell Sets the Value Standard … Again). Whilst shopping for a business-use Pocket PC, on the other hand, price may take back seat to performance and features.

That's where Hewlett-Packard's new iPAQ hx4705 enters the picture. The new handheld bundles loads of features, and is available at a price, that aims it squarely at the business user.

Inside
Powering the hx4705 is Intel's current top-shelf handheld CPU, a PXA270 XScale processor running at 624 MHz. The hx4705 provides 64MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM.

About 80MB of that ROM is available to the user for the non-volatile storage of data, so it will remain intact even after a hard reset of the device. This is useful for backing up important files.

If the built-in storage of the hx4705 proves insufficient, you can expand its capacity or add peripherals via the unit's CompactFlash Type II and Secure Digital expansion slots.

Hewlett-Packard provides wireless communication via built-in Bluetooth and 802.11b Wi-Fi—the antennas for which are flush with the unit's charcoal-collared magnesium alloy chassis. The hx4705's IrDa port is of the 4Mbps FIR variety, making it a viable alternative to the included synchronization/charging dock for rapid transfer of data.

The battery on the hx4705 is rated at 1800mAh, which is large by PDA standards, but justified considering the power requirements of the unit's features. The battery is removable but the dock can charge only the PDA and not an extra battery. (An extended-life 3600 mAh battery, available as an option, comes with its own separate charging apparatus.)


Back, Battery Compartment

Outside
Primary input on the hx4705 is handled by stylus, but the unit's front panel buttons are somewhat distinctive in that they are recessed and flush rather than raised as in most handhelds. Even more unique is the hx4705's pressure-sensitive touchpad that takes the place of the typical four-way D-pad.

Made by Synaptics—the same firm that supplies touchpad pointing devices to many notebook manufacturers—this touchpad can operate in a mode which can be used to navigate a cursor through the Windows Mobile interface, negating the need for the stylus (though we think the stylus is still preferable in most situations).

About my only complaint about the hx4705's physical layout is the unfortunate location of the earphone jack, which is easy to mistake for the stylus storage port if you are not paying close attention—they're right next to each other on the top right side of the unit.

Screen Shines
Despite the other impressive hardware specifications, the technological centerpiece of the hx4705 is certainly its stunning 4-inch VGA display that displays 640 x 480 pixel resolution—twice that of a conventional Windows PDA.

These extra pixels don't result in twice the screen area though, as this would almost certainly make the display unreadable, even on a relatively large LCD like the hx4705's. Rather, with the hx4705, the higher resolution is used to provide an unusually crisp and vibrant image.

The extra LCD real estate is still useful though, especially given Windows Mobile 2003's ability to display in landscape mode. (The hx4705 also lets you easily switch between it and standard portrait mode by holding the calendar button for two seconds.)

HP provides an automatic brightness feature that senses ambient lighting and adjusts screen brightness accordingly. It did modestly alter the brightness as I moved from indoors to outside or from darkly lit rooms to brighter ones, but I often still found it necessary to fine-tune the settings to accommodate my preferences (or my eyesight).

Protecting the screen is a translucent and tinted plastic cover hinged to the left side of the unit that secures to the hx4705 right side with a small magnet. While I found holding the protective cover open to use the unit obtrusive at first (you can't tap through it), I quickly got used to the cover. I also found it useful for shielding the hx4705's display from fingerprints and accidental impacts. (You can easily remove the screen cover if desired.)


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