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Handheld computers are all well and good but they tend to be an adjunct to notebook PCs, rather than a replacement for them.
If you are keen to avoid carrying a notebook around and are looking for an alternative, HP's new Jornada 728 is an option worth considering. It costs a lot less than a notebook, it's tiny, but it includes a keyboard and its battery can provide up to 14 hours of life.
The Jornada 728 runs a copy of Microsoft's mini-operating system called Windows for Handheld PC 2000. This comes with a similar range of applications to Pocket PC 2002 and with ActiveSync for PC communications.
So Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket PowerPoint and Pocket Access can share information with their Desktop counterparts, while Pocket Inbox, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks can share information with Outlook. Pocket Internet Explorer gives web access.
But this isn't a device designed only for carrying a copy of the data on your Desktop. Its wide screen displays Pocket Word documents very nicely and the keyboard is designed for proper typing.
The keys themselves have a good feel and, although things are a bit cramped, if you have small hands you can get up to a reasonable typing speed.
The keyboard includes a row of 11 half-height keys that act as shortcut buttons to applications. These keys are programmable and can be set up to launch chosen applications.
One of the tricks up the Jornada 728's sleeve is a built-in modem - there's both a phone socket and infrared port so you can opt for wired or wireless connectivity.
There is a voice recorder with control buttons on the front of the Jornada 728's case and a copy of Media Player so you can listen to music via the stereo headphone jack.
The processor is an Intel StrongARM which runs at 206MHz and copes well with whatever you are doing. It has 64MB of memory for your own applications and data storage is well catered for, while the provision of both Compact Flash and PC Card slots means there is plenty of expansion potential.
There is a smart card slot too, although this will mostly be used by companies wanting to add extra security to the feature set.
Inevitably, there are a few gripes. The PC connector on the Jornada 728 itself is serial. If you want the faster transfer and flexibility of a USB connection, a rather bulky docking cradle and cable is required at extra cost. HP really should provide one in the box.
The fact that the Compact Flash slot is underneath the case and needs to be closed after a card is inserted means there is no way you can use this method to add hardware or use wireless cards with antennae. Using a PC Card adapter for a Compact Flash card means your PC Card peripherals aren't useable.
Overall the Jornada 728 is a little smaller than a videotape and just a bit too heavy to slip into a pocket. If you can cope with these factors though, it is an interesting device and a useable alternative to a full-grown notebook.
DETAILS
Price: £699
Contact: HP 01344 360000
www.hp.co.uk
See also:
All Palm PDAs
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